Off sick - going back to work

[Poppins17]

I’ve been suffering from perimenopause symptoms for 12 months.

I’ve been back and forth to my GP several times who said because I’m 41 I’m too young to have perimenopause and to start HRT.

The last time I went twice weeks ago tomorrow I was in a state of upset, I felt extremely anxious at work and my blood pressure was also high.

She signed me off for 2 weeks and gave me anti depressants.

I’ve since paid and seen a specialist who has confirmed I am peri and started me on HRT on Thursday.

My sick note expires on Tuesday and the drs initially gave me another note for 3 weeks, but I asked for a phased return instead.

The main reason being we have a very large Christmas event on Friday at work and we have all new staff so none of them have run the event before. I work for a small Town Council, so whilst the councillors have ran the event, the actual prep work behind the scenes will all be new to the staff. I am the leader of 14 staff and have been getting WhatsApp’s asking for info re the event, so just felt like I had to return in some capacity to be there. A phased return seemed the best option.

However, I’ve been monitoring my blood pressure at home with kit from the GP since my appointment and it’s been getting higher - yesterday was 172. The last 36 hours I’ve also been experiencing palpitations. My friend thinks it’s anxiety. I’m not sure but I’ve read this can be a side effect of peri and HRT so am just riding it out for now.

My dilemma though is now I’m unsure whether I’ve been silly asking for a phased return when I’m not 100% sure I can cope with the pressure of this large event on Friday or the management of 14 staff.

My blood pressure is still being monitored, my HRT hasn’t kicked in yet and to top it off I’m now having these palpitations I wasn’t having before. I also have a stinking cold I’ve had for about 4 weeks and don’t seem to be able to shift,

I don’t know why I’m writing this really, staff and councillors at work have been told I’m coming back on a phased return, but I still have tomorrow to go back to my GP to ask for a note. But I’m worried about this Christmas event going wrong and being blamed for that due to not being there. And also, how will it look if the note is suddenly changed.

My head is like mush and I don’t know what’s best to do, I just know I don’t want to go back then go off again.

Anyone been in a similar situation or got any advice?

When should I expect the HRT to start working? Specialist said 2-4 weeks?

Thanks and sorry for the long post.

Bumping for you more than having any great advice.

Who is your manager? How on earth is anyone being allowed to WhatsApp you while you are off work with symptoms like this?

I think it really sounds as if you are still in the early phase of antidepressants and not really fit to work yet.

Is the GP considering starting you on BP meds?

Thank you.

The Council as a body of councillors is my manager as I’m top of the tree in terms of staff, hence why I’ve been getting the WhatsApp’s.

I just feel silly now that everyone knows I was coming back on a phased return for my note ti be changed…

Thanks for your reply!

You're having palpitations, you shouldn't be at work.

I wish I'd not been so hard on myself, looking back I just tried to power through.

When events are so important you need to have a step by step guide for others to follow. Can you email in such a document and let them get on with it?

We have a detailed timeline as part of the risk assessment, but it’s the practical side of setting up I’m worried about. So for instance, the instructions will say at 3pm set up barrier set on site, but it just gives areas there no drawing with it. My team member who did that setting up retired, so I never did it myself, but obviously have seen the set up.

Thanks for the replies. I think I’ll see how I am today and then make a decision whether to speak to the drs again tomorrow.

Op, you are posting very early in the day. Are you awake because of this? I am somewhat in a similar situation and I'm struggling to sleep.
I don't have any advice, but I want to mention that your cold could be a factor.
I had a cold or covid type virus that floored me recently. In fact, i had considered posting on mumsnet about it. It was the usual cold symptoms, but with palpations and horrendous anxiety. Thankfully, I have cleared the cold now and the other symptoms are easing, apart from the tiredness. Its been a wake-up call that health is so important. I am usually resilient and get on with things when unwell, but i am now aware that my health is so important and everything falls apart without it. We get caught up in the whirlwind of work and life, but forget that we need care and nurturing too.
I hope the situation improves for you xx

My sympathies OP. I was signed off work with anxiety and depression at about your age and I kept saying it was hormones/peri menopause but no one would listen and I was put on anti depressants.

I'm glad you have started the HRT. However, loss of oestrogen also causes a drop in serotonin and dopamine so if those levels are low, the anti depressants could help sort out your brain chemistry. You will need to be on them for 6 months minimum if you decide to stay on them.

Anti depressants will have side effects, meaning sometimes you feel worse before you feel better but you will need 12 weeks for them to fully take effect. Some side effects start to pass after 3.

Unless we say no, our workplaces will keep putting on us and you need time off, clearly, to recover and get better.

Please do not be under pressure to sort out this issue at work. Your line manager should be working out alternatives.

Please get signed off. Tell the dr you can't cope with going back to work. Do not go back on phased return. If you were lower down the pecking order would you go back now? Please never put work before health. At the moment you are suffering the results of anxiety. You are within your rights to remove yourself from the what's app group whilst signed off.

Please look after yourself and get yourself better OP x

OP in the nicest possible way, no one is indispensable at work. They will manage the event without you, it might not be how it has previously been run, but that's OK. It's not your responsibility.
You are not well enough to return to work. Stop putting yourself under pressure to do so. Mute the WhatsApp messages and get signed off.
I hope you feel more like yourself soon.

I agree with @Throwntothewolves - there’s a detailed timeline, they will work it out!

On your other thread I suggested doing a call to talk them through it and answer any questions and then properly logging off - in your shoes that’s what I’d do to clear my head for a proper break while my meds took effect.

Thank you for all the replies.

Sending love for tomorrow OP - let us know how it goes x

Thank you x