Spd & Restless legs... Letting work down!!

[mrsdaisaku]

Firstly I've been told I have spd and find sitting in the chairs at work agony. Work ordered me a new chair over 4 weeks ago, but it has only just been approved by the finance department and could still take a while to get to me. How long is reasonable to wait and continue working in pain? I have to sit down as i'm on the phones and bending over when standing exacerbates the spd. I have taken some time off because of this. (Which doesn't look good with your employer I know).

And secondly I've been getting really bad restless legs at night and not able to sleep. I'm so tired when I get up in the morning that i'm too tired to go into work. I'm pregnant with twins, so more tired at this stage than I was with my first and already really uncomfortable (25weeks). I'm waiting for a callback from my doc, but not sure what he can do?? I've tried all the usual tricks for RLS, but nothing works for long. Would it be realistic to get signed off till I can start maternity, which i'm trying to bring forward as i'm fed up with letting work down and worried that if I do go into work I will mess up because i'm too tired. Anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do?

For your SPD take in a birth ball and sit on that, it's amazing what a difference it makes!

No advice on the restless legs as its not something I've ever suffered with.

Regarding getting signed off work until mat leave, it's possible to do so, however personally I couldn't have got signed off long term just because I wasn't sleeping well at night, unless I was in a job where tiredness could be dangerous eg truck driver

I wouldn't be impressed as a manager if a member of staff was signed off for that, if it's really that bad could you request an adjustment to your hours eg finishing a bit earlier so you have more time to chill out at home? I don't actually know if a dr would even sign you off work for that.

You can start your mat leave from 29 weeks, why not simply ask to move your leave to start then? With accrued hol's you could probably work it out to go before then!

Thank you for the suggestion of the birthing ball, that had not even occurred to me.

I get what you're saying with being signed off. But I work on the phones in insurance. I make adjustments to peoples policies and believe it or not, one simple mistake can be potentially very serious. We're also FSA regulated and have to follow correct telephone procedures, for which I am currently being monitored as I have made mistakes due to sleep deprivation. I am scared of continuing to make the same mistakes and potentially lose my job as the result. I've been able to sleep for a maximum of two hours a night and needing to get up and move around, hot showers etc etc I have asked to start my mat leave asap, but that is still 4 weeks away.

You might be able to get signed off for that period. Go to your GP and discuss your problems/concerns about work with him. I was signed off for 4 weeks when I was 28 weeks (don't know if it would have been longer, Ds made his appearance during that time).

And in the nicest way possible, your employer can be as un-impressed as they like. they have taken 4 weeks to approve replacing your chair? Disgusting. If your GP agrees that it will be better for your & the babies health that you do not work, there is nothing they can do about it. Pregnancy related absences, by law, cannot be treated a disciplinary matter

Speak to your manager and see what they suggest. I worked in retail banking prior to having DS so I know exactly what you mean re FSA compliance. I think personally I'd ask your line manager for a word, explain that your lack of sleep could potentially affect your ability and what do they suggest? If they tell you to keep working, document it in an email to your manager so you have evidence of trying to get a solution.

In my place of work, I would have been moved onto some kind of paper-pushing role if I said that to my manager, but at least still working. Your manager may tell you to go to the dr and get signed off, but at least then you can do it with a clear knowledge that you're doing what is best for your workplace AND for you.

Do you have any holidays you could take? Maybe see if you can take 1 day a week off as hol's, I know people who have taken every wednesday off so they never have more than 2 days in work in a row :)