Anyone had to give up work around 27 weeks because of pain/exhaustion levels?

[HastaLanugo]

I'm exhausted, and frequently breathless. I generally ache all over, mainly due to a pre-existing condition and I have SPD/PGP. My anxiety levels are high and I feel on the verge of depression. I'm seriously considering asking to be signed off until maternity leave. Is this likely to happen? Has anyone else stopped work this early because they feel they simply cannot go on? I'm not even sure how to go about doing it.

Great to hear it :) x

How are you doing Clar?

Sorry I meant Ood (not that I don't care how you are doing Clarella)

Saw GP on Thurs and she wanted to sign me off. I want to work this week then I'm on leave for a week. Got told to come back when im off and to think about being signed off then. Also seeing hospital that week and still waiting to speak to MH MW re AND.
If I don't go back after leave i be 25 weeks when I go off

Honestly, just embrace it. You don't need to be made any more miserable. Think of the positives of being signed off. I was scored for AND today and scored high. Was suggested i should be referred to AN psychologist but I have said we don't need to take action, that I'm sure I'll be better when I'm off work and a few other things are sorted. So they are going to do the scoring again in two weeks and move from there. I really hope it's just anxiety over specific issues rather than AND. I hope that meeting goes ok for you. If it helps, they used the Edinburgh PND scoring system for me. Looks like we both have a big week ahead.

i was signed off sick at 7 weeks and never went back at all
(I had HG for the whole 9 months)

I had PND with all the others. I don't cope we'll without people around so it that respect work is better for me although my job is a high stress one.
I have a lot of other stuff going on which contributed to the anxiety.
I've wrapped up a lot of cases and I'm hoping to get other stuff finished/ready for hand over this week do it doesn't matter if I don't come back from leave.

nannyl think Id rather have SPD than that. It sounds horrendous!

Yup. 9 weeks here. Due to school hols only worked a grand total of 4 weeks from bfp. Im extremely grateful for everything the gp and perinatal counsellor has done as i feel very well indeed now. And even had the winter vom bug today whilst carpets being fitted and at one point was convinced was labour! Water off a ducks back! 40 weeks on monday! (Wow nanny you poor thing)

I never felt fully depressed - it was extreme anxiety which really began to make me feel quite loopy, plus i was on too much thyroid meds so the adrenaline was extra pumping. However i did hide away at 2 separate stages unable to see people due to the anxiety it triggered and so was described as having anxiety with low mood. However i sometimes find it easier to tell people if i have to that its AND simply as it explains how i was behaving.

Its been layer upon layer of steps forward and back - learning to separate normal preg hirmonal worries, from catastrophising anxiety has been the big thing over the last few weeks. And i know ive cracked that now. But i needed head space. And had weeks where i thought i was fine only for something to show me i wasnt and id regress. The guilt and shame is the worst thing and takes time to get rid of.

A litmus test was baths and swimming, which alwsys relaxes me. thoughts and feelings got worse chuntering round my head, id end up hyperventilating after the bath and crying as i swam. Now use them to help me sleep like most people and loved my 'final' swim yesterday!

Best wishes to you all xx

ood it is important imo to feel in control definately. And lack of social contact was bad for me too but then necessary - a double edged sword.

I had no control over the slapped cheek time limit - i was over the first lot of anxiety at 18 weeks and desperate to work but then school didnt want to know as thyroid issues were on the sicknote too. I worked on stuff anyway! Thats why i pushed to go back for a last week before summer hols started but thats when it was clear i was well at home but not yet at work. Massive step back and was even worse than first time. But i had to try. X

Really feel for everyone else. Clarella I know exactly what you mean about the anxiety. My PND and AND is def more anxiety based. And trying to separate it from normal "hormones" is difficult. I think it's even more difficult for those around us, who think we are just being typical mood-swinging pregnant women rather than women with even the slightest MH issues. Hope that baby doesn't make you wait. hope you'll keep us updated.

Ood I guess you have to balance the need to be around people against the stress those people will cause. I'm keeping a very low profile at work, despite being one of the more senior people, because I know if I am seen to be doing business as usual, more work will be sent my way, and I already have more than enough to see me through to the end.

Nannyl I'm glad that's all behind you now. Hope your baby was worth it

I've been signed off now. 25+3. :(

Ood it really is ok chick. I know it's hard not to feel failure - I suspect you're very like me in personality, conscientious and perfectionist?!

I was only at work for 4 weeks due to school hols, and missed ofsted (the guilt!! No seriously felt sooo bad! They got outstanding though :) )

You've tried your best now try to focus on getting well for baby. Lie to other people about work if it helps I now wish I had (fucking conscientious streak)

Missing OFSTEd bet everyone was

Yes I'm perfect it will be ok, just ridiculously frustrating being there & not doing it properly because I couldn't. I'm too weepy to be let loose on peoples problems according to dh!

Exactly! Focus on you and your growing family now Xx