train travel/ morning sickness/work

[fl0b0t]

Another morning sickness thread!

I'm just 6wks (tomorrow) and have spent just over a week with horrible nausea- from the second I get up to the second I go to sleep. I've not been sick at all but it's rendered me incapable of pretty much everything. Even reading is difficult as the words swim on the page.

The worst thing I have encountered so far has been travelling to work I was convinced that I would pass out on the train and I trembled all the way to work and back.

I haven't told anyone at all (just me and husband know) but I'm worried that I will have to tell my boss much sooner than intended because I do feel that it is current affecting my job.

Has anyone had similar problems? Any advice welcome!
Thanks x

I didn't tell my boss boss but I did tell my intermediate boss when I was 7 weeks because I was so ill that I couldn't get to office for 9am (and sometimes not at all). It meant I could get in at 10am wthout people asking questions ... And I could get a quieter train and a seat. I ended up then telling boss boss shortly after because I didn't want him to think I was leaving early (for same reason) cos I just fancied it. My company were great about it and really helpful and I'm glad I told them early...I asked that it be kept secret so no one else knew and it wasn't mentioned ever. I actually think that there's no reason not to tell work early...after all if you suffer from hideous morning sickness then you need your work's understanding in the early days...most people seem to feel great in their second trimester (not me sadly!). All the non discrimination rules still apply and if (heaven forbid) the pregnancy didn't go to term then most of us would need some time off anyway to deal with it emotionally.

Could you tell HR or someone who could grant you some leniency on arrival times and reassure anyone more senior who notices that it's ok? They have to keep it secret if you ask them to I think.

Hopefully you will feel better soon though! X

I was exactly the same, I have a car journey, 30min train ride & 10 min walk and could have cried by the time i got to work. I ended up at my gp and got some tablets for the nausea, it didn't get rid of it just made it a bit easier to function. I couldn't read on the train either, but tried to listen to music/podcast as some kind of distraction. I made sure I had some water and a packet of mints as that seemed to help a little bit (& stopped the horrible salty pre-vomit taste from lingering too long) I also found it was worse if i hadn't slept well the night before, so try ur best to get a good nights sleep. I started feeling better by week 10/11 so I hope urs starts to ease off soon too xx

I ended up telling my boss at 8 weeks because my 50min tube journey in the morning was leaving me feeling horrendous by the time I got to the office. It did make life in the office alot easier as my boss knew not to bother me too much for the first hour or so of the day.
I bought some travel sickness bands which helped abit and made sure I had a baby on board badge so I could get a seat!

Hi,
I feel for you!
Like bumpitybump I had very similar situation and I ended up telling my boss an subsequently, my boss boss, very early, in fact, before I had even confirmed how far I was! But I was beginning to feel a bit ill and knew if my previous PG was anything to go by, I may suffer.
Little did I know it was twins and my sickness got so bad I ended up signed off with HG for 6 weeks and had a 4 day stay in hospital - So tbh, I would have had to have told them.
When I first told them I did ask for it to be kept secret and they were great about it all. When I was then off for so long, though, I spoke to my boss who said some team members had been concerned and asking questions and how did I feel about him explaining to them what the situation was but to not contact me about it until I was well enough to return to work. At this stage I was 9.5 weeks, but returned after 12 weeks, so by then it was relief that people knew and that I could be open and happy about it.
Also like Bumpity said, the main reason that people hesitate is due to the fact that something (god forbid) went wrong, but for me, I felt that if that was to happen I would have to tell them anyway in order to have some time off etc.
Nausea wise, I would definitely get down to the docs to get some anti sickness pills. I tried several and found Cyclazine worked best for me. I still take them now but I am not physically as sick now, mainly a bit nauseous from time to time, but they work wonders and really do help you feel better enough to get on with things ( I also have a commute - overground train and then tube so understand what its like!)
I also found nibbling on biscuits (belvita breakfast ones are good) and a can of full fat coke sometimes helps a bit. My boss has been great and is letting me go in later still until the sickness passes completely and I feel up to normal hours again. I hope you have the same level of support where you work - good luck and sorry for the long reply!

Just to echo what others said. If you feel you can tell your boos, it could make things a bit easier for you. Not sure what remedies you have tried yet and don't want to patronise you if you've tried lots of different things, but ginger capsules and travel bands seemed to be the most effective for me for taking the edge of things.

Sorry, boss even!!

Oh I totally empathise. I had/have the same issue (although today and over the weekend have been much better so maybe it is over, am 11 weeks) and I decided that the options were either to get the doctor to sign me off sick or to tell my boss. I decided to tell my boss because after mid morning it usually passes with me. She was extremely understanding and is keeping it to herself and has agreed I can start work later for the time being, at the end of the day she would prefer this to me not coming at all.

I had a positive reaction from her and don't mind her knowing because it is only boss that knows and in all honesty if something was to go wrong I would probably be in an unfit state to work and concentrate properly anyway, she would know something was up so I thought telling her was best option. I don't the rest of my team to know though.

I am sure your boss will be sympathetic so maybe just tell him/her? Or have a chat with HR department if you have one?

Thanks all, what an overwhelming response! I'm actually I'm bed today on sick leave trying to gather my energy for the rest of the week! Got more train travel to contend with tues and weds.

I will definitely try the Bands- on my last train journey I had a bag full of snacks and water but couldn't really eat any if it. I really hate ginger, but have some ginger beer at home which had been good to sip!

I do work from home a bit so will use that where I can, bit I think I'll have to bite the bullet and tell my immediate boss. We do have a good HR dept but they are in a different office so its not so easy to chat to them. We do have a management team meeting this week so that might be a good opportunity to speak to my boss, her boss and someone who might end up taking some of my role eventually.

I've read all the advice I can and would love avoid taking any medicine where I can, but I guess last stop shop is anti emetics ?

Big sympathies - I used to struggle with a short tube commute even when I wasn't pregnant so can't imagine it with MS!

I have a 40 minute walk to work (no chane I'd be attempting the two buses) and found the early weeks were tough as I'd be retching as I walked. Fortunately/unfortunately, I ended up off ill with a different problem almost exactly as the vomiting kicked in, and after coming back (nearly 4 weeks later) I seem to be over the worst.

I have though been very late a few mornings due to last minute toilet trips before leaving the house. My boss put this down to my recovery from previous issue and wasn't too bothered, but came clean about the real reason last week and she said not to worry if I'm late again - just get in when I can.

I was surprised by how supportive she was, so would second those above suggesting an early 'confession' as it were. Good luck.

Cheers! I have an hour train jouney to my normal place of work but visit lots of other places so can be on trains for 3 hrs at a time! I do walk at either end which perks me back up a bit, but its awful being on the moving train. I've never e en experienced travel sickness before so this cane as a shock!