Awful pregnancy symptoms, unsympathetic nurse

[artemis2]

I'm 9 weeks pregnant and since I hit 7.5 weeks I've been feeling like absolute crap. Constant nausea, headaches, lower abdominal and back pain, get breathless walking up the road and can't concentrate on anything, plus terrible insomnia. It's like I've lost my mind. I can't cook, clean or work because I'm so utterly exhausted and feeling shit constantly.

I've been calling in sick for a few days and called my GP surgery today to try to get a GP appointment to see if there's anything they can do, and if not, to get a fit note as i can't go to work like this.

They got a nurse to call me back and she was all "that's totally normal. We can't do anything for you, you should be thankful you're not throwing up 50 times a day."

Is this what you'd expect?? So, I can't get a fit note and have to go to work despite not being able to do anything? Should I call them again? :(

Thanks for your advice, ladies

The nurse is right, though she could've been more sympathetic with regards your feelings. The 1st is awful as your body is going through a huge momentous change.

You can self certify at work so drs won't give you a sick note I'm afraid.

Just rest when you can, take things slow- forget the housework for now.. you'll gradually start to feel better as you enter the 2nd tri .. I definitely felt more human by 16 weeks.

Hugs...

OP, I sympathise, I felt the same as you about two months ago. Unfortunately, they won't give you a sick note because they are considered 'normal' symptoms. As regards the nurse's reaction -- also normal. Nobody really seems to give a shit about you in the early stages (welcome to the conveyor belt), I had a similar response after a bleed.

Get as much sleep as you can, paracetamol for headaches, and eat whatever makes the nausea easier to manage (stodge/ carbs in my case). Depending on where you work, you might want to let them know how you're feeling so they can see if there are any adjustments that could be made.

I felt like that pretty much my entire pregnancy, unfortunately it is quite common. Hopefully you'll have an easier 2nd trimester!

Only thing my Dr will prescribe me is anti sickness for HG. Otherwise they put it down to normal pregnancy symptoms.
Mine prescribe me a low dose of co-codomol and tell me to take it even more minimally in pregnancy. But I have other health problems and severe SPD. Prescribed nothing but paracetamol with DC1 so it's been an uphill battle.

If you're sick you're sick. Go back to the doctors and say you are sick again. There is such a thing as severe morning sickness. Take it easy and that nurse sounds bitter and I bet she works harder than anyone .

You're trying your best. Listen to your body and just keep repeating yourself.

I was signed off for a week in the early stages with severe morning sickness . It can be done . Ask to speak to a GP and mKe it very clear how I’ll you are. Within a couple of
Weeks you may be feeling much better

I was signed off for almost all of my first trimester with morning sickness / exhaustion... the doctors just put 'pregnancy symptoms' or 'pregnancy complication' on my note and just spent the last 2 weeks signed off with pgp/ sciatica so it definitely can be done. I think I'd just demand an appointment if you feel a fit note is what you need, my GP actually do these over the phone and just call me when they're ready to pick up so sometimes no appointment needed

Thank you, everyone! I will try to get a phone GP appointment tomorrow. I feel so exhausted I can barely do anything and my job is stressful and I can't keep up with it :/ I hate taking time off and wouldn't do it if I could work, but with only getting 2-3 hours sleep a night due to severe nausea, I just can't cope right now. Don't know how people get through it!

The first trimester is really rotten. I was lucky in that I am self-employed and basically was able to take three weeks off just to lie in bed and stare at the ceiling (although I then had a ton of work to do on the odd day I felt more alive). It's really tough – I don't think I was prepared for how awful I'd feel.

I found that when I relaxed my sickness got better. I used it as a gage to how I was supposed to be. Your body is doing a lot.

She shouldn’t have said that without examining you. Demand an appointment and ensure your blood pressure and weight is taken. Also if you have swelling let them know - breathlessness often goes hand in hand with blood clots.