Work and dizzyness

[Peachy85]

Hi everyone this is my first post here so i will try not to waffle...
Am basically just looking to see if anyones had a similar experience or has any insights for me.
So the back story is i started work as an xmas temp in October for a large department store. I lost my previous job and these cowboys were the only ones to offer me anything (its 30 hours p/w). Ive not liked it since the beginning as its monotonous and very boring and in the last week ive transferred stores and the new people are mostly awful. The customers are 75% vile (self important ***)Ive literally dreaded every day since i started at the new store.
So we found out we were pregnant 2 weeks ago tomorrow, and in the last week ive started experiencing constant dizzyness/lightheadedness, culminating in actually fainting at work on wednesday. I was taken to hospital and all the tests (blood sugar /iron/bp etc) all came back fine. I was extremely stressed on that day as this store is severeley understaffed and over populated will afore mentioned horrible customers.... I want to find a new job desperatley but feeling like poop all the time isn't helpful. My hubby keeps telling me to not let the job get to me (he actually works there too and hates it - hes a bit more Teflon coated) but i really dont find it that simple when your immersed in the frontline the whole time.... Im thinking to try and get an emergency app with gp tmz to see what they say as its getting to the point very quickly that im fearing for my pregnancy, but at the same time is that being overdramatic?? I know its a hormonal time and im not at my peak rationality atm.... Anyhoo any advice (apart from 'dont let it get to you') would be welcolme xx

Thanks for reading!
Love peachy xx

Hi OP

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

The working environment doesn’t sound ideal at all when your pregnant particularly in these early days. I’m assuming you won’t have told work yet so no risk assessment will have happened?

Did anything come back from your tests? I felt very dizzy and it turned out my potassium levels were very low (I couldn’t keep any food down so explains it for me) do you see any floaters or ‘stars’ as that’s something to be aware of too. I’d definately book an emergency GP appointment, don’t think your being dramatic at all - at the end of the day you have a LO to look after who takes priority.

If you are unwell and stressed the doctor will likely sign you off work so you can rightly rest up and take it easy! Don’t feel bad, I know it’s easy to say but I really wouldn’t worry about it. I’ve had time off work as I’ve been really poorly with sickness, nausea, constipation and every unglamourous pregnancy symptom you can think of.

Your health and the LO is all that matters. Hope you feel better soon x

Thanks for your reply.... Work does know as ive had to be off the shop floor at times due to the dizzyness and sometimes sickness that accompanies it so a risk assesment has been done, however this is a company that thinks if you can get to a doctor you can get to work.... All the test from the hospital came back clear so that at least was a bit of a relief

Xx

Your work place should definately be supporting you, to see if there’s any reasonable adjustments i.e is running around on the shop floor ideal for you when you’re not well? They could maybe consider moving you into the office and giving you less stressful jobs (just for example) you are heavily protected whilst pregnant so your workplace needs to be very careful if they say anything along the lines of ‘your able to go to the doctors so you can work’ your Employer has a duty of care for you, it could be worth discussing this with your GP and he/she could recommend you are able to work but with reasonable adjusments in place. Your employer has to meet the adjustments otherwise you’ll be suspend on full pay/placed on sick leave pretty sure it may depend on your policy. It’s not worth the risk for the Employer.

I work in HR and my last place of work was in a call centre and the HR Manager there was absolutely shocking when it come to pregnant employees. I couldn’t hack it and ended up leaving for my current role as there were many issues. But I hope you get the support you need and feel better soon!