Asking to be signed off due to morning sickness

[Jinglebells321]

Would it be taking the mick to do this?

Currently 8+5. Been exhausted, nauseous, retching and sick for a few weeks.

Went to doctor last week who put me on medication plus done blood tests which showed I have low iron levels so also starting on iron supplements.

The nausea meds don't make a difference. I'm still retching constantly and never sure when it's going to end in physical sickness which is usually a couple of times a day.

I have a busy office job which fortunately allows me to work from home but I'm often back to back on calls all day so the retching makes that tricky and I'm always worried I'm going to be sick.

My boss is understanding but very demanding at the same time. I've taken 2 days holiday this week just to get a break (still throwing up :()

Would it be reasonable to go back to the doctor and ask to be signed off for a week or so til things hopefully settle?

I cant decide whether that would make things easier for my boss and colleagues knowing I'm not there at all rather than trying to keep going by having to let things slip because I'm feeling so rubbish.

So frustrated as it wasn't this bad when I was pregnant with DD. I had nausea but was not tired and rarely sick.

Yanbu I had a colleague signed off for 4 weeks due to this

I was signed off for three months in total. I could not cope with the vomiting. Colleagues were complaining about the noise I made in the loos which in a modern building with thin walls meant everyone knew. I was retching in the car which made me a dangerous behind the wheel. Thankfully baby two and three did not affect me like this.

think about the meetings you attend. Do you ever get to speak or ask questions on them? The ones you don’t, review your attendance of and find alternative ways to get the information; you’ll free up wasted time.

I was signed off for 8 weeks with my 1st. I had a customer facing role and I just couldn't do it. I was having to get up to be sick every half hour or so. If the medication isn't working go back and ask for a different one there are many that you can try in different combinations. During my 2nd pregnancy I tried 5 different types before I got the right one for me.

@justasking111 - the retching while driving is awful! I majorly panic when this happens.

@Teddybear45 - I'm required at all of these meetings. Lots of projects I have to manage with lots of stakeholders to deal with.

I feel like a fraud as it's not severe HG but still really unpleasant. My desk is miles from the toilet so highly likely I'd end up being sick in the middle of the office floor 😳

I guess you could run holding a bucket over your face to the loos but would your colleagues be happy with that. I would get signed off. It does pass.

If you are not well enough to be in work, then stay off but you don’t need to take up a GP appointment for a one week Fit Note when you can self certificate.

@PolarBearDisguisedAsAPenguin I wouldn't just be going for a sick note though, I'd be looking for alternative medication to help reduce the symptoms

I think the French have the right idea, their anti sickness meds are in pessary form, sometimes you cannot even keep the meds down. Sometimes as in my case they make absolutely no difference at all.

Your OP doesn’t say that though, @Jinglebells321. Hopefully you can get some other medication that helps.

@justasking111 I've brought the meds up a few times within minutes of taking them :(

Ask about pessaries Jingle. When I went for scans I was supposed to drink water and not pee to push things up. Well you can imagine how that went. I actually was lying on the bed had to get up and throw up in the sink in the scan room. Awful...

I'd get signed off if I were you. I was signed off for 10 weeks due to HG, still throwing up 2-3 times a day at 28 weeks and need to take the odd day off here and there when it's worse. I felt so bad but physically couldn't cope with work and like you wasn't close to toilets. My husband and others always said "you wouldn't think twice about staying off if you were feeling like this for any other reason" and it's true. As it happens my GP offered to sign me off when I saw her at 8 weeks.

Hope you feel better soon and can get other meds that help!

Thanks for all the comments. Was able to get a rare cancellation appointment this afternoon. GP was super - much more sympathetic than the previous I've and signed me off for a week just now but will extend as needed

Also got some new meds and the reassurance that there's loads more options to try if these don't work.

Just a thought could it be the iron? I can't take oral iron I start throwing it up within a few days of starting :(

@Greyhound22 just picked up the iron today so definitely not that but will bear that in mind now I've started taking it.

Just be aware it may well take a lot longer than a week to improve! A couple of months is not unusual