Anyone else rang in work sick for nausea/vomiting? And feel like a fraud?

[Pretendbookworm]

I have this weekend. I work nights at a nursing home as a carer, and Friday night I went home early because I just couldn’t cope anymore. Every time I was trying to get on with a task or see to a resident I felt nauseous with stomach ache, I was running to the loo every hour (mostly false alarms but occasionally being sick too) and couldn’t keep food down which made me feel weak and tired. So I’ve rang in sick for tonight too.

Problem is I’ve got 2 weeks holiday starting Monday but I’m hoping that by the time that’s over the worst of it will pass as I will be 10-11 weeks (not sure on date yet). I am going away on Monday so I’m worried about whether I’d get fallout from that but sitting in a holiday park where I can lie down when I want is surely better than trying to work a 12 hour night shift. My works policy says not to count pregnancy sickness towards your record so hopefully they can’t hold it against me.

I just feel like a fraud as if everyone expects you to get on with it! Any advice? Anyone else done something similar?

I've just started my own thread about this OP. I know exactly how you feel. I'm due back at work tomorrow but I don't think I can do it, I feel too ill. Yet I feel so guilty about it.

Something I keep trying to tell myself is that if I was this ill with a virus/stomach bug/food poisoning I wouldn't think twice about calling in sick. For some reason just because it's pregnancy we tell ourselves we should be able to cope which makes no sense really.

It’s not just your work policy it’s the law that they can’t count pregnancy related sickness against you.

If your struggling go and see the GP. There are safe medications you can take.

If you’re feeling that sick you need to rest. Listen to your body. I was the same and for some reason thought I should just carry on as normally as possible because ‘it’s just pregnancy symptoms’ but I ended up sent to hospital because I had pushed myself so far. If you’re sick, you’re sick. Go to the GP, tell them and you should get something for it. Also, don’t count on it stopping anytime soon. Sickness in pregnancy is different for all. Mine lasted until about 16 weeks but others have had it throughout. Good luck and hope your holiday is restful.

Hi there - I know what you mean! I was signed off sick for a total of 6 weeks with pregnancy related sickness (GP even thought I might have HG) - I felt like a total fraud on the days that I could get myself up, brush my teeth and make something to eat (which wasn't often) but I had to remind myself of the days when I couldn't even drink water for feeling nauseous! Don't feel too bad - we're growing babies and that's amazing :) tbh I'm now considering taking a few days off with sheer exhaustion (commuting into London, busy and long work days) - starting to feel like a fraud but I honestly can't function anymore so might just do it. How you get some respite from the sickness! :)

I worked as a carer for a week with horrendous sickness before going to my GP and getting medication and being signed off. I ended up having 4 weeks signed off then a weeks pre-booked holiday straight after. The medication helped slow down the sickness, I was vomiting 20+ times a day before it and couldn't keep down fluids, but it made me extremely drowsy.
Given the nature of your job, do they know that you're pregnant? Once they know it is pregnancy related they can't hold sickness against your record. Don't feel guilty. Some people fly through pregnancy but when nausea/vomiting is that bad it's impossible to just "get on with it". I would advise trying to see your GP in the morning before you go away to get some medication. Even if you don't want to take it now, it may be handy to have with you on holiday. Then review when you get back before returning to work.
I really hope it eases quickly for you

Not a fraud. Totally understand the guilt, but keep reminding yourself, it’s misplaced. Sickness isn’t dependent on circumstance. Pregnancy sickness isn’t magically easier than a tummy bug. Quite simply if you’re sick, you’re sick, with the added element being if you’re sick due to pregnancy then your employer must treat it differently from normal sickness absence to avoid disadvantaging you/leading to disciplinary as a result of being pregnant.

FWIW I’m now entering my 7th month off sick from work so I’ve been there and back with this internal debate (hyperemesis)

Echoing other posts here.
Not a fraud at all - it can be very debilitating.
I've been off for a few months now with it and I'm hoping the sickness will just go by now.
It feels like it's been going on forever.

I hope you feel better soon!

I took 3 days with bad sickness but this was before I notified my employer.
Have you notified your employer of the pregnancy? If not, they'll count it as normal sick leave (obviously, they're not mind readers).

I have notified them that I’m pregnant and when I called in sick I specifically said ‘I’m off sick with nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy’ to the colleague who took the call as they have to right word for word what I call in with so I’m sure the message got through.

I’ve decided though so that I can take my annual leave and not get bollocked for going away that I’ll ring today and tell them I’m fit for work as my next shift isn’t until almost 3 weeks from now. I’m going to speak to my manager this morning though and she’s very fair and approachable.