PGP Hell

[anonnancy]

Hello all.

Just a general moan (again) really.

Currently 27 weeks and signed off work with crippling Pelvic Girdle Pain.. been signed off since 25 weeks... my fit note runs out next week and I'm due back at work on Tuesday, however I feel that I am even worse than I was when I was initially signed off and the thought of trying to do a week back at work is making me feel so worked up and anxious.

I work in an office however I am constantly up-and-down from my desk throughout the day. I can barely get on and off the toilet at the moment without nearly crying from the pain. I'm walking hunched over as it hurts to stand up straight and I'm struggling to weight bear on my left side.

My question is, will my GP do a new fit note without seeing me? The only reason I ask is that I cannot drive due to the pain and my GP surgery is about 40 min walk from my house (walking at my normal fast pace!) so walking is not an option!

I have seen a women's health physio and waiting for a follow up appointment as the exercises she shown me haven't really worked/helped .... All the things she suggested are things I was already doing anyway and have not made a difference.

I feel so miserable and low as I'm just stuck at home unable to do anything apart from get in and out of bed to hobble to the toilet (which in itself is a huge challenge). I feel like I'm losing my dignity as can't care for myself I.e. get in and out of a bath myself (need help from partner), I can't do the food shop by myself or get dressed by myself (I can but takes ages and with a lot of pain). I can't do any of the housework such as hoovering or ironing or cooking or walk my dogs twice a day (having to rely on neighbour for one walk and other half for the other!) as that becomes too much of a strain on my back/pelvis. The only thing that seems to not have me climbing the walls in agony is lying on my left side with my pregnancy pillow stuffed between my legs...

Before this PGP kicked in I was relatively active and a "do-er", I did the cleaning and cooking at home, went to work and walked my dogs, so going from having such an active lifestyle to being able to do absolutely nothing has really taken it's toll on my mental health.

I really want to try and get back to work before I go on Mat leave in December, as I do enjoy my job! I just feel that right now I'm in no position to be doing what I do whilst in so much pain (I work in a hospital), all I can think about it how much pain I'm in all the time! Argh!

My doctor signed me off until my maternity kicks in for PGP at 32 weeks over the phone. I didn't need to go in (had seen a doctor already!). If you can afford it try a chiropractor. That has helped me manage the pain much more effectively than the physio. I wish you all the best to getting back to work. However, and without trying to sound negative, my experience so far is that it just gets worse every week I get bigger and heavier.

@LighteningRidge I wish I could afford a chiro or an osteopath. I've read that they have worked wonders for some women who are suffering. Unfortunately my disposable income wouldn't stretch for private treatment. I can't really afford to be off sick but there's just no way I can even get into work never mind do a shift.

I have noticed over the past 48-72 hours my pain has gotten worse especially in the front of my pelvis and groin area (previously it was my tailbone and SIJ that were more painful).

Ive had SPD/PGP since 8 weeks and same with my 1st pregnancy. I took 2 weeks off work and when i came back it got so much worse, i couldnt drive, walk or function normally. I work 56 hours a week, i got reduced hours to 44 and im much better in the day but still awful at night. Ive got 3 weeks off coming up soon and im dreading the return to work because i know going back to sitting down 8-10 hours a day is going to make my pain go through the roof again

Have you tried ice packs? My chiro suggested that and it does help but I'll be honest it only helps for a bit. I personally am struggling sleeping on my sides and having to get up in the night to move around. I really think you ought to go back to your doctor's and push for further treatment.

Try to take one day as it comes and manage what you can. It is difficult for mental health as I know you just want to feel better again. I am the same as a doer and I feel useless. But you need to think of your health and that of your baby's too.

Are you NHS? I'm a civil servant and I get full sick pay until 36 weeks when my maternity leave starts. It is worth checking. You cannot be discriminated against for pregnancy related sick.

Why can't your GP refer to a chiropractor, made an amazing difference to me!

Only find a really good/recommended one.

Also, do you have family that would help out financially, like paying half for the initial consult? Also, ask the chiro whether they would be able to 'do' anything around charges.

To be fixed for the rest of your pregnancy wil be soon worth it, believe me! Hope you can find a way to be out of pain and its knock on effects soon.

I seriously believe if this was something men routinely suffered from, as women have, there would be a proper solution by now.

@Sleepycat91 wow kudos to you, I don't think I'd have managed if it had started that early! I feel totally miserable and debilitated by the pain.

@LighteningRidge yes I work in the NHS. I get 1 month full pay and 2 months 1/2 pay, as per the sickness policy for my length of service. It doesn't say anything different about sick pay for pregnancy apart from that pregnancy related illness doesn't affect my sickness record. I think the pay is still the same if I weren't pregnant.

It feels good to have people who can relate to the pain rather than trying to explain it to friends and family who don't really understand as I often feel they give "sympathy" but I get the impression they think I'm
Over reacting !

Apologies if you already are but make sure you are taking paracetamol and ask gp if they can prescribe other pain relief. You can get a support band as well and crutches might help. What you are describing sounds severe - can you cut back on something else to afford a chiropractor session?

Do tell your family and friends how bad it is and outright ask for help, you need financial help or you won't be able to even work.

They can't not take that seriously. You need to tell them and get serious help.

@fruitpastille I am taking regular paracetamol, have a support band for my bump etc but have been told by physio not to wear the support all the time as it will make my muscles relax too much and could make me worse in the long run... but I'm waiting for a further appointment to see them again and going to ask for some crutches to try and help support my weight.

I can't cut back on anything financially, without going into details about my finances, we just don't have the funds at this particular moment in time..

@Smotheroffive I can't ask for financial help from my friends. I don't really have that close relationship with anyone to ask for financial help. Asking parents is an option but I hate to be a burden after being financially independent for so long, and things are tight with them too at the moment due to reasons I don't wish to share.

I have told my mum, partner etc how bad I feel and even broke down the other day because I was just so fed up. Mum cried with me as she doesn't like to see me upset!

I think the only option for me would be to go on MAT leave earlier than I anticipated which I really didn't want to do, but if it's the only way I can afford to live whilst
I'm in this pain then so be it....

I'm going to ring my GP this afternoon and ask the receptionist what the protocol is for getting a further sick note and see what she says!