Feeling completely blah

[sphr57]

Hi all,

I'm just wondering how people are coping with exhaustion. I'm 14 weeks, a primary school teacher and I have an underlying neurological condition.

Since going back I've had three different bugs and I'm constantly exhausted.

I really don't know what to do as I just about feel well enough to work but I'm constantly having to cancel plans and can't keep up with housework etc. Which is making me grumpy and a nugget to live with!

I suppose I'm looking for advice from anyone else on how they've managed.

Thanks.

16+3 weeks with a neuromuscular condition. I have given in and had 3 days off this week. Plan to get signed off tomorrow until half term.

My lessons are not great (secondary), I’m exhausted and in pain. It’s effecting my home life, my home and my mental health. Enough is enough. I want to be in front of my students as much as I can and I know if I keep pushing myself whilst I’m on this ‘I can just about cope’ ledge, then at some point I’ll snap and be off for a lot longer.

Teacher guilt is AWFUL but you need to put yourself and baby first for once xx

Thanks for this - I think this is how I'm feeling. I feel like I'm not doing anything well which is so hard. I feel like I'm an elastic band about to snap. I know I'm not teaching my best, but teacher guilt is the absolute worst thing in the world.

My gut feeling is telling me to get signed off but I just feel like I'm letting everyone down. I hope you're feeling better soon x

I snapped last weekend. I ended up sobbing uncontrollably telling my DF to leave and I’d terminate the pregnancy. I love my DF dearly and this is a very much wanted baby. So completely irrational. I felt ‘better’ on Monday, cried during most of my PPA, shouted at students who just needed a firm slightly raised voice, cried through lunch and then when I got home my DF literally put me in bed. Hence I stayed off Tues-Thurs. Fri I went back, students were okay, cover work was okay, and actually all that happened was I taught awful lessons and nearly crashed my car with exhaustion on the way home. BUT it was enough to show me that school carried on without me. Will also never forgive myself if I fell (neuro) or did anything that harms the baby.

Please do take some time off, even if you just take a few days off and see how you feel. This growing a baby thing is HARD, let alone when you have 30 children who don’t belong to you to look after. Teacher guilt is horrendous, but it’s nothing compared to what may happen if you push yourself too far.

Do PM me if you want to connect lovely xx

Take some time off. The autumn term is always a killer for catching bugs.
As for stuff at home. Make a list of what actually needs to be done and only to that. Make sure your oh is pulling their weight and if you can afford it get a cleaner!

This sounds entirely normal & i appreciate how you feel, however it does get worse so unless you're planning on being signed off until you give birth I would look into other ways of coping. Sorry to be harsh! Early nights, a good diet , rest during weekends, hiring a cleaner if you can afford one - as a starter for 10. If you feel well enough to work, continue to work. You are not expected to continue to socialise, exercise or whatever you do outside of work, to the same degree as you did pre-pregnancy so don't pressure yourself.

Do bear in mind OP has a neurological condition which makes pregnancy even harder to cope with than if your neurological system works normally.

Thanks for all of your advice. I think that's the key that @Keyboard91 a side effect of my condition is chronic fatigue, so I'm always tired, pregnancy exhaustion on top everything is so tiring to the point where I just want to cry and my eyes hurt all day trying to stay awake.

I do agree that it will get harder and I'm completely expecting that, which is why I don't want to go off long term now.

I really appreciate all of the responses I guess the doctor will know what's best. Xx

@Keyboard91 it's be lovely to - only I've not quite worked out private messaging just yet! Feel free to message me! 🙈🙈

Have sent you a message @sphr57, there will be a little red notification at the top if you’re on the website. It won’t show in the app I don’t think xx

Teaching is exhausting at the best of times! I'm 14 weeks tomorrow and had to have the first 2 weeks of term off with sickness and I'm still trying to catch up.
I don't agree that you need to find ways to cope. It sounds like you've been ill and are now really run down so taking a couple of days off until you feel better is entirely reasonable. There's no point pushing yourself then having to go off for a longer time.
Also could you afford a cleaner? My DH works really long hours but spent hours cleaning yesterday while I did my planning and had a long nap. I was just looking at one earlier that's £12 an hour so I think we might go for it for a couple of hours a week.
As others have said, teacher guilt is awful but they will cope without you and no one will thank you for dragging yourself in when you need to rest.
Hope you feel better soon xx