Signed off sick from work with Hyperemisis. Advice needed.

[PumpkinPieSlice]

I'm around 14 weeks pregnant and have been suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum since 5 weeks pregnant. I started medication at around 7 weeks pregnant and have had to change medications a couple of times and up the dose but at the moment the combinations of medications I'm on is helping in that I'm not vomiting every day, more like every other day but I still feel cripplingly nauseous all the time which makes it hard to want to drink or eat much and leaves me not functioning at 100%.. more like 40% at the moment.
I find the more I physically exert myself in a day the worse I will feel by the late afternoon.
I have a 6 year old with a disability that I care for so its been a real struggle feeling so unwell and juggling caring for my child.
Thankfully the GP signed me off from work which has been a godsend as I have no idea how I would physically be able to work.
I work as a housekeeper and it's busy season at the moment so very fast paced and very hot.
Even with how I'm feeling now while on medication I don't see how I would be able to cope in my job.

My employer are asking me when I will be back to work as its busy and they need to plan the rotas. I understand how frustrating this is for them but I'm afraid to say I'll be back at such and such a date when realistically I don't know when I will be feeling better.

I feel guilty to ask my GP to extend my sick note but I honestly don't think I will be able to go back and carry on like I did before I was pregnant as I still feel so unwell.
Would I be able to ask for some kind of adjustments to be made for me? Although I'm not sure of what.

I don't know what the policy is for pregnant women. Does anyone have any knowledge or advice on this?

You have to stay off on sick, but it does mean that your employer can force you start your maternity leave as soon as it’s able instead if you waiting for a date of you choosing.

I actually won't receive maternity leave as far as I know as I am a registered carer for my son so can't claim both at the same time. I work only part time and don't earn enough to even qualify for sick pay. I wanted to be able to work up until when I would leave so that i could save money as I won't be getting maternity pay but things haven't worked out that way unfortunately. I didn't anticipate getting this unwell as I wasn't anywhere near this bad in my previous pregnancy.

HG is awful. I had it with my first pregnancy.

I was off from early pregnancy, forced into early maternity leave, and then after it was all done, I left the company anyway. It’s a hard and horrible condition. I’m sorry you have to suffer, especially whilst coping with a child already. Least I could lay in bed and suffer in peace

It has been really awful! Even now when I'm not physically vomiting as much, feeling so nauseous all day and all night is equally rubbish!

Have you been hospitalised with it yet? Just be aware that they could happen.

You get dehydrated from vomiting and need to go on a drip. I went 4 times in the first 20 weeks

Firstly, I am so sorry you are struggling through HG. I really hope you begin to feel better soon.
I am a GP and would have no reservations about extending your fit note. As part of the fit note, the GP has to sign you are either not fit for work OR may be fit for work if following recommendations are followed (and then list some, e.g amended hours, amended duties). For example you may want to consider when you first go back you doing half days to see how you manage before doing full days?
Having said that, I have known friends/ patients who have needed months and months off. Unfortunately, you might not be able to give your employer much of an idea yet.

Hi @PumpkinPieSlice I was off for 8 weeks in both pg with HG. It's rubbish. Even with medication, all that really had an impact was intravenous cyclizine, which I had to be in hospital for. Of those 2 stints off work with HG, I was in hospital for about half the time.

Do you know that pregnancy related sickness must be recorded seperately and cannot be used against you? This is under The Maternity Act. Your HR team should know about this, but do not be scared of taking the time you need. I realise that that is easier said than done if you don't qualify for sick leave.

PSS can help with medical, emotional and practical support, Maternity Action can help with legal advice.

Hang in there x

Thank you for your replies. Some helpful information here. I've not been hospitalised as thankfully I started medication early which managed to get on top of the vomiting.

Vomiting is not my main concern although it is unpleasant when it happens, its mainly the constant severe nausea and also the side effects from the medication I'm taking. They make me quite drowsy. It's just so hard to imagine how I'm going to manage a busy fast paced physical job when I feel like this.

But I just feel pressured to go back to work as I know they are busy and probably really pissed off with me for being off as I know many people struggle to understand that HG is different to standard morning sickness so I'm sure they are thinking I'm being dramatic.

But its not like I'm getting paid to be off, I don't get any sick pay or anything, I just honestly can't work when I'm like this.

Hi, i was the exact same as you. I was signed off work for 2 weeks at the beginning when it was the worse but it didn't get much better throughout the pregnancy. I remember i had to crawl upstairs because i had that little energy from not being able to eat.
When i went to the doctors she basically just told me to just get on with it.
I was on anti sickness tablets but they didn't do much.I was still being sick leading up to giving birth. They gave me an anti sickness injection when i was in hospital (had to be induced so a bit of waiting around) that was the best thing that worked, wish i had that instead of trying everything else.
Good Luck x

Why aren't you getting sick pay? You should be if you're signed off.

You should at least get statutory sick pay (which is push)

You can absolutely ask for reasonable accomodations if you want to go back but think it will be too much. they should be doing a risk assessment with you anyway.
That could be reduced hours, only working certain parts of the job etc.

You can always go back on a trial bases and leave if it's too much,

Pregnancy is a protected characteristic and they are required by law to make reasonable accomodations for you. It does sound like you might be too sick to work but if you want to try you are entitled to as for adjustments

My friend had hyperemesis with her first and it was a lot better by 22 weeks so I hope yours doesn't last the whole pregnancy

Also worth checking whether your entitled to universal credit when you're off after baby (or even now)

As far as I understand I can't get statutory sick pay as I earn just under the minimum earning limit. Due to being a carer for my son I can only earn so much so that's why I'm under the minimum earnings limit.
Even so, its still a big chunk of my wage to be losing while being off sick but there is just nothing I can do about it.
I still struggle just to go out and do the shopping as I feel so sick all the time.
I had planned on saving up while I was working until I left to have the baby but things haven't worked out that way. I am hoping that it may ease off as other people have said around 18-20 weeks in which case I may be able to go back to work for the remainder of my pregnancy and save some money.

That's why I don't want to just quit my job now because I may find I'm feeling better at some point. Its just now that I'm not capable of work but I am feeling the pressure to return.

Hey! How are you feeling now?
Im suffering from HG too, 23 weeks pregnant and can completely relate to the debilitating nausea as I’m still suffering with it now and have been off work for around 3 months now.
I stopped vomiting after 12 weeks, probably due to the medication I’m taking and managed to not vomit since but it’s the nausea that’s completely wiping me out!