Sick note epilepsy /pregnancy

[ldgso]

I have epilepsy (mainly awareness seizures rather than physical fits, although I have had a fit in a previous pregnancy).

Seizures were controlled for 4 years until I got pregnant with my 3rd baby.

Seizures started again as soon as I got pregnant. I worked until I was 15 weeks pregnant when I started having the seizures whilst in work too. I then asked for a sick note and have been off for 6 weeks so far.

I have a few days of feeling great, then will have a week or more of several awareness seizures a day. I’ve had up to 5 in one day. They make me completely exhausted, confused, can’t make sense of everything, do everything wrong etc. so I tend to have one good week, one bad week and it just repeats.

The seizures are triggered by pregnancy, tiredness and stress. I have been sleeping for 2 hours a day. When I tried to limit this, I had seizures again within 2 days. I’m basically exhausted all the time from them.

I’ve had quite a few messages from people I work with (not management), asking when I’m going back to work or if I can work from home if I’m not feeling great etc. I’ve also had friends say can’t I work part time from home and then sleep in the afternoons.

I feel like everyone thinks I’m over egging it or it’s not a bad enough reason for me to be off? I had an appointment with the neurologist who says he won’t be increasing medication further and I will have to accept the seizures until I have the baby.

I know that going back to work will make them even worse. The lack of sleep and the natural stresses of work will obviously increase them. I’m just trying to look after myself, make sure I don’t have a fit and survive the pregnancy.

The only time I take sick leave is when I have a sick bug. I’m not the sort of person who takes the piss, but it feels like everyone thinks I am??

I have no experience of seizures but I do know that pregnancy can stress the body so much. Only you know your body and what you need, other people making comments is unhelpful and unnecessary.

If people from work are bugging you about coming back, go straight to HR.

I know how hard it is because I'm like you and have a tendency to assume people will be thinking badly of me/feeling guilty and doubting myself. But OF COURSE you have a valid reason to be off and as long as your doctor is happy to continue your sick note there is absolutely nothing your employer/colleagues can do about it.
My SIL has epilepsy and I know she found it incredibly tough in both her pregnancies.
When it comes down to it bugger what anyone thinks - if any of them actually don't think it's a valid reason then so what - that's their ignorance! I wonder if most of them actually just would like to have you back because you're good! I have colleagues who've had to go off for the full 9 months with HG - pregnancy is a crazy time and organisations have a legal responsibility to deal with sometimes long absences due to illness in pregnancy.
Rest, put on the kettle, relax. You've done nothing wrong and work will be there when you're ready for it! Xxx

Definitely contact HR about this. Colleagues shouldn't be hounding you to return to work if you have a sick paper.
(If they are friends and are concerned about your well being then that's fair enough, but in no way should they be asking you to work).

It’s I inappropriate for people who aren’t your managers to be messaging you. It’s absolutely none of their business why you are off, when you are coming back or how you make any of it work. Or even if you are able to. Do they know why you are off? Have you told them why you are off? Has anyone else told them?

If you need to be off for pregnancy induced reasons then that’s it. You don’t need anymore stress. And your colleagues certainly shouldn’t be harassing you in this way.

Not sure why your friends are so bothered either. Why does it matter to them?

Please just do what is right for you and your baby. You can continue on sick pay. But if work can’t offer you reasonable adjustments for you to fulfil your current role then they really either need to offer you an alternative role during the pregnancy or suspend you on full pay until your mat leave kicks in (which would potentially be at 36 weeks).

I think you may need new friends and i'd also mention it to your HR/manager about these messages. It isn't on.
I'm close to someone with epilepsy and when she has a seizure(thankfully not often) it can take it out of her for a week. Plus she often bites her tongue so cant speak.
You are doing the right thing. Look after yourself because epilepsy can kill and people forget that.