Hi there. I am 47 and got pg in Jan and had a medical abortion in March, after my DH made it very clear that the pg was unwanted by him, and that if I continued with it our family life would be over.
After the op I had a week of work and told them I had had an operation for fibroids. I really didn't know what else to say and was too upset to think of much else.
I had been dealing with the decision to have an abortion, despite being surrounded by pregnant colleagues, but the last few weeks (around about what would have been my due date) I have begun to fall apart. I feel really terrible, lost, out of control, angry, and really sad. I really feel like I need some time off work, as I'm having real trouble functioning, and just want to hide under a rock somewhere.
I have applied for unpaid leave, and it has been granted. I have told my manager that it's because I had a miscarriage early in the year and the due date is around now. I didn't really have to tell her, but it felt like she wanted to know my reasons were enough to give me the time off IYSWIM. So I now feel bad about lying. I did want my baby, but had no real option of keeping it, and I feel like my grieving for it, and the way I feel would be similar. (I have never had a miscarriage, so forgive me if I am speaking out of line).
So today I am expected to go and talk to my manager about it - what do I say? I don't want sympathy, I just want some time off. I hate lying and it is just contributing to my feeling of hopelessness and anxiety.
Any help you can give would be appreciated.