How long off work?

[Flight828]

I had a medical termination last week. I phoned in sick to work on Wednesday and Thursday as I was expecting things to happen. I was bleeding but things didn’t really happen until Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. I think have passed some big clots and I’m still bleeding heavily. It is manageable.

I wasn’t due to work Friday to Monday and I’m due back to work today. I am not feeling brilliant physically but also emotionally it has really hit me since Sunday. I don’t regret my decision but I’m weepy and down. I deal with members of the public who are suffering trauma (don’t want to give too much away) and I just can’t face it.

I now need a doctors note to be off but I worry I call to ask my doctor and they say no as this is my doing! I haven’t been off work sick before and never had a sick note. I just need a few more days to process it all.

Has anyone done this before? Should I just get on with it and pull myself together

Thanks

Your doctor's will give you a sick note. Take the time if you need it.

Do you think I can ask them not to put termination but some other wording ? I feel so anxious to call my GP about this

Feeling anxious seems normal but your GP isn’t going to judge you for this. Putting the word termination on your sick note seems wholly inappropriate. It seems more relevant that they write something about your mental health. You can explain to yourself employer that “something has happened” in your personal life without going into detail, if you think that might help? (And assuming you’ve got a good relationship with a caring employer!)

Sending love your way btw OP just because “this was your doing” doesn’t mean you can’t be sad or give yourself time to process what has happened. I certainly wouldn’t tell you to “pull yourself together”.

They will likely just put 'gynae' or something else vague. They did when I had a miscarriage. Nobody is judging you. Sorry you're having a tough time

My GP put "miscarriage" on my sicknote when I had one but at my request - if I hadn't wanted it they would have quite willingly put "stress" or even "virus". They won't judge at all. They've heard it all before, I promise you

Thanks everyone. I think it’s the hormones crashing today and I just feel overwhelmed by it all. I will give them a call later on today