Worried about being ill so often

[Sohardtochooseausername]

Hello. I’ve been in my current job for just over a year. It’s a great job although it can be stressful at times and there is a lot of travel.

I’ve got very run down with the stress and the travel and in April I got an asthma relapse which led to numerous recurrent chest infections and asthma attacks.

I’ve been off work sick over the year for 17 days and after the 14th day was told that I’d be on SSP any other time I’m off sick.

I’m now sick again, been off all this week, going to the doctor this afternoon and I reckon she will suggest I take another couple of weeks off to rest.

I feel so tired and exhausted a lot of the time I can barely think straight.

I wish I could get better so I could do this role justice. It’s got so much potential. I’ve taken easier jobs in the past so my health is good but I get bored.

I guess I’m scared about not getting paid, about looking weak to my colleagues, about admitting that I do have a problem. I wish I could get better. I feel so bad, I am letting people at work down.

I guess I just wanted to vent here, and find out if anyone else has been in a similar situation? How did you cope?

Can you ask the GP to do some blood tests? To see if there’s anything underlying. I was generally run down when I had a B12 deficiency. Now I have regular injections I’m seldom ill.

Katkin, thanks I hadn’t actually thought of doing that. I had some done this time last year and they were all fine but a lot has changed, so you’re right, I will ask the doc today.

Yes very similar and was diagnosed with M.E./CFS although haven't had any time off, i have fought through the pitfalls. I started my job in May, was diagnosed in June and struggled through with no support from line manager who seems to blame my house move and commute (30 mintues each way) she actually thought now i had moved house (did it over Christmas) I should feel much better and be fully recovered.

Hope you feel better soon but don't beat yourself up over it. You're ill and need time to properly recover.

Ooh misshannah I’m sorry to hear you have ME/CFS. I’ve had similar bouts of this in the past, usually when I’ve been in more demanding jobs that require lots of travel and pressure.

I have never been told I’ve ME/CFS bit have wondered from time to time. Usually it’s put down to asthma and viruses and not taking good enough care of myself. I’m going to ask the dr what I should do.

I’m the same. In the 9 months I’ve been with my employer, I’ve had days off for a chest infection and tonsillitis and on antibiotics. I’ve also had two weeks off with a fracture! Really not much we can do about these things - if we see the GP or get signed off work. It’s not like we are having odd days off skiving!

In a previous job I was off for 6 weeks 2 months after I started with a broken foot! Nothing I could do about it!

Well, I went to the dr yesterday and cried a lot. She got me set up for blood tests and a chat with the asthma nurse today.

Story goes, people who are run down and stressed and have asthma get viruses much worse than other people and there’s nothing to be done about it.

I’m now on heavy duty steroids and I’ve got some new inhalers to try so maybe I’ll feel a bit better next week. Still just feel broken though.

I’m freaking out about not working because my partner lost his job just before Christmas and now I’m on ssp... but I guess we just need to tighten our belts and take each day as it comes till I am better.

I’m sorry to hear that, I hope you feel better soon.

I know it’s a bit crappy but there really is nothing you can do about it.
You are genuinely ill.

Is your work being supportive?

OP I would have a detailed conversation with the asthma nurse rather than haring down the path of CF etc etc as for a person with asthma who has recurrent chest infections a tweak to your medication is likely to be the most useful course. Interesting that you say your problems began in April as that is early pollen season. Have you noticed a spike around then before?

Redphone in April I was completely medication free and had been for 2 years - then I was sent to London for work on a tricky project and the plane trees set me off. Where I live I don’t really get hay fever but in London it’s awful! I’d forgotten and the project was an interesting challenge so the flare up hit me like a truck.

I’m to see the asthma nurse again in 2 weeks if this calms down, or I’m to see a gp if I get worse.

I’ve just got to be patient. I know I can live without asthma if I don’t do stupid things like hang around the wrong trees in spring and keep away from people with viruses... easier said than done.

Work are being ok, I’m the one beating myself up for being sick.

Ah right. You poor thing. London is a pisser for asthma sufferers because of course you've got the pollution as well. It sounds like whatever medication you've been given hasn't really got on top of things after that initial bad episode and that's why you're going downhill so rapidly whenever you get a virus.

I would sit down and try to write a time line - what were you taking, when did it get worse, what was the short term treatment for that, did it help, how long did it take to help - etc. Then go and see your GP and ask to be referred to a consultant. You've been ill on and off for eight months so clearly the treatment you've been getting needs to be looked at and and an asthma specialist can do that.

Also, have you looked at the Asthma UK website? There's lots of information on there as well as forums and they have a helpline that is staffed by asthma nurses so they really know what they're talking about. They could run you through medication options.

But really you need to speak to someone with a detailed history of all this, have a spirometry test done to see what's going on with your lungs and get a proper asthma plan in place - what your peak flow should be, when to increase your medication, when to see a doctor etc. It really does help to have that rather than fire fighting when you hit crisis point which it sounds like is what's been going on.

Redphone - thank you, I will.

I’m not the most patient or compliant patient so some of the problem may be the half used steroid inhalers and full packets of prednisolone in my sock drawer. I’ve suffered terrible hoarse voice from all the meds and that doesn’t work in a job where I have to talk to groups of people all day. Spacer and gargling makes no difference. So as soon as the crisis is over I stop he steroids. I expect I’m not alone, especially as it inhibits my performance at work even when I am well. I’m seeing the point of doing as I’m told though. I will follow the prescriptions to the letter now though, as this is awful. The hoarseness I will have to work out somehow when I am well.

I also think I’ve got run down and stressed so I’m spending a lot of time reading about how to eat better and lifestyle changes I could consider. My partner lost his job just before Christmas and we have had a hard year. I’ve also been travelling for work a lot which is a strain.

I think your body is trying to tell you something and maybe you need to make some real changes. Your health must come first.

I think you are right Ijustlovefood.