Desperate for advice

[Tooshyshy123]

Hi please forgive the ramble but this is the 1st time I've put this in writing.
I'm having serious problems at work (public sector, nursing, been there for just under 4 years).
I have just found out that a colleague has been bad mouthing me behind my back and has been doing so for a while. I was devastated as I thought we got on well. After speaking to him and other colleagues it seems like there has been loads of gossiping behind my back and venting about me. I didn't feel I could go to my line manager as he is good friends with one of these colleagues who has also been talking about me wife.
I did not know where to turn so spoke informally to a union rep who advised me to contact hr to seek advice.
I decided not to but asked if we could have a team chat and loads of grievances about me came out about my behaviour and attitude which I vehemently rebuke..some downright lies which luckily others were able to back me up on.

I did then decide to speak to team leader who basically took the others side and said lots of things that upset me.
He wants us as a team to do some work together but made it clear he saw me as the problem..to say I was devastated was an understatement.
Throwaway comments made to colleagues in group conversations have been twisted and repeated back to manager who is now angry and frustrated with me too. I have asked for mediation but am now terrified I am going to get sacked...my stomach is churning and I've been sick all night. This was my dream job and I worked hard to get my degree..please help

Sorry, my main accuser and HIS wife..

Even more reason to stick to doing things by the book and staying in line with HR and your union.

That team sounds bad and examples like this may be the reason - mixing business with pleasure. It'll all come out in the end

how did this all pan out op?

Hi thanks for asking. I went to an informal mediation meeting with my original 'accuser' but I was able to take my union rep with me as I was so stressed. The mediator was great and she was really fair and seemed to get to the heart of the issues pretty quickly.
It was clear that he came into the meeting aiming to stick the boot in against me. Accusing me of things I hadn't done (which I could prove) and loads of other things. I think because he didn't get his way, he stormed out of the session and refused to come back. Hr have also spoken to my line manager about boundaries and treating people who aren't in his friendship group, the same as those who are.
Ultimately, my original accuser and a couple of others have had informal warnings about gossiping, lying and generally unprofessional behaviour.
I'm ok now, not great but ok. I'm exhausted and a bit jittery but I know I'll be OK. I'm still not 100% sure why it all happened and why these people turned against me and I'm worried about what they have said about me to others but all I can do for the time being is to do my shifts and go home to my family.
Thank you all for your help and support, you will never know how much it meant to me.