Chest infection & sick leave

[IKnowAPlace]

I've developed a chest infection (suspect bacterial bronchitis) this week - I'm on annual leave but have been in bed since Tuesday. I had a chest infection in December and was really unwell but "ploughed through" with work.

I'm thinking about waiting until I've recovered to go back this time. It could take 2-3 weeks.

Is this reasonable? I've always been a bit of a workaholic and wouldn't have taken time off for something like this, but I do feel really terrible.

Been there, done that. I ignored that annoying bad cold (swine flu!!!!) and persevered on at work for 8 weeks until the bronchitis floored me. DO NOT carry on - I was four weeks off sick and learned my lesson. Stop now. Allow yourself to recover. It takes as long as it takes.

You might fall into a cycle of chronic infections if you don’t recover fully. I was like this in my late 20s, I just kept going and working through. I got so bad my manager asked me to go to the doctor and then I was referred to hospital to check if I had lung cancer! I didn’t, but the coughing was so bad people literally thought I might be dying . I can laugh about it now 😆

Give yourself two weeks off. And then rest, sleep, drink endless herbal teas and chicken bone broth soups. Use steam inhalations and take extra vitamin supplements. Avoid milky foods.

I think I'll call my GP tomorrow and stock up on lots of healthy foods. I ended up doing an uber grocery order tonight for chicken soups, herbal teas and ice lollies!

I've had a dental abcess, which I think has caused these respiratory symptoms and I'm in my fourth day of antibiotics for that. I thought I'd be feeling much better by now. Not totally sure on the where the care lies between my dentist and GP on this.