Anyone been signed off work fairly early (around 26/27 weeks)?

[MummytoSummer]

Hey everyone,

As the title says really, I'm just wondering if anyone else has been signed off work this early? And if so what for?

I'm 26 and a half weeks and have been suffering with spd and PGP for weeks now and been seeing a physio for treatment once a week which in all honesty isn't helping much at all.

I've been off work this week (the first time during this pregnancy) as it's been unbearable pain and I can't bear any weight on my left leg. Basically my left hip is misaligned and shifts upwards out of place which is what causes my pain. Each week my physio works the muscle etc all back down but it barely lasts a day before it's agony again.

Anyway after my physio session yesterday she suggested I visit my gp, which I did today. My gp was lovely, really sympathetic. She wants me to call my physio tomorrow and ask about being given a support belt and crutches. She also wants to sign me off for the remainder of my pregnancy. Right now ive said no to that as I just feel too guilty. I don't know why, I just feel like they'll think I'm being a hypocondriact (sp) and that I'm just trying to get out of working. I only do a desk job so I'm sure they won't see why I can't manage a few more weeks at work. I am in so much pain and struggle every minute of every day to get comfortable whether I'm sitting, laying, standing or walking.

My gp has also said she's happy to sign me off for as long as I want, whether it be til the end or just another week or two I just have to call her and let her know what I want to do. I'm really torn.

My due date is 19th February and my maternity leave was due to start on 30th January with a bit of annual leave before, making my last working day 18th or 19th January. I work part time 18.5 hours a week.

Now I know that if I'm off sick with a pregnancy related illness in the 4 weeks before my due date then my maternity leave will start automatically but to be honest it wouldn't be starting that much earlier than I'd planned anyway so I'm not worried about that. But IF I do decide to get signed off what do I do about the 25 hours or so of annual leave I still have to take?

Do I work 4 weeks back from my due date then add a week and a day or so on for my leave and get signed off up to then, or do I ask to effectively take the leave now and then get signed off up to the 4 weeks before my due date? Becauseif I tag the annual leave immediately before the 4 weeks before my due date and get signed off up to then, then effectively I won't be off sick within those 4 weeks if you see what I mean?

Sorry, that is so confusing, I'm not even sure I understand what I've written!

I guess I'm just wanting to know if there is anyone else in a situation like mine? My employers have been great up to now but I know they're short staffed and it doesn't help that there was another pregnant girl in my office who managed up to 35 weeks with a bad back etc and I just think they'll compare me to her and how I should be able to cope.

Also if I do get signed off do I still go along to my work Christmas meal which I've paid for or is that just totally taking the pi$$?

I wish I didn't care about my employers so much, I don't really know why I do, it's not a fantastic job or anything, it's just something I do!

Thanks if you managed to get this far without falling asleep and sorry for a little bit of a moan!

X

 

[victorial8]

I have been signed off since about 18 weeks with SPD. It's bloody agony and my doctor told me last week she was going to sign me off till my maternity leave starts. I found out when I wanted to start my leave, just took off the holidays from that (so due to take mat leave at 35 weeks, have 4 weeks holidays so getting signed off till 31 weeks.)

I hate doing it to my employer but it is much better for me and baby and we are the ones that are important just now x x x

 

[pixydust]

i cant remember when I as signed off from exactly last time but it must have been around 26 weeks, I was signed off after being told i had an irritable uterus and was having false labour contractions almost continuously x

 

[youngwife20]

Mummy to summer- I was signed of for 2 weeks with spd. and my employers were crap really lol so its good yoru employers are nice so try not to worry so much! at the end of the day your baby and yourself is your main proirity wheather there short staffed or not isnt anything you should be worrieing about. I think you should get signed of now ( as your in so much pain) ask the date on the sign of letter to be up until the day your holiday starts then start your hols then mat leave. if thats posibile thats the option i would take.

also its not taking the piss!!! you are unable to attend work. doesnt mean you cant go for a ,meal that is only a few hours of you being out!.

try not to worry so much about what others think or youl just be living in pain!

this is the first time youve been of with a preg related issue so im sure they will admire your hard work.. ive been of 7 times! .. xx

 

[youngwife20]

tbh if i could afford it id be signed of now too really but because ive only been at my job 6 months i wouldnt get anything other than stat pay and just being of for 2 weeks was not good on me financialy so im sticking it out till december the 7th then im of for my 4 weeks holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cant wait xx

 

[Kyliem87]

I was signed off at 18 weeks til 22 weeks with hypertension and an erratic heartbeat. He didn't want me back but I can't survive on SSP which is £81.60 a week so we struck an agreement that I could go back part time on reduced working responsibilities so work have had to adjust to my needs...they don't want me back either til I've seen a specialist but have had to so I now do 25 hours (instead of 37 1/2) and basically read a book for 5 hours a day...LOL

I finish on the 22nd December as I have 1 weeks annual leave left this year and will be taking my 5 week annual leave entitlement from 3rd January with mat leave beginning 8th February so it doesn't leave me financially screwed! lol but I'll be 29/30 weeks when I go and have the year off as maternity leave

If you need the time...take the time, you can't do too much when your pregnant and need to look after yourself

 

[libbylaus]

Ahhh hun, I really feel for u!! I'm in the same situation, in agony to sit even!! Driving is the worst and it takes 35 mins each way in car so am really struggling!! I only work three days but finding it sooo hard!! Doctor said he wud sign me off too and like u I am soo torn as dont want to let my work down (have only had one day off sick in 7 years and that was when I was heavily bleeding with a miscarriage!!!) so I dont know why I feel so guilty but I do!!!

Think I will probably keep battling on -but I dont know how!!!! Good luck with it all x x x

 

[x-amy-x]

you cant use annual leave while on sick... so you'll probably lose that if you go straight to mat leave...

dont think id go to christmas meal... kinda defeats purpose of being off sick xx

 

[lana1989]

Ive been signed off work since about 20 weeks of pregnancy as i had a very high blood pressure like you i feel so bad for being off i also feel like such a fraud because i feel fine in myself other than a headache about 2 or three times in a week just my bp that was the problem!
anyways i went back to work last weeks and struggled so bad i work in a busy nursery looking after up to 15 2-3 year olds 40 hours a week with only a 1/2 hour break durin the day i was very tired and emotional !!
Only problem i have is i cannot managge my weeks left im due to go on mat leave 23rd december ill be nearly 30 weeks pregnant i hate my job atm they seem to have no consideration or care yes theyve adjusted my hours but thats it!
Not a happy bunny but i have a weeks holiday this week as its my 25/26th weeks before its due so this is where they take my 90% for the first 6 weeks from and i couldnt afford to be on 90% of sick pay!
Dont worry about work itll all work out and if your struggling that much work is only going to make it worse ive seen this last week in myself thursday and friday all i did was cry because i didnt wanna be at work sad i know but work will have to deal with it
Lana
x
Sorry about my rant

 

[MummytoSummer]

Thanks guys, it's nice to know I'm not alone in this situation although I am sorry for all of you that are also suffering.

Well I'm still in agony and using the crutches as much as possible now. I now have a maternity support belt which tbh doesn't seem to make much difference.

I've decided that I'm going to go back to work on tuesday (I only work tues, weds, thurs) and try to stick it out for at least 2/3 more weeks. At least that way they actually get to see me trying, struggling with crutches etc. Then I won't feel quite so bad if I do end up going off. If it really does get too hard then I'm just gonna do what the doctor wants and try not to beat myself up about being off.

X

 

[MummytoSummer]

I'll just end up doing what I did in my last pregnancy, get signed off sick up to the day my annual leave starts, then have the annual leave til it runs into the maternity leave.

My employers were so good last time, and they've been great so far this time so I'm sure I'm panicking over nothing but it's just cos they're short staffed til December 16th. If I can I want to at least make it til then then I won't feel quite so bad going off!

X

 

[x-amy-x]

They are required to make everything as easy as possible for you while your at work... so if theres anything to make you more comfortable, then ask! dont suffer in silence x

 

[snow fairy]

I've been signed off work since week 14 with Spd. I have just handed my last sick note in that takes me up to 32 weeks pregnant I will then take the 4 weeks holiday owed to me then Start maternity at 36 weeks x x

 

[MummytoSummer]

Well I work in a prison and it's a REALLY long walk through the grounds to get to my office. Without the spd and PGP it would takE me 10 minutes at least, since it's got bad it's been taking me ages.

I've requested security access for my car so that I'll be able to drive through the grounds and park right outside my office. I'd have requested it before long anyway because it's not nice walking through the prison alone in the dark. Plus if I starts getting icy or we have snow then the walk becomes treacherous. Even more so with crutches!

X

 

[MUMMY27]

Hi MummytoSummer, not sure if you'll get this now but was just interested to hear whether prison security cleared you coming in with crutches? Do you have direct contact with the prisoners? I'm asking cos I also work in a prison and have SPD