Coping with being signed off work

[Flip Martian]

People joke sometimes about "wouldn't it be great to be signed off work a while" but actually... its not great. 4 years ago I broke an ankle and damaged ligaments and was on enforced bed rest for 4 weeks and no commuting to work for another 3 on top of that. It drove me potty and I didn't deal with it too well.

Now, after various periods of mystery ill health and blood tests which are "fine", my GP has signed me off as unfit to work for a month, and referred me to a consultant to see whether I might have chronic fatigue.

Any tips for coping with the absence welcome - not even allowed to work at home (something I've done for the last 3 weeks when well enough). Won't be too mobile I don't suppose; on a good day at the moment I can just about walk to the GP 400 yards away.

[Flip Martian]

Cheers for the good wishes.

All good suggestions, thanks. I do like reading yes - the brain fog I get some days makes it difficult to concentrate but as said - I need to treat this as rest and hopefully that will help things along. I'm a relaxed person but chilling out as in "doing nothing" does drive me a bit batty; I need to get my head around that.

The cataloguing photos thing is a good idea too - 1 of those jobs I never get around to doing. I should at least be able to get into my office and do that.

I tried learning guitar once - I still have the guitar! But I never got passed the "ow my bloody fingers!" stage. I do write music at times at home (I play keyboards) but the brain fog makes that frustrating rather than a pleasure - what an irony, more time to do it, and less able to do it!.

I used to own a PS2 - and still play games on my PC occasionally and my ipad. No doubt that will take care of many hours!

The brain fog probably rules out the learning a language thing. Although I need to try and keep my mind active on good days, certainly.

I would retire tomorrow by the way - its just the "not being able to do very much" thing I get frustrated with - I like being active and out and about; time off work on my terms!

Thanks for the mention of Zooniverse - I'll have a look, not heard of that.

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TbirdX said:

I'm currently in this position myself. Signed off with two fractured wrists, which limits somewhat the things I can do.

You can only troll forums for so long, porn...er well no point in that right now :-(, so I go for a walk and watch a lot of documentaries/box sets.

Sometimes I find myself so bored it gets me down but I try to keep my eyes on the prize..which is getting rid of the casts and the start of getting back to normality.

Hang in there my friend, take one day at a time and I hope it goes well for you.

Thanks, sorry to hear that. An ankle busting was bad enough - both wrists being out of action is another level! How frustrating. I hope you're on the mend quickly.

I guess ultimately being patient is the key.

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C0ffin D0dger said:

That was the other highlight of being off work, spend a bit of quality time looking at adult sites on the 'net

Being exhausted pretty much renders that pointless too, sadly!

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Sticks. said:

Just to flag up a few things to be aware of.

Too much inactivity can be tiring. Or, more accurately, make you feel tired. And sitting for too long isn't good either. It'll start off other aches and pains, which you'll probably think about too much etc.

Keep to a daily routine. We all work better by routine, so even if it's making sure meal and bed times don't slip, it'll help keep you grounded. Regular bed times are a good way of getting good sleep.

And eat well. Tired, can't be arsed, that'll do won't help you get better. Prep in advance/bulk if need be.

Makes sure you get out of the house too. Even if you just go and get a paper, walk around the garden or something. Fresh air, sunshine and contact with other people keeps you sane.

If you can find something to look forward to as well, that's good. Maybe setting yourself time to make something, Thursday's dinner/curry, or a hobby, twice a week painting, model making or guitar practice. Or maybe a weekly lunch, coffee or a pint with someone, with the aim of not letting one day morph into another.

Do you know any retired people? Ask them what they do and adapt it.

Just my take on it as someone who's immobilised from time to time. Just beware too much inactivity and isolation can be bad for your health. Hope you feel better soon.

All good advice there, ta. I've had the odd day where I've been pretty much out of it in bed and mostly asleep but they're rare. I plan on a few hours on the bed for a day or two to start but also getting to sit in the garden. Absolutely agree on the too much inactivity thing but with this it seems to be a fine balancing act. We're due at the theatre on Monday so I'll be taking it easy until then - hopefully I can at least take short walks in the village by this time next week. Trouble is if I push it, I get worse. Slow and gradual exercise works better for this.

But all good points - my PC, photos, files and everything will be so well organised by the time I go back to work, so I'm seeing all the positives at the moment.

[Flip Martian]

bazza white said:

Can I join the club I'm off with 2 fractured vertebrae.

Should have been signed off 3 weeks ago but due to an incompetent tosser at a&e im off as off Thursday just gone.im a steelworker so no such thing as light duties.


Like above i suffer fatigue so planned to get fit, join a gym and get active as I've had enough. 10 minute's into my new lifestyle I was out and off to A&E.


I plan on job hunting and light swimming to keep me busy and build my back muscles up again. Amazon prime day coming up to so could be an expensive month.

Feel free to join I was going to ask how you planned to get fit while having fatigue but I might be better not asking you bearing in mind your outcome! Hopefully the swimming helps. I'm hoping I can at least get a gentle swim in a couple of weeks.

I just saw Amazon Prime day come up as well - normally I'd be in work well away from it but I'm hoping I might just forget...

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smudgerebt said:

Am in this club too!


So being off sick is not as much fun as once thought.

Exactly that - would much rather be working.

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Kinkell said:

Be glad and relax if your salary is entering your bank account. Two of my boys have had knee ops for sport related injuries and as contractors they are without funds along with their tramadol induced pain relief.

Oh I am. Not complaining at all, I'm fortunate compared to many I know. I've had so many things go wrong health wise in the last few years. If I ever catch myself feeling sorry for myself I try and remember there are always people worse off and to STFU.

[Flip Martian]

AlexC1981 said:

Game of Thrones should keep you occupied if you haven't seen it yet.

I haven't - I'm one of the few on the planet who haven't, apparently. Doesn't appeal at all but no doubt tv will be taking up some of my time.

[Flip Martian]

FlyingMeeces said:

Dunno if it's your cup of tea but I'm liking the BBC Musketeers series at the moment. Good mixture of half-decent fight choreography, rude jokes, ripping the piss out of the French monarchy and various easy on the eye people being easy on the eye in period costume.

I know what you mean. Yes, seen a few of those - more my wife's thing really. Apart from Gotham I don't really watch much current tv. I think it will be catching up on older stuff I've not watched yet and a few films.

[Flip Martian]

E65Ross said:

I was off work for around 6 months due to health reasons last year. Once I could remotely function I used to read a lot, watch TV programmes, go for short walks, sleep when needed etc. It can get a bit boring being off for that long.

Six months?! Eesh... I should have nothing to worry about then. Must admit that would have sent me round the twist.

Well I've got through a lot of web surfing, a 2 hour Carry On film special on youtube, 2 episodes of Buck Rogers with my wife (dvds were a present for her - don't ask me why she likes it so much bidi bidi bidi), a bit of Angry Birds and 90% of a book so far.

[Flip Martian]

An update - still off work, 8 weeks later and not seen a consultant yet (the appointment isn't until next week). Managed to rest a lot, short walks out, etc and after about 5 weeks was starting to improve in small amounts, while still feeling exhausted and having brain fog some days. Then my wife said she wanted to empty the shed and I felt able to help a bit - but moving some heavy stuff in a wheelbarrow was a bad move. The following day I was back in bed and utterly knocked flat again. I've been recovering again since.

I've been taking organic multi vits, B12 and D. I've started taking 5-HTP to boost serotonin levels as my sleeping isn't great, with all this inactivity, and I've been doing body scanning meditation as that's apparently meant to help. When I've been back to the GP to update my sick certificate, they've only suggested anti depressants. Which is frustrating - the 1 thing I am NOT is depressed (I've been depressed before and know the signs).

I've been able to deal fine with the absence from work - taking the view that I will get well enough and for now I have to be patient. I've stayed positive throughout, apart from the odd day when there's been a setback. I miss getting out to places for the day and having the energy to do stuff but I'm not seeing them as gone forever.

Just frustrating that the GP can't offer anything productive and the hospital appointment has taken so long to come through.

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E65Ross said:

Good to hear things are generally seeming OK, your attitude plays a big role in my opinion.

Keep going, it won't last forever.

Thanks - mental strength and staying positive is all at the moment, I think.

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el romeral said:

Very appropriate thread for me at the moment as yesterday I broke my foot after a 25kg granite parasol base fell on it (the handle broke as I was carrying it). I work offshore in Norway and had just about completed my 4 weeks home time. I was sorting things out prior to my planned departure for Bergen this evening. X rays at hospital last night showed fracture and got all plastered and bandaged up. I will now miss my entire 2 week trip and will then have my normal 4 week off time. In completely unchartered territory here as in 17 years that I have done this job with commutes from Spain, I have never missed so much as a day due to illness.
Was all a bit scary, as due to relatively recent circumstances, I live alone in a largish and isolated property, so had to deal with it myself and get myself to casualty etc.
Never really appreciated the thing about being fit and able until now. This is awful, can hardly move around and there are so many things needing doing.

Edited by el romeral on Tuesday 6th September 21:24

I felt the same when I broke my ankle, although my wife looked after me very well. You notice all the things you just take for granted, like getting about and just doing things, when they're taken away. Hopefully you'll heal up quickly.

[Flip Martian]

Pickled said:

jules_s said:

You sound like my mrs

She had glandular fever, at the age of 47. Took them a stupid amount of time to diagnose it too

Same as my daughter, glandular fever that led to M.E./CFS, she's been off school since the new year, having to have home tuition, barely able to walk any distance.

That are starting to find that viral infections are one of the things that can lead to CFS. It's a very frustrating condition as you look "fine" and well, not ill at all.

[Flip Martian]

E65Ross said:

This 100%. After I had surgery I woke from being a 100% capable human being to being utterly, utterly helpless (couldn't talk, swallow, double vision, move etc). All the little things we take for granted!

With hindsight I think its what has made me more positive this time around - I value everything I CAN do now and take nothing for granted.

[Flip Martian]

Pickled said:

Yes I've had to bite my tongue many a time when the mother-in-law has said she looks fine and maybe she's just being lazy!

Heartbreaking to see a normal active 12 year old confined to days in bed because she hasn't got the energy to move, and in agonising pain when she does try to.

Amazing to see how many doctors still don't recognise CFS as an illness (our GP to name one) but she has a great consultant who specialises in the illness.

That does sound more like ME she has - they seem to differentiate the 2 on the basis that ME sufferers have pain too. Something I don't have (I don't think legs feeling like they're generating too much lactic acid really counts as pain).

Apparently we don't have an ME/CF specialist in our local hospital so will be interesting to see what the rheumatologist I AM seeing next week, says. My GP only last week was trying to get me to take anti depressants and said "that's all the consultant will say"!! MIght end up needing to be referred further afield.

Its reading cases like that of your daughter that stop me getting down about this - there are so so many worse off. I hope at some point your daughter recovers some of her mobility again. Bloody awful thing for a child to go through.

[Flip Martian]

Feels like forever since I started this thread - but I finally saw a consultant this morning who confirmed Chronic Fatigue after a lengthy talk and examination. There is apparently a specialist unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital who can offer a care and support package, including monitored exercise and CBT – which are the only 2 treatments clinically proven to be effective in alleviating symptoms. He’s suggesting that to my GP, as well as the name of the CFS specialist at Oxford if she wants another opinion (but he thinks that’s not needed, he’s quite sure this is what it is).

The consultant dismissed the use of SSRIs altogether as there’s no clinical evidence they help, unless there are other psychological problems – and he detected none in me. I think he was quite impressed with my attitude really and the fact that I'd done my own research. Best outlook seems to be that gradually I'll get more energy back but will have occasional relapses. He did underline that while few are cured from it, those who lie in bed all day and do nothing tend to get worse, not better. So I'll try and get out for a short walk every day at the very least and ultimately hopefully get back to work before long.

I'm seeing it as a positive - at least I have a diagnosis now. And God knows there are plenty of people worse off than me. Good luck to anyone with chronic conditions, all we can do is deal with them as best we can.

[Flip Martian]

9 months on full pay?! Wow, I thought my employer was generous - I'm about to go on half pay from next month. A friend with fibromyalgia and now CFS too has been off 2 months and is on zero pay with no real sign she will be fit any time soon.

As far as the time off goes, I've stayed positive, I don't know how. The opposite of 4 years ago when I was off. I share your trepidation though - going back to work after such a break is quite daunting. But I'm sure your employer will be supportive if they've kept paying you all this time. Knowing that will hopefully be a help.

[Flip Martian]

ChocolateFrog said:

Working in the public sector (Army) has some benefits, there are people in a much worse state than me, missing limbs, gunshot wounds etc that I'm doing physio/rehab with, puts things into perspective. And unlike most of those guys I'll actually be going back to my job.

Totally understand that. Public sector too - NHS, 6 months full, 6 months half pay. From day 1 I've taken the view that while my condition is debilitating enough, there are those worse off, so I don't feel sorry for myself; I've read of cases far worse than mine. I'm not ignoring the severity of it either but I'm thankful I still have everything working, even if I can't get around and do as much as I once could (very little at all, some days). And its amazing how many people seem nicer to people walking slowly with a walking stick... Although if I ever get back to commuting, I'm sure that impression will change soon enough!