I had my first laparoscopy surgery 2 weeks ago and was meant to be back in work today but I couldn’t face it and have emailed in sick. I don’t know whether to go to the doctors to extend my sick note or not or if I’ll feel ok enough to go in tomorrow. Feeling very anxious about it because I have had a lot of absences over the past year. But I just feel so exhausted and bloated and uncomfortable.
Any advice or experience? I feel so guilty for not being there and for letting them down and worried that I could be pulled up for my attendance. They’re a big company and aren’t very understanding.
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EndoEffect
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If you're off today and you can see your GP today they can sort a sick note from today which means there's no gap in your certified sick - it's kind of like an extension of your original sick note. Makes sure you explain to your GP that you're still recovering from your op so they can put the same thing on your sick note. And explain to your GP about your work pressure regarding sick leave and that's why you need a sick note.
It means HR cannot mark you down as certified sick has to be ignored when looking at records. Also it looks better if you have continuous signed off sick rather than being in and signed off again / self certifying for 5 days - work won't see that at post op recovery and your GP may not either.
I've had my sick note "extended" twice after one of my laps so don't worry about it. Just get all your sick notes sorted and then recover. Go back when you feel ready - perhaps have an appointment booked with your GP for the last day of your extended sick note just in-case you have any issues still.
2 weeks is the minimum recovery, each person is different, for one of mine I needed 3 weeks, the other 5 weeks.
Go get a sick line, it keeps you right and your workplace. I'm now going into my 5th week post lap, still off work too. I'm absolutely crippled with lower back pain, and feeling like cr*p. I'm not rushing back untill I know I can cope 100%. Health comes first 🙂🙃
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WORK, so annoyed :(
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