I currently work from home as a pension consultant. I'm really struggling with my time-keeping at work as i have to stick to quite a strict schedule with not really any lenience for breaks as in i have to take them at specific times of the day- as I'm sure you are aware that this sometimes is just not feasible to ask of me because for example i get really heavy periods and having set breaks trying to manage my pcos and endo is so hard.
Ive approached my manager at work they wont let me have flexible break times. I have been so run down i ended up falling asleep at on my lunch break and now I'm in so much trouble I'm worried about how to approach this at work. I just don't know how to be a functioning human with this condition. Just wanted to see if anyone has any advice on how to cope?
Thanks in advance.
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Plummiex
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Ask your dr to do a fit note and include about the breaks, same rules apply for being in an office as at home. Bet they haven’t done a home working assessment either. Does your work have an HR department as they can get involved about reasonable allowances and a health person (can’t think of title)
A fit note doesn’t mean you need time off work but can back you up with the allowances you need. Hope that makes sense, 🤞 for you.
Endo UK website has info on the workplace and what they can do to help as well.
i had an OCH report and they asked for me to have more flexible breaks but they just said no. I might have to have a chat with the doctors again and see, i dont want them to think im slaking off but its just hard with everything else going on.
You aren’t slacking off at all, you’d work much better getting the breaks when you need them. It’s better for them as well, far too shortsighted, ridiculous. Least GP can do for this condition, fact you’re still wanting to work and managing is great. I hope GP is helping with decent pain relief
Occupational health 😆 thank you, can never remember it.
Not really got much pain relief atm. I'm being referred to a pain management centre as well to see if they can help. I agree it feels very shortsighted on my employers part. Will have to see if I can get it managed further
GPs can prescribe various different painkillers including things like Oramorph, although they prefer to take the advice of a consultant these days, less of a risk to them. Your GP won’t suggest these days you have to tell them what you want.
Use the econsult form on GP website and keep it all in writing. Tell them what you’d like to try, opiates don’t always work. I find Oramorph one of the better ones. Asking a GP anything means you get a no half the time, we have to be a bit clever and let them give a reason why not and then still argue the case. I got the shingles jab after a few back and forth with GP as he said I didn’t qualify by criteria, I pointed out NICE guidelines that said he could make the decision 🤣. Don’t give up it’s not them suffering! I find Diclofenac suppositories really useful when there’s more inflammation going on. Have you tried Naproxen? It’s the same family.
Tramadol was advised by a pain nurse, it did sort of help. I don’t have periods anymore. Have you had a referral to the pain clinic? You could also get in touch with Gynae and ask them to tell GP to prescribe something stronger as you are struggling.
When you have genuine pain opiates aren’t dependent forming. I’ve been taking Oramorph since early 2020 and can stop it. I did for a bit to prove to Gastro it wasn’t causing the constipation. It can do though.
Hi, I'm so sorry to hear this! I was fortunate to have a sympathetic boss, she arranged for me to speak with an occupational health nurse who advised flexible working hours and to wfh. I keep a spreadsheet of my times which I hand in at the end of each month and get paid for the hours i have worked. I also let my boss know when I am just not able to work and have the choice of making my time up or taking it as sick, I only get paid when I work. I have been with my company for 2 1/2 years. Try asking for occupational health assessment. I wish you luck x
Hiya, I’m so sorry to hear that you are in this situation with your employer. It seems they need dragging into the 21st Century. It’s so unfair the way you are being treated when you’re suffering with this awful condition. I would recommend finding out what your rights are. Especially with not being allowed breaks when you have a condition like endometriosis. I’ve put a link to an article below and it may be worth using the endometriosis UK chat function to see if they can help you any further. Good luck and keep us updated on how you get on. xx
You can ask your GP to give you a fit to work note. My GP gave me one stating that I need to rest two days per month dude to extreme pain and heavy bleeding. And my company accepted it
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