Feeling low as feet and lower legs are in agony due to lympoedema and celusitis.

[DeadfootMo]

For the last week I have taken a complete course of Flucloxacillin, but my feet and legs are still red, have loads of lumps and are seriously painful to touch. The old feet and lower legs problem has also returned with a vengeance as they are like tree trunks, rock hard shiny and full of fluid. This time my sense of feeling is different too as they have a kind of pins and needles feel and numbness in places.

I have an appointment with my Dr's tomorrow morning at 10:10 am and I am worried silly that the appointment may drag on and I won't have had any time to arrange cover for the class I should be teaching at 11:15 am.

Don't get me wrong I love teaching but at this moment in time, I also feel down about this too, as I feel over-worked and seriously underpaid. My contract is for 37 hours but the real hours are closer to 55 a week when I add in the 10 hours of extra work done on planning and marking on site and a further 8 hours at home during the weekend when I draft the modular programme for teaching. I have realised that I am seriously underpaid for what I do due to having worked in the industry of Construction apprenticeships and earned an average of £500 a week £26k a year. Yet in my current college teaching job I am doing more and being paid far less at £20.110.

I also hate it when professional female colleagues remind me that I am a 56 year old woman who is 57 in a month and that I am lucky to be in a job. I know this also to be true as ageism is rife and employers can literally offer you a salary way below your worth, tell you it is fixed for two years and that they can't afford to pay you the national rate or at the right scale for your job. Which they cleverly describe as a support role in the contracts and job description which is different to the actual contract you are expected to work too. Thing is if I was in a true support role I'd have another teacher in my classes and I would be expected to support her in her work with the learners, but the reality is that I am the teacher in the classroom and as I am qualified at Level 5 they still say it is a support role.

Add this to the issue of my lymphoedema and current celusitus and I couldn't feel any worse.

[Ayelbee]

As you will know when you have cellulitis you must be careful and rest your legs. This means flat on your back with legs elevated. Annoying as it is it's better than things going from bad to worst and ending up in hospital with drips. I know, has happened to me, too because I tried to ignore the leaking and burning. It's life threatening. Just taking antibiotics isn't enough.

[Lynora]

If you have only been taking a/bs for a week, you need at least another 7 days supply, and a sick line from the GP. You have an infection, should be resting, and not on your feet in a classroom.

[AnneBury]

This sounds so wrong in so many ways. As Lynora and Aylebee say you need to be resting. You need to be "off sick". Once you return to work (when your cellulitis has cleared) you need to seek advice about your employment. Consider is your health a problem and/ or is it the unfairness of your pay, role or hours. The comments of your colleagues are unlawful/ completely unacceptable. If you are in a trade union they can help you. Your Terms and conditions of employment tell you of internal procedures to follow. Also the Citizens Advice Bureau can help you.

[sharon1234]

You will end up in hospital if your not careful. Been on your feet as you are doing your just making things worse and it will take twice as long to heal beleive me as it happened to me I also ended up getting septicemia... You need to listen to us as we all Been though and learnt the hard way. You take care and LOOK AFTER YOURSELF X

[blue59]

I have nothing to add to the sound advice you have already been given above. PLEASE do not try and cut corners with this condition. I was diagnosed with lymphoedema following my one and only bout of cellulitis which turned to sepsis, resulting in me being "blue lighted" to hospital, spending almost 3 weeks on drips and many more weeks on oral antibiotics. I too was a full time teacher but needed 4 months off work to recover and come to terms with my condition. I went part time for an academic year after that and then took (slightly) early retirement at the age of 59. Your employers should Indeed be making things as comfortable as possible for you at work - there is no way you can go on exactly like before. Be good to yourself and don't be put off by anyone who is so ill-informed and insensitive as to tell you you need to power on!

[Diane999]

As all the above have said + I worked for 45 years 'on my feet' all day 40 hours per week with primary LE, managing it as best I could, it was only when I took early retirement at 60 that I realised how bad it had been. I rest when I need to and put my feet up and the difference has been amazing.

Bite the bullet and discuss part-time at least, your employers may not be sympathetic but must still have a 'duty of care to accommodate you. Best of luck.

[Hidden]

2 different issues.

If you are a local authority employee please send me a private message.

Not convinced that fluclox is what you need.

Please make sure you know about the consensus document for treating cellulltis for Lymphoedema patients and that your GP learns as much about the condition as possible via the online learning module.

[skeeple]

My heart goes out to you. It really doesn't sound like you are well enough to be teaching tomorrow. It sounds like your doctor will sign you off.

Have your school ever sent you to OH? It might be that they could so with some official advice about how to support you with your condition - they might take it a bit more seriously if they have an OH report!

It sounds like there are a few issues with work - the comment about your age is appalling. If you are not in a union, I would strongly suggest you join.

Take care of yourself.