Oh help! What do I do?: Morning everyone. I'm sure... - LUPUS UK

LUPUS UK

31,598 members28,007 posts

Oh help! What do I do?

happytulip profile image
4 Replies

Morning everyone. I'm sure you've all been here at this time of the morning asking yourself "do I phone in sick or battle through?"

I'm trying to make that decision at the moment. Recently I've been doing well and have increased my Azathioprine to 100mg from 75mg, as planned by my team to get me up to the correct dose for my weight. Trouble is all last week I had the worst (sorry guys) diarrhoea and nausea. It made me feel terrible. After a discussion with my brilliant lupus nurse on Friday she said to hold off the Azathioprine for a few days and get bloods done. Now waiting for the results.

Over the weekend I have had the worst fatigue in months, joint pain everywhere, nausea and terrible tinnitus. My stomach hurts like serositis and my glands are so big in my groin I look like I'm growing a pair of plums 😱!

I'm not entirely sure I should be going to work let alone driving but feel so guilty at having to phone in sick. I work in a hospital and Mondays are always really busy, it will just make it worse if I don't go in but feel pretty terrible. I've also got a lot of pain over my liver/gallbladder.

Does anyone else get guilt ridden when they are off sick? I have increased my steroids a bit but can't really move much for the pain, fatigue and nausea.

Oh help!

Written by
happytulip profile image
happytulip
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
4 Replies
misty14 profile image
misty14

Hi happy tulip

So sorry to read your very poorly at the moment. In case you have a virus not a flare , it wouldn't help you or the hospital if you struggled into work . Our hospital has a sign up if you've had diorrhea not to go in or visit someone on the wards!. This is how bugs are spread!. Hope that helps you decide. Not easy I know, you don't want to let colleagues down. Hope your better soon. Good luck for blood results. X

happytulip profile image
happytulip in reply to misty14

Thanks, I'm convinced it is the result of the medication +\- a flare. I've had hospital bugs before and this feels entirely different. I'd never put patients or colleagues at risk but have taken the day off as every joint is screaming at me. Thanks for your kindness. Lupus flares just suck!

misty14 profile image
misty14 in reply to happytulip

Hi happy tulip

Hope you feel better soon after having today off. X

whisperit profile image
whisperit

I feel your pain, happytulip!

I'm a mental health nurse for kids and each time I've gone off sick, I've felt so guilty that i was constantly ringing the office to make sure that my colleagues taking care of "my" patients.

6 months after I last went to work, I have finally managed to wean myself off this intensely irritating habit! This long spell away has helped me to realise that a) I am not indispensible - my colleagues are actually as good at their job as I am (shock horror!) b) going in when I was distracted by constantly worrying "How can I get through this next appointment?" or "Is it fair to offer a follow-up appointment next week when I might not make it in?" was doing my patients no favours.

But it *is* hard.

You may also like...

What can I do? Help please?

muscles in my body. They feel very tight and stretched. My ankles are the worst feel like they will...

I don't know what to do?

said to increase the steroids again slightly, which I have done this morning. However, the pain has...

what on earth do I do?

to discuss how I feel the doctor isn't doing enough the help as I dont feel like I'm getting any...

Prednisolone diary 13 - what do I know?

found a solution to my 3 year history of increasing fatigue, incapacity and daily flushes and...

LUPUS, what can I do for the fatigue!

I have a 10-year-old and I feel like I am the worst role model ever! I'm currently on 60 mg of...