Stressful project at work straight after Total Thyroidectomy and I'm suffering symptoms

[RhubarbAndCustard]

I had a Total Thyroidectomy 3 weeks ago and got a sick note from the hospital for 2 weeks. I went back to work last week and I think I feel ill because of it.

I have a pretty stressful job and I asked for help whilst I was off as this particular project I've been put on has a really tight deadline. I got some help but not a lot and I've been told that now I'm back I'm on my own and I'm not coping very well. I've been suffering terrible anxiety, I can't sleep because I'm constantly worried about my work and I'm having awful heart palpitations which started the day I went back to work and haven't gone away. I feel like crying, I don't know what to do.

I have an appointment with my GP this afternoon x

[Jazzw]

Oh Rhubarb, I’m so sorry. Big hugs xx

Tell your doctor how you’re feeling. It really does sound like you need some more time off while your thyroid hormone replacement levels are tweaked a bit more - you sound undermedicated. But even without that, it’s major surgery and people often don’t bounce back. Ask if you can be signed off for a week and whether you could have a fit note that asks for a phased return when you go back to ease you back in.

Sounds like work are being really unreasonable too - do you work for a big firm or a small one?

[RhubarbAndCustard in reply to Jazzw]

Thank you for your kind reply Jazzw.

It's awful how I am feeling, I just feel so down right now. It's a vicious circle because if I ask for a sick note then I will feel like a failure because of how I am feeling which is ridiculous because I know I have had a major thing happen to my body and I need time to adjust. I know they don't understand, in their eyes I've had 2 weeks off so I should be good to go. Thankfully, I am working from home because I found it too much to be in the office, I just feel so overwhelmed when I look at my list of tasks to do. It's a big firm I work for, there aren't many others who can take over my project which is a huge problem but I know that shouldn't be my concern.

If I am being 100% honest I feel like I need to take a step back and breathe a bit, do you think the Doctor would give me a sick note? x

[Jazzw in reply to RhubarbAndCustard]

Yes I do. Make sure you explain exactly how you’re feeling - don’t hold back and make out it isn’t a big deal because it is! And please please don’t feel like you’re being a failure. The thyroid is at the very centre of the process for energy production. Yes, you can replace the hormones it used to make but it’s not the same and the transition not always an easy one.

You will be ok but 3 weeks is nothing when it comes to recovery from surgery. Some people do bounce back but lots don’t, so don’t beat yourself up for not getting better faster!

[pennyannie]

Hello again RhubarbAndCustard -

You have had major surgery - please - you are not ready to go back to work.

Go to your doctor and get signed off - ask for full thyroid and vitamins and minerals to be tested as detailed on this website.

You are not a failure, ( typical Graves symptom ) - your job is just that - a job - ok -

to you it might seem and feel like it is the most important part of your life - but in reality -

your health is more important - the job will be there whenever you feel ready to go back -

Graves is stress and anxiety related - this is fuelling your situation.

If it's a large company, presumably there is HR and Occupational Health - someone else must be given this task you returned to - when you do go back, I would suggest that you arrange to be phased in gently starting on a part time basis.

Take good care, you should be recuperating from major surgery and not being thrown back into a pressurised job.