Asking GP for a sick note without feeling a fraud.

I had my thyroid removed just over a week ago (hospital have signed me off until Friday). I’ve recovered from the surgery quite well, just an impressive scar and a slight sore throat (my singing voice is a bit ruined).  I was also prescribed thyroxine straight away so I shouldn’t really need anymore time off.

But I feel really miserable and I keep crying for very little reason (I’m not that type of person).  I’m so tired and have no motivation to do anything other than lay on my bed buying crap on the internet and being moody on here.

The idea of going back to work is filling me with total dread and I really don’t think I can cope.  But I’m not sure how to even ask my GP the question, about being signed off, when there really isn’t any reason I should need it.

My only physical symptom is my blood pressure is quite low.

Has anyone ever been told no by the GP or are they generally quite relaxed?

We’re generally quite relaxed.

The hospital should have given you a longer sick note. A week is not adequate after major surgery.

Sounds like you need your thyroid function and calcium levels checked.

Has anyone ever been told no by the GP or are they generally quite relaxed?

Never been told no, GP said they were very happy to help with such things and from what you’ve said it will be very clear you aren’t taking the P. Speak to your GP and tell them what you’ve written above. Hope you feel better soon.

@timidwheeler

Reread your post my friend, you aren’t ready to return to work and you are most definitely not a fraud.

Get a bit extra time off and I wish you all the best and hope you feel far better soon.

But I feel really miserable and I keep crying for very little reason (I’m not that type of person).  I’m so tired and have no motivation to do anything other than lay on my bed buying crap on the internet and being moody on here.

The idea of going back to work is filling me with total dread and I really don’t think I can cope.

Perhaps tell your doc this ?

I know people who have returned to work too soon and its cost them more time in the long run

I had a relatively minor op under a general and went back a bit too soon. I felt utterly miserable and strangely grief stricken. It was a horrible experience, when I spoke to a GP they said my symptoms were not unusual and I definitely should have rested longer

Give it a few days, im sure you will be feeling much brighter and see things differently. Give your body time to recover

Thank you all.

To be fair to the hospital it was two weeks, I’m off until Friday.  They also gave me thyroxine and calcium tablets and told me to book a blood test for five weeks after the op, so I am being looked after. I just feel rubbish.

I’m not really sure why I posted this.

On another note, daytime TV ads are incredibly manipulative.  I’ve stopped watching the Tour live, as it is full of begging ads.  They must know that a chunk of the audience at that time of day is likely to be vulnerable.

Nothing fraudulent there.  Your GP will be quite happy or should be.

If you are feeling rubbish, speak to the GP – two weeks after a major operation, I’d not be expecting you back yet.

But I feel really miserable

Anaesthetic / sedatives can hang around in your system for quite a while I believe. I find codine (if you’ve been taking it) makes me incredibly glum to, again for several  days after I’ve stopped taking it.

The idea of going back to work is filling me with total dread and I really don’t think I can cope.  But I’m not sure how to even ask my GP the question, about being signed off, when there really isn’t any reason I should need it.

We’re all different and some will need more time to recover than others. It might be that you have something else going on as well, so two good reasons for an appointment

Fraud? Absolutely no way on this earth 🙂

It takes time to get your thyroxine levels right, I was living in a house with my now x-wife who had an overactive thyroid and my 2 daughters who both have underacive thyroids.

That was quite an experience ?

I think it’s important your employer knows and understands that you may well struggle for a while untill you get your levels right and stable. Don’t feel bad about it, no one would do better than you are given the same situation.

But I feel really miserable

Anaesthetic / sedatives can hang around in your system for quite a while I believe. I find codine (if you’ve been taking it) makes me incredibly glum to, again for several  days after I’ve stopped taking it.

yes, my experience too

Another take on this,

You’re not demanding a sick note (it’s a Fit Note these days), you’re merely asking.  A GP will be well equipped to tell if someone is skiving off.  (Spoiler: you aren’t.)

I’m not really sure why I posted this.

It’s a very empathetic place this when required, you got some kind advice and professional opinion from Kramer, so I reckon you did the right thing.

Hope you feel better soon. My missis has thyroid issues, but they are very stable now so you’ll be OK. ?

Edit, that was supposed to be a thumb up emoji,  not a question!

Dont feel a fraud.

When i had my thyroid removed start of last year my surgeon signed me off for 4 weeks.

Two weeks isn’t really enough either. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that someone junior who didn’t really know what they were doing did it.

I’d have given you one for six weeks and told you if you felt up to going back to work before it ran out then you were ok to.

It honestly wouldn’t  be a problem if I got this request, other than my blood pressure would go up slightly as I chuntered under my breath about the hospital and inadequate length of sick notes and pushing their workload onto GPs.

NB, if you’re seeing a nurse, a pharmacist, an occupational therapist or a physiotherapist in the next two days, they can all issue fit notes too now.

I’ll agree on codiene making you feel depressed and woeful

You’re post surgery your GP will sign you off.

Thank you all again.  You have actually made me cry.   I’m in a very strange place at the moment.

On the bright side, my Ninja Woodfire grill has just arrived.  The lifeboat and rescue monkey aren’t coming until tomorrow.

Your mood could be related to the aftereffects of the general anesthetic. I’ve had a couple in the last 12 months and they are pretty heavy going. As are the post op pain killers!

I don’t think you need to feel like a fraud for asking for some additional time off work after having an operation on your neck and I doubt you GP will view you as someone trying to swing the lead.

rest and get better.

After my rollercoaster ride with my health both the consultant and my GP gave me the all clear to return to work, with the instructions that “if I feel up to it and if my mental health was OK”

You’re in no way a fraud, take as much time as you need.

Been through this recently. You’re not a fraud.

And from the perspective of your colleagues: if you’re distracted and knackered, you won’t be at your best anyway. Take the time to recover. Be outside in the sun and destress. Eat well. Most of us don’t have jobs that are so important that they can’t wait a bit.

 if you’re distracted and knackered, you won’t be at your best anyway.

That’s a really good point.  The rule of thumb I always used when ill was “if I go in, will I be any use when I get there?”

I’ve done hundreds of thyroidectomies and most of my patients are back to work the next day. Admittedly they are cats and work is sleeping, eating, licking their own arse and occasionally wandering outside to poo in next doors garden! So kind of like lying in bed and scrolling on STW.

It will take time for the hormone levels to settle and not everyone reacts as expected. Ring your doctor, extend your sick note without any feelings of guilt

Thank you @bruk.

Just for future reference, please can you make it more obvious if you are being lighthearted.

I misread your advice on the first read-through, which has led to a very awkward conversation with the neighbours.

And my back hurts.

Flipping it the other way as well as an employer I’d much rather someone took longer for initial recovery and come back to work healthy and productive rather than try to come back too soon and then have a difficult and extended recovery. Talk to your GP, its what they are there for.

Heal well chap..

As has been said by Kramer… the (damn) hospital should really have offered you an appropriate length MED3.. however.. as a GP it would be a no-brainer to offer you a few more weeks off following surgery. If you submit a request via “e-consult” your GP can probably just text you the MED3..

DrP

(I had a request for a MED3 this week. From a patient. From her hospital bed. It’s gotten that bad!!! I told admin to tell her to ask her hospital doctors!)

You’ve been given some great advice OP. Rest up and look after yourself. You need to be mentally and emotionally fit as well as physically. Keep posting on here if it helps. Lastly, I need to know what a rescue monkey is. I’m prepared for disappointment but still clinging to the hope that it is a capuchin wearing outdoor clothing and carrying a tiny axe, first aid kit, whistle and compass.

From the occ health perspective,  I wouldn’t be expecting you any time soon, both having an anaesthetic and surgery take it out of you, on top of time for hormones to sort themselves out.

I advocate getting people back once and getting them back right (mnagers/ HR don’t always concur) – basically as said above no point being back and going off again or being of limited effectiveness.

Get a 4 week note, then if feel well enough sooner go back, or extend it if not.

The rule of thumb I always used when ill was “if I go in, will I be any use when I get there?”

If people where I work applied that rule the office would be empty.

I’ve had a few general anaesthetic ops over the years, all with minimal side effects, however the last one a couple of years ago really floored me. Besides the physical recovery, the affect on my mental health was remarkable. I felt really low, quite depressed and like everything was pointless for some time. Also felt quite ill (sick/headache, grogginess) for at least a couple of weeks. It all faded after 3-4 weeks and returned back to normal, but I was surprised how generally sh1t I felt.

 I feel really miserable and I keep crying for very little reason (I’m not that type of person).  I’m so tired and have no motivation to do anything other than lay on my bed buying crap on the internet and being moody on here.

This bit is what makes me think you also need your calcium levels and thyroid function testing.

Thank you all. And a big thank you to the GPs and other health care professionals for giving me some perspective.  It is very good of you to offer advice over this forum.

My GP was brilliant.  Got me in for a blood test and a face to face check up.  His thoughts are very similar to Dr Kramer’s post above. Note until Thursday and a phone call booked for when the bloods come back.

Glad you got it sorted OP.

Glad you’re getting it sorted. Please let us know what the blood results are?

Just a quick word about ‘fit note’ I recently had an operation where the recovery period is acknowledged to be 3 months. My surgeon gave me a note for two weeks, when I queried this his secretary told me that he is only allowed to issue notes for 2 weeks but my operation details were forwarded to my GP who gladly issued 4 week fit (unfit) notes which I simply kept asking for using their online system and forwarding to my employer until my last consultation with the surgeon when he declared me sound for work again, so my advice is get online with your GP practise and ask for 4 weeks at a time explaining your situation , they are too busy see you whilst in post-op recovery.

he is only allowed to issue notes for 2 weeks

This is incorrect. In this situation it’s the surgeon’s responsibility to be issuing the sick note for the full duration, which they are able to do.

This is a classic example of a hospital team avoiding their responsibilities and passing them on, unfunded, to the GP to pick up.

Seriously the amount of bullshit I hear on a daily basis from my hospital colleagues about why they’re unable to do basic aspects of their job. And people wonder why I’m a bit grumpy.

I got a 3 month sick/fit note from the hospital for my knee replacement from the start, didn’t even have to ask.