Post Sigmoid surgery

Hi Scoutabout I had a few complications post surgery so had several visits to my GP who was happy to issue a sick note when I requested one. Personally, if you don’t feel up to working, then I’d ask to be signed off until you’ve seen the consultant on the 29th then see where you go from there? 
I was told 5-6 weeks recovery and no heavy lifting during that time so please don’t rush back before you feel ready

Take care

Karen x

Hi Scout,

I literally did my sicknote on the NHS app. You need them to get the right pay and for your employer to sort themselves out. It’s really easy, you mustn’t worry about it.

When I was first diagnosed and told I would have a hemicolectomy, a nurse told me to get signed off for 3 months, so I did. After that I had chemo dates etc and I have decided to continue taking time off while I’m still being paid. I don’t know how the return to work is going to pan out, but I will make it as gradual as I’m legally allowed to. You’re currently being treated for a dreadful disease. This isn’t the US, we mustn’t worry about work, but about our health.

Nic xxx

Thank you  I am being careful about lifting and with the blood thinners I’m being careful not to do anything that could cause unnecessary bleeding.  I think because my head is in a good place but my body is a bit battered I’m finding it it hard.  Really hoping the chemo is not needed but to be honest I need to accept that it might be.  

Hey there.  I know you’re right.  I tend to bury my head in the sand and pretend that everything is fine.  I once had meningitis and I carried on working until I was in hospital then when I was discharged I went back to work I was told to rest but I didn’t know how long for.  The doctor signed me off in the end.  My mum was a nurse and as a child I wasn’t allowed to be off school unless I was half dead so it’s kind of ingrained and at the moment I don’t feel half dead.  

Hi Scoutabout Most GI surgery has a 6 to 8 week recovery window, so you can have a sick note to cover you from the date you want it the cover for. This includes the pre-operative time frame. 
I applied for my sick note online via E-Consult which is accessed by my GP surgery website. Alternatively, you can just call and ask for one or use the NHS App (as suggested by Nic).
Remember that you self-certify for 7 days sick. and the Med3 (sick note) starts on day 8 of sick leave.

Sick note forms can be back-dated, but not forward-dated, so you put in the request either on the date you want your sick leave to start or afterwards (specifying the exact date you want your sick leave to cover you from).

Med3s can cover a maximum of 6 months sick leave. The NHS & gov websites have more information.

I’m at the same point as you in my journey. My op was on Dec 10th. After my colonoscopy in November, I contacted HR and asked what my sick leave allowance was (because I didn’t know).

I decided to use up all my annual leave for my contract year, and then booked off my sick leave thereafter. I told my GP exactly how much leave I wanted and when I wanted it to start.

GPs rarely will argue against sick leave dates if deemed appropriate under the circumstances.

For me, it’s about being fit - both physically and mentally before going back to work. This may mean more recovery time after the standard 8 weeks post-op.

Like you, my follow up is at end of Jan, and I have no idea what my post-op treatment plan will be.

In order to reduce my stress levels (because I have a highly stressful career) I took 6 months off sick leave, which has allowed my Employers the opportunity to arrange the back cover to pick up my duties. It’s given them the opportunity to plan accordingly. 

The benefit is that if I want, I can go back to work earlier with phased return or altered duties - as the GP can reissue modified Fit notes when I’m ready to go back. 

When I was diagnosed initially, I had 3 work colleagues who had cancer, and they all said they regretted coming back to work too soon and not taking enough time off to heal.

One colleague took a full year off and she said that it took all the pressure off (however she was financially in a better position to take such extended leave). 

My philosophy is that if you have access to contractual sick leave, then take it (assuming that it hasn’t been used up already). If you rush back, not feeling 100%, there’s a greater risk of burnout or going back on sick leave. 

Work, for me, isn’t a pleasant distraction - but I know that for many people, work can be a very helpful distraction and aid towards their recovery. xx 

My mum was the same

I had a perfect attendance record (thanks to mum). 

Thank you for this.   I don’t understand the bit about sick notes can be back dated and not forward dated.  So I applied for my sick note from the day of my operation to take me to the six weeks which will be 23rd Jan I think.  Do you mean that my doctor will only issue it from the start date to today and then I’ll need to apply for another one?  Does the forward dates mean that I couldn’t apply for it before my operation date?  

my job is not physically demanding and I can work from home.  I currently only go into the office 2 days a week when I’m well. If it’s school holidays etc I just work from home.  Also my job means I can dip in and out and I can work in the evening to make sure I do my contracted hours so I am keen to get back because it’s not dealing with cancer.  However I can’t sit for long at the moment so I’m thinking that a phased return in 2 weeks would be good for me but if I get a sick note that finishes today the expectation is that I’m good to get back tomorrow?  I know my HR department will understand but my boss won’t because neither of us have been in this situation.  The last time I was signed off was 10 years ago and I was told not to go to work for 3 weeks and that’s the period that my sick note covered me for.  

im expecting if I need chemo I’ll definitely need more time off so I think I’m trying to do is show my company I’m committed but my health must come first.  I’m entitled to 26 weeks sick pay but my head still thinks what if I get a serious illness……while I actually have a serious illness. 

Backdated - means that if I apply for a sick note today, but want it to start on January 1st, that can be done. So the date of issue on the note will be today, but the sick leave cover will commence on January 1st (and this date will be documented on the dick note along with the duration of leave). 

Forward dated - means that if I want my sick note to start, let’s say, tomorrow or next Monday - I can’t request for it today because the date of issue can’t be before the start date of sick leave cover. 

I hope that makes sense?? 

and yeah I agree with your reasoning.

We do have a serious illness. So it’s good that you know what your full sick leave entitlement is - just in case xx

I also asked my HR department for a copy of our sick leave policy, and it was emailed over to me. Policies provide more details on extending leave, flexible/phased working & other variations. Many employers don’t automatically share their sick leave policy documents, but they have to, if you formally request for it. 

Sorry *sick* note not *dick* note  predictive text is such a pain!!

That’s great thank you.  I submitted my sick note request last night and my surgery sent it back this morning.  Thank you and to @nicknack72 I never knew that I could do this online.  So I’m officially signed off for the whole 6 weeks this makes me feel better because I can stop thinking about work for now.  I hope you continue to recover well.  I’m happy that I’ve also got a date for my follow up appointment xx