hi ladies,
sorry i've not been around, but my advice kind of is why i not been around.
firstly bubs is fine, playing nicely in my belly and growing a bit too well (big baby according to 20 week scan)

anyway i'm going to mw tomorrow and i NEED sometime off work, my boss is saying it too.

i'm exhausted, crying for no reason, but the reason why is that i'm in a lot of pain in my hips, groin area, i think its pelvic girdle pain (been looking on internet) its used to be called spd.
basically walking upstairs, turning in bed (ouch) putting slippers on (major ouch standing for a second on one foot), sitting for too long, standing, basically anything physically is hurting and i'm not sleeping so i'm just tired.

well in my work i need to be on my game and i just feel so tired to do it.

so what i need advice with is, do you just ask to be signed off, or does it have to be docs suggestion, i'm useless at these things, they tried to sign me off before and i've talked myself out of it lol, but this time i cant

i've got 10 weeks left till maternity and i need to rest before i collapse and hurt bubs.

i hope your all well and i'm going to try and be around a bit more, need the support xx

Hey Clare, sorry to hear that you are feeling poop! You can deffo ask to be signed off by the doctor. Remember also that you can be off work for up to 7 days without needing a doctors note so if need be you could take a week off without a note. xx

I had this hun, at one point I was on crutches and got signed off work 4 weeks before I was due to go on mat leave, its really awful and I feel for you hun I really do. If the docs have wanted to sign you off sick before maybe mention it again to you MW say you're in too much pain and work is making it worse xx

You need to ask

I had very bad SPD too, alongside an extremely bad coccyx, and I was off from (IIRC) 26 weeks until I had Izzy

Have you seen your GP about this before? If they offer to refer you for physio you might be quicker asking the MW to refer you as they seem to have more of an ability to get SPD people seen faster.

yeh go to gp and they will sign you off straight away. sorry to hear you're having a crappy time, we're always here for you xx

i've mentioned it before to the doc and mw, but it wasnt such an issue then, but i can hardly walk after 3 and climbing stairs to bed i need russ to help.

can the mw sign you off, or is it a case of me doing 7 days and then making docs appointment,

thanks ladies, for the advice, i knew you guys would help

Hun, I had PGP too, I ended up needing physio ang being on 2 crutches and wearing a special belt that pulls the hips in. a 10 min walk to theh shops and back took me 45 mins!! (I almost threw the crutches in sheer frustration due to hurting so much) defo see your GP and ask for some time off and ask to be referred to a physiotherapist asap which they should do as you are obv in alot of pain xxxxxxxxx

Yes the MW can sign you off, mine did xx

No i dont think the MW can sign you off

You are better off self signing (there is an official form the docs can give you to complete, or some companies have their own version) and get an appointment in that time with the GP

Are you doing anything to help the SPD? There aint really much that helps loads, but hot bath before bed did my wonders...every night I'd sit there topping the bath up with hot til I was shrivelled up lol.
Also a long pillow that goes between your knees and holds up bump helped me.
I was prescribed painkillers, but didn't like the thought of it, so really only took them when I had to go out and about

Ouchies you have my sympathy hun. I would def speak to my GP if I were you hun

xx

i've not taken any pain killers, dont want too.
i brought a long pillow other week, thoguht it would help and it does,

i'm going to have a bath as reccommended thanks lisa, russ has said he will help me get out,

thanks for the advice ladies, i feel a bit better knowing what to do tomorrow xxx

Eeee I could write a book Clare!

Be careful, bath may ease muscles but loosen things more which may not help - plus the position in a bath is awful and you can end up with tailbone basically sitting on hard plastic - put a flannel / small towel under if so - you need it reeaaalllllyyyy deep to to provide some buoyancy.

If you say PGP to docs or MW you'll get funny looks ... unless they know there stuff (I'm yet to find one who does) and when you say SPD they just assume it's only your pubic bone (the kicked-in -the-knackers-feeling). Physio will give you self-help tips and suggest mild exercise (as simple as lying on side holding tummy muscles in for a few secs or sitting still as poss on birthing ball to help core strength) but there is very little they can do or will do!

Bend knees when bending down not your back, don't lift if you can help it (says she still lugging a toddler about at nearly 39 weeks!) - do you find it comes and goes - you have good periods and worse periods?

Shorten your gait when walking, twist your whole body getting in and out of the car /bed and try to keep knees, shoulders and ankles parallel whenever moving.

It can ease from here on in as it's linked to hormones and they settle off for a bit (then flare up again near the end...) - you can take yourself off for a week at least and see if it helps but if you stay static too long then everything will get looser which worsens the problem! But jsut the time to take things steady instead of charging on will help.

Sorry that's all blurted out as I saw your post and thought I'd try give what rambling help I could be really need to go to bed - achy and big swollen ankles

Take care, chin up and be good to yourself xxx

Thanks hun, that's helped and yes it does come and go, and its worse when tired
But then so are the hormones,thanks for the advice.

Hope those ankles are ok xx

physio really helped me but by the time anyone bothered to listen to me i was way down the line. i ended up getting the physio appointment myself cos the midwives didn't give a crap! i hope you get some relief from it before baby comes, you have my deepest sympathies!!!