Bipolar and calling in sick.

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi,

I'm looking for some advice, if anyone could share, I would be grateful. I'm 31 years old, and was dx'd with BP years ago after a stay in hospital. My moods have been stable ( within reason, as in, not life altering) for the past few years. Largely due to the part that I stopped drinking a few years ago. ( which I know was making my illness so much worse.)

I am usually able to stay on top of things, and if I feel myself getting out of sorts, I go see my doctor. However. I just realized the other day ( after basically doing some really stupid things the previous night) that I have been full out manic for the past month or so. My house is literally disgusting due me not doing any housework, I have spent all my money ( including savings) without paying a single bill, I've been talking, talking, talking, to the point that people have let me go on the phone and then I would turn around call them back to keep talking, I have been hooking up with men that I would normally have nothing do with, racing thoughts, unable to focus, went three days without eating, have only been sleeping here and there.. just full out blown mania. And of course, half the time that I was talking people's ears off, I was talking about how awesome I was and truly believing it.

I did have a moment of clarity about three weeks ago, and called in sick to work for the week. I hadn't taken any sick time up to that point ( however, we are a new facility that's only been open since November).

I went back to work last Mon and Tues, overnights. This was after I had realized that I was manic, and didn't think I should call in sick again. It was a disaster. Pt's were asking me for pain meds and I was forgetting to go to them. I was talking, talking, talking with the residents about my personal life, laughing, not focusing, I wouldn't be surprised if I made a med error, my mind was all over the place. I don't even want to think what my charting was like.

I called in sick for my three overnights this weekend. I was too worried that I would make a mistake, as I was still having trouble focusing, and still feeling the need to keep moving ( I have walked literally miles this weekend).

I'm guessing I'm going to be let go due to attendance issues, but maybe not, we'll see. I'm scheduled for overnights on wed and thurs of this week...I want to call in the morning and tell them I won't be able to do them. Even though I'm feeling MUCH more grounded right now, I'm worried that staying up all night both nights will just throw fuel in the fire and I'm either going to crash or my mania will increase.

I guess I'm just wondering what someone else do in my shoes..call in sick and risk the consequenses of missing so much time, or just plow through the shifts knowing I'm not mentally well right now. I'm thinking of my job performance, and of the residents when I stay home. And truthfully, I would rather be let go due to attendance issues, and have people talk about me at work for missing time, rather than be fired because I did something bizarre at work, or made a major mistake. Also, I`m a single mother ( so I have to think about my son, and what his home environment has been like for the past month), and I Actually SLEPT this weekend, and I don`t want to risk throwing every off by doing those overnights. I know that what has most likely set off this past round was the overnights I`ve been working ( but maybe not, because I`ve always done overnights in my rotations)..but even if they weren`t the cause, they certainly won`t help things right now.

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Patient safety first, call in sick and than get some assistance for yourself.

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You need to take action. I fear you will lose your license for mental incompetence.

I also fear for your patients, you are not able to care for them. You could hurt someone you are trusted to care for.

Talk to your doctor . It's time for a serious intervention. I hope you consider temporary disability.

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Specializes in Psychiatric nursing.

If you're sick, you're sick. If you had gastro you wouldn't go to work, it's the same if you are manic. They can't fire you for being sick- (Well in Aus they can't, not if you have a certificate).

I would advise you to go to your Dr and commence (if you haven't already) some medication. If you are manic and making decisions that you wouldn't normally, and are that distracted then it is VERY clear that you cannot work.

The worst possible outcome would be that you attended work, made a mistake that costs you your job, and therefore your income. This is a possibility.

The best thing you can do is seek help, and look after yourself :)

Good luck!

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Specializes in Home Care.

Aren't you on meds for BP?

What's going to happen when you crash? WHo's going to care for your son?

I think you should be worrying about your son as well as your job at this point.

Can you get someone to care for him while you find a way to stabilize? Maybe take some sick leave at work?

You have to get this sorted...now.

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You need to focus on your own health before you take care of others as a nurse. Besides, you don't want to lose your license as well as you need to feed your son and pay bills.

I wonder if your workplace would be able to support you a sick leave until your doctor give you a clearance. I would call to HR and ask what the policy they have.

Meantime, you may look for a day position. Please take care and good luck.

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Specializes in NICU/Subacute/MDS.

You made a wise choice by calling in sick. However, you did not say whether or not you sought medical care during those times. If you are ill for more than a day or two, you should be going in to see your physician. Not only do you need the health advice, but a doctor's note is certainly a good tool to have to protect your job. Plus, you could be put on medical leave for the short-term if you need to to get yourself well.

As rikomom suggested, you should definitely think about looking for stable day hours. Bipolar cycles can be triggered by fatigue.

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You likely qualify for FMLA - you can qualify for this even on a short-term basis. I'm not sure exactly what is involved in initiating this, but I think you need a doctor to give you documentation stating that you need it. If you bring that to your HR department, they are legally obligated to grant you the FMLA time and they are not allowed to let you go because of your illness. Going in this direction protects your job much more than simply calling off sick night after night with no doctor's documentation.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.
Hi,

I'm guessing I'm going to be let go due to attendance issues, but maybe not, we'll see. I'm scheduled for overnights on wed and thurs of this week...I want to call in the morning and tell them I won't be able to do them. Even though I'm feeling MUCH more grounded right now, I'm worried that staying up all night both nights will just throw fuel in the fire and I'm either going to crash or my mania will increase.

I guess I'm just wondering what someone else do in my shoes..call in sick and risk the consequenses of missing so much time, or just plow through the shifts knowing I'm not mentally well right now. I'm thinking of my job performance, and of the residents when I stay home. And truthfully, I would rather be let go due to attendance issues, and have people talk about me at work for missing time, rather than be fired because I did something bizarre at work, or made a major mistake. Also, I`m a single mother ( so I have to think about my son, and what his home environment has been like for the past month), and I Actually SLEPT this weekend, and I don`t want to risk throwing every off by doing those overnights. I know that what has most likely set off this past round was the overnights I`ve been working ( but maybe not, because I`ve always done overnights in my rotations)..but even if they weren`t the cause, they certainly won`t help things right now.

What would *I* do? Well, the first thing I would do is call my psychiatrist. And my second call would be to my supervisor and HR! It definitely sounds like you need to get a less erratic schedule, but they're not going to work with you unless you're completely straight with them. They very well may be wondering what's going on. In fact, they may suspect drug use rather than mania. You're going to have to show that you're doing your part to get healthy and maintain stability.

You're right. You don't sound mentally healthy right now and it could very well cost your your job if you can't focus. You can't just show up for work and hope for the best. It really sounds to me like you're impaired. And I'm not trying to put you down. I have bipolar disorder too. Believe me, i understand.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

I'm on a stable medication regimen and even I call in sick sometimes, when I know I'm hitting a rough patch, even if I have a few days off in a row after a shift. I make sure that I do it early so I can cross my fingers that my unit gets coverage, but I make my mental health a priority.

Definitely please get in touch with a psychiatrist if you haven't already, and by all means, if you're a danger to yourself or others, it might be best to check yourself in and take FMLA or short-term disability.

BTW I'm also much more stable since being on days. I was on nights for about a year and my mental health suffered. I checked myself in to a PHP program, got my meds straightened out, and worked to try to figure out a day position at my job, on my unit.

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You likely qualify for FMLA - you can qualify for this even on a short-term basis. I'm not sure exactly what is involved in initiating this, but I think you need a doctor to give you documentation stating that you need it. If you bring that to your HR department, they are legally obligated to grant you the FMLA time and they are not allowed to let you go because of your illness. Going in this direction protects your job much more than simply calling off sick night after night with no doctor's documentation.

I'm not an FMLA expert, but I think you have to have worked for 1 year to qualify. Best to check it out.

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

Right now, Having FMLA or not, does not matter. Your health is your first priority, then your son. Get someone to watch your child and admit yourself into a hospital, immediately. Your actions are life threatening and your disease process is out of control. You need help you can't give yourself, so please before something bad happens, use the little control you do have and check yourself in tonight. Good Luck! Peace!

Before folks call me a drama queen, reread her post. Besides the obvious dangers of her disease, her reckless behavior is quite disturbing and can put both the OP and her son in serious danger. Peace!

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