going on the sick

catrionanic

Hi all,

Just a question really - I have SPD and it's pretty bad at 26 weeks and getting worse, so am wondering what would happen if I have to finish work early.

I don't get sick pay from an employer, so have been looking at Illness Benefit from the state. My question is, am I able to claim for illness benefit right up until two weeks before my due date, or would I be forced to go on maternity benefit early?

I would like to try to avoid taking the maternity benefit earlier than I have to, as I'm planning to breastfeed exclusively for as long as possible and want to be able to stay off work after the baby is born until maternity benefit runs out (my employer doesn't top up my maternity pay either).

Thanks all.

greenttc

Is it still really bad caitriona? getting worse? I can empathise, Mine feels much worse this week too despite the pain though I dread the thought of sitting at home, its not like I will be in any less pain there. that sounds stupid i know! I am going to try some working from home I think if it keeps on like this.

I am not sure what the answer to your question is but I have just filled out that MB10 form for the maternity benefit and your employer fills in the dates of maternity leave so i suppose if you agree those dates with them that is when it should start (so ideally two weeks before due date which is he latest you can go) and anything before that your GP will fill in an illness benefit form form for you which has to be submitted weekly. I suppose you get what you claim for and that is the way you should do it. who can make you take maternity leave earlier? I dont think the department of social protection can step in and tell you what you should take.... if that was the case loads of people would be starting mat leave earlier as so many people dont make it till the last day and have to go on sick leave anyway.

this is all just guessing from me though I really dont have any experience although I have claimed illness benefit so understand how that works.

catrionanic

greenttc wrote: »

Is it still really bad caitriona? getting worse? I can empathise, Mine feels much worse this week too despite the pain though I dread the thought of sitting at home, its not like I will be in any less pain there. that sounds stupid i know! I am going to try some working from home I think if it keeps on like this.

I am not sure what the answer to your question is but I have just filled out that MB10 form for the maternity benefit and your employer fills in the dates of maternity leave so i suppose if you agree those dates with them that is when it should start (so ideally two weeks before due date which is he latest you can go) and anything before that your GP will fill in an illness benefit form form for you which has to be submitted weekly. I suppose you get what you claim for and that is the way you should do it. who can make you take maternity leave earlier? I dont think the department of social protection can step in and tell you what you should take.... if that was the case loads of people would be starting mat leave earlier as so many people dont make it till the last day and have to go on sick leave anyway.

this is all just guessing from me though I really dont have any experience although I have claimed illness benefit so understand how that works.

Thanks pet. Yeah it's worse this week than last week for sure. Almost every movement is painful. I saw a physio on Monday and she just told me to take it easy, walk as little as possible, avoid stairs unless completely necessary. My job is moderately active, it's not a desk job so I'm constantly up and down and using stairs too, and it's difficult. My husband had to help me up the stairs at 2am when I went downstairs to use the loo (downstairs bathrooms are a pain!). The physio didn't really seem to do much, gave me some exercises and told me to come back if it gets unmanageable... think I might try someone else.

I've a GP appointment in a fortnight or so, so I will take the maternity form to her then to be filled in and I'll ask her about sick leave too I suppose.

I reeeeeeeeally don't want to have to finish work too early - we really can't afford it - so I'm desperately worried about the next few months.

fits

Is there any way you could minimise your movement at work or work from home? It sounds like you need a rest from all that movement so it has a chance to settle down.

catrionanic

fits wrote: »

Is there any way you could minimise your movement at work or work from home? It sounds like you need a rest from all that movement so it has a chance to settle down.

Unfortunately not. I'm an optometrist, and the only one. I have to constantly be up and down and moving around, doing different tests on patients and using various bits of equipment. So working from home definitely isn't an option, and there's nobody to share my workload either.

fits

That sounds like a quandary alright.

My docs have been wanting to sign me off since 24 weeks, but I cant afford it! Self employed.

amdublin

I don't want to pry, everyone's financial situation is different...but isn't an optometrist a really well paid job??!! What hope is there for the rest of us if you can't afford to take time off sick unpaid

I hope you feel better soon/get sorted financially re social welfare etc. Maybe talk to your gp?

greenttc

catrionanic wrote: »

Thanks pet. Yeah it's worse this week than last week for sure. Almost every movement is painful. I saw a physio on Monday and she just told me to take it easy, walk as little as possible, avoid stairs unless completely necessary. My job is moderately active, it's not a desk job so I'm constantly up and down and using stairs too, and it's difficult. My husband had to help me up the stairs at 2am when I went downstairs to use the loo (downstairs bathrooms are a pain!). The physio didn't really seem to do much, gave me some exercises and told me to come back if it gets unmanageable... think I might try someone else.

I've a GP appointment in a fortnight or so, so I will take the maternity form to her then to be filled in and I'll ask her about sick leave too I suppose.

I reeeeeeeeally don't want to have to finish work too early - we really can't afford it - so I'm desperately worried about the next few months.

I am exactly the same any bit of walking or swimming just aggravates it and I am in agony that night. Resting ( not moving around too much) helps. Going to physio tomorrow again so will see what they say.

I suppose in terms of work they have to make your work environment safe for you and clearly all the stairs and moving is having a negative impact. I presume (hope) your work would prefer to adjust your work so that you can continue to work rather than have you go out sick and lose you altogether. You should have a talk with them and see what they say.

I am so lucky that I would get both maternity and sick pay but I am in a situation where there is lots of change in my job and I am in direct competition with others to progress and succeed so I don't want to be out sick and forgo an opportunity to prove myself. So, although from a different perspective I can totally see why you are stressed about going on sick leave. You must be so stressed :-(

Did the physio not do any work on you at all? Tell me they didn't just say rest and do some specific exercises? That's not right at all. If you can definitely see someone better.

catrionanic

amdublin wrote: »

I don't want to pry, everyone's financial situation is different...but isn't an optometrist a really well paid job??!! What hope is there for the rest of us if you can't afford to take time off sick unpaid

I hope you feel better soon/get sorted financially re social welfare etc. Maybe talk to your gp?

Wow that's rude. And also wrong! I'm not going to get bogged down in finances here (it's impolite, after all!), but for a bit of context, the average optometrist earns significantly less than the average teacher. It's not wise to make assumptions about anybody's financial situation. Living in dublin and with a mortgage to pay, I'm not in the luxury to just go off unpaid, just like so many other working mothers.

Greenttc, thanks, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time of it too.... what is it about pregnancy that's natural at all?! The physio gave me some exercises to do, but wasn't able to do any jiggery-pokery to make it better. She seemed to think it's a combination of PGP and also ligaments/muscles tightening to compensate? I think I will try somewhere else to get a second opinion.

Beanybabog

amdublin wrote: »

I don't want to pry, everyone's financial situation is different...but isn't an optometrist a really well paid job??!! What hope is there for the rest of us if you can't afford to take time off sick unpaid

I hope you feel better soon/get sorted financially re social welfare etc. Maybe talk to your gp?

I'm sure that's the point?! You could have the best paid job in the world and not be able to afford to take sick leave because your expenses tend to match your income, and if you have no income....

I would love to go early (not sick just tied) but since I'm not being paid either it will cost me money and I need that money for baby stuff, maternity leave etc

Anne_cordelia

amdublin wrote: »

I don't want to pry, everyone's financial situation is different...but isn't an optometrist a really well paid job??!! What hope is there for the rest of us if you can't afford to take time off sick unpaid

Ok that's a bizarre thing to say!

Anne_cordelia

catrionanic wrote: »

Hi all,

Just a question really - I have SPD and it's pretty bad at 26 weeks and getting worse, so am wondering what would happen if I have to finish work early.

I don't get sick pay from an employer, so have been looking at Illness Benefit from the state. My question is, am I able to claim for illness benefit right up until two weeks before my due date, or would I be forced to go on maternity benefit early?

I would like to try to avoid taking the maternity benefit earlier than I have to, as I'm planning to breastfeed exclusively for as long as possible and want to be able to stay off work after the baby is born until maternity benefit runs out (my employer doesn't top up my maternity pay either).

Thanks all.

How quickly we forget things! I'm pretty sure I got state illness benefit until 38 weeks when I then switched to maternity benefit. But I can't swear to it!! I was signed off work at 30 weeks with a pregnancy related illness.

Big Bag of Chips

Unless things have changed since my day you state the date your maternity leave will start. If you go out in sick leave before that you are on sick leave and unless you inform maternity benefit section that you are starting your maternity leave earlier then they just pay your maternity benefit from the date specified on your form. If your doctor signs you off on sick certs then you will get illness benefit until you stop handing in your certs (the day your maternity benefit starts!)

LegacyUser

catrionanic wrote: »

am I able to claim for illness benefit right up until two weeks before my due date,
.

Yes you can.

Roesy

Did the physio think any kind of support belt would work? Did they do any hands on work on you at all? I've had terrible PGP since about 7 weeks in this pregnancy and have been surviving through a combination of physio(lots of hands on work), Pilates, a support belt and taping. I have a 3 year old with
Whom I never suffered Pelvic pain and a 15 month old that I had it pretty bad with as well. With the 15 month old I got a second spring for a few weeks around 32 weeks and the same happened this time around 3 weeks ago
At about 35 weeks so hopefully you'll get some sort of reprieve at some stage. As for sick leave, you can definitely take this before starting maternity leave. I was on sick leave from 32 weeks this time until last week when my maternity leave started.

catrionanic

Roesy wrote: »

Did the physio think any kind of support belt would work? Did they do any hands on work on you at all? I've had terrible PGP since about 7 weeks in this pregnancy and have been surviving through a combination of physio(lots of hands on work), Pilates, a support belt and taping. I have a 3 year old with
Whom I never suffered Pelvic pain and a 15 month old that I had it pretty bad with as well. With the 15 month old I got a second spring for a few weeks around 32 weeks and the same happened this time around 3 weeks ago
At about 35 weeks so hopefully you'll get some sort of reprieve at some stage. As for sick leave, you can definitely take this before starting maternity leave. I was on sick leave from 32 weeks this time until last week when my maternity leave started.

Thank you so much, that's really helpful. It sounds like you have been through the wars big time - the end is finally in sight! What is taping?

The physio did ask me to do various actions to see what hurt and what didnt, to try to establish exactly where is affected. Annoyingly, the PGP wasn't hurting as much as usual when I was doing what she asked me to, so I felt like we weren't really getting a proper assessment of it. She did push my hips together to see if that lessened the pain, which it didn't really, so she said she didn't think a support belt would help. She gave me a tubular bandage to wear around my bump and hips to see if that helps at all, but I'm not to wear it for more than an hour or two at a time. I think it helps slightly but it's so slight I'm not even sure to be honest!

Thinking of buying a serola belt anyway, but it might be a waste. She did recommend a spiky ball so I must get one of those. And better shoes! I mainly wear ballet pumps which don't give enough support at all.

greenttc

Such an awkward situation to be in. Is there anyway your workplace can be reconfigured so that all your equipment is in one place or something? I am sure you have thought all this through though.

The only thing is, if you are the only one who can do your job your employer must be under more pressure to help you however they can.

Can't believe someone on this thread would question how bad your financial situation is by the way!!!!

You are so right though, who are all these lucky people with glowing pregnancies who have no complaints at all, why can't we be one of them! Stupid pelvis!

My physio also said it is pgp with further strain on connected ligaments and muscles but those are the ones they should be doing the work on.

Roesy

catrionanic wrote: »

Thank you so much, that's really helpful. It sounds like you have been through the wars big time - the end is finally in sight! What is taping?

The physio did ask me to do various actions to see what hurt and what didnt, to try to establish exactly where is affected. Annoyingly, the PGP wasn't hurting as much as usual when I was doing what she asked me to, so I felt like we weren't really getting a proper assessment of it. She did push my hips together to see if that lessened the pain, which it didn't really, so she said she didn't think a support belt would help. She gave me a tubular bandage to wear around my bump and hips to see if that helps at all, but I'm not to wear it for more than an hour or two at a time. I think it helps slightly but it's so slight I'm not even sure to be honest!

Thinking of buying a serola belt anyway, but it might be a waste. She did recommend a spiky ball so I must get one of those. And better shoes! I mainly wear ballet pumps which don't give enough support at all.

Ditch the pumps! I used wear them all the time or converse and they definitely affected me pain wise. My mother gave me an ugly pair of sketchher slip on go walk shoes and I'm mainly wearing them at the moment. Does your physio specialise in pregnancy or is it a hospital physio? I have the tubi grip too. Was told it was fine to wear for a few hours just not in bed or anything. The spiky balls are good but my physio reckoned a tennis ball would work as well. She does release work on sore areas and some deep tissue work. After that then she'd apply sports tape on affected areas.

catrionanic

Also, SPD sufferers, I've ordered this sheet thing called the Snoozle slide sheet which you put under you at night, which apparently makes it easier to turn in bed. I find turning over really painful, and the same for getting in and out of bed to go to the loo etc, so I'm really excited about it arriving! Might be worth trying?

Notsomindful

amdublin wrote: »

I don't want to pry, everyone's financial situation is different...but isn't an optometrist a really well paid job??!! What hope is there for the rest of us if you can't afford to take time off sick unpaid

I hope you feel better soon/get sorted financially re social welfare etc. Maybe talk to your gp?

A bit judgemental. What right do you have to comment on other peoples financial situation

Beanybabog

I don't have any of the same problems but I had to ditch the ballet pumps ages ago my feet were killing me! I live in sketchers go walk shoes. Not
Pretty but comfortable.

Probably a stupid question, but have you actually talked to work about the problems? You might not be able to see a way around it but someone else might have some good ideas- they may well have had to make changes for pregnant women in the past

amdublin

Notsomindful wrote: »

A bit judgemental. What right do you have to comment on other peoples financial situation

And now you're being judgemental no?

Apologies op, my post was intended to be empathetic rather than....rather than...rather than something else that it clearly came across as. I genuinely thought optometrists were like doctors...and I acknowledged that everyone's financial situation is different, completely agree the more money one makes the more outgoings one can have.
Anyhoo you gave context/likened it with a teachers salary.
I'm sorry if you thought it was rude talking about financials too but noting what you were talking about in your op and 2nd post (financial? ) I didn't think it was a bad thing to talk about. Again I stress I thought I was being empathetic with you (and me/others who are in different financial situations). Anyhoo it has caused a hoo ha and I apologise for that.

To offer advice, same as in my op, I have found my gp good in offering advice re going off sick/social welfare etc

catrionanic

That's ok, no worries. Thanks for elaborating.

Anne_cordelia

Definitely ditch the pumps! I bought Clarks shoes for work and they made the world of difference. I've heard Skechers aren't recommended either. When I had SPD I remember turning under when turning in bed rather than over if you get me. For stairs you need to put one foot up and then put the two feet together on the step before taking next step. Takes longer but makes a world of difference pain wise. Basically anything you can do to keep legs together. Bin bag on car seat to help you swing out with legs together.

mrsmags16

amdublin wrote: »

And now you're being judgemental no?

Apologies op, my post was intended to be empathetic rather than....rather than...rather than something else that it clearly came across as. I genuinely thought optometrists were like doctors...and I acknowledged that everyone's financial situation is different, completely agree the more money one makes the more outgoings one can have.
Anyhoo you gave context/likened it with a teachers salary.
I'm sorry if you thought it was rude talking about financials too but noting what you were talking about in your op and 2nd post (financial? ) I didn't think it was a bad thing to talk about. Again I stress I thought I was being empathetic with you (and me/others who are in different financial situations). Anyhoo it has caused a hoo ha and I apologise for that.

To offer advice, same as in my op, I have found my gp good in offering advice re going off sick/social welfare etc

I'm a doctor, I couldn't afford to take a day off unpaid.
Without going off topic, I think people would be surprised to know how much we earn.

greenttc

catrionanic wrote: »

Also, SPD sufferers, I've ordered this sheet thing called the Snoozle slide sheet which you put under you at night, which apparently makes it easier to turn in bed. I find turning over really painful, and the same for getting in and out of bed to go to the loo etc, so I'm really excited about it arriving! Might be worth trying?

Oh my god they look amazing!! turning over is agonising and this looks like it would help so much!

did you get it from the snoozle website or did you find a better price elsewhere?

I am so getting one of these too, thanks Catriona!

catrionanic

greenttc wrote: »

Oh my god they look amazing!! turning over is agonising and this looks like it would help so much!

did you get it from the snoozle website or did you find a better price elsewhere?

I am so getting one of these too, thanks Catriona!

I just ordered it from their website, think it was £24 which isn't bad. I'm expecting to to arrive by this weekend so I'll let you know how it goes if you want!

Roesy

Anne_cordelia wrote: »

Definitely ditch the pumps! I bought Clarks shoes for work and they made the world of difference. I've heard Skechers aren't recommended either. When I had SPD I remember turning under when turning in bed rather than over if you get me. For stairs you need to put one foot up and then put the two feet together on the step before taking next step. Takes longer but makes a world of difference pain wise. Basically anything you can do to keep legs together. Bin bag on car seat to help you swing out with legs together.

I asked the physio about this. She said different shoes will suit different people
But that completely flat was a no no. I have a pair of shoes from Rieker(I think) that look like they should be way more supportive than the sketchers but I get less pain when wearing the sketchers so happy to go with that.

greenttc

catrionanic wrote: »

I just ordered it from their website, think it was £24 which isn't bad. I'm expecting to to arrive by this weekend so I'll let you know how it goes if you want!

how did you get it for 24, its 35 pounds of 39 euro for me :mad: 24 sounds more reasonable for a plastic sheet to me!

although can I relaly put a price on a better sleep for the next while???

do let me know how you get on over the weekend, very interested to hear!

Lucyfur

I begrudgingly bought the serola support belt for €50 plus delivery. Well, now I have it I'd pay twice over for it. It helps my hips SO much. My back is wonky now too and it's not as good for that but it makes such a difference to the hip pain.

catrionanic

greenttc wrote: »

how did you get it for 24, its 35 pounds of 39 euro for me :mad: 24 sounds more reasonable for a plastic sheet to me!

although can I relaly put a price on a better sleep for the next while???

do let me know how you get on over the weekend, very interested to hear!

Actually I think it was 39euro in the end, sorry!!!

I actually ordered it at 3.30am while sitting on the sofa, shattered and delirious from being unable to sleep due to the pelvic pain - probably why I got muddled on the price!

fro9etb8j5qsl2

You can get signed off sick and will get illness benefit up until you begin your mat leave. Nobody (neither employer nor social welfare) can force you to begin your maternity leave early.

With my first pregnancy, I was signed off sick from around 32 weeks due to back problems. My second pregnancy I was signed off sick for practically the whole pregnancy due to the same problems. No hassle at all.

catrionanic

Thanks girls for all your help and information. Really helpful and reassuring. One less thing to worry about, should I have to finish up early.

Pain actually has been a bit better today and yesterday. Work has been a lot quieter,so I am seeing less patients and hence doing less moving around. Gonna take it easy this weekend and hopefully will be feeling okay come Monday.

cyning

I was signed off sick at 4.5 weeks pregnant until my maternity leave started. Obviously never realised I would be off the entire pregnancy and a nightmare for my employer who was fantastic over it all. But you certainly can go from sick leave to maternity leave if you need to.

catrionanic

Sooooo the snoozle blanket arrived and I've not slept on in yet, but tried just turning on the sofa and it was much easier.

That said, all it really seems to be is two squares of a silky material sewn together at both sides, so that as you turn on it, the two layers slide over each other easily so that you can turn with less resistance. I feel that I could have easily made it myself! So two squares of silky fabric, sewn together along both sides, then placed under you with the two sewn seams to your sides, to the left and right of your bum.

My mums friend also recommended wearing silk pyjamas in bed for an easier turn, which makes sense!

fits

Mught try that. Luckily i dont have spd but man this bump is heavy!!!

greenttc

Hmmm will be interested to see how you get on sleeping on it. Taking inspiration from your snoozle i decided to sleep on a black plastic sack on Friday night and it defo worked a small bit but then it just got crumpled and ended up off to one side. So the next night i decided that maybe it would work if i got inside the bag ( with the bottom cut off) so i tried that Saturday night, worked better but was a bit sweaty,hadn't thought of plastic not being breathable! I sound mad but desperate measures and all that!

But silky pyjamas,now there is an idea! Or maybe silky sheets!

My pgp has defo gotten worse despite all the physio, really dont want to end up on crutches! But night time and turning is the worst!

Would love an update on how the nighttime trial goes, wonder will it stay under you or will it go off to the side like the black bag....???

implausible

I had this towards the end of my last pregnancy and had to take sick off work for 3 weeks until maternity leave took over. As others have said, you cannot be forced to take maternity leave earlier.

The last time I left it too late to do anything about it and ended up wearing the belt and using a crutch, so when I felt twinges before 12 weeks this time, I got proactive - physio, sketchers and swimming. Your physio doesn't sound great to be honest, better trying someone with experience in PGP. Mine was great, only went for four sessions and haven't been back since (I'm 26 weeks now), she gave me exercises which I do religiously and a pilates band for some of them, she also recommended a tennis ball for massage (my glutes were tightened up and killing me). Swimming once a week seems to help. Flat shoes kill me and the skechers that kind of look like boat shoes are now my uniform. I always sleep with a pillow between my legs and have had to forsake the comfy (sinky) couch in the sittingroom. I also have a good chair at work that swivels so I can turn to the thing I need instead of getting up all of the time - can you reorganise your work space a bit to do this?

I don't know if any of this helps, but for me, doing all this keeps it at bay until nighttime when I start to stiffen up.

catrionanic

greenttc - LOL!!!!! The thought of you settling down to sleep into a black binbag had me laughing out loud in work! You poor wee thing, anything for a good night's sleep eh?

The Snoozle was fine. So much easier to turn over - you literally just slide across the sheet and the Snoozle moves with you. It does bunch up a bit - I had to readjust it two or three times during the night (but I'm fussy). Was considering getting something sticky to stick it into the bedsheet with but I couldn't think of anything?

Like I said though, it would be super easy to make the snoozle yourself with two layers of silky fabric. Would save a few pennies and may be quicker than ordering online and waiting on delivery. I do think it's worth it though regardless, as it definitely reduces the pain when turning. Doesn't eliminate it entirely, but it helps. And I'm definitely going to order some silk PJs online... can't face a shopping trip in person as terrified of making things worse!

implausible - thank you so much for your really informative reply. I'm glad to hear that so far you're bearing up okay. I am also 26 weeks!

catrionanic

Just received an email offering me 15% discount if I buy another snoozle. Just have to enter code Fall2016 as discount code at checkout. Greenttc, may be of interest to you!

implausible

catrionanic wrote:

implausible - thank you so much for your really informative reply. I'm glad to hear that so far you're bearing up okay. I am also 26 weeks!

No bother, it seems to be working for me so far, fingers crossed. Doesn't help that people don't seem to know much about it. I got v sick of people saying I had sciatica the last time and my mother has put it down to laziness between pregnancies!

Must keep an eye on the Jan board for you so! This is my third and work is busy, so enthusiasm for discussing my pregnancy is low and I haven't been on it much, if at all.

greenttc

catrionanic wrote: »

Just received an email offering me 15% discount if I buy another snoozle. Just have to enter code Fall2016 as discount code at checkout. Greenttc, may be of interest to you!

Thanks Caitriona!!

I have just given in and bought it with your code, this stupid PGP seems to be getting worse and the ol balck bags are not working out so hopefully this will help! anything that will allow me to get a bit of sleep!!!!

Is yours much the same? any better/worse? hope you have managed to rearrage some parts of work...

stickybean

Just a quick question.. I was due to finish up at 37 weeks +3, but just got my letter from the social welfare, the date is a week ahead 38 +3 I really don't think I could go that long. I've no health issues, but am really starting to slow down and getting quite tired in the afternoons.

I asked my HR person, she said she can change it but I will have to resubmit everything and all the paper work in our office and recommended "off the record" I got sick for the last week, she said most people do that. Would my doctor sign me off?

catrionanic

Greenttc, I've cut back as much as I can, particularly with stairs and walking anyway that isn't strictly necessary, and the last 5 or 6 days have been a lot better. Today is a little worse again (had to walk from Dawson street to the start of Ranelagh last night) but thankfully not as bad as last week.

So sorry to hear you're in such a bad way, have you been back to the physio? A lady on my street had SPD so bad that she couldn't walk for four months, tried everything without success, and then she met a lady who is a 'movement specialist' who was doing a study and she said that it made such a huge difference. I haven't looked into it myself as I'm coping okay at the moment, but she gave me her number which I can pass onto you if you like. I'm not sure whether she's even still in Dublin or working or whatever as I've not looked into it (my neighbour's wee boy is now 2), but you could give her a call to find out.

Stickybean, how annoying that they messed your form up! I def couldn't work that late either. I get that you'd frel uncomfortable going on the sick, but it's only a few days, I'm sure you've been a reliable employee over the years, and you really won't be in a fit state to be working so it is a genuine medical complaint. Don't feel too bad about it. They're copin without you for six months or more - a few extra days won't break them.

catrionanic

Greenttc how is the spd holding up? Did your snoozle arrive?

greenttc

catrionanic wrote: »

Greenttc how is the spd holding up? Did your snoozle arrive?

Not great, it's a bit like yours in that when I rest and don't move it's better but if I do any amount of walking or moving that day I am in for a bad night! No snoozle yet, hoping it arrives this week.

How are you getting on with your snoozle? Is it making a difference?

I hate not being able to move around, feel like I am getting no exercise what so ever which is not good!

catrionanic

greenttc wrote: »

Not great, it's a bit like yours in that when I rest and don't move it's better but if I do any amount of walking or moving that day I am in for a bad night! No snoozle yet, hoping it arrives this week.

How are you getting on with your snoozle? Is it making a difference?

I hate not being able to move around, feel like I am getting no exercise what so ever which is not good!

Yeah the snoozle has really helped thankfully.

You just need to take it as easy as possible. I am such a lazy lump these days but what can you do. I try to only go down the stairs once in the morning, doing everything I can in the bedroom and carrying anything I'll need later with me, and up the stairs once at night to go to bed. I'm avoiding walking any more than I have to (which included missing a wee trip round the giants causeway with the husband and friends this weekend.... had to console myself with a Rice Krispie bun in the hotel instead while I waited!), and doing lots of online shopping! It has helped immensely though. The pain is only a wee niggle and a bit f stiffness for now.

My parents' neighbour is a midwife and has booked me in for a pregnancy massage with a physio who has massage training as a baby shower gift. Have you tried that yet?

greenttc

oh no, you missed a trip round the giants causeway!! I love that place and would have been devastated to miss that! that has really made me empathise with you more than anything! (I am a weirdo I know!)

It has kind of worked the opposite for me with missing stuff today, I am in work and my mum and sister are going to liffey valley for a bit of a browse, I havent been there in years and was a little jealous that I couldnt go cause I am working but then I remembered the hell it would have been with this PGP so i felt a little less sorry for myself! ha!

yes I am the same with becoming very efficient in my trips up and down stairs, to and from a printer in work, in and out of the kitchen etc......

I have been to the physio a good bit and she does rub out all the knots, it was only last week that she managed to hit the right spot so that getting in and out of the car is not as bad, all other pains remain though, it is crazy how many seperate muscles and movements are effected by this! I am thinking that a massage might be fairly similar to what my physio does so I hadnt really considered it! let me know how you get on!

cant wait for the snoozle to arrive!!!!!

greenttc

My snoozle arrived! So excited for bed tonight!

catrionanic

greenttc wrote: »

My snoozle arrived! So excited for bed tonight!

Haha, I hope it helps!

I turn a lot in my sleep and it keeps bunching up which is annoying. Let me know if you find a solution that that!

How's your SPD this last week or two?

fits

I heard from another twin mum that a silk sleeping bag liner does the job well as well. I dont have pelvic issues, but its really getting hard to turn over. Might try it out.