I returned to work last week after coming down with GBS in July. I was lucky, when i walked out of hospital after 7 weeks it was totally unassisted (and i had been completely paralysed). I consider my recovery about 99%. Even so, I found the fatigue after returning to work incredible. The work itself was not hard, but when i came home and sat down it hit me and my whole body felt like i had run a marathon. I guess what i am saying is I have very few residuals unlike most GBS people, have regained full use of my body and even so was surprised at how much work took out of me – and i am talking 3 days a week 9-3 at a desk and a 5 minute commute to work. I understand you are in a difficult situation financially, but please do not risk your health if you are not physically ready to return to work. I cannot imagine how hard daily living must be, let alone trying to work as well.

Do you guys have anything like unemployment benefit? We have all kinds of welfare payments over here … sickness benefit, unemployment, parenting etc which are fortnightly payments. I received a fortnightly payment depending on my partners income.

my current medical certificate runs out on fri (they gave me 3 months originally but seeing i was in a coma i think that was just off the top of their heads) I have an appt to see my GP tomorrow and will ask her to give me another certificate for a few more months and then i can decide when i want to go back to work. I dont know what social security is like over there. We have to report my partners income every fortnight and if he earns over a certain amount i am not entitled to any payments anyway. We have a carers allowance of $94 a fortnight that is not income tested but we didnt qualify for that as i am not (or was not when i applied) disabled enough – even though when i first came out of hospital i could barely look after myself let alone the kids.

I have just found out i do have income protection insurance so hopefully i will get some income from that and can forget about social security. Dont worry i will not be going back to work until i feel 100% ready. lucky my work is pretty flexible. I will probably go in for a day to see how i go before i go back for good.