When you call in sick to work, do you explain what is wrong?

[Chattyaholic]

I get very nervous when I have to call my boss to let her know I'm sick. She is the type of person that doesn't seem to have any sympathy for you, and she is just concerned about being inconvenienced because you're not coming in to work your shift.

I've worked there almost 8 years and can only remember calling in twice. Once I was having back problems and had been working regularly (crying on the way home from work because it hurt so bad) but finally went to the doctor and he recommended I take two weeks off for it to heal, oh how she hated to hear that. She never said "take care of yourself", or "hope you feel better soon", just a big sigh into the phone and "OK, well, thanks for calling."

The second time was this past Sept. I'd had a week of shortness of breath, and was supposed to work the weekend but my doctor wanted me to have a CT scan Friday afternoon so I went for that, came home and had my work clothes on when the doctor called and said "get to the hospital, now!" I was still afraid to call my boss to let her know, but she was more sympathetic that time. I had severe pulmonary embolism in both lungs.

But to just call for a headache, cold, or something like that I won't do it, I'll still work.