Any Nurses or other healthcare workers with IBD?

[mharvey90]

Hey everyone,

I'm currently a post-bacc student doing and accelerated RN program, will graduate in Dec. 2013. I get a lot of comments from friends/family that are discouraging in my ability to work 12 hour shifts as an RN with my disease, or that immunosuppression from Crohn's meds will have me too sick all the time to be a nurse.

I'm extremely passionate about having a career in healthcare. I have been through so much as a patient, and I believe those experiences will make me an awesome nurse. We all know what it's like to deal with a nurse or physician who just has no experience being a patient and has no compassion or empathy as a result.

Just wondering if there are any other fellow nursing students or current nurses that can offer me any positive words of advice

 

[akiva]

Hiya,
I'm a nursing student, I'm about to start my 3rd year and I'm not yet diagnosed, been suffering with the symptoms for a year but it got so bad that I finally gave up and went to the GP and have now been referred to a gastroenterologist. Ive not told my uni yet, not sure how that's going to go. I love being a nurse, and I know that I'm going to make a good nurse (ive been given great feedback on all my placements, and by patients). Ive been very lucky so far as the 12 hour shifts haven't been a problem (the occasional...issue but otherwise ntb)

How did you find your placements etc?

 

[Justanothercp]

I work in healthcare. I'm a Physical Therapist. I've worked in out-patient, hospital setting and currently in home health. My advice is to live your life and follow your dream and see where that takes you. You can always change course if need be.

 

[Kev]

I knew a nurse who had IBS... not IBD... and her symptoms got so bad it made it too hard for her to continue nursing. She eventually got her IBS under control via strictly naturopathic therapy, but by then.. too much time had passed for her to re-enter the field of nursing. Before she was forced to leave nursing, she had been a GI nurse. Odd the 'quirks', 'coincidences', whatever you want to call it that life lays out in front of us.

You aren't currently on any meds... but are worried about symptoms returning AND/OR continuing... interfering with your ability to work (my friend with the IBS told me when she felt issues arising, she would try to leave the floor and go someplace deserted to use a washroom.. that plan didn't always work out, and she was mortified when she had to use a washroom on the floor she was assigned to... I know the general feeling).. so I understand your fear. And, with a compromised or suppressed immune system, working in/around sick people... especially in a hospital setting where the highest number of bugs hang out... some of them potential life threatening... is an all too valid concern. I get it.

Here's my thought... you aren't taking anything for your Crohns, right? Why not use this opportunity to try LDN? The hard part would be finding a doctor to prescribe it. I work as a truck driver... I typically drive 10 - 12 hours, (max is 13 by law) a day, every day of the week.. 50 weeks of the year.. and I have done so for over 5 years now.. thanks to LDN. My only side effect ever were some wonderful dreams... and my immune system is perfectly fine. I don't need a special diet, and I live a pretty normal life despite IBD. A doctor in Dublin, Ireland, who prescribes it for his patients for various diseases categorized it as safer than an aspirin... and a group of researchers who studied it were so impressed they started taking it themselves as strictly a preventative precaution. So, although there are no guarrantees, LDN might keep your disease at bay while restoring your immune system to normal levels... all at minimal risk to you. I 'think' (but what do I know?) that the risks of entering your profession without it far outweigh risk of trying it.

 

[2much]

Congratulations to you for becoming a nurse; this is a big deal and a wonderful career. I am a full time nurse and have Crohn's Disease. I have worked on an inpatient Oncology floor, home hospice and home care...I worked in a chemo infusion unit and now I am in primary care.
Your history combined with your passion is going to make you a fabulous nurse. Experiencing what it is like to be a patient gives us the ability to think outside of the box when caring for others and it is the little things that make the difference. Anyone can learn the how and what to do...not everyone can care for a person from their heart and be present in a way that is full of compassion.
You can absolutely work as a nurse; work 12 hour shifts and there may be days that you are ill or cannot work....that is okay...take care of you first always...I encourage you to fulfill your dream to work as a nurse....it is a wonderful career. I am on Humira and have been around a lot....I do not get ill often due to being immunosuppressed....just like they teach us in school......wash hands all day long...before and after seeing a patient...blah blah....it really makes a difference. If you are concerned about respiratory illness...wear a mask...protect yourself.
I have no doubt that you can do this....just make sure to take of you in the process...

 

[mharvey90]

Congratulations to you for becoming a nurse; this is a big deal and a wonderful career. I am a full time nurse and have Crohn's Disease. I have worked on an inpatient Oncology floor, home hospice and home care...I worked in a chemo infusion unit and now I am in primary care.
Your history combined with your passion is going to make you a fabulous nurse. Experiencing what it is like to be a patient gives us the ability to think outside of the box when caring for others and it is the little things that make the difference. Anyone can learn the how and what to do...not everyone can care for a person from their heart and be present in a way that is full of compassion.
You can absolutely work as a nurse; work 12 hour shifts and there may be days that you are ill or cannot work....that is okay...take care of you first always...I encourage you to fulfill your dream to work as a nurse....it is a wonderful career. I am on Humira and have been around a lot....I do not get ill often due to being immunosuppressed....just like they teach us in school......wash hands all day long...before and after seeing a patient...blah blah....it really makes a difference. If you are concerned about respiratory illness...wear a mask...protect yourself.
I have no doubt that you can do this....just make sure to take of you in the process...

Thank you so much! Your kind words are so helpful.

 

[mharvey90]

I knew a nurse who had IBS... not IBD... and her symptoms got so bad it made it too hard for her to continue nursing. She eventually got her IBS under control via strictly naturopathic therapy, but by then.. too much time had passed for her to re-enter the field of nursing. Before she was forced to leave nursing, she had been a GI nurse. Odd the 'quirks', 'coincidences', whatever you want to call it that life lays out in front of us.

You aren't currently on any meds... but are worried about symptoms returning AND/OR continuing... interfering with your ability to work (my friend with the IBS told me when she felt issues arising, she would try to leave the floor and go someplace deserted to use a washroom.. that plan didn't always work out, and she was mortified when she had to use a washroom on the floor she was assigned to... I know the general feeling).. so I understand your fear. And, with a compromised or suppressed immune system, working in/around sick people... especially in a hospital setting where the highest number of bugs hang out... some of them potential life threatening... is an all too valid concern. I get it.

Here's my thought... you aren't taking anything for your Crohns, right? Why not use this opportunity to try LDN? The hard part would be finding a doctor to prescribe it. I work as a truck driver... I typically drive 10 - 12 hours, (max is 13 by law) a day, every day of the week.. 50 weeks of the year.. and I have done so for over 5 years now.. thanks to LDN. My only side effect ever were some wonderful dreams... and my immune system is perfectly fine. I don't need a special diet, and I live a pretty normal life despite IBD. A doctor in Dublin, Ireland, who prescribes it for his patients for various diseases categorized it as safer than an aspirin... and a group of researchers who studied it were so impressed they started taking it themselves as strictly a preventative precaution. So, although there are no guarrantees, LDN might keep your disease at bay while restoring your immune system to normal levels... all at minimal risk to you. I 'think' (but what do I know?) that the risks of entering your profession without it far outweigh risk of trying it.

Kev,
I tried LDN for a short while a couple years back. Crohns ended up exacerbating and was in the hospital and had to take opioid painkillers which is contraindicated with LDN. Never went back on LDN but it's definitely something ill consider and talk with my GI about

 

[LNS87]

Hey there. Congratulations on deciding to go into nursing! It can be a very rough area to work, but the rewards of taking care of people are so great! You can certainly be a nurse with IBD! When I was in nursing school was when I first got sick. I went through 6 months of fighting c-diff during my beginning nursing classes, and fought symptoms with no real diagnosis throughout the rest of school. It was tough at times because I would feel sick or have to miss classes, but i pushed through it. I forced myself to go to school and clinicals even when I felt like i would rather stay curled up in bed. After i graduated I became a mother/baby nurse (not as stressful as many other nursing areas, but still great experience and lots of patient care) and i love it! I was diagnosed with UC after working on my floor for almost a year. That first year was tough as i would have to occasionally come up with an excuse to leave a patients room so i could run to the bathroom, and there were some nights I would spend time doubled over in the bathroom in pain but I made sure I was very careful about what I ate while at work and and that seemed to help some. My coworkers were aware of what i was dealing with too and were helpful if I needed a break. After i was diagnosed and got on the proper meds, I have had had little to no trouble working as normal (as normal as possible for someone who works 12 hour night shifts)! I wish you luck in your nursing program and your career! Find an area you love, and it will not feel like work!

 

[Amy2]

My daughter has Crohn's and she is an RN, although she has been symptom and drug free for 8 years. She works 12 hour shifts, but there is a lot of down time. It's been a great career for her, so far. Good income, benefits, and the freedom to live pretty much anywhere.

 

[Kev]

Yeah, it's a sad fact.. or at least common experience.. that going LDN almost certainly involves getting worse before getting better. It seems to be a sign that its starting to work.