Crohns and work

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mario

mario

Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Messages
184
I lost my job as a result of chrohns, but feel well enough to go back to work now.
I just wondered how many of you manage to work, and what sort of jobs do you do?
I used to teach, which doen't sound too strenuous but believe me it is!
What are your barriers to work?
Do you find employers react negatively to your disease?
 
HI

I got diagnosed with CD just over 2 years ago and am still finding it a struggle to stop flaring up. Luckily, 4mths before i got diagnosed i became a self employed photographer with my own studio. This allowed me to spend my time wisely getting better. But bills still needed to be payed.....i had to find P/T work to subsidise my living.

I eventually gained a few hours a week at Blockbusters where my bosses were amazing, they wouldn't let me come back to work until i was ready after continual flare-ups and they would also be really considerate with the illness etc the fact they asked me questions about it helped my boss and the other employees really understand what the illness was and how it effected me.

I have since left that job and tried working at my photography profession again but the help isnt there in the UK if you have a non-cureable illness and want to work full time (to lead a normal life again). I am on a state benefit in the UK that helps people with an illness but i am only allowed to work upto 15hrs a week, which i have to do in a bar to supplement my living. I find it a struggle sometimes for people to understand that i am not lazy, that i do want to work but i am limited to the kind and amount of work i can do, but have found that talking openly to people gets them to understand more about me and the work i can do.
Kate x
 
I work full time in addition to a couple part time jobs - even when flaring I worked, had to so the bills got paid.....

One of the most 'forgiving' jobs I had was for a wholsale company working in different department stores putting merchandise out on shelves.....I made my own hours - as long as the work got done I could work whatever hours I wanted - I think I had a limit of 20 hours per week for that one - often I'd be at work @5am so I could spend the better part of the day on the BEACH! lol.....that was a good job - I was offered a sales rep position which I had to turn down due to being offered a full time Civil Service position.....that was the best move I made!
 
I work as a gymnastics coach at a community centre. I also coach ball hockey. Plus go to university in 3rd year. My bosses are pretty much unaware of the situation but my fellow coaches know and if I ever need a sub it usually works out. School can be tough but it is manageable with good self-awareness about how I am feeling.
 
I work in a property managment office. It is just me and my boss. He is very understanding. Was great when I was going thru getting dx and had a lot of bad days. I have to leave early every 6 wks for my remicade. I feel very lucky to have my job and boss!
 
I work in an office, and although I'm still undiagnosed, my boss and co-workers have all been really accommodating and understanding. They even set up a little sick room in an empty office with a cot to lay down on for my bad days. Like Paso said, the bills have to get paid, so I really have no choice but to work full-time. I have just been approved for family medical leave, so now I can take sick days if I need them without worrying about my job security. It's been pretty good. I don't know if I could work a physical job, though. Some days it takes all of my strength and energy just to sit at my desk.
 
I work in a school as a teaching assistant. I work part time, which is handy because I get so fatigued I'm not sure I could handle full time right now. My employers are pretty understanding, I now have a clause in my contract which says something like 'taking into account Rebecca's medical needs' which means I have the option of refusing to do something if I really feel it's not possible. I have only done this once, when a kid had a stomach bug and threw up, and I was on Pred and was worried about catching it. But it helps that I have had the same employers for over 4 years now, long before I got ill. If I was to get a new job I would have to pass a basic medical.
 
I go to school part time and I work full time for Coca-Cola which is a very physical job. Initially when I was diagnosed earlier this year, I had the surgery. After a couple of months to recover, I returned just fine except for some minor issues due to the surgery. My employer really had no problem with it. If they do, I would find out about FMLA.
 
Well I'm in the same situation. Got into food catering but only for two months then lost it due to so much blood lost and me feeling so dizzy.
I'm much better now and can work now but not doing the same thing. Only light work and in a warm room. I'm looking into Office jobs now.
Everyone knew about my problem at work and was really good about it.
I guess for those that aren't, don't really know how serious it is!
 
i had to quit my job bricklaying then became a painter because of crohns which was a pain in the ass because i was getting 300 euro more a week bricklaying than when i went painting...thats a big difference at the end of the year..
 
I guess it really depends how your Crohn's is treated and how your symptoms are. Mine are almost non-existent thanks to the surgery and Remicade so I can do more then someone who maybe did no have the surgery and still suffers from a lot of symptoms. I do know, there are certain circumstances where you can be put on disability in the U.S. if your Crohn's is bad enough.
 
I have built my professional life around the Crohn's. I am very lucky in that I have private practice and my patient's families are very understanding. I do only work around 20 hours each week and I can move my appointments around to when I feel okay. I think major differences in how the U.K. and how the U.S.systems work though.
 
I don't currently work because I have missed too many days and used up sick days. Don't feel like trying to get a job yet until I'm feeling better, I really don't want to have to leave another job and look unreliable because of my health. I was able to stay in school last semester (part-time) but wasn't able this semester because I've been pretty sick and fatigued lately. I'm having a hard time with not working, though.. I feel guilty that my husband is the only one with a job currently.
 
I'm super lucky now -working for my husband, helping to run his mid-size law practice. No more pressure or guilt trips about taking time off for doctor's appts, etc.

My previous employer was very generous in time - they let me take FMLA time so I didn't have to use sick time. But it was a small office and everytime I took time for appts, it really impacted the other employees. I ended skipping a lot of appts and not doing what I should because I got the guilt trip about it. Thankfully I only missed a day or two from being sick.

I am so much happier now and feel very fortunate to have this opportunity.
 
I eventually had to quit my job a couple of years ago. I just couldn't keep up. My daughter was 3 and my son was 6. I was looking after my parents who were both disabled. Taking care of two houses, the kids and having a job on top was too much for me. My boss was very understanding, but I was missing too much work, I thought it best I just quit. I do struggle with feelings of worthlessness at times. I wish I contributed more towards the family finances. My husband is great and never, ever makes me feel anything but loved and appreciated. I'm very lucky in that aspect, but being 35 and feeling like I haven't really accomplished much out of my life, doesn't make me feel good about myself. Then I look at my wonderful, amazing children and am grateful that I get to spend my days with them.
 
I got it after ten years on the job. But they could not have denied me a job due to crohns if I had it when I applied. As long as I could pass their written and physical exams, they wouldn't have a choice.
 
I've only been suffering with this since April, but these are some of the things I do that get me through each work week.

Fortunately, I work in an office about 10 minutes away from my house.

1) I take each day one day at a time. Once, I make it to Wednesday, I know I am over 50% of the way there.

2) I always have baby wipes on me. I keep them in my front pant pocket in a sandwich ziplock bag. I do not want to have to use the sand paper they supply us at work.

3) I try not to overeat at lunch and eat small meals during the day.

4) Most days, I come home for lunch.

5) I'm looking at ways to pay off my house in the next 7 years, so when I am older I will not have to worry as much about income and hopefully be able to retire at an early age.
 
Wow.. well I do think it all depends on the individual and to what extent the disease affects them.

I work in a corp office in the oilfield. I work long hours, but i'm on salary so i have managed to find ways to still put in the hours and make all the Dr's visits. I go to work when i dont feel well. Even though I'm new to the whole CD/IDB I've probably been suffering from CD for a while and just didn't know it. I get sick sometimes but i just work through it. It was hard for me to take 2 weeks off for surgery. Scared me to think about losing a job b/c of being sick. They seem to be pretty understanding about it all. And I have tried to share as much information with the people that I work with so they can understand a little bit anyways.
 
I'm a Senior Teaching Support Asst and I teach kids with ASD, it's very hard and challenging, I get bitten, kicked and punched on a daily basis!
I've been there for nearly 15 years and this year is the first time I've been off with Crohns, nearly 6 months, back now full time after a phased return.
My Employers are very understanding, they have to be, or I'll get them done under the Disability Discrimination Act, lol
I have 'reasonable adjustments' implemented, and a Risk Assessment, which includes not cleaning up after kids who vomit or have diarrhea, and to stay off if there's an outbreak of TB or chickenpox
Employers have a duty of care to look after us, whether they like it or not!
here's some boring bedtime reading!!

http://www.roydens.co.uk/content35.htm
 
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Thanks for the replies. I think i may have been having a crisis of confidence but you guys have confirmed that i can do this. Unfortunately in the UK we have just heard that there are to be massive job losses hence even more people chasing the same posts! Anyway am going to start applying for part time work.
Joan
I spent time as a special needs teacher and it was the best job i ever had, despite the odd thump!! Obviously you love it too cos you're still doing it aftert 15 years!!
I don't think i would be up to that now though as my only real CD symptom is fatigue and it wouldn't be fair to the learners to have a teacher who can fall asleep on a washing line lol!!!
 
Aw Mario, it's no fun is it?
Yes it is a fab job but very tiring, maybe one day you could go back to doing it again, why not apply for a part time job or a few hours a week to ease you back in. Start with older kids, they're not as challenging! (well, sometimes!)
good luck, there'll always be jobs within Education or Food!!
 
i worked in a shipyard for last year and half. i have been suffering majorly this year with migranes, IBD symptoms and think crohn's since may. i have only worked 3 days last month and half due to all the pain and fatique from this illness. the job is very stressfull and physical labor as an electrican building nuclear power aircraft carriers for the US Navy. they are about to get ride of me. even with 2 fmla on file i have used up all of my vacation and protected time and still going through rough spells.
 
Full time work as an IT Operations Manager...luckily my boss has IBS so he can sympathize with me.
Part time i am a platoon leader and so far no issues there unless i have to get on remicade which may be coming up.
 
I'm winemaking/viticulture full time and I constantly wonder who'll employ me when I finish my degree. When I'm flaring, there's no way I can work. I've struggled with attending uni this semester due to a nasty flare. I hope to find someone who is understanding, or start my own winery.
 
I was dx'd when I was finishing my Master's via 2hr round trip commuting three times a week plus 35 hr/wk job. I worked in a small accounting firm at the time, who was very understanding of my beginning symptoms. I had a key, so I was able to make up time whenever necessary.

Afterward, I started working with my parents' business and have been here since. I'm afraid to leave because of the Crohn's. I have a specific amount of sick and vacation days. Other exceptions are made, but they are hard to come by. Being Controller certainly doesn't help with the stress load either. Who knows where I'll be when/if I leave this job.
 
I work as a Customer Care Rep for a bank. I am hooked to a phone all day and my job performance is based on metrics and stats so my frequent bathroom trips have become an issue... I just started back to work after 2 months off for a flare. I am already exhausted and wondering if I can do this. And I still haven't been paid for my short term disability (talked about it in another thread, sorry) they are still denying me. I am so stressed from not making a paycheck for over 2 months. I have to hide my car because I can't make any payments!

Its tough to have this disease and still make a living. My hats off to all of my crohnies who do this every day. So many of you really impress me.
 
I'm a physio and also pilates instructor so on my feet all day, I find taking the pilates classes really helps any back pain and stiffness that I get as part of crohn's I recommend trying it!!
 
My bosses have been more than supportive.
I've been with the same company for 8 years. When I had my initial flare up 2 years ago I had been in my current position for 8 months. So my bosses and co-workers watched me as I was getting sicker, they saw me drop 60 pounds in less than 2 months. There was a co-worker in the washroom when I was throwing up the day I went to the hospital. They came and visited me when i was in the hospital, brought me books.

And this year when I spent the summer in and out of the hospital, I was still doing reports from my hospital bed. So in August when I left the hospital after my 4 stay in as many months, my director pulled me into one of the meeting rooms and stated that they were putting me reduced hours at full pay for the next 3 months. They all noticed that I was putting my job before my health as such they were going to force me to look after myself. The idea came from the president of the company and that I had no choice.
And next year when I have my surgery it turns out that the hospital doing it will be the same hospital that has a wing named after the CEO and her husband. So I better be in good hands there.
 

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