Do you work?

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Do you work?

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bonbonbowen

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Feb 6, 2011
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Hi everyone, I was just wondering how many of you are still/currently working?
I haven't ever been able to keep down a full time job and I'm struggle so much coping with a part time job. What professions do you think suite a crohny lifestyle?



Toni x
 
I am the same as Gems, I also work in an office (not as near as the restroom as I'd like though). I don't think I could do a physical or stressful job. Some days I wouldn't even be well enough or strong enough to stand on my feet all day, so I'm glad I have a sit-down type of job.
 
I work part time at McDonalds. The perfect job for having Crohn's: can get very busy and stressful and you stand all the time. Lol

But being a teen that's basically the only type of job I could find.
 
I work at a vet clinic, I've been pretty lucky with not being one tha has the ton of bathroom rushes( that mainly happens to me during night) so that's not a huge deal for me. I actually rarely even use the bathroom at work. I have a very physical job, lots of lifting, bending, wrestling 150+ dogs will surely give you a workout! So luckily, thanks to remicade mostly, crohns hasn't effected my working ability.I have had days where I'm cramping bad or something, but I have a high pain tolerance and very rarely speak up about it. Most of the time my coworkers won't even know that I'm feeling bad. I've been working there for over 4 years and have only called in sick twice! It can be a very stressful job, lot of responsibilities, not much room for error since your dealing with a living creature! Plus lately been having lots of coworker problem stress, but overall I do love the job.
 
got made redundant 2 days before diagnosis pretty much, only got sicker since then, attempting to study from home with aims of working from home but fail in that respect thus far.
 
Do I work?

Yes I bloody well do, and bloody hard too!
I am a Senior Teaching Support Asst and work with teenagers on the Autistic Spectrum.
I hope to retire in 5 years before one of them kill me!
I get battered on a daily basis ya see!
And it's hard, with or without Crohn's!
I would love a fluffy job, in a florist, on me own! (with a lovely toilet)
 
Yes, I work full time. I'm 20ft from a toilet which is handy. Meetings can be a trauma so I make the effort to empty beforehand, even for a short meeting. Work related travel has been the biggest nightmare though. At least I now have a condition to explain my dash to the loo while on final approach from now on.
 
I do not work, but it's not because of my Crohn's. I stay home with my two children. I have always been thankful that I get to stay home with them, but especially so during the last 10 months while I've been flaring/diagnosed. I can't imagine how hard it would have been to be working through all this.
 
I usually work. In fact, when I was having trouble a couple of years ago I went back to the office and worked that day after I got out of the hospital - both times. I have had to be on STD a few times in the past. I am on STD right now. This is the worst flare I have had for years.

But, even though i work, sometimes I feel like I give everything to my job and have nothing left for my family. The fatigue is pretty bad at times. I have fibromyalgia on top of Crohn's so sometimes fatigue is the worst part. I feel bad not being able to clean house right, or cook great dinners every night.
 
i have always worked full time, often whilst having flare ups so its not been easy!! i currently manage a large home care agency. i think its important to continue as normal as much as possible with this disease and be open and honest to your colleagues about the symptoms and your needs, this will make it easier so much easier to carry on. x
 
Yes i work full time in a shipyard, im a pipefitter by trade but working on the bottom of a boat with no working toilets was a nightmare, so i studied and got more qualifications and got a job doing designing and im within 5ft of a toilet. Ive only ever used it a few times because im not worrying about a toilet anymore.
 
Ive been working landscaping for 3 years now at a golf course. I feel like if im busy and keeping my mind on something else that my crohns holds back. But at the end of the day I am always rushing to get home and go to the bahroom
 
I currently work for FedEx. Within 3 months of working, I developed my first "flare up". Great timing! It has been over a month now since my hospitalization and Im still not 100%. The prednisone is finally kicking in! Now just alot of crampy pain, not stabbing anymore. Going for a MRI and blood work 2morrow.
 
I've lost several full-time jobs to Crohns and am currently at a job where I am only 3 months in and I've missed well over 3 weeks total... I just missed all of last week and I have to make it in all this week and work OT to keep my job. I'm still trying to manage my Crohns as I don't get in with a GI specialist for another week and a half. Luckily I convinced my dr to give me some meds in the meantime... just working on a strict diet to hopefully not miss any more time! I hate missing work and the stress does not help that's for sure! Hang in there!
 
I work in animation, so I sit at a computer all day. The times I've had flairups have hurt my production significantly however, as intense gut pain can make even sitting very hard. And since I have to really focus and be creative it has been an issue in the past. Luckily the companies I've worked for have been very understanding.
 
I have always worked in IT for a financial institution. My pain tends to be during the noght and I am thankful for flexible hours. Some days I start later and work later if I have had a bad night.

I have now just started a 12 month leave of absence. It feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders! I have been having increased pain and D for quite a while now and have done nothing about it (Not good, I know). I hope this time will allow me to take control of my health again and allow me to spend more quality time with my husband and children.

Kudos to those that work. It is damn hard when you feel like sh*t all the time.
 
no, I will not be paid for 12 months. My husband will be the sole earner for 12 months. I have to learn to be tight on the purse strings:frown:. We have to make some adjustments but I think it will be worth it!:ybiggrin:
 
I work full time , in quite a bit of trouble with sick days but it's starting to get better (was in/out of hospital quite a bit at the start of the year) Love my job (most of the time lol) and really want to continue to work full time :)
 
I worked for years seasonally for my family's business. My father can look at me and know when I feel miserable, even when I'm trying to hide it.

Once I became an 'adult' I tried to work 'regular' jobs, but each time ended in a monsterous flare, and sometimes surgery.

I'm on disability now. I work a couple days a summer for my father, certain days that he absolutely can't get his regular staff in. But the best thing is what I can do right from home. I was able to nab a writing job on my own merits and know how. I've worked for a couple websites writing sports reports and opinion pieces. I do this from two to five days a week, depending on what's going on. It pays barely nothing, but it keeps me busy when I'd otherwise be wallowing in my own self pity. It's something to keep me going, entertained and on some sort of a schedule. It's not much, but it's all I can handle at this point.
 
Its quite sad to see some people are in some trouble with there work due to an ilness they cant control.
I was in the same position when i was on the tools and i decided to take a stand, i kept thinking people thought i was at it. So i told them im not fit enough to stay on the tools so its your job to find me something else. I got the union involved and had numerous doctors letters, and within a few weeks i was given a job as a trainee design engineer (its mainly in an office) and ive done that ever since. And btw they didnt decrease my wages by 1 penny. So my advice is to stand up for yourself and you will get your rewards.

Id hate not to work, if i didnt id be sitting around the house all day feeling sorry for myself!!

Nicky
 
Hi,

Yes, I work full-time, and I think I've been lucky to be able to work full-time all the time with the exception of the few weeks I was hospitalized in 2009. I suppose it is because of the kind of job I have, which is an office job in the government. I can work overtime the days I feel good, and leave earlier the days I feel worse, as I will have extra hours to deduct from in my "Timebank" (we have a system called "including work environment", so it is very flexible). I don't know if you have something similar where you come from, but I think this model has helped me a lot, because as we all know, IBDs are very unpredictable, and it isn't the will to work it comes down to, it is the ability to work that can change very rapidly from feeling very good one day to having serious trouble the next. At least it is like that for me. :)
 
hi, yes we all have to stand up for ourselves!! crohns isnt a disability because there are long episodes of remission for most people but as we all now it can be pretty debilitating when it flares. employers need to be understanding and make adjustments when necessary for anyone with a chronic illness, believe me i deal with these issues all the time, mainly around back problems!! but if the doctor confirms an on going problem we have to support the employee in their work. the law is very protective in these cases. jo xx
 
wow I never thought about this.. my daughter just graduated from 8th grade with high honors and wants to be a doctor when she grows up. I hope she will be able to fulfill her dream & be a doctor while having chrohns disease...
 
I just graduated from high school, going to college this fall and my plans are to be a doctor too! I think as long as you try your hardest, you can accomplish what you want, so my plans have remain unchanged!
 
Just a little inspiration... my friend's partner's son was diagnosed with Crohn's as a teen. His experience with Crohn's led to an interest in medicine and he is now a doctor.:)
 
I'm a full time college student as well. But, I am unable to hold a full-time job and go to school right now. :(

I think stress has alot to do with Crohn's especially when a person works 12 hr days.
 
Tesscorm said:
Just a little inspiration... my friend's partner's son was diagnosed with Crohn's as a teen. His experience with Crohn's led to an interest in medicine and he is now a doctor.:)
Click to expand...



Sounds like me! Diagnosed at 10, and the past 8, almost 9, years my interest in medicine has only grown and grown!
 
oh its so refreshing to hear that! this disease is pretty new to us but she really is motivated and an awesome student, she genuinely cares about people and Im relieved to know that it is possible. keep working hard josh good luck on your journey to success lol and I wish the best for you too tesscorm. thanks so much guys have a good night.
 
I have worked as a teacher for 14 years now. Luckily there is a bathroom in my classroom.
 
Yep its good to see so many people still working away with there problem. I see people i know coming back from the army with limbs missing and one guy who was completely blinded and i think to myself that im actually fortunate instead of unfortunate.
I think to myself, atleast i can do the basic things in life like walk, talk, see, play sports, go to work, have relationships, go out for nights out etc... thinks i maybe used to take for granted.

Nicky
 
I'm in trouble at work under the capibility procedure. I work for the IOM Government and the prodedure if legal. I did question it and didn't get me anywhere :( There was a representative from HR and from the disability office sat in on the meeting as well as a head from our hospital. Turns out i have 3 months to show improvement or im out. There way of thinking is that by being ill ,can i still do the job i've been contracted to do. It doesn't matter that i've been hospitilised and been signed of by the consultant. It's totally rubbish as im not work shy (been in full time appt since i was 16) Really hope the new meds work and my attendance improves. I really do love my job :)
 
I work full time as well and thank GOD and the goverment for something called FMLA (family medical leave), and short term disability. Sometimes I feel so bad and drained at the end of the day I just want to go home and lay down, with no energy left for my hubby and child... When I have flare ups I have to stay home as sometimes tha pain is so bad I cannot get out of the bed. I can stop working and get disability but then what am I am going to do sit in the house and feel sorry for myself....oh no I cannot do that... Before Crohn's I was a very active person, after diagnosed I am as active as I can be on the good days.
 
yes i'm a physio, on my feet all day and it's physically demanding but manage well, I also have 2 young kids which is harder than work but wouldn't swap it for the world. I think all the physical activity helps me. Some of the people I treat are a lot worse off than me so I can't complain.
 
i lost my job due to lack of finances but i was a dental nurse and i loved it!!! its what i'm going back to as soon as i've recovered from surgery.

it's perfect dental nurses are so busy, you always see them rushing about so anytime i needed to rush off to the loo, no-one noticed :)

having bad crohn's since i was 11 has meant my studies have been effected quite a lot, luckily i managed to get good GCSE's but i was never able to go further, i'm hoping after my ileostomy i can go back and do my a-levels through an evening course :)
i used to study a lot on the toilet, exams made my crohn's flare too badly!
 
I do work full time, but I can work from home, and it is still hard! I find work related problems (losing jobs, felling like you are letting people down, having to explain myself...) to be the hardest part of this disease. Even above having an ostomy, hospital stays and pain. The stress for me is awful. :(
 
I work full time, have for quite some time. I work in a small office with a bunch of really great people. For a while I didn't tell anyone that I had CD, that changed about two years ago when started getting symptoms again. They are really understanding and are flexible when I need days off for Dr appointments. The only downside is, because we are a small office and we are dealing with customers all day long, I feel guilty when I have to have time off and the added strain that puts on the office. I know it can't be helped, but it does add to the stress of being unwell. Lucky everyone is understanding and happy to take on the extra workload.
 
littlefreebird said:
i lost my job due to lack of finances but i was a dental nurse and i loved it!!! its what i'm going back to as soon as i've recovered from surgery.

it's perfect dental nurses are so busy, you always see them rushing about so anytime i needed to rush off to the loo, no-one noticed :)

having bad crohn's since i was 11 has meant my studies have been effected quite a lot, luckily i managed to get good GCSE's but i was never able to go further, i'm hoping after my ileostomy i can go back and do my a-levels through an evening course :)
i used to study a lot on the toilet, exams made my crohn's flare too badly!
Click to expand...


haha i can totally relate to you saying you used to study in the toilet! Im not laughing because i find it funny, im laughing because i used to do that aswell! There would be no point studying in your room because you would just keep needing the toilet, so i just set up camp in the bogs haha
 
I have 5 1/2 years of college under my belt in which I earned 2 degrees by studying on the toilet... I always had great grades in school because I normally didn't go out often or for long periods because I preferred my toilet at home... I studied more than I partied during all of it thanks to my stomach... never thought I'd find a positive in Crohns but I think you guys nailed it dead on!
 
No I don't work but I did finish grad school so I could teach college level art classes (sculpture, ceramic, drawing). An artist is a good profession for someone who makes their own hours but a professor in art isn't so different as the students are usually left to work on their own stuff in class without constant attention.
 
I work full time, but am currently on short term disability because I am so bad right now, and my boss would rather I go on STD than work from home and work part time. Makes no sense, but whatever. Since starting the methotrexate all I want to do is nap all day anyway, so I guess I am better off on STD.
 
I work full-time in an office environment. I spent nearly an entire year working from home due to being sick all the time before they started forcing me to be in the office. Now I work from home once a week most weeks, and have to be in the office the rest of the week. I'm allowed two naps a day in the office. I get sick a lot, in the public bathroom, which is terribly embarrassing, but I don't have a choice if I want to have this job. (it's a good job, really worth trying to keep)
 

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