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Do any of you have trouble working a full week?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/1/2008 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I'm just so frustrated right now.  I have ok days, bad days, and really bad days.  It seems as if I am unable to complete a full work week.  I call off once a week.  I'm covered under FMLA.  I hate how Crohn's disease is so unpredictable! sad    I was wondering if any of you have trouble completing a full work week or have poor work attendance.
Posted 8/1/2008 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't been well enough to work in over a year. On Humira, I got 2-3 days of relief, and then the rest of the week was bad... and I knew I couldn't get a job like that.
Posted 8/1/2008 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
I have good and bad days too. My boss is very understanding so when I have a bad day I'll still come in to work. I'll only take off if I'm having a really, really bad day. I usually miss a couple days a month. I've been taking my vacation days but I'm almost out of them so I've been working at trying to get approved for FMLA. Now if only my doctor would fill out the forms correctly.
Posted 8/1/2008 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I miss days occasionally but not every week. I am very lucky that I have understanding bosses who know that I have Crohns Disease. I come in alot even when I am not feeling well. I seem to do better when I am at work, I just usually have to let my medications kick in first before I leave the house. The days I do miss are the days when there is absolutely no way possible I could go in. Those happen about every couple of months or so.

Since I have started really paying attention to my diet, those times have really slowed down. I found I was having more bad days than good if I didn't watch my diet closely. I live on a low residue diet all the time. Also, I suffer from anxiety. If I have too much stress and I don't catch the anxiety in time with my Xanax, I will wind up sick. But lately I learned to catch it early and stop it in its tracks.

Julie, I hope you don't take this wrong, but I am wondering if maybe those bad days are because of something you ate/or have eaten that doesn't agree with you. Have you tried keeping a food diary to keep track of what foods bother you and those that are okay? I know if I eat the wrong thing, I will pay for it the next day. I am wondering if that might possibly be the reason you are having good days and then all of sudden another bad day, and its happening every week. Just a thought!
Posted 8/1/2008 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
i lucked out..the guy next to me pees more than I poop..so I just look normal :)
Posted 8/1/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)

Vicky - your last comment about the FMLA form...oh my gosh!  The trouble I went through to get my doc to fill them out properly, haha!  I finally ended up going to his office with the form and post-its attached next to every question (with the appropriate answers on them).  I told them "it's okay if he's busy, I'll just wait" and sat down, and waited.  tongue

I do have a hard time working a full-time job.  I so wish I could be at home, but with kids and a mortgage I HAVE to work.  Fortunately I have a very supportive manager.  Most days I get in 30-60 minutes late due to my extreme fatigue and/or pit stops along the way.  I never know if it will be a "good day" or a "bad day".  So far things have been okay, this unspoken flexible schedule I've been keeping.  But I had an unexpected meeting with him yesterday and although he's cool with my absences, I don't think his boss is.  Yes, I know I'm on FMLA and my job is protected that way, but if they want to get rid of someone they can usually figure out a reason.  He said they are concerned and want to find a way to get me better (allowing me to be here and do my job consistently).  I just shook my head and tried hard not to cry.  They don't get -- I won't get better.  This is my life  sad  

So, all of a sudden I'm very concerned about my job.  It's tough.  My sympathies go out to you Julie.  (((hugs)))

Mel 

Posted 8/1/2008 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
i have real problems with work, i was working one job monday through friday 10-3 and waitressing two-three nights a week and the restaurant was more understanding when i'd call out but often i would have to still come in because they couldnt get anyone to cover for me. my other job everyday was not very nice and i ended up being "asked nicely" to leave. so i kind of left on my own terms but i was too sick to function everyday at work. i also ended up leaving my waitressing job because if i was the only one on some nights i would give horrible service running to teh bathroom in between each table. this all just happened last week too so now im out of a job haha. but sometimes you just need to accept that you need to give yourself a break and take enough time off til you are able to carry a daily job! good luck
Posted 8/1/2008 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Its hard but I do try to go in every day even if I don't feel well. If I'm super bad then I have to stay home because my desk isn't close to the restroom and I'm always afraid I won't make it. But I don't have those days very often. When I first started on this Methotrexate a few weeks ago things were rough and I was missing time, but it was mostely either going in late or having to leave early. My work is just happy for me to be there at least
a few hours. They are very understanding but I do try and be careful with it as well because you just never know.
Posted 8/1/2008 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
For the most part, I don't have too much trouble going in even when I don't feel well. A truly bad day is usually noted by my complete inability to get out of bed. It's not the D that usually keeps me home- it's the insane fatigue. I take one or two a month (getting better slowly) but my boss is really understanding.

I do find, however, that since I started working full time I'm exhausted by Friday and the two-day weekend is so not long enough to recover!
Posted 8/2/2008 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for the replies. Nanners, your post really got me thinking, and I appreciate your feedback. I don't keep a food diary, as it seems there is no rhyme or reason when my bowels act up. I suffer more from constipation. I'll go a couple of days without going, then, BAMB! I can't get off the toilet. The fatigue gets debilitating. The aches, pains, chills, etc. Then, anxiety creeps in....

Also, when I have these episodes on the toilet, sometimes I feel as if I am going to pass out. I get very dizzy and my mouth waters something fierce.

I am going to start a food diary TODAY to see if I can pinpoint food triggers. Also, with the constipation, maybe I should try Miralax again.  I need to improve my work attendance.  Money is getting very tight. eyes
Blessings to you all, Julie :-)
Posted 8/2/2008 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
No, I do not have trouble working a full week. 

2 days ago, I took a day off, because I had a fever.  It was not due to Crohn's, but something else, becuase I had a sore throat.  Today I feel much better.

My company has 10 paid sick days per year.  But I generally use 1-2 sick days in a year, as my Crohn's does not bother me that much.  Although sometimes I do not feel too well, I still come to work.  I have a very supportive boss, who knows of my Crohn's.  I am the breadwinner of my family.  I often think what if one day I cannot work.  It would be a disaster for my wife and kid.

Posted 8/2/2008 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Bane...In the same boat. Not been able to work for about a year. Keep hoping for that elusive remission. (I did experience remission for about 3 years...so I DO know what it feels like). However, it seems so far away. I c hanged from remicade to Humira and am hoping it will do the trick.
Julie, Hope your boss is understanding or continues to be so...and here's hoping for us all not to have to miss time due to the DD.
Posted 8/2/2008 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
Work is really tough for me, my last job was very understanding as it was part time anyway, but I ended up getting let go from that anyway because they "needed someone who was more reliable". I'm still pretty sure it's illegal to fire someone for a legitimate medical excuse but it's over and done with. School is hard also, but for that I think I just need to motivate myself more.
Posted 8/2/2008 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
i am a CNA and nursing student and i call out a lot. i've been fired from 2 jobs because of it and my coworkers always make fun of me cause i call out but hey i get sick a lot. sometimes i am out for a month or so on TDI. what can we do? I say screw it. Let someone else live with a condition for their whole life that fluctuates day to day depenind on what you ate, how stressed you were how much sleep you got, ect or just for no reason. i as i type this i have that gnawing pain in my lower right quadrant where i've already had disease cut out of me (resection) and for which i take horrible cancer causing, bone depleating medication so screw the "healthy" people.
Posted 8/2/2008 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I work 3 12 shifts a week and it varies and I do well on it.My chrons have been well manage for quite a while now/I did pull an extra day last .I have to work a night about every 7-8 weeks and that stirs the d up which happen this pass week.I hasd to go home half way threw my shift.I'm lucky my co workers are understanding(I guess it helps that htey are nurses).Also my manager was just recently dx with chrons and her teenage son was dx a couple of years ago.FMLA really helps,again I'm lucky there was someone in the office who knew what they was doing.I guess I've been curse with chrons but bless with how I'doing
Posted 8/2/2008 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Julie I suffer with C myself.  I take stool softners every night and they help alot to keep things moving.  Maybe something else you can try.  Good luck!

Posted 8/2/2008 5:15 PM (GMT 0)

I struggle working full time and I do not have an understanding boss. I am a teacher, so I need to cover my class during emergencies, but my fellow teachers are wonderful. I figure if my boss tries to get rid of me then I will call the union and show them my documentation on her discrimination against me. I have to agree we wil not get "better". My boss said the same thing. I miss about one day a month and she says it is too much. So, this year I will go in with D, barfing, and all the other crazy things, but I have no respect for her and I will continue to fight for my rights as an American. One day I am sure she will be sick and then maybe she will realize it is hard everyday. She told me that at least I have options. She said it's not like cancer. I have more medication choices. I was shocked she was comparing CD to cancer. It is not the same thing. Good luck with work. During the week I end up going to bed about 6:00 pm and sleep until 6:00 am. That seems to help me.

Kgirlie

Posted 8/3/2008 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
I hear ya. Recently all I have are bad days and really bad days. I've only been back at work for 2 months since my surgery at the end of March so I feel bad taking sick days. But I'm lucky enough to work in a place with semi-private bathroom facilities so it's kinda like being at home. Kinda : ) I've always said that if I ever interview for a new job the firt thing I'm going to look at at the bathrooms...
Posted 8/3/2008 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Had I been in a heated discussion about Crohn's and someone had said "It's not like you have cancer, you have options." I'd have either snapped and punched them in the face or, more likely, said something extremely cynical and mean like "Yeah, it's not cancer, I'm still alive and you have to deal with me you [long-string-of-expletives]!"

There are times that I compare the two... and I do see some similarities. Then again, Crohn's is also similar to diabetes in a lot of ways. Regardless, I always remain grateful that, while I got a crappy roll of the disease dice (no pun intended), at least I got a disease where the treatment isn't something so extreme as chemo or radiation.
Posted 8/3/2008 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
I work part-time at home & part-time in the office which is equivalent to full time. I do this mostly because my boss likes his records inaccessable by other staff, period. This has worked out great for me and my boss is understanding of my really bad days. He knows I'll only use a sick day if I'm held hostage in the bathroom. When I call in...that's exactly what I tell him...I'm being held hostage. However, I bargain with myself every single morning on whether to use a sick day or not. Mostly from fatigue and I'm so darned stiff from my fibro upon waking. Usually, I'll take my meds, argue with myself for about an hour, hit the shower and by about an 1 1/2 hours after waking I can move and go in. If I had my druthers...I would stay home!
Girl's gotta eat when I can!
Posted 8/3/2008 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all I'm like you guys i have good days and bad, but i try and make it in every day. I tell ya we should all get a award for keeping jobs and running a home with kids, with this difficult disease. If only people would realize what we go through with the struggle with Crohn's. Everyone here can give yourself a pat on the back for accomplishing this task. Take care everyone and stay well... :)
Posted 8/3/2008 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
It's tough but I usually never get to call in for the crohn's. With 3 kids, all of my sick time is mostly devoted to their illnesses. How I deal: I take my meds a half hour before leaving the house and I do not eat until I am safely at work and usually it is something small like a Special K bar. Keep it simple during the day, it keeps the D away.
Posted 8/3/2008 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
I've got pretty good sick time and vacation time allocation, but I save them for days where its impossible to go in.  If I only have a flu or cold, I'll go in.  I was quite sick in march, so burned 3 weeks vacation time.  Most days, I do have trouble concentrating because of pain or lack of sleep so its really frustrating knowing I'm not performing at my best.  My wife is very supportive of me and is ready to take on the role of breadwinner, but my stupid macho feelings make this route unattractive.  We've forgone kids because I could not handle watching a loved one go through this disease or finding the energy to raise them properly.  Those of you with kids, I am amazed and humbled by what you must go through.  I am embarrased by how weak I am compared to a lot of people on this forum. 
Posted 8/3/2008 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
I find myself taking more and more Fridays and Mondays off. I am just really wiped out by the end of the week, and the 2 day weekend, like someone else mentioned, just isn't enough time to recover. There are only 2 people in my department at work, so I always have to coordinate with that person. It can be a pain. We both have more vacation time than we know what to do with, but we feel bad taking the day or week off and just leaving the other person there to fend for themself alone. Not a healthy situation, and I'm realizing a change would probably be good. I can't afford to stress myself out at work. It takes too great a toll on me. My boss/co-worker is a nice enough person, but I don't think he understands what I'm going through. Problem is, my job pays pretty well and I'd have to start over from scratch and go back to school again. I just don't have the energy to do so right now, so I stay.
Posted 8/3/2008 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Right now - I'm working just fine.

Last year when I hit bottom, I was puking in my office trashcan all day, falling asleep in the chair, and didn't have the energy to get from the parking lot inside without sitting to rest. Not to mention the times people would call me on the phone and I'd double over in pain trying to talk and sound invested without letting on that I had tears rolling down my face. I don't get diarrhea so thankfully didn't have to race to the bathroom or anything.

When I was in graduate school and working to get a dx, I struggled a LOT. I missed almost an entire semester of school because I couldn't physically get out of the bed to get to class.

If my Crohns is under control, and my iron levels are up, I work just like anyone else.
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