HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Has anyone made a career change due to their Crohn's? To something less stressful?

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
1 2
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/12/2010 7:59 PM (GMT 0)

Skylardaisy said...
I recently took early retirement at the age of 53. I worked as a nurse for 33 years and the stress level in that job was through the roof.

I had to take a small reduction in my pension benefits but it is totally worth it. I have a feeling of freedom that I have never felt before. My CD symptoms are much more manageable now that I can stop and rest whenever I need to. Retirement is great !

Congrats! I'm glad you found a way to feel better and still survive! : )

Posted 3/12/2010 8:05 PM (GMT 0)

Jen77 said...
My anxiety went undiagnosed and treated for most of my life. It only got much worse when I got Crohn's. I had Crohn's for a few years before speaking to my doctor about my anxiety. Best thing I ever did, it's helped me so much.

I had my Natpath put me on 5htp one time, but 300mgs at at time and I took for like a week or more and freaked myself out it may have side effects and stopped taking it. And my reg doc means well, but he's not the most knowledgeable about how to deal with depression or anxiety, so I'm not sure who to go to. He gives me Wellbutrin when I ask b/c I have done well on it in the past, but there's the insomnia part of it. I guess I can't wait out the insomnia to see if it goes away. Being wide awake all night every night is not fun. He tried Lexapro on me once, a week later I felt like I was "floating". I bought Sam-E once and was never brave enough to take it (lol). I was thinking about 5htp again but at a lower dose like 100mgs to start off and if it freaks me out, I can always stop. It's for anxiety and depression and good sleep. Otherwise, I don't know if I should go to a counselor or something about it.

Posted 3/18/2010 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
You bet . . .  I was a litigator, which drove me nuts and made me ill.  I was fortunate enough to get into law teaching, which is a totally different world.  I knew that I would drive myself into an early grave if I didn't switch, so I went back to school (yes, more law school), and as I said, was lucky enough to get a teaching job.  I have since moved into law school administration, which has its own pressures, but they are noting compared to what my life used to be like.  If you can afford the change financially, I definitely recommend it - your body (and your family) will thank you!

Good luck!

Posted 3/19/2010 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
sorta-kinda. I quit my job as a manager of a health food store and opened up my own. =) I am 6 months in now and everything is great at the store! On the flip I am a stress ball now and have been throwing up for the last few weeks. =(
Posted 3/19/2010 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
I owned/ operated oversaw 18 ft staff members and 10 pt staff members dealt with all social agencies there are here in ontario for seniors such as adult protective services...pension ppl disabilty workers and directly worked with the doctor..my family were all involved mom was a geriatric rn brother same dad a chef..it was great but when i became ill with my crohns i it became more stressful even with help of my family...i ended up having to sign control over and leave that place n ppl i loved dearly

i am now deaf and about to embark on taking sign and will start to work for home care for the deaf....
i tryuly miss being out there and i feel i was lucky enough to make it back from last ordeal that i want to give back i dont think il hv the tension in this as i will not have all the business issues on my shoulders ya know..am looking forward to it in all honesty...lyn
Posted 3/20/2010 4:11 AM (GMT 0)

Terry73 said...
I am a law clerk and work for a title insurance company in ontario, I have been off work since september 2007. I was on LTD through my company and then they cut me off sept 2009 telling me i can go back to my job cause they have a bathroom on every floor (WOW why didn't i think of that a cure for crohn's lol) stupid insurance companies. Anyway i applied for canada pension disability and was also denied as i am not dying anytime soon lol. (Funny cause i can't get life insurance lol) My job is still being held for me cause my dr's are saying im not fit to work and now i have to get a lawyer and sue for my benefits. aparently problem is crohn's you can't see so harder to prove your disabled. Its not that i don't want to work its just that i have been so ill and was calling in sick so much or being sent home my work told me to go on LTD and get things straigntened out. I can't lose my benefits my drugs alone cost over $70,000.00. So even not working is stressful lol. I don't know the answer i have often thought of just getting a no brain easy job and seeing if that helps cause my job is demanding and stressfull but im even really sick just being at home with 4 kids and a husband so i don't think there is an easy answer to that question at all.

I can't imagine a place of work accommodating unlimited bathroom breaks for an unlimited amount of time AND allow you to be late or leave early or call in sick when you're not feeling up to it. (Without finding a reason to fire as soon as they can legally)

Besides, there are more disabling symptoms to this disease than just going to the bathroom. How about a bed at work too when we can hardly stand from the fatigue, dizziness, pain, etc?

You need to get a doc that's behind you and reapply for CPP disability. Don't sugarcoat your symptoms on the forms. Tell it the way it is and leave nothing out. The reality is a routine is impossible to establish because crohn's disease is unpredictable for most of us.

Apply for the disability tax credit certificate too. On the website they list a person with CD who is sick 3 times a week who can qualify.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12