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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/16/2011 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
So I'm on Jury Duty this week, the whole week. I didn't ask my doctor for a note, because he tends to think Crohn's shouldn't slow me down with anything. eyes I really thought letting the judge know that I can get sick at any moment, and multiple times a day would get the message across. But no. He told me they take 2 breaks, and a lunch break. Oh okay, well I'll just let my Crohn's know to not get me sick until the scheduled breaks.

Then when we do have break we have two little bathrooms for the 12 of us to use. So it's not like you can get sick and stuck in there for anymore then a few minutes. It's a Crohn's patients nightmare basically. I guess I won't eat this week, and pile on the Immodium. But hey at least I've doing my civic duty! rolleyes
Posted 8/16/2011 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, that's so wrong.

Boo to doctors who think that Crohn's is an inconvenience, rather than an illness. He's another doctor who should come round to stay with his patients for a week or two, and witness the struggle for themselves.

Is there any chance you can change doctors, Jenn?
Posted 8/16/2011 11:30 AM (GMT 0)

Aww jen...that is not fun.  I know that when I got called, I brought my medical records with me as a convincing tool.  I ended up being in the bathroom when they called my number...still was told I had to speak directly to the judge.  Ended up they had a plea bargain right before selection started and we were all excused.  Now you make me very glad we were.

I hope your days are better.....thank you for acting as a juror.

Posted 8/16/2011 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
I got out of jury duty, because of cd.

AG
Posted 8/16/2011 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
Wow now I feel like a jerk not serving my civic duty.  I never had to do it because I was away at college and then when I was home my mom told me to just write back that I had crohns, I might have had a doctors note too, I'm not sure.  But I've never had to actually go, everything was done through the mail....:/
Posted 8/17/2011 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
I've actually thought about this a lot, what with all the Law and Order I watch. So far, the best solution I've come up with is to quietly tell them I need to use the restroom, and if they say hold it, I say "I told you before the trial that this could happen, and you ignored me. Well, I need to poop right now. It's either going to be in the bathroom, or right here. Take your pick."

I have a lot of free time.
Posted 8/17/2011 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
My gastro doctor wrote a very graphic note, with details about what Crohn's does - many, many, toilet runs, with absolutely no warning - and (touch wood) they haven't called me since.

Another thing I can think of, is printing out some information from reputable sources about urgency, risk of messy accidents, role of stress in exacerbating symptoms, and presenting it to the judge, or the Sherriff, or whoever's in charge of these things. That might help.

I know people do use medical conditions to get out of jury duty, but I do think there are some illnesses, like uncontrolled Crohn's, that make something like JD just impracticable.

Best wishes.

Ivy.
Posted 8/17/2011 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
I also had my DR. sign off my paper for Jury Duty. Ridiculous. A Courtroom & s Diarrhea problem, seriously, what was your DR. thinking?

Switch Doctors eh?
Posted 8/17/2011 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
I was on a jury for three days, and the judge was really nice about it..... she said just raise your hand if you need a break. I loaded up on immodium and was OK, but a woman sitting next to me wasn't feeling well and she raised her hand and stopped the whole trial for fifteen minutes.

It actually felt kind of good to be able to do it.... this was a month after I got out of the hospital a few years ago.... felt good to be part of the world. But I was doing reasonable OK then, and certainly at some times there's no way it would have been possible.... and I would have needed a note.... it certainly could be a nightmare, hope it isn't.
Posted 8/17/2011 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, raise your hand if you have to go. Judges and attorneys want to go out of their way for jurors. People fake a lot of excuses, so they don't always really get the real ones. If it gets in the way they can release you. That's what alternates are for. Don't skip eating or overly medicate yourself for this.
Posted 8/17/2011 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
I think you should try out Banes response. Terrible that they didn't listen to you - and even if they accommodate you it is not fair to put you through it. If you have Crohn's it should be a choice depending on how you feel you are doing!
That's my two cents!
Posted 8/17/2011 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone, I really wanted to vent to those who understand! If anything learn from my mistake, and get that note from the doctor if you haven't already! So far so good, hoping really watching what I eat and taking 3 Immodium every morning keeps working me. But five days is a lot to ask of me for not having at least ONE problem.

I will raise my hand if need be though! No choice really, it's either then or when I need to go home and clean up!
Posted 8/17/2011 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
I was picked for jury duty and served . I had a little trouble but was given time when I did. I was not really bad at the time or I would have had my doc write an excuse . He would have if I had asked or he would not be my doctor any more .
Posted 8/17/2011 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
I worked at a courthouse for a few months, IN the jury unit.

I was also a clerk in court for certain sessions.

Get a note next time...this is to anyone who is feeling bad with their disease. It's not worth all the hurry up and wait. I spent my first day clerking, waiting for THREE HOURS for the attorneys to "decide how to explain a plea bargain contract" to their clients. Okay...enough already.

You can *always* ask to speak to the judge and attorneys in chambers, off the record, and I guarantee they will either beg you to stay and 100%+ accommodate you for raising your hand if you have to go, or dismiss you. It's not as big of a deal as we think it is. (You can always sit right by the side exit door of the courtroom to go that way. There are bathrooms in the judge office areas, usually two, that are private access only.)

Coming from the person (me) who would have to deal with people calling into the courthouse with BS excuses the day they are supposed to report, people know when you're being genuine. They would rather know up front then for you to sit and suffer the whole time.

Each state, and even each count in each state has a different way of operating for jury pools, but you can likely be "postponed" and called for duty 2, 3, or 6 months later, when you might be feeling better.
Posted 8/17/2011 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
I have not been called to Jury Duty in a few years, so no experience with my current GI, but my last GI wrote me multiple letters detailing that I could never serve on a jury and should always be excused due to having to take medication on a very exact schedule and needing to have access to a bathroom at all times. I have saved all his letters and will just have my current GI copy it if I ever need it again.

We should not have to be put in the position of having to raise our hands to use the restroom and wait to be told its OK. We are not in grade school. Or have to not eat, take extra medication or any of that extra nonsense. We have a disability that should preclude us from serving on a jury. To ask us to suffer hunger or the consequences of unnecessary medication because a judge won't listen just angers me. I would be happy to serve a civic duty in some other manner, but not this one.

I hope it works out for you, but you shouldn't have to go through this.
Posted 8/18/2011 6:28 AM (GMT 0)
Good news is that tomorrow should be the last day for me! Yay! I really didn't mind doing my civic duty, I was just really bothered by the thought that I could some how work this disease around the breaks they have. Impossible, and I've been lucky to be okay so far. Even though I would do so, it would be completely embarrassing if I had to raise my hand and stop the whole court so I could end up in the bathroom. As we all know it isn't always a quick in and out of the bathroom either. I can be in and out for hours if I'm having a bad day.

I'm actually in remission I guess, but that doesn't stop me from having my days. I agree that we shouldn't have to starve, or take extra medication to do Jury Duty. I think what really upset me about this is it seems once again that Crohn's isn't really being all that taken seriously. I kinda felt like they were putting it on par with having to tinkle too much. Just isn't like that. I will find a way to get a note next time. I'm hopeful I can finish out without any problems, but it's been very difficult with not eating much and the anxiety of knowing I really can't use the bathroom when I want is very hard.
Posted 8/18/2011 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
The thought occurred: What's this "we" bit, black robe?

I'm glad you are almost thru w/this jury stint and so far so good. (((hugs)))
Posted 8/18/2011 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
C2, I love the , We , thing too. Like , Weeeeeee gonna put your but in jail.
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