career goals with Crohn's?

Hi Zena, I think your question is an excellent one... I've wondered about this myself. I'm not currently working in my chosen field, but I like my coworkers and my job has wonderful benefits. It's a trade-off, really, when you are dealing with chronic illness, unless you happen to find that ideal situation that allows you to do exactly what you want to do and have terrific benefits at the same time. My career goals now are not what they were when I was younger, before I was diagnosed, but I still have a certain level of expectation about what I will do eventually and I am working toward my goals gradually. I would say that a big part of making this decision depends on how severe your illness is and how much time you have to take off from work to manage it... my disease is mild and I rarely miss work, but I know that is not the case for many people with Crohn's.

I wasn't working in my chosen field even before the diagnosis, so I can't really give you a good answer to your question.  But I will say that I have considered the pilates certification, too.  It really depends on what you want out of teaching pilates.  The certification is pretty expensive.  If you are looking for a little extra cash for teaching a class once a week, it's not a practical option.  It'll take you a long time just to break even.  I'm not sure what the continuing ed requirements are to keep your certification- I didn't get that far on my research- with follow up classes it might be impossible to break even working one night a week.  If the pay-off is spiritual/emotional/physical, then that's a whole 'nother game.  If you want to teach a class a week because it makes you happy, then it may be worth the expense to you.

I went to law school. Started before I was sick, but got sick the first month. I never considered leaving or doing a different job. I loved law school (that's rare and I'm probably nuts) and I love my job. I purposely took a job I loved rather than one that paid well. That made it come with people who also loved the job and understood my passion for it enough to not question me when I was taking a lot of time for appointments. They knew I wasn't skipping out.

As for the pilates, why not? I know a yoga teacher with IBD. She teaches independently and can adjust her schedule based on her health.

I was diagnosed right before I started law school, so I'm still in the whole process of getting the medication figured out to help me stay out of flares. But I really hope I can do what I want instead of letting it determine the kind of work I want to do. But I will practice law regardless, at least that's my hope. I refuse to let the Crohn's win out and determine my job for me. I'll do what I can handle and see what comes my way.

Zena, if you are feeling physically up to it, then defintely go for the Pilates. The bottom line in all of this is to do whatever you can do and to try and make it something you love. The more you like your job, the easier it is to continue on with it even when you are sick.

I started workig when I was 16 and switched from communications into HealthCare at 23. CD was suspected when I got very sick at 10, but none of the Docs were really sure what was wrong with me. By the time I was 39, I was in a very stressful position and sick as a dog. Finding the time to deal with my myriad of medical and dental problems was nearly impossible. Time off from work just wasn't going to happen. The side effects of my meds were killing me and I was starting to make mistakes and was terrified about what important project/report/problem I might have forgotten. I could barely get myself out of bed and getting to work on time seemed an impossibility. Then my boss (the VP) was let go or allowed to resign. I knew I wouldn't be far behind him just because that's the way it goes and I was right. I might have bee able to keep my position, but I was literally too sick to fight for it.

As it turned out, I was in thyroid failure thanks to Hashimoto's, another autoimmune disease. The Spondyloarthropathy (inflammatory arthritis) has been a real problem for me as well. In fact, my joints are far worse than my gut. So, going back to what I was doing or even back to school to do something else is not really a possibiltiy at this time.

I can almost laugh at myself sometimes. For 10 years I worked two jobs in 2 different ERs and now my carreer goals consist of waiting for an approval or denial from SSDI.

Good Luck to you in whatever path you choose.

Thank you to everyone for the replies.  Keah, I also have Hashimoto's and arthritis, so I understand there is also a possibility that the Hashimoto's could cause more problems down the road.  I looked more into the pilates certification today and, as bektold said, the full certification is pretty expensive.  The mat certification is only a few hundred dollars, but I guess it depends on what my gym would require me to have in order to teach.  I plan on talking to the aerobics director just to see what she says.  It's not like pilates is my life-long dream, just a more recent interest that has come up.  HR was always what I thought I wanted to do, but I've learned that I don't like having to deal with problems all day long.  I have a bachelor's degree in business mgmt, so anything I'm looking at now would require a lot of school (since most of what I've looked at is health related...a totally different set of school requirements). 

I think maybe some volunteer work would fill the void that I feel, but I haven't been able to find something I'm passionate about lately that is in need of help.  I've done lots of volunteer work, but nothing that I would want to do for years on end.  I wish our chapter of the CCFA didn't break up, as I was supposed to volunteer for them.  Maybe I'll just call some places and see if they would allow a volunteer...even if they aren't actively seeking them out. 

Thank you all for the suggestions.  I admire those of you who were able to stick it out and finish your Ph.D.'s or law school...my arthritis is much worse than my gut and I still don't see how you had the energy to do it.  =) 

I was sick while I was in college but I was not diagnosed. I continued pursuing my goals. I have worked in jobs that had limited bathroom access and I know that is stress that we don't need. Also I worked in law enforcement and I can say unequivocably that deadline stress is nowhere near as bad as I have no idea what is going to happen next I might have to fight for my life kind of stress. So some would say I "chose" the super stressful world of law but I honestly think it is so less stressful than working in corrections/probation etc. I have decided that I am going to follow my goals but recognize when I need accomodations or when there is something I just can't do. I was a first responder in corrections and when I left I considered being a volunteer EMT - but I knew that if a call came in while I was on the toilet I wouldn't be much help - and I couldn't really ask an ambulance to pull over so I could use the bathroom. So I decided that wasn't a good path. But I am still going into litigation because in the type of law I want to practice it is years before a case gets to trial. I am very comfortable being open about my crohns and so far I just let people know that I might need a recess and that if it is at an inopportune time I am not being rude but just need to use the restroom urgently. I have never had a problem. In fact, people often thank me for letting them know ahead of time. It has actually been a big conversation opener at times. Once I was assisting at a trial and with a witness when I remembered I had forgotten to take my meds. We were in the attorney room. So I just took them out and took them. She said "is that pentasa?" Turns out her daughter has crohns. So I think part of what you "can" do depends on what you are willing to do. For some, making others wait while they use the bathroom would be mortifying and cause way more stress and more problems than it is worth. For me, I don't care what other people think (does that make me arrogant lol) so it doesn't bother me that much.

I do agree though that it is a good idea to have a back up plan of things that you can do from home or easily. You have to also keep in mind how much debt you are getting into. I'm over my head in student loan debt and have to work a high paying job for a good number of years to make it worthwhile. That is a lot of stress. My private loans also can not be wiped out by bankruptcy or forgiven due to disability. So - that might not have been the most responsible decision. But my husband and I plan on living on a much lower income to pay the loans off as quick as possible.

I always feel completely hopeless when it comes to these questions...this disease is so aggrivating, has such a mind of it's own and I don't trust it one bit, I don't know how you guys get over that mentally because I cannot...this disease scares the hell out of me that way, like it's keeping me imprisoned forever when it comes to "careers/work". It makes me so sad, but I sure envy all of you that can push through and have careers.

:)

I always wondered about this as well...

What if you want to be a social worker, or a psychiatrist(needing years of med school), or a scientist, chef etc. etc.

I know some doctors say you can do whatever you like but the hard reality is that we have clear cut limits. More so than 'normal' people. I think it makes it especially hard for college students with Crohn's because we're not sure what we can do and if we try, will we completely disable ourselves? It was hard enough before the disease to figure out the future but afterward is nearly impossible. Unless you're a clairvoyant.

I've spent so much time (like months) stressing over what I want to do and researching different careers, but I've gotten nowhere. It's so frustrating that IBD is really limiting my life.

gardenlady--I agree with what you said. I'm so worried that I'll end up doing a retail job even if I get my BA. I know I need to go to grad school or get a more useful degree, but I don't know what will be a good job. gardenlady, if you don't mind me asking, what are you going back to school for?

Wow, I cannot believe how many folks here have gone to or are in law school! I worked at two law firms over the last five years and was a court reporter for seven years prior to that. For those of you who are planning on becoming attorneys, for your health I would highly recommend being an associate at a smaller law firm. The associates I have worked with all put in 60+ hours (on the light end) and take a LOT of C#@p from the partners at larger law firms. Please know I am not by ANY means downing the legal profession. I kept many attorney friends when I left the legal profession altogether. You make great money 95K + starting and bonuses of roughly 45K up working for larger law firms... but as an associate you earn every last penny. Those associates who got nice partners were the happiest, so take a good look at the personality type of your partner when interviewing. If you have any questions for me, I will be happy to answer, since I have worked with just about every practice group in law.

PS: Please don't shout at me too much for posting my thoughts here. K? Just been there and seen it all.

Ditto. Not looking to get in with a big firm. Way more interested in setting up my own little office somewhere, or just working with a couple other people.