As you recall, I have always been a proponent of being very
open and honest about
my crohns. I just found it made my day to day life easier. Then some wonderful fellow members that work in law advised me that as I enter the field I may want to be more hush hush as it is a more cut throat environment. So, I started my new job w/ the idea that I wouldn't mention it unless absolutely necessary. That lasted just under two weeks lol.
I thought it wasn't going to be a problem at all as my office is really close to a bathroom and I am more or less in remission. Someone noticed my soy milk in the fridge and asked if I was lactose intollerant in the first week. I answered honestly and said yes but didn't mention crohns. Someone else asked about my purple got guts bracelet (totally forgot I wear it all the time!!!) and before I could answer we got on a different subject.
Then, earlier this week, I just woke up having "one of those mornings." I could not stay out of the bathroom. My assistant sits across from my office and clearly knew something was up. I mentioned that I wasn't feeling well and left it at that. Then, someone way senior comes in my office and asks if I would like to accompany him to a client meeting in the big city (45 minutes away on a good day). Now this is the kind of opportunity I have been waiting for. I of course would love to... but of all days!!! So, I just say yes at first (people here tend to travel on a bus w/ a bathroom) and then he mentions he will be driving because he will be in a meeting at the time the bus leaves. Yikes.... I am in no way shape or form capable of traveling in a car, in the city, with someone I barely know at this point. I mention that since I wasn't feeling great I would probably take the bus down, work in the city office for a bit and then meet him for the meeting. This goes over surprisingly well but is followed up with the all to predictable concern given the swine flu fears. "Well, if you aren't feeling well do you need to go home?" Sigh. The time has come. (Now, I know some of you might think I was being paranoid about my ability to get through this trip but this was one of those days I really couldn't get off the pot.) So, I shut my office door and just said, no, I am fine. I actually have crohns disease which is a digestive disorder. 99% of the time I am happy, healthy, and fine, but on occasional days my stomach just goes off. I am fine to work I just need to be near a bathroom." He seemed fine with it and was pleased I still wanted to go.
I took the bus (and 3 immodium and a xanax) slept the ride down, and felt much better when I got there. The meeting went great and then we ended up all going to lunch, at some little stand, in an office building. I had to pee and couldn't find a restroom. Security said I had to be an employee of that office building to use it even though we had bought our lunches there, and sat and ate them. It is actually a violation of the state health code but luckily we were just a block from our other office and it wasn't a crohns emergency. But boy, did it make me anxious.
I actually felt good enough that I hitched a ride back north w/ the senior guy and got lots of compliments on my work so far. So, I am not totally "out" but someone now does know. I felt it was a need to tell situation. I wanted him to know I was enthusiastic for the work just facing a dilemna that day. I just worry that in a small business (50-100 employees) that my health problems could drive up everyones insurance rates. But I'm sure everyone has something.
PS: I find out if I passed the bar tomorrow!