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Remicade and Working Full Time

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/31/2010 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
So I have been on remicade for a few years and it has helped me a lot. I've been in school though so I've been able to fit it into my schedule. I have an interview on Monday for a full time job and I don't know if I should tell them that I take remicade. My remicade takes about 3 hours every 6 weeks and my hospital only does it monday - friday during business hours. Do I tell my employers that I would have to take almost half a day off every six weeks or do I wait till I get the job? Should I look at switching to Humira? Advice is really needed and welcome.
Posted 12/31/2010 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
wait, trust me wait, don't tell them until you have to, get the job first. I'm on ssdi because of cd. and I didn't tell anybody anything when I first worked for a co. I wasn't on any biologics at the time, what I did was I went to hr dept. and got ongoing medical leave of absence, that way you can call in sick without the fear of being fired, get you're foot in the door first. My dr insisted that I get onging, but I got to sick for that, to much pressure on trying to work normal hours with normal people, I was a table games dealer for a casino for 5 years, the worst job for cd issues. the best of luck in your young life. you will do great things

Posted 12/31/2010 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hey What's Up.
I have had Crohns Disease for 20 years come this March.
I am 16 years removed from graduating from College (Penn State). In my 19+ years of Crohns I've had 2 bowel resections and have been hospitalized at least 30 times with flares / blockages.
I have also managed to get married, have 3 kids (all girls), and lead a successful professional career (4 different companies during this time frame = plenty of interview experience).

One thing you do NOT and should NOT do is disclose the fact that you have Crohns or are on Remicade during the interview process.

Frankly, it is not anyone's business........Now that being said, once you are tendered an offer of employment there's nothing wrong with speaking to HR and your immediate supervisor to let them know of your medical condition and that you need Remicade infusions every 6 weeks. They can't discriminate against you. They are technically not allowed to discriminate against you during the interview process either, but if you reveal you have Crohns etc... during the interview there is nothing to stop them from not hiring you.

Also, I have no experience with Remicade, but I have been on Humira for 3+ years and those 3 years I've had a pretty decent "quality of life".....biggest Crohns buzz phrase around IMO. It is simple, 1 shot every 2 weeks. I also take Entocort along with it, weening off of Prednisone. I had a really bad blockage / flare this past Thanksgiving, which landed me in the hospital for a week. It was my first hospitalization in the 3 years I've been on the Humira. Only reason too was b/c my mail order prescription company (Medco / Accredo) screwed up an order of mine which delayed my shots from every 2 weeks to every 3 weeks.....health insurance companies are the ballz, but that is something saved for another time.

Good Luck with the job.
Posted 12/31/2010 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
I agree about waiting to tell. In this economy, I wouldn't risk giving them information about a medical condition. I also wouldn't switch to Humira unless you have to. If Remicade is still working, even if very 6 weeks, keep it unless you find out the job absolutely won't allow the time. (Which I bet they will. People are flexible about that kind of stuff, especially once they see you are skilled and a good fit for their job.) If you lose Remicade because of a potential work issue (not even knowing it's a problem yet) and can't go back to it, you'd be sad.

Good luck with the job!!!
Posted 12/31/2010 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure what to tell you myself.  I have the full cooperation of my employer.  Of course I have a bit of tenure there.  I take Remi days off.  I would agree to wait, get the job, see how things are going, and go from there.  Is there a probation period you need to worry about?
Posted 12/31/2010 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't disclose your health information during the interview. Once you have an offer in hand, and they can't take it back, you can talk about how to take a day off once every 6 weeks (which frankly most employers don't have a problem with). Also, I'd read their HR policy carefully - some companies allow 12 days for sick leave, others say take as needed (and they'll audit it at the end of the year for anomalies). I don't think I would take a job that stipulated the number of sick days allowed in a year - just the doctors appts alone would take up a lot of that time even for regular folks - physical, dental, eye exam, gyn exam, and a bout of cold.

My husband's employer is very kind to us - he gets to take whatever time he needs off, as long as he just gets his job done - and his job is something you can work on from home on the computer, so if he has a rough week, he can work a few hours over the weekend to catch up.

Good luck. I hope things work out. I agree that you should not quit the remicade for the job and switch to humira. What if humira doesn't work as well, and you have to go back to remicade and you've built up antibodies?

PV
Posted 12/31/2010 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
hey listen I worked as a jockey for 16 years with one resection later in my career, but first major (8ft removed of sm. bowel) early in my career I went on to ride, and win 1000 races all on recognised tracks,(not bush league) with alot of major races won, so evan that strenous of job I could do.

Posted 1/1/2011 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
I got hired with this company, and in a year and a half of working my crohn's flared up to the point that it landed me in the hospital for 27 days. I told the medical staff about my 30 year history with crohn's. While my employer on the other hand  knew nothing about that I had crohns, which was recently diagnosed  by the medical staff.  It made it seem that I was just inflicted with crohns and had no clue what it is was.

They now accept my condition. We live in a predjudiced pre-existing condition society.

Posted 1/1/2011 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
I started flaring up a week before starting a new job earlier this month. I didn't mention anything in the interview because I had been in remission for 7 years and had no idea that would change anytime soon. I guess the stress of going back to work (I was a SAHM) induced a flare. So far, I've only missed one half day for an appointment and will miss next Friday for my scope. I still haven't told my boss what's going on. It's none of their business. If I end up needing surgery or biologics, I will let him know what's going on. Until then, I'm keeping my mouth shut. It's not the first impression I want to give. I certainly wouldn't mention anything about being sick in an interview. That will almost guarantee you won't get the job.
Posted 3/12/2014 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone !

I just recently went through the grueling interview process to be a flight attendant for Air Transat (Canadian aviation company) and got all the way to the medical tests. I am SO worried because I have Crohn's disease but it's totally under control. I'm treated with Remicade and have zero side effects. I was honest in the medical and said I have crohns and have been hospitalized with it before.. Do you think they will hire me anyways? ANY information on this subject would be extremely helpful.

Thank you so much !
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