Crohns and incompatible career

I was a middle school teacher when I first got sick, and eventually had to stop teaching. Being exposed to that many germs caused so major problems, in addition to being unable to run to the bathroom while flaring because I had 35 13-year-old kids in the class! I had severe Crohn's as well, went septic twice, etc.

My situation was different, though; I am married, and my husband made enough money that I could afford to stop working. We got my health under control, had a daughter, and I now stay at home with her (and am pregnant with our second).

Does your boss or HR know about your condition? Is it possible they could make room in the organization for you that involved less travel (or none) but still had you involved?

I simply couldn't work anymore. As a teacher, it's all or nothing. It had been rough at the end of the school year. I got c. diff., an abscess that turned into a fistula, c. diff. again, and then the antibiotics temporarily damaged my inner ear and I couldn't stand up. I missed the last two months of the school year. The next school year started with me on a feeding tube from random pancreatitis as a side effect of imuran, so I couldn't even get to the classroom until November. Then 6 weeks later, over Christmas break, my pregnancy got really bad (I had been on the pill but don't absorb medications well lol). I had to get daily IV fluids in order to stay hydrated because I was too sick and my Crohn's was majorly flaring. At that point, I realized I was doing my students more harm than good. So I talked to the principal and we hired a sub full-time. My daughter was born the following summer, and then two months later was when I went septic the first time. In 5 months, I was hospitalized 10 times. I couldn't even take care of my infant, let alone get into a classroom.

We had to move to another state to be by my parents so my mom could help with my daughter. My husband's company, thankfully, allowed him to keep his job and let him telecommute. He flies back once a month for a week, but works from home the rest of the time. It was a true miracle from God that his employers have been so understanding.

By this point, I would do my family, myself, and students more harm than good by trying to work. I taught math, so a messed up year for students was awful. I nearly died several times. Exposing myself to stress like that, plus all the germs, wasn't worth the risk of infections (therefore antibiotics, therefore c. diff., flares, more abscesses and sepsis, etc.). Even if I was in total remission, the stress and exhaustion of teaching would mean not spending time with my family in the evenings because I wouldn't be able to give them any more. I decided that my priority was my family. I wasn't going to give them up for someone else's kids. So I still tutor some neighborhood kids a couple of times a week and it takes care of the itch I have for teaching, but I am so much happier and feel a lot more balanced.

It's hard on work. I battled through determined not to let this 'win' the work battle for years. Then late 2013 I realised I was so ill so often - in and out of hospital so much - I could no longer work at the level I wanted.

I worked for a UK University that was very supportive. But I made the decision that the stress of not doing what I thought was a good job anymore made matters worse. I knew the time had come. I was lucky in that we came to a mutually convenient arrangement in terms of a lump sum and departure date. For me it was the right thing... So I started a new chapter of my life (leaving the UK).

I think I hoped (too much) that work would be the deciding factor in kicking health up the arse a bit. Sadly wasn't that simple ... Still in and out of hospital initially. But all I knew was I just couldn't go on. I think you know in your heart (and also physically) when you reach that point. Def the right thing for me ... Calmer life does help.

Post Edited (Duffle) : 10/29/2015 3:08:30 AM (GMT-6)

I have great respect for those who manage to still work while having all the issues that come with Crohns (or any of the other debilitating gastrointestinal diseases). I suffer with severe diarrhoea and hardly get out of the house. My anxiety hits the roof if I have an appointment with the dentist for example or any other important visits whereby I have to travel, especially with public transport.
The only way for me is not to eat for a day in the hope I don't have to go to the toilet too much or eat only protein, which will help block me up a bit. Not that that is good for me as constipation can cause me bad colic pain. So I'm between a rock and a hard place, as we say in the UK.
Stress can be a trigger for my Crohns to flare up, as I have found out over the years, so the pressure to have to work would be detrimental for my health.
The illness is stressful enough without adding more to it. So in my case I try to avoid stress as much as possible.
I take no medication at all. Tried some in the past but stopped as the side effects seem to create just more problems, like muscle, bone and eyesight issues....and in turn causing more stress again. I'm more for a natural approach. I'm trying some stuff out at the moment and if I get some good results I will post it on here in the future.

For some their work is their life and having to stop what they like to do can be as stressful as keeping going with it. For others it's necessity and they are in the same boat.
It's for each individual to decide what causes them the most stress...the illness, the work or the financial side of things or ….the strain on their relationship.

In your case I would look at what I like so much about my job and can really not do without. I would have a look at alternatives whereby I can still feel that same inner satisfaction. I would look at transferable skills that might make my life less stressful. It might take you some time to figure it out, but it might be worth it. To me you seem to be a “hands on” person and obviously someone who thrives on helping others. There are many ways to do that without as much stress and travel. Seek and you shall find.
Make a list of what you can do, list all your qualities (not just qualifications), your likes, your interests. You are not only your work (a lot of people feel that their identity depends on the work they do), you are much more than that and you will have qualities that you can use to gain that self appreciation and satisfaction that you now find in your present work.
Instead of seeing giving your job up as another part of what will be taken from you because of your illness, try to see it as an opportunity to explore other parts of you that you might have ignored over the years, but which might also give you fulfilment.
I know this is hard to do as you seem to get so much joy from your work, but it's sometimes much harder to peddle upstream than going with the flow.
I wish you all the best and hope you'll figure it out. Hope you feel better soon.