Getting a job, with digestive problems

I currently work part time in a school, as the kitchen's cashier. Hours are mid-day and short, just being in a different work environment takes my mind off my gut. Of course because I start work later in the day, 10:30 am, I can still get up at 6, eat a light breakfast and by 8 or so I should be done using the bathroom. Also if I ever feel gut rumblings beginning or offensive gas start, I am surrounded by kids and well, I never reveal I just let one rip (because I couldn't stop it). That has hardly ever happened though. I've had this job for 7 years now and not once have I had to leave work ill from my IBS like symptoms. It's amazing how I can somehow get thru that 3.5 shift w/o trouble, but I do live 5 minutes from my job so that's a comfort, I can be home and in my bathroom in probably 10 minutes.

But I have thought of a few good work settings that would be good in our situations - working for a Vet or in a Dog Daycare. I take my golden lab to a daycare once or twice a week for socialization and each time, the place looks like such fun and I always think, maybe I should just work around animals. Another group you can blame GI distress upon.

Good luck. I am currently looking for a job with more hours, since I have 10 weeks to do so before returning in August. Top of my ideal work environment list? A bathroom with multiple stalls. I am hoping to reenter the medical environment, I would be happy working in a large office or hospital setting, with a lot of employees, people coming and going. You'd be amazed at how many times I think people are listening to my gut when in fact they are usually - completely and I mean completely - unaware you even feel unwell. The only time I can ever remember someone mentioning how loud my gut was when I went to see the last Harry Potter movie with my brother and his wife, theater was sold out, we had our tix for a month and the beginning of the movie is very, very quiet. And sure enough my gut decided to be extremely loud, I skipped lunch so I wouldn't need to use a bathroom. I thought oh great, I'm here now and you act up during the final movie? Anyway, my SIL leaned over and had a good laugh about my gut. God, I wanted to ship my gut to Siberia that day..... I did the same thing in preparing to see the hunger games for the first time (with the same relatives), I was so excited to see my beloved book brought to life on the screen, my SIL leaned over that day and said - deep breaths Mary, deep breaths! But my gut behaved for the hunger games.....whew!

Anyway, I wish you the best in this job search.

Post Edited (Marsky) : 6/19/2012 7:29:10 AM (GMT-6)

Enjoy the hunger games, lol - I've seen the movie now 6 times! I am quite addicted.....will fully admit it. A mom in her 50s....lol

But try and think of work environments that would either distract you from your gut rumblings or be loud enough that you wouldn't have to worry about any noises your GI tract would make.

And truly for what it is worth, what we imagine coworkers are noticing about our health and general well being, is often times not the case. I know on my crappiest days, no one even was aware I didn't feel 100%. I would start my work day with tums in my pant's pocket but rarely if ever needed them. I do think that's because I could somehow "bring it" for 4 hours or less and then hurry home so my gut could do it's wacky thing. Which is always does.

In my case, I know I should be employed FT, we need the income but I just don't know how that would work. I'd have to consume just 1.5 meals per day and fast for a 10 hour time period. I just can't envision a boss allowing me to run the bathroom for 1 to 2 hours after lunch.

But good luck to you.