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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 6/14/2007 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all

I know that there is no known "cause" of IBS, and I realize that stress is a factor but not the reason for IBS...but something I've always wondered about, is if certain jobs set people up for IBS.

I'm not necessarily talking about a highly stressful job, heck we all have or have had jobs, and work can be stressful from time to time no matter how great your job is.

But I was thinking about the types of jobs I've had in life, and many required me to notify someone if I had to go to the bathroom; jobs like receptionist, bank teller and front desk manager. From the time I was about 18 until I was about 35, I had jobs like this where I had to get someone to "cover for me" if I needed to go. Well, I can remember, even before my IBS developed "fully" that it was very stressful to do this. I would feel badly about bugging someone to cover me, sometimes it would be someone who was mean about it ("okay, HEAVY SIGH, I'll be right there"), not to mention I am in the toilet thinking "hurry up" or "how many times have I gone today" or the like..I've also had jobs where the entrance to the toilet was very public and so everyone could see when you went in there.

It just makes me wonder how many people have jobs like this where it's a big deal if you have to go to the bathroom (and be in there for more than 2 mins,) and if this is a contributing factor to IBS.

Just wonder what you all think about this, maybe I'm just nuts :P
Posted 6/14/2007 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I think you may be right goddess. Because stress can exasberate the symptoms, being in a situation where its not easy just to walk away to go to the restroom can add to it. I used to work in a customer environment where you needed to be covered if you walked away. It was worse when I became a manager, because its not as easy to be covered. Once I went corporate, things have been much better. And it has eased the symptoms much more.

I have had IBS since I was a teenager but even if it wasn't a job, I was at school and I think the pressure for a teenager to try and hide the problem is worse. Only a few of my closest friends knew, I ended up telling my teachers too so I could get a "free pass" to just walk out if I needed to rush to the bathroom. I think it all boils down to the stressors of life and although not all that are stressed deal with IBS, it makes it so much worse for those that do.

Take Care
Posted 8/21/2007 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
I know that when my boss gives me a hard time about taking time off from work, it makes the stress factor rise and the symptoms worse. I remeber having IBS problems when I was in High School, but it was never bad enough to go to the dr. Then, when I started the job I have now, things went down hill. The money is good, but the stress is very high. People yelling and screaming all day, people needing me to be the strong one that gives them ways to get through, and to keep going when I cannot even do the same. My boss thinks that it is all in my head and that I just want the attention. He can sniff my socks because to say that to someone with a legitimate medical condition is just wrong. I think you are on the right path, and I think that there has to be a connection between stressful jobs and IBS, just as there is a connection between IBS and ovulation. It has to be related. Thanks for posting girls.......
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