I can't work like this!!!!

Before looking into disability, I'd investigate any lateral career moves you might make that would allow you to stay in the medical field, but not be confined in an operating room situation. Ideally, you want a job that's not stressful and allows you access to the facilities whenever you need them.

In the meantime, for long surgeries, you could try Immodium but you don't want to use it on a daily basis and it's really just a temporary measure until you can make some decisions.

I know the feeling of being confined in a space at work when the urgency hits. I work in hi-tech in a cleanroom suit, that is almost impossible to get out of if you are in a hurry so it feels like I am playing the lottery if urgency hits, I ask myself "Am I going to make it this time?" .  I am early in the stages of understanding UC and have tried to ensure I have low stress, but these days with layoffs and economic woes it is hard to avoid. All you can do is try to have good support at work that understands your needs and "urges" and do the best you can do. Hang in there hopefully your body will start to settle down or perhaps another avenue at work will open up.

I am not familiar with the ADA. Can you give me more info??

The ADA is the American's with Disability's act. If you are otherwise qualified for a job, your employer is required to make reasonable accomodations for your disability. Reasonable accomodations may include frequent bathroom breaks or finding you a different job that doesn't have bathroom restrictions.

By the way, I understand the pressure. I used to be a corrections officer and would have to radio someone to come give me a bathroom break. Stressful!

Even though I am new to UC, I was wondering how some of you do it when you have extended flares (weeks or months long). Do you cash in every bit of sick days/vacation days and hope that carries you through the year?

Even though it was no fun to go through my first bad flare during the holidays, at least I got those days off without burning any of my own days. Even though I had some left to rollover into 2009, I worry that I might burn through them with future flares.

It has been hard enough since I travel quite a bit (by truck) and work on a lot of "new" construction sites with nothing but porta-potties.

Wow that has to be hard....the anticipation of getting the relief to hit the restroom must play some tough mind games.... If you can get out of this flare, are your symptoms "relaxed" enough to still do your job? Have you tried any anti-anxiety medications to try to calm your mind a bit? Are you taking any other meds to help suppress this flare at all? I am currently flaring and I would not be able to do your job... The surgery would by my last resort - even with surgery you still have multiple BM's throughout the day.

UC Memphis - if no other resort, you may have to keep tending to the portopotties. I have been in a lot of those situations when I was younger....used to do quite a bit of construction and some sites didnt even have portopotties....had to get creative...It was very difficult....that is a very tough line of work for UC.... I can certainly feel your pain.

Oh jeez, I'm sorry to hear you're going through that Jade, I totally understand your frustration. I've thought about it myself, being the secretary in an OR... I used to want to be a nurse and then I realized I can't just run off in the middle of taking care of a patient. And I always wonder how the surgeons and scrub techs do it, standing on their feet for sometimes up to 8 hours, stuck in the room with no or very limited bathroom breaks. And then I remember, Oh yeah, they don't have UC. I could just imagine the panic- sometimes I don't even have to go to the bathroom, but when I realize I am in a situation where, even if I had to I wouldn't be able to, then all of a sudden my colon spazzes out and I have to go. So I'm sure a lot of it is psychological too but anyway.
Do your coworkers or your boss know about your condition? And have you talked to your doctor about maybe trying stronger medication? I know immune suppressants are probably something you might not want to be on, being in such close contact with patients that are very ill, but maybe there is something that could get you into remission quicker.

I also notice jobs people have and marvel at how they do it. Like the toll collector. Or teachers! I know there are a few here, who struggle.
Then I remember before I had UC, I would commute an hour to work, work all day, and commute an hour home, and never use the restroom all day! Unbelievable.

My job has periods of time when I'm super busy, and periods of time when I'm bored to tears. I've noticed when I'm super busy I don't get as many urges/urgencies, but they do still show up. When I'm not doing much, I have more time to think about what my body is saying and I end up in the bathroom alot. If I know I'll be busy and won't get many bathroom breaks, I'll take an Immodium, but this isn't something I'd do regularly. My job involves shift work, and we rotate monthly, nights to days. During the worst of my flare I tried to work nights more often, as this allowed me more freedom to run to the loo if and when needed. I don't know if you have that option, but it is something to consider. I was able to do a 6 month flare with only missing three days.

I feel for your situation and I hope that you can find something that will allow you to keep working while you are flaring. For myself, once I start letting the UC dictate how I live, I find that it is hard to get back in the swing of things.