IBD Friendly Career Choices

My son just turned 18 and is a HS Senior (and concurrently enrolled at the local University taking 6 hours). He is extremely intelligent, self motivated, disciplined, etc. The only B he has ever gotten was in Calculus and he missed an A by a hair. With his weighted (AP courses) he still has a higher than 4.0 GPA. Without even studying, he got a 32 on his ACT so he will likely get nearly a "free ride" to a state university (he will be retesting next month). He has been fortunate that his UC is mostly just active during summers so it has not effected his schooling much over the years (dx summer between 3-4th grade).

Okay, enough bragging (I'm a very proud parent )

He has always thought he would go into medicine - physician, anesthesiologist, etc., not because he has a desire to heal - just for the money (his words, LOL). I just don't know that it is realistic for someone with IBD to go that route. If things remain the way they are at my husband's work, I think we can insure him until he is 25 years old if he remains a full time student. That covers him for 6 years of schooling and then he is on his own insurance wise (we're not rich people, plus we have two other children following behind him including another UCer).

He needs to keep in mind that he has a disease that has no cure at this time (besides surgery and if it doesn't turn out he has Crohn's...) It seems to me that medical school is so long lasting, stressful, etc. Would it even be doable?

Other than the B in Calc, he is very good in math (and all subjects, really). His back up choice is an Engineer of some type which I think is so much more doable, plus he could stay in school long enough to get his master's and still be covered under our insurance policy.

The things I'm thinking is it would be best for him to work for a large corporation for the benefits, medical and life insurance since both will be hard to come by in his condition.

What do you all advise? What would you do differently if you had know you would have UC? What career choices allow you to be a bit flexible if need be, but still be rich ?

Advice please.

Well I just graduated law school and have luckily found employment. The market sucks right now and many of my classmates are still searching. But, unlike med school, law school is just a 3 year shot - no residency after. I'm going to be working in litigation which is stressful and will lead to some instances where bathroom access will be difficult. But, there are many kinds of lawyers and many that work in an office all day long. Currently, my office is right near the bathroom. Also, as you get more senior you get to make your own hours more. Even now, being new, all people seem to care about is that I get my work done and bill enough hours. It takes some of the stress off being late. But, I am trying to make a good impression so I am currently working long hours, getting in before most and leaving after most.

Well any career can be a challenge with UC (at least that's what I'm learning)... I'm a current college student trying to find the right career too - I say let him try med school, I'm 21 and although it's been a struggle doing school with UC (my first year) I'm taking a little bit less of a class load and it's working out alright. It might take him a little bit longer than others but if that's what he wants to do, don't let this disease get in the way.

Thanks for all the feedback. Just to be clear, I'm not pushing him to make a lot of money - that is his wish. I care more about him having insurance, leave time if needed, etc.

I really hate this disease. This young man has so much potential and could be anything he set his mind to, if his health will cooperate!

Orthodontist would be doable. Our's only works about 30 hours a week and the assistants do all the work. He just walks around and has the patient open and close their mouth and then moves on. I'm sure the treatment plan that he works out on the computer could be done anytime (like if he's flaring and mornings are rough).

Mostly, I'm just curious what you all do, or would have done for a living if you had it to do over again, or what you would advise someone with this disease with their future ahead of them.

My 10 year old UCer want to be a super model AND an architect or engineer (mind you, she will have to be a petite super model as she is the second shortest kid in class, LOL). She is super smart like her big brother.

My non-IBD daughter wants to Rodeo, ugh! The IBD and overachiever gene skipped her, LOL!!

Going forward, unless health insurance laws change he needs to seriously think about getting a job either in the public sector or a large company as insuring himself will be next to impossible.  I thank God every day I chose teaching instead of law...the insurance alone makes it worth it.

College and university administration has great benefits--good time off & health insurance. Universities are notoriously great places for people with differences and usually very understanding about a variety of things. Plus after getting an entry level position (after an undergrad degree) if the school you work for has a "higher education" or "student affairs" program you can usually do the program at night and the university's benefits will pay for your master's and doctorate.

With the doctorate you can be a dean, vp, president of a university or faculty.

I have my PhD in higher education and now am faculty in a night program like I am describing. The only drawback is as you move up, you have to move a lot.

This is interesting because never once did I take my UC into account when I was deciding my major. Cytotechnology/medical technology/clinical laboratory science is what I wanted and I'm working my butt off for it. I NEVER want to settle for something just because of my UC, because that to me means UC has won. I'm still ticked off every day that I have UC (even though I'm in remission) but life proceeds and things will work out in the end.
If he's looking into med school...go for it. Like Joy said, just because he is flaring now doesn't mean he will be for the rest of his life. Surgery is possibility in almost all our futures. In my opinion he should go for what he truly wants to do, UC aside.

I would also advise being cautious about how much he takes out for student loans.  My law school education was 115% funded w/ loans (as in it paid tuition, books, and living expenses).  I now have a good chunk of debt.  I can make my payments fine if I remain a lawyer.  But there is really nothing else I can do and pay it off.  I never really worried about what would happen if my crohns went out of control and I couldn't keep my job.  I mean, I could get hit by a bus too, right?  But it is something worth thinking about.  Does he think he could work long enough to pay off the debt?

I am very lucky because I have the perfect job for someone with IBD. I am the LAN administrator in an elementary school. I am responsible for all the computers (360), software, AV hardware, troubleshooting software and hardware issues, running test reports, creating school and event website. I am up and down often during the day. On really rough days, I grab my glasses, a couple of pieces of paper and hit as many of the staff bathrooms as I need. In 12 years, no one has made a comment on my activities. Most of my days are good because I am on a gluten free diet and my stress levels are usually in check. There have been days though that I have visited all the staff bathrooms in the building so as not to appear to be running to the same bathroom over and over. The pay isn't good of course... but unlimited bathrooms and getting paid to be on the computer..... Life is pretty good!

I am a computer science graduate and when I did software development I always went into a flare because it is highly pressurised and you have to meet tight deadlines.

My boss's daughter also has colitis and he understands my illness and he has given me a job to do software documentation, user training and software testing but I can go back into development whenever I wish to.

I love my job!

I'm a physical therapist. He could go into that and still be in the medical field. Not paid as much as a doctor, of course! Almost as much education, though, now-a-days. You need to be a "doctor of physical therapy" a DPT degree. usually 3 or 4 years post-grad, they call it a "clinical doctorate"

What I think would be good for a UCer is that PT clinics are always looking for people to work the evening shift to accommodate patients that work. Like the 11:00 - 7:30 shift. That would give time to get all of the "flare" out in the early morning! It seems like the guys that work in the clinics that I've worked in like those hours, UC or not.

Good luck to him!

Jen O

Sometimes I hope we do go to socialized medicine so that only people who have a calling to heal will go into the profession. Steer him away from medicine for the good of all those who would have him as a doctor. There are lots of other professions where he could make good money, tell him to keep looking. He'll find something else that is also compatible with the UC.

Thank you all so much for all the wonderful feedback and advice. It is such a tough thing to know what to do with your life. I'm 43 and still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up, LOL

Just to set the record straight - I won't be picking his career choice, it will entirely be up to him. He will be paying his own way (scholarships, trust fund, student loans), so it will be his deal. I'll just play mom and offer suggestions.

For those who are worried that he might become a cold greedy doctor, probably not, he doesn't half do anything. I know he understands suffering first hand...he knows what he likes in a doctor and what he doesn't...if it was something he could accomplish, he would do well. He would likely end up in the research end of things, but again, the length of schooling required...

As far as what he loves - at this point it is hanging with his friends, girlfriend, disc golf, camping, video games, music, geocaching - not alot of money in those things, LOL His absolute dream job would be to be a team physician for either NBA, NFL or a college team.

I envy young people with their whole lives ahead of them and yet I don't envy having to try to decide what to do with their future, especially if they have a potentially debilitating disease to consider.

Again, thank you all for taking the time to share with me what works, what doesn't and what is out there. I wish you all the very best in what you do or choose to do.