Teachers who have UC

I am a 6th grade teacher at a local middle school. I usually wake up around 5:15am every workday morning to ensure I have enough time to move my bowels and get ready. Luckily, my schedule is flexible enough where I can use the restroom if need be every other period.

The only concerns is that I forget to drink enough water or not have enough time to eat. I feel that my day is always rushed and busy that I eat poorly.

How many teachers on this board who have UC experience this as well?

I also feel after work, I am done for the day. My teaching job takes so much out of me that I cannot hold a second job or do much after the full work day.

Does anyone else feel this way??

Heather

I've taught high school in the past (pre-uc) and now have been in Preschool (ages 2 1/2 to 6) for 10 years. 5 of those with UC. It isn't easy! it is a very physically and mentally exhausting job without the disease. I've been very fortunate as well that things have worked out for me. My main symptom during my flares is the blood/ mucus. I also get up 2 hours before leaving the house ( think many uc'ers do this) I'm fortunate in that I usually have at least one assistant in the classroom so i can leave to use washroom when needed. There was only once during a 2 week span at the beginning of my last flare, the urgency & frequency was so bad I had to make sure I was never alone, can't leave these young one's to use the loo... It was the only time in 4 years that I confided in my boss about my uc (just in case) and none of my co workers know anything about my health issue.

Not sure how one would function alone in the classroom though (can't imagine those early years in public high school with this disease!!!)
During a flare, non teaching hours are very much for recuperating, when I'm in remission my energy comes back to normal and I can get out more after hours.

I am a high school teacher, and I was just diagnosed with UC in Feb. So far, work has been OK. I've been keeping a journal of my progress, and so far, my UC has been polite enough not to appear until after 3pm. I don't know what I will do if/when it hits in the middle of class.

I too am a 6th grade teacher and I have thought about quitting my job almost every day because of my UC. But then I think about how I would get insurance to pay for my UC if I didn't have a job! I have had UC for 10 years (started when I was a senior in high school) and it seems to have gotten worse overall over the past 10 years. Just like all teachers, my job is very stressful and I constantly feel tired all day long and even wake up tired, especially during flare-ups. The only way that I have been able to deal with this disease and teach is with support from a few of my staff members (like the lady across the hallway who occassionally watches my class while i run to the restroom). My principal is very adamant about not leaving classrooms unattended but having an uncomfortable conversation with him was the only thing I could do to explain why I have to leave sometimes without warning! It is an every day worry about whether I am going to have to leave my students unattended or not. It is an every day worry about whether or not I will be able to make it to the end of the class period so that I can run to the bathroom during locker break. A couple times I almost didn't make it and once, after school thank god, I didn't make it. I am recently coming out of a flare up where I had to miss almost a week of school and was on prednisone. I am trying new things out this year in 2012 (like a gluten-free diet and probiotics) but so far have not seen any helpful results. If I find anything that works, I will let you know because I know how difficult it can be to teach and have UC.

Hi, I am a First Grade Teacher,

As Picassa stated

"What works for me, during a flare, is not eating until dinner time. It's tricky, but it's important that I don't leave the room unattended. Usually I can time it so that I can go between classes."

When my Remicade stopped working mid year for me last school year I stopped eating. I wore 2 extra thick long pads that covered me from front to back. I brought extra underwear in my bag to work. I did my main eating during Friday nights because it would go through my system before Monday.

I went on the GAPS diet during this time and some days when I felt like I had a good grasp about what my body was doing I drank chicken stock. Although it doesn't sound like much was a life saver for me when I hadn't been able to eat anything. If I had a really rough day then filtered warmer water was what I sipped. And of course if it was a really rough day then it was nothing til I got into the car. On those days I'd leave as soon as it was appropriate for me to.

During lunch and planning times I went to the bathroom as much as possible to try and make sure I was okay for the rest of the day.

Last, I also had understanding teammates, but as my flare continued (I felt like it had gone on too long) I felt bad and I stopped asking them to watch my class and stopped eating during the day plus focused on the GAPS diet.

I am putting together my plan for next school year now. Prepping foods my stomach can handle and freezing them. Consulting with my doctor on meds and ideas. Finding some absorbent pads ect... I have been looking at combining these with these B-Sure Pads.My hope is that it won't get so extreme, this year. I'm just trying to be prepared.

http://www.northshorecare.com/linerstena1.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=product&gdftrk=gdfV22386_a_7c1491_a_7c6914_a_7c5195&gclid=CI-IuvuerrgCFYI7MgodYmsAow

http://www.amazon.com/B-Sure-Anal-Leakage-Pads-Box/dp/B005GDTWOG/ref=pd_sim_hpc_1


I will be at a new school. The stress at my last one was way too much for me. The good part is the school I will be at hopefully won't be so stressfull, but the bad part is that no one knows about my UC, so my plan is continuing on the GAPS diet stages, try new meds, if it doesn't get better look into surgery for the 2014 Summer. I may go get a surgery consult to just be prepared.

Good luck to all of you going into the next year.