Do you work in a flare?

I've been put on sick leave once my Dr. Saw the results of my colonoscopy. I am set to go back to work in the new year, and it's coming fast. I think that's why I'm so stressed/impatient with my healing progression. Like, ok, get it together guts, you've gotta be fixed by two weeks from now. It's added pressure. Now, please don't get me wrong, I desperately want to get back to work, I love working and feel like a failure sitting at home all day afraid to leave the house. How do you know you're ready to go to work? How do I tell my Dr. If I'm not? Do you usually go to work during a flare or do you stay on sick leave? How do you know???

I hear ya shoogs, it's easy for someone to say "push yourself" when they don't know the feeling of crapping your pants in public as a result. I've been pushing myself, I'm able to walk my dog around the block now but by the time I get home I'm so wiped out I sleep for a few hours. (I should note that before I got sick 3 months ago I was a long distance runner-running my dog several kilometres most days a week ) now I'm winded walking up the stairs.

Wow! Good for you iPoop! I also work in an office and close proximity to a washroom- but it's single use, and many people using it...so if I get there and it's occupied....I'm soiling myself

I always worked during a flare. The exceptions were 1) week after I was in the hospital for UC and 2) when I had other illnesses compounding the UC, like the flu and shingles.

I had an office job, had occasional work from home privileges, and bathrooms were generally close by. If I ahd an accident at work, I could drive the five minutes home. BUT I only worked 24hrs/week. I was supposed to be going to school at the same time but just couldn't swing it. No energy and exhaustion. I seriously doubt I could have pulled off 40 hrs/week. As it was, the 24 was wiping me out.

I worked through my five-year flare. But then I had a mostly office job and an employer that was great about working with me. There were occasional days - maybe once a month - when I worked all or part of the day from home, using my home computer and the phone.

At my lowest point I thought I might have to go on disability, and the prospect of that was very depressing to me.

I've had a continuous flare for a little over three years. Offhand I don't remember missing one full day during that time. However, my flares are not as bad as most of the people on here, I don't take most of the meds that most people on here do, and I happen to have a fairly easy office job where there are usually no more than 3 people in the office at a time and I have easy access to the bathroom.

One thing I would like to say is that you shouldn't really rely on what the doctor says as to whether you can work or not. He doesn't really understand your situation entirely, you do. I have been a manager for decades and I really hate it when one of my workers takes time off, solely because their doctor told them to or gave them a note. I must confess that I often roll my eyes in these situations. Either people want to work and earn money to pay their bills or they don't. I do realize that there are times where people can't work due to an accident or medical condition and if worker's comp is involved that's an entirely different ballgame. I'm not trying to be a d***head but if you want to work you should work, even if the doctor says you shouldn't and if you know you can't work then you shouldn't, even if the doctor says you can. It seems crazy to me that you have X symptoms and you don't work because the doctor says you shouldn't and then a week later you have the same symptoms but the doctor says you should go back to work. I like workers who disobey their doctor's orders to take off work and have the attitude of, "How does the doctor expect me to pay my bills if I don't work?".

I started experiencing UC symptoms a little over a year ago and have not missed a day of work due to UC yet.

I work in an office setting and I am very fortunate that my office is right beside the bathroom. It's usually just a 40 hour work week, but during our busier times I've had to put in 60+ hours in a week. It definitely hasn't been easy and there are certainly days that I come in late because I feel so bad, but my boss is understanding and easy to work with.

As long as I don't eat while at work and watch what I eat for breakfast (applesauce with VSL and plain toast) I can usually manage my symptoms enough to get through the day.

Judy2 said...
Limitless, I used to do that too. Except I'd get up at least three hours before I had to leave the house and eat something like soup (with some protein in it), then go to work and not eat again until I got home. Some days I was still in the bathroom every one to two hours, but at least I made it there.

Luckily, I'm able to go home on my lunch break as well. So I can eat something for lunch then use the bathroom at home before returning to work.

I'll be changing jobs in about a month and will be on the road A LOT with my new job. So we'll see how it goes then... I'm hoping for remission by then.

That's very true Peety. I don't usually wear the adult diapers but when I go out in public and I know I'm going to be out for several hours I usually put one on. It gives me the peace of mind and I almost never have an accident while wearing them. Note that I did say "almost".

Man...I must be really severe or a weenie. I can barely hobble one room to the next. ugg.

My last flare in April I worked right up til the day I had a colonoscopy because I wasn't feeling well at all.. Only to come out of my scope to be told its the worst they have ever seen and I might die.. Words you never forget a doctor saying to you. Yes! I did feel sick and had pain but I have a very high pain tolerance..my company was very understand as I found out my regional manager has uc also so she is extremely understand so I'm very lucky :)

I think the answer quite simply is, yes, most people work through flares out of necessity. Because flares can last months and months and sometimes years. In the meantime there are bills to pay and so forth. We're creatures of adaptation, you learn the ins and outs of the flare. Learn how to empty out before driving, take imodium and other aids, bring emergy supplies with you : a change of underwear, wipes, and so forth. Flares often start really bad and slowly get getter as you heal, so it does get easier as the weeks and months progress. We all do what needs to be done in order to get by, even in difficult circumstances.

I've never had the option of not working. If I could have gotten away without working, that would have been great. Unfortunately, I need money to pay my rent and it's difficult to make enough to cover expenses without working. Even if you're getting some kind of short term disability, it's can still be tough. In my case, I was working jobs without any type of disability. Once i was a contractor and once I was part-time. I was lucky to have managers who were easy on me and understood that I wasn't up to working too much but it was decreased the amount of money I was bringing in and that wasn't easy considering I had to pay for all my medications and dr appointments out of pocket.