(CANADA) What would I do about a job with colitis?

Well I'm not American and I'm not Canadian. I'm German. However I got fired from my job once. I applied for a disability pass afterwards to get protection from getting fired however I never got a job in Germany anymore after that.

I'm American but will answer your UC questions, not the employment part. Many people work while flaring. Why is it you believe you will be unable to work while flaring? I've been flaring for four years and have worked for all of those four years.

I don't know where you heard that the first infusion of Remicade will actually give you a flare. I've been on this forum for four years and have seen a lot of Canadians (and everyone else) post on here and I have never once seen even one person mention that. Remicade should not ever bring on a flare, in fact, most all UC'rs would never even take Remicade if they were not flaring. Are you on any meds at all right now? Do you take any mega dose probiotics or do any diet modifications?

Watch it soy, your post is not very helpful to the OP, and is only going to agitate gary; please keep things civil and helpful here.

UC flares vary in intensity, some are worse than others, so they are hard to directly compare. Flares can last days, weeks, months, and sometimes years. I've never taken any sick time off due to my yearlong uc flareup, even though I was going to the bathroom 20 times a day at the worst of it with urgency (thank you office work and a bathroom available a stones throw from my desk). Luckily the prednisone cut it down to 6-8 times a day after 3 weeks or so, and the bms dropped after that slowly, in time. It can be done (working while being in a long flare). But I did not experience a lot of pain, anemia, and have never been hospitalized due to uc. So I can understand why people who suffer like that cannot work during the flareup, or those who do not have ready access to a bathroom, like my office work provides.

What did you take in school? And what type of position are you looking for? - not hoping for, but what can you really do or what is the skill set you picked up through your studies?

Ultimately this will dictate how to proceed.

Example - if you're looking for a construction worker position or anything outdoors, physical and away from washrooms this presents a significant challenge. Anything with a commute or significant travel equally so. Outside sales might be particularly difficult. Cashiers and such equally so as it's not easy to get away when there's a line-up of customers. On the other hand an office position or research, accounting, and so on would make things significantly easier to handle.

Sometimes you just have to tough it out through a flare. Sadly. Many do on here. Myself included. I can't begin to count the number of days I managed to work going 20+ times a day. It's hard and sure takes it's toll on you - BUT it is possible.

Canadian. Changed my job at the time I had my first flare. Didn't mentioned it at the interview since I didn't know exactly what was wrong with me. It's hard to ask about the benefits, I would leave the question for when they make you an offer - you really have to read the booklet (my company has good benefits, however you don't have paid sick days -my boss is really nice and I can work from home, also was lucky that during the flares I had the mornings were better and I could work).
The first day on the job my boss took me out for lunch - I had only cooked rice and so I had to tell him about my UC (minus the gory details - just the very very basic).

So take it one step at a time!
Good luck with your search and finding a good, rewarding job!

Hey there- I am not Canadian, but I have worked through my flares as well. I will say it does suck. I drive an hour to work too! Yikes. Anyway. Don't tell your boss you have UC. Only if something comes up. Generally they should be understanding. You can always get a dr note too. But yeah, I can relate, UC makes it hard to live the day to day stuff :( keep truckin tho

Few things,

My flare ups do not allow me to do any work what so ever, as I am bed ridden.
I don't know how its for a lot of you here but a lot of people on here are mentioning to just "push through it at work" and I simply cannot do that.

I'm looking for work at a desk job (IT).

I've learned here to definitely not tell them about my UC before or after they hire me.
However, why would you not even ask about benefits? They should be required by law to tell me and I don't see why that would hinder my chances at getting the job because its a very general question is it not? I've been told by a lot of friends and colleagues who have got jobs in my industry that they have asked what benefits there were (medical/dental) and have gotten the jobs either way, I don't see what's so wrong about asking about benefits. Does it really disrupt your chances of getting the job? Do employers actually think "perhaps he has some disease or something why else would he be asking this"?

So basically, when I go into a flare and get bed ridden (and I will be bed ridden, I can't even stay on the computer for more than 20 minutes without getting severe cramps), I'm still confused on what I should do because a lot of you have said to just push through it, but I can't do that.

I'm still confused on what to do when I'm in a long flare (longest I can assume would be a month given steroids, still not sure how the remicade will be). If I'm in a flare for a month, do I just have to suck it up if I get fired? Do I tell them: "I could be out for at least a month", because I'm afraid I'm going to hear "Well I'm sorry but that is too long for any employee of ours to be out, we're going to have to let you go."

Now usually the steroids work after about a week, a week long flare is usually okay for me (but it does get worse if the steroids take longer, a LOT worse), so I suppose I could be asked to sit next to a bathroom. But still..if it goes on for a month of being bed ridden at home, do I just have to suck it up and look for another job? Because then I'd be losing so much income I'd have to give up my apartment and then who knows what happens next.

Also, I should have mentioned I live in British Columbia, Canada.
Does anyone know how paid sick days work? Are companies legally obligated to provide them? If so, is there a limit to how many weeks off you can get for being sick?

Post Edited (Sugarcrave) : 9/10/2014 12:27:20 AM (GMT-6)

Are you on any oral or rectal maintenance meds at all, such as the 5ASA's, or are you med free and then just take prednisone when you start flaring? You're obviously fairly young but I don't know how many flares you have had but not all flares are the same. You could have a milder flare. Do you take any mega dose probiotics or do any diet modifications to use to try keeping in remission?

I think you're worrying too much about all the "what ifs". We can't possibly know what will come tomorrow. Take it all one step at a time.

Best wishes to you

TMP

I'll give ya a blunt, straight up answer:

First there is no real answer for that question - as tomuchpoopin says you're concentrating on the what-if's. You will have to deal with it as the need arises in the future. It's part of growing up.

Secondly you'll find once you're actually working and have a whole new set of responsibilities and commitments you will most likely be able to handle or work through flares just like many others do.

In the past and right now you have the "option" of being bed ridden.............. You'll understand this as you age and your responsibilities increase.

That's basically the bottom line.

I've had several flairs that left me bed-ridden for weeks, and I'm a full-time college student and I have a part time job, so I understand your fears. If I were you, if I began to experience a flair, I would go to the doctor immediately, then ask for a few days off so your body has some time to rest. Afterward, you would probably either HAVE to go back to work, or risk being fired. It's not fair (or legal, I'm pretty sure) to fire someone because of an illness, but, sadly many employers will find ways around that. If you're afraid a few days (for a flair) won't be enough, then you're only other option (besides what I stated above) would be to attempt to get on disability payments.

I hope you figure everything out! Good luck.

Oh! And another thing I have done. Before an interview, Google for resumes of people that have worked there recently, but no longer do. Especially if you can find people who worked in the department you are interviewing for.
All of their contact information is on the resume.
Just give them a call and ask them! They know everything you need to know!