How do you fare with work and UC?

How often do you find yourself taking excessive time away from work? When this last flare of mine cropped up there were so many days when it was nearly impossible to get out of bed and do that 80 minute commute. Then when you're there and the urgency every few hours. Terrible. I'm curious to hear how some of you deal with it. Have you discussed your condition with your supervisor and made them aware? Are you guys also stricken with guilt each time you need days to yourself?

I'm starting a new job on Monday and I'm completely terrified.

Definitely - the commute was one of the biggest factors for my opting to leave my job. Now that I'm going back into research the commute will be roughly 5 minutes. Thank goodness. Yup, my co-workers have made comments that imply they feel as though I am exaggerating or being lazy. I try not to care, but sometimes it's difficult.

I have had some problems with working. I was hospitalised in 2010, and my boss was very unsupportive, I was returned to work on a phased basis, with my hours slowly increasing (by my doctor, with notes etc.), and he made lots of nasty comments about it, such as "I've never been off ill" and "If I had my way I would lock you in and make you work for 12 hours".

The company itself was supportive, the rest of the staff were nice, and the next boss after him was ok about it, but it left me feeling quite bullied.

I struggled a bit after that, and had to reduce my hours, partly also due to depression (which I had for about 4-5 years). I was made redundant from there in 2013 due to company restructuring.

They have taken me back on each Christmas since then, and then I got a new job in March, which is the only work I have been able to find since being made redundant.

However, in the new job, I had a few days off with my UC, and as soon as I came back, they were holding interviews for my job, and let me go at the end of the 3 month probation. I was angry about that, because I had brought up my UC in the job interview, and the woman who was interviewing me had just brushed it off as if it was nothing at the time, even though I had told her how serious it was.

I told my doctor how worried I am about not being able to hold down a job, and he told me that I might qualify as disabled, but I don't think I will, and I would rather achieve remission and be able to work again.

I've never had a job where it was possible to work from home, I think that would help.

Yes I do feel guilty when I am off ill, I think everyone does. But the way I look at it is, I only have one colon and it needs to come first, if that makes sense. No job is worth risking your health over, and you mean nothing to your employer, you're just a number to them. Certainly your colleagues might care about you on a personal level, but the boss definitely won't.

As for telling your employer, I would always tell them about your UC (I always bring it up in interviews, as they can fire you if you don't tell them and it comes up later), and be very honest when you are ill. It is very humiliating having to discuss your symptoms, but ultimately the more information you can give them, and the more open you are, they can see that you are genuinely ill and suffering, and not just skiving.

I'm an office worker, and always have a bathroom a short sprint away. I worked through a yealong flare, the only time I had off due to uc was for doctors appointments. The drive was 20-30 minutes (had a number of accidents and close calls). Once I reached remission, I left the old company. Now work for a bigger one with FLMA protection, that's a lot more progressive about work from home than the old company was.

My boss is super understanding with my UC. In fact when we moved to a building, she gave me the desk that is the closest to the bathroom. I too applied FMLA which gives me piece of mind when I'm having "one of those days". My coworkers all know I have a specific condition, but they don't know the specifics like my bossdoes.

The majority of the time my UC is in check during work hours, I do get up a little early to make sure most if not all of my morning madness is gone. The only real issue is when I have to make a trip to a satellite office which 1.5 hours away. Fell free to read this post with of my adventures from last year.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2970524

Regardless, good luck on your first day!

I am a teacher, so it can be super challenging. I actually started my symptoms in my 2nd year teaching, midway through the year at a new school.

My administrator rocks and when I was going through a bad flare, she told me me she didn't even want me thinking about my job security, just to focus on getting healthy, which was awesome.

The hardest part of my job is the fact that I am tied to such a strict schedule... I would miss so many less days if I could just come in at 9 and stay later since my symptoms are always worse in the mornings. The kids come at 7:40 though! Sometimes if I am really flaring I set my alarm super early and get up, take my time getting ready, and then lie down with my heating pack for a bit. Usually if I can make it in the car and actually get to work I can make it through the day!