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Is anyone a teacher or university lecturer?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/27/2016 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
I am wondering if anyone here is a teacher or university lecturer and how you managed the imperatives of standing in front of a class and the unpredictabilities of UC (especially BM urgency and cramps)?

The current flare is the first in which I've had cramps and the need for a BM that comes on suddenly and randomly (albeit 3 or 4 BM per day), and it concerns me that these symptoms could come on while in front of a class.

I would appreciate hearing other people's experiences and approaches in the same situation.

Thanks
Posted 4/27/2016 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi GC4249

I am a primary school teacher with grade 1! I understand your concerns...I have been fortunate enough to not have to run out of a class as yet, but my last flare was pretty bad and I called in sick quite a few days in a row as I knew I would need to run more than usual. When I was at work though, I would eat safe foods that block me up (even though I usually follow a gluten free/paleo diet) I would eat rice, chicken, youghurt and that's it. Are you on any meds? They should be helping with the symptoms. I also know if I need to run out of the class, I tell the teacher next door to watch my children and they are really good with that. It can happen to anyone really - not just Crohn's and Colitis peeps :)

Good luck! Don't stress :)
Posted 4/27/2016 7:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi C.Rose

Thanks for the reply.

Until about 7 weeks ago (the start of my current flare) my UC wasn't too bad. During my only other flare in 7 years (which was last year), I had only 1 BM a day which was formed - albeit with blood. No urgency, no cramps.

But with this flare there are cramps every now and then, 3-4 BMs a day, and watery stools.

Previously, Salofalk enemas controlled the flare last year.

Now my meds include Mezavant ..... only 8 days since starting 3 x 1.2g tablets per day. The GI wants me to try that dosage for 3 weeks then go to 4 tablets a day if no improvement.

After 8 days, there's no improvement, but I guess 8 days is too soon to tell if there will be improvement?!?

Fortunately - if there can be anything fortunate about a UC flare!!! - I have been on parental leave from work since the current flare started. But I am on borrowed time .... University starts again in 3 months from now and I need to be able to wake up in the morning and have my mind on the job .....
Posted 4/27/2016 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
I hate that worry. Last term I was teaching 4 classes which is an intense work load for most prof's in the US, all while going through the worst flare. I had to end 1 class 5 minutes early once to run to the bathroom. I always made sure to go right before class and nearly always had to go right after. My longest class was 75 minutes and that one was tough to get through. Of course I am feeling much better this term and am only teaching 3 classes and I start an hour later every day.
Posted 4/27/2016 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Haven't lectured since I started having symptoms.

I take that back. I had a couple scheduled. I had to find someone to cover one. Wore a diaper for another that was only 20 minutes. Just the stress and fear was enough to push my bad bad buttons.

Not worth it. At least for now, no more.
Posted 4/27/2016 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
I feel your pain, but not sure I have any suggestions unfortunately. I teach a class or two depending on the semester and the only time I had scoot out was when I had C-diff. They were taking an exam, luckily, and had the TA keep an eye out for me while I poked out.

Can you have your phone in your pocket and tell students you might have to respond to an emergency mid-class, if someone calls? That way, if you feel the "call" of nature (sorry, bad pun, I know), just pretend you have a call and poke out.

How big are your lecture classes? Can you request a TA or a student during the semester (even if it's only for a few weeks) to handle the class if you have to poke out suddenly? I'd think most grad students would be happy to help and sit in for you a handful of times. Great for the resume.

I do have a question about the diaper things for adults. I've never worn one, but I wonder how different it feels when you have to go? Can people tell you're going? Does it make sound? I'm just not even sure the process - if that's even the right word. Sorry, I know thats a awkward question. I assume you clean up immediately if you can?
Posted 4/27/2016 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi GC!

I am a 2nd grade teacher with 34 students and no helper. Luckily, I find that when I am busy at school, I have less urges and emergencies. There's something about having no time for poop that really works wonders.

When I was in my worst flare ever though, which landed me in the hospital, I called off for awhile. Had no choice.
Posted 4/28/2016 10:22 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the feedback.

My classes are usually around 100 students in a lecture theatre. I guess the only way to really feel comfortable teaching is to get this current flare under control in the next three months before classes start.

Otherwise I will request all my classes are timetabled for a restroom and I can give lectures while sitting on the toilet - with the door closed, of course! lol
Posted 4/29/2016 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
I am a college professor,

Right now my symptoms are generally under control.
I've had some hard days, even an accident. Luckily I peaked in and ended class without anyone knowing. I've never been so embarrassed.
I would always try to not eat an hour or two before class and go to the bathroom.


What I seriously recommend is SCD.
It has really gotten my symptoms under control. Recently I felt a flare coming on and I went back to the intro diet and my symptoms instantly went back under control.
Posted 4/29/2016 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
How do you concentrate on what you're saying if there are cramps and the urge to go to the toilet?

I find lecturing is like a performance and difficult to imagine if not feeling right .....
Posted 4/29/2016 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
The tough thing is I'm also a concert performing musician.

What I found is there is a certain anxiety before performing that makes me need to go. If I can go right when I get that anxiety, right before class, then I'm fine. Also taking into account the other things I mentioned.

I don't really get anxious lecturing anymore. Plus, I'm now trained to teach and build online classes which is what I'm mostly doing this semester. I can sit in the guest room of my home, teach and grade papers and the toilet is right there if I need it, haha.

Perhaps look into that option as well. And again, I seriously recommend the diet if you want long term healing and gut stamina.
Posted 4/29/2016 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the feedback.

Where can I find a simple outline of what is included in the SCD? I've looked but everything I found is convoluted.
Posted 4/29/2016 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Search "breaking the vicious cylcle"
It's called btvc.info or something like that

The book explains the diet well. It's not easy but worth it not to be sick or on serious meds.
The intro I think is especially helpful.
Posted 4/29/2016 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
I am also a college professor and teach 2 or 3 courses per semester. I've been fortunate never to have any serious incidents in the classroom. I second the idea of trying to avoid teaching right after meals. My colleagues are all aware of my condition but the students in the program aren't. If I were flaring I would probably always have something I could have the students do while I snuck out for a minute - not necessarily a prepared exercise but something more along the lines of a "think-pair-share" topic or question.

With regard to discomfort while teaching, I think it really helps to go into the class with a high degree of certainty of what you'll be doing. I've had some difficulties in activities that require solitary and intense focus - reading, thinking, coding, etc. when my insides are doing backflips. Taking frequent breaks helps. Classroom activities that can give you a break from lecturing might help you make it through classroom periods as well.

I would say that the importance of my job in my life has caused me to more aggressively progress to the higher-level meds, and I have a doc who encourages this. But as you've seen on the board here, everyone holds different viewpoints on this.
Posted 4/30/2016 7:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi.
I've been a lecturer and teacher for many years. I've generally found that performance anxiety makes me go a great deal beforehand. I've used immodium after going to the toilet a lot, which tends to hold me and give me confidence. The main thing is not being in a flare - that is tough! Another strategy might be including a piece of film or something that you could play/show and then nip out for a few minutes. Often after 5 to 10 minutes, you tend to forget your bowels.

Good luck - I know the territory well. I now have a key to the disabled toilets at work as a help.

Cath
Posted 4/30/2016 9:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the insights.

Cath, I think you're right - not being in a flare is key. The unpredictable nature of the symptoms makes a job like teaching perilous, especially since my classes are two hours in duration. During a flare, anything can happen in two hours.
Posted 5/1/2016 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Ucitis, you mentioned being aggressive with your treatment and I noticed you are using a biologic.

Did you go straight to that or did you try mesalamines first?
Posted 5/1/2016 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a university prof too. Besides the physical drawbacks and the potential for embarrassment while lecturing my research has taken a nosedive. I don't have the stamina to be competitive and have slowly been declining into insignificance.
My very best to you all. Teacher
Posted 5/1/2016 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
GC - I did the progression from mesalamines (balsalazide and lialda) & prednisone to 6-mp to remicade with 6 MP. Non-prescription drugs and diet modifications never did much, and all of the treatments never did much. I was never severely ill but I just never got into a remission of more than a few months. Even the remicade took almost a year of getting the dose right. But now I've been in good shape for two years. I would also say that calming down and cutting myself some slack has also helped.

I was hesitant to make all of these increases in meds, like many are. But looking back it was the right decision. If something isn't working, it isn't working. I know others feel differently, you have to be comfortable with your choices.
Posted 5/1/2016 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Teacher - I'm sorry to hear that your research has suffered. Maybe you can check with your GI to see if changes to your meds can be made that might improve things? Though being a real superstar might be out of reach for us due to UC, I'm sure you still have valuable contributions to make to your discipline. I wish you the best of luck, I know it is tough out there and having to deal with UC certainly doesn't help.
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