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How do you manage colitis with work? I’m worried I won’t be able to return.

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/28/2018 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
The end of the year my UC flared up, upper and lower. I have been off of work with pto and medical leave since then and I’m returning the 29th to try and work. I’m worried I won’t be able to handle it as my job is very hands on. I don’t want to apply for FMLA but I feel like it’s something I’m going to have to do for two weeks in hope the flare up goes away. Not to sure if it’s the same for everyone but it’s just very painful when it comes to passing stool. And moving seems to agitate it. Hence why I’m worried about returning to work as it’s a very hands on job.

Im currently on loads of medication in attempt to treat it.

Mesamaline 800mg. Take 2 three times daily.
Prednisone 20mg. - Take 4 Twice daily.
Famotidine 20mg - Take 1 Twice Daily
Dicylomine 10mg. - take 1-2 two to three times daily
Canasa 1000mg. - insert 1 everynight
Posted 1/28/2018 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Working with a UC flare up is a huge challenge. It was one of the situations I dreaded the most living with UC. I used to eat at strategic times to attempt to stop my bowels. How long have you been on the meds you listed? What is the total dose of prednisone you're taking? 20mg 4 twice a day sounds like a lot. Most people take 40mg as a starting dose. Have you seen any improvement? Have you had stool tests? I think I would look into the FMLA. better to have it as an option if you need it. You need to get healthy.
Posted 1/28/2018 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Yes the 4 20mg Twice a day is correct, I know it’s absurd. I’m going to attempt to work Monday but I am going to bring a FMLA document just to be safe if I am unable. I have been on the medications for about a month now. And yes there has been improvements as there is no more blood in the stool, it’s just very painful.
Posted 1/28/2018 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
I’d go with stronger meds like Remicade, the goal is to keep you from flaring. If you’re in Remission work shouldn’t be an issue.
Posted 1/28/2018 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
So you're taking 80mg twice a day? That's really a lot... Seems like you're either not responding to the steriods, or you have something that doesn't respond to steroids (c diff/pathogen). I would request stool tests. How can you work on 160mg of prednisone? I would be ripping my hair out, eating myself into the poorhouse and never sleeping. You need to go to the GI and get some new options, probably a biologic. That could get you back on course quickly - if you respond. You do need stool tests though.
Posted 1/28/2018 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
its Hard working with UC. I never missed a day of work then I got super super sick and my boss told everyone I was just making up my illness to get out of work. Very frustrating and I quit. He later called and apologized but just sucks that people don’t take this disease seriously. He even told me I was looking a lot better one day and it made me sooo mad because I didn’t feel better at all. And that’s the night I went back to the hospital. But seems like you need some stronger meds. Hope they work for you!
Posted 1/28/2018 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum. Canasa is a 90 percent topical medication and 10 percent systematic. It's a mild anti-inflammatory mesalamine and is generally safe and well tolerated by most without side effects.

Here's a few links on UC and pregnancy.

From conception to delivery: Managing the pregnant inflammatory bowel disease patient
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3974516/

The Second European Evidenced-Based Consensus on Reproduction and Pregnancy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
ecco-jcc.oxfordjournals.org/content/eccojc/9/2/107.full.pdf
Posted 1/28/2018 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
I have a desk job so being at work was fine since I could make the mad dash whenever I needed to. My issue was getting to and from work. I ride the train for an hour each way and there are a lot of train cars in which the bathrooms do not work. Not very easynto run through train cars. Lol My boss is very understanding on days I couldn't make it in. I hope the meds kick in and give you some relief.
Posted 1/29/2018 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
I am very lucky I work from home a few days a week. The days I go in are about 1.5 hours each way on public transportation. I eat and take all of my meds when I get to the office so that there is nothing in me because I am terrified of the train bathrooms (and most public ones, TBH). I make sure to stop ingesting anything at least 2 hours before I head home. I also wear an ultra thin menstrual pad further back those days and keep another pair of undies in my bag just in case. The worst is having to sprint to the other side of the floor to the bathroom, though. I told my bosses what was going on in case I had to run out of a meeting, and because sometimes I just don't feel up to the travel. They've been pretty great.


You mention FMLA, which means you're in the US. You might want to consider asking for a reasonable accommodation. UC, particularly when in the middle of a very active flare, is considered a disability. Perhaps there is some way your work can temporarily tweak your duties while you get your flare under your control? Think about what job functions you are able to do, as well as some other functions in the office that need to get done that you can do instead of the things you can't, and come up with some ideas to pitch to them. Be prepared to provide a medical note, though.

Info: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/fs-ada.cfm
Posted 1/29/2018 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
You can use FMLA intermittently too. When I was flaring I applied for FMLA and used for time, I was late or leave early or for doctor's appointment or for day off.

And NSSG is right, that is very high dose of prednisone. You UC symptoms should be lot better on this dose and if they are not then prednisone is not working for you. You can up your mesalamine dose or try for next medication.

Wish you feel better soon.
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