Working and IBS
#56925 - 04/01/04 02:44 PM
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Dolphin
Reged: 01/14/04
Posts: 94
Loc: NY, USA
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I have to know who works while having IBS and how do you get by when you have episodes. I only work part time, but I'm having a hard time with it...it's very frustrating and embarassing 
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I worked for 10 years with it. Lots of missed work from the pains and even the stress of it all. I just muddled my way through and hoped for the best and luckily was never let go, although I was a very dedicated hard worker, which I'm sure helped. Luckily I am retired now so it's much easier to deal with. I wish I'd had a site like this one with all the good food suggestions to help me during that time period as I wouldn't have missed so much work from being sick. I did find myself passing up many opportunities for advancement as I knew it involved more pressure & stress and didn't want to take the chance of getting worse.
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I work with my IBS, and I must admit, it is a source of a lot of stress for me. I just recently started working full-time (before I was a student) and it's a hard adjustment, because when you're in school you can miss classes without too much problem, although obviously you can't just miss work all the time.
Basically, I just try and stay calm and try and deal the best I can. As hard as it was for me, I advised my employer of my situation and they were very understanding, so now at least they know what's going on if I have to miss work or am spending a lot of time in the bathroom. I think being open and honest with your employer is important, and I think you may be surprised how understanding they are.
Also, there are some medications you can get that can be very helpful when you have to work. I have lomotil for when the D is really bad, that way if I have to go to work I can take that and it *usually* stops the D for me.
Hope that helps and good luck!
Kelly
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Yes, working with IBS can be hard. I have IBS-C, BUT I still have to run to the bathroom when I take my daily dicyclomine pill. It makes me have to go really fast and RIGHT away. So it's very good that I have a bathroom not too far from me.
Sometimes I get absolute severe bloating and incredible, excrutiating pain that makes me want to lay down and curl up in a ball----but, alas, I can't exactly do that at work. That REALLY sucks at work when you have major pain, and I can't help but have a look on my face of complete misery. Everyone must think I'm weird or sad when I'm in pain.
It's really hard having IBS and working. I've definitely had to take days off work because I would wake up with the WORST pain ever in my life in my stomache! There is no way I could stand up straight, much less go to work and FUNCTION!!!
Well that was my two cents. Sorry for rambling. 
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yah it is really hard to work with IBS...you just need to let your employer know about your IBS...as embarrassing as that might be...it'll make you relaxed knowing that you don't have to explain yourself if you're running back and forth to the washroom!!
Hang in there!!!
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Interesting that you asked the very same question I also asked when I first came onto the boards. There's a whole string of responses -- in The Living Room; I believe that's where I posted my question.
I won't repeat others' answers, but just my own. I was NOT able to work. I suspected I had something wrong with me in 1985 but continued to work until 2001. First, I switched jobs to something less stressful in 1989. When that didn't help, I switched to something even LESS stressful (each time, of course, with a lot less pay!), then when that didn't help, I cut my days down to only 2 a week. When I could no longer go to the office, not even 2 days a week, in 2001 I quit altogether.
It amazes me that so many people here CAN work -- and do so full-time -- AND go to school -- AND raise a family! One gal is even studying in Spain! This group is awesome! I couldn't do it. Not only do I not have the energy, but my stress level would go through the roof.
I applied to Social Security for disability benefits (I've worked for over 40 years), but they turned me down, telling me I should be able to find a job with an office near a bathroom.
Now, having said all that, let me just say something a little more encouraging for you, Dolphin: when I came on board here, I was a mess. My IBS was out of control. It was no wonder that I couldn't work. I couldn't even leave the confines of my home! Now, after following the program and getting all the phenomenal help from everyone here, and dong the hypnotherapy program, I can honestly say that I believe I could return to the work force now. I couldn't then, but I think I could now. Maybe not full-time, and I might have some stress problems initially, but yes, I think I could do it, now that I'm finally stable -- and intending to stay that way. My goal is to get to the point where the lady at the Macy's fragrance counter is. She said to me the other day that her IBS is in remission and has been for the past 10 years; she no longer thinks about it at all!
I'm gonna get there -- and so can you.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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it is very very tricky - and now that i've returned to work from my maternity leave i see that it's going to be harder than i thought!
i'm still trying to figure it out... 
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I work full time and I admit it is really difficult at times, especially the travelling to and from NY City, you never know when you'll get stuck.
I'm IBS-D and I really try to stick to my diet whenever I'm not at home because I can't deal with the fear of having to find a restroom quickly. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't depending on stress level as well.
My bosses are really pretty good about it. I have a demanding job working for 5 attorneys and don't miss too much work. I find I can't give in and let it get the better of me so I push myself to come to work even on those bad days--it gives you something else to focus on.
Barbara
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what's that pill you take for your c? does it essentially help you poop every day? i would be so happy if i could just poop every day!
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Barbara, hello neighbor! I live in Manhattan, Upper East Side. And yeah, commuting by public transportation with IBS is an especially interesting challenge, isn't it!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Hi LauraSue
Oh Yeah! I live in Coney Island and work in the Wall Street area -- nothing like NY MTA!!!
Barbara
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fugheddaboudid!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Hi Ana Marie,
My doctor prescribed a pill with the generic name of dicyclomine (Bentyl) initially just to help the pain in my stomache. BUT....I found out that it started helping me go to the bathroom every day! The only thing is ..I have to take these other pills also to help it work...
Here's what I take:
At GNC, there is this stuff called Super Cleanse. When I first started taking it, it worked really well all by itself. I didn't need any other pills, and it totally helped me go really good. Well, then my body obviously started getting used to it, and decided NOT to respond to the pills anymore. But I kept taking 3 a day anyway.
Once the doctor prescribed the Bentyl, I started noticing that everytime I took one, in about a half an hour on an empty stomache, it worked almost immediately and I felt an intense urge to "go."
Now....I have no idea if this works for anyone else. The doctor thought it was weird and never heard of this. Maybe I discovered something???
I have continued to take 3 Super Cleanse herbal pills every day right before dinner on an empty stomache, and then I take the Bentyl once or twice the next day at work. It is the ONLY thing that helps me go the bathroom everyday.
And I have almost tried everything!!!
Maybe you could try it? It can't hurt. .
The only bad thing is now I'm going to have to wean myself off the herbal pills Bentyl and slowly transition myself to the Citrucel I bought because..... my fiance and I are going to try and have a baby in a few months and I can't take these pills while pregnant.
I'm really scared of the Citrucel working or not. The Metamucil I tried before didn't do ANYTHING at all!!
Well, I hoped this helped you in some way!
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I work full time and go to school. It is very hard and before I followed this diet I had major trouble. I take Bentyl for my D and it helps. When it gets really bad I take Immodium. I eat strictly what I know wont hurt my tummy when I am at work especially. I take Fibercon pills too. It is hard and VERY embarassing and the pain in my stomach used to be so intense I had trouble walking. My boss has been somewhat understanding but I did not tell him everything, just what I thought he needed to know. I should tell him more but I am embarassed. This diet has helped so much and my pains do not come as often. The D is still there sometimes but I stress a lot and dont sleep enough at times. I try not to miss work unless I absolutely have to...and sometimes that is the case. Staying calm and eating right has helped me the most at work. But I would be lost without the medicines I am sure.
Hope it gets better for you Good Luck!!!
Courtney*
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I wanted to thank everybody who replied to my post on working and IBS. I give you guys a lot of credit for continuing in your work and/or school. And especially telling your bosses about your situations. I had to tell my coworker yesterday and that was hard. In my job, I work babysitting in a gym where I take my 2 boys with me for 3 hours a morning a few days a week. Well, we have a bathroom right in the tiny room where I watch the kids. I just feel so uncomfortable having to run in there when everybody knows that's where you've gone. I have IBS-D and I just dart right for the bathroom when I need to. I usually have my morning episodes at home, but I often feel like an attack is going to happen at any moment when I'm at work. And yesterday was the first day in a couple of months where I had to keep running in there from my attacks. I usually get lucky and have my bad attacks while I'm at home, but I have had an occasional really bad attack while at work like yesterday. And my coworker kept telling me how pale I looked so I had to tell her. She thought I had a stomach virus or something...well, it is the something. I work with different people on different days and I just hope I don't get attacks this bad again when I'm working with the other people. It was hard explaining it the one time.
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I work full-time, and I think my job is what has triggered my IBS! I just have to leave my desk rather quickly at times and make sure I have my fiber, peppermint tabs ect...in my purse. When really pushed at work, I just have to lay off the food and go very plain to make symptoms as mild as possible. It's not a pic-nic, that's for sure!
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God is Faithful!
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It's a funny thing, I was trying to come up with different solutions to my problem with working with IBS. I actually told my husband that I need to do something else. I thought either caring for one or more children in my home (which I realized probably wouldn't work since I have to drive my son to preschool). Then I thought, well, what if I do after school care in my home..at least I'll be home and more comfortable (as if it can really be, but you know what I mean). I know I probably won't make too much with afterschool care, so I thought if I could drop down my mornings at work to maybe one or two days and then do afterschool care it might work. I can tell you that yesterday I was so ready to quit...it's just too embarassing. My husband really wanted me to work full time, but I'm not sure that can happen. I was so excited thinking about working in a daycare or preschool full time, but the thought of having episodes scared me away from doing that. I think the best thing for me is to try to cut my days down from the gym and babysit after school kids. And then when my youngest is in kindergarten, I can do childcare in my home full time. I know it's a very stressful field, but I think it's less stressful than going to work and having an attack (or fear of). So Bev, thank you for sharing your story with me...it's nice to know that there are others that feel the same way as I do.  I'm just sorry that we all have to go through it at all.
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Thanks Melissa for all the info. I'll give that a try. I always wondered if there was something else out there other than the fiber supplements I've been taking. Oh - what a dream to go every day and not have to count the days since your last poop! I look forward to it!
Good luck with your getting pregnant! I just had a baby girl 8 and a half months ago and it has been the most wonderful experience of my life - the most work my husband and I have ever done but an amazing journey. Enjoy it!
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