Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

This is my first time posting and I could not figure out where my question would fit in. This forum came the closest, although I think the research library would have been more direct but I was unable to post there. I am in danger of losing my job because my IBS has become so bad that I cannot always get to work on time. I am a librarian in a college, and we got a new dean last summer who was asked by my director to help him since I was occasionally late and also stayed too late (which was to make up the time, but he would rather I just worked the hours I was supposed to). I knew my lateness was due to my having to use the bathroom many times before leaving my house, but I had never been able to tell him much about it because I was embarrassed. Once the dean began to complain to me (in very upsetting meetings and e-mails), however, I learned as much as I could about IBS (especially from this site - thank you so much!) that I started explaining it to my director and the dean. However, her reaction (the dean's) was that I should get up earlier so that I could make it in on time. I told her that waking up earlier wouldn't help much (and I have tried to do this) since the attacks come when they want to and I have even been on the way to work when I have had to turn around and go home to get to the bathroom ASAP! Sometimes I have only been 15 minutes late, but when it is really bad, I might even be 2 hours late! What I need to know is where can I find some documentation on the subject of, as my dean would call it, "chronic lateness" - I call it "chronic illness" -- something to help her understand my predicament and perhaps even be a bit flexible as to when I arrive at work and even allow me to make time up at the end of my shift? I hope I'm explaining this clearly. All I know is that ever since she started in on me, I have become severely stressed and I know that is the reason my IBS is worse than ever! Can anyone help me with this problem? I have searched all over the web but could find nothing about IBS and work issues except that it does cause a lot of absenteeism. She has called a big meeting with me, my director, the human resources director, herself, and my union rep, for next Tuesday, and I know it will be very stressful and maybe even the end of my career (I am having stomach pains right now just thinking about - and dreading - that meeting!), so any help would be so greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much, Beverly

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