Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I'm very, very fortunate because my manager was once diagnosed with I.B.S. - It turned out to be gall bladder for her, but she remembers the pain quite well, and so she's not only sympathetic, but empathetic.

However, her boss [my "UBER" boss LOL] may not quite understand it the way that she does. She hasn't really given me a hard time about missing a lot more work lately, but I'm contemplating having a "sit down" with her, just to give her the courtesy of letting her know why I've been sick, and also, to let her know that I am working it out, and that my body will find a way to become regular again, and all will be normal.

Another thing that I did - the first week that I felt GOOD after five weeks of feeling awful and missing 1-2 days a week - was I told my manager when I was feeling GREAT too. It helps me psychologically, because I don't feel like a "whiner," and it maintains a feeling of intimacy with my boss that can help bridge the gap that I feel from missing work.

When I am feeling great, I make my days at work REALLY count and do all that I can to remind my managers why I'm a valuable employee. Sometimes, I work ahead, just in case I may be sick. That way, when I am sick, I'm not really inconveniencing other people in my department. I'm lucky that my job allows that ability, so it's hard to offer up my solutions as solutions for you...

Just be very open and honest with your boss[es], and when you DO feel great, let them see a smile on your face and show them that you're still a great worker - that when you're "on" you're "ON!"

If my job ever gets to where it is too full of anxiety [I work in a deadline-driven environment], I may actually seek a new field. But for now, communication has done me WORLDS of good, and has kept my track record at work golden.

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-NiNi

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