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It is very important if you miss a lot of work to protect yourself. If your company offers short-term disability, it would only be approved for a period of incapacity of at least two weeks. Rare to get it approved for IBS. However, unpaid leave, under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) will protect you. It is very important to file paperwork before you go over your alloted number of sick days. You usually have to be with the company for a year to be eligible and the company has to have at least 15 (I believe) employees to be required to offer FMLA. Even thought it is unpaid, it does relieve you of the fear of getting fired. You can take one day, a week, whatever. I think you can even use it to prevent getting fired for doctor's appointments.

I know Heather talks a lot about telling your employer and co-workers about what's going on with your health. And a lot of employers are great. But there are a lot that would jump on it as a reason to fire you. Our lovely termination at will policy in effect. They don't have to justify it. Just remember to protect yourself before you actually need it. It will save you a lot of hassle.

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Well said.

With my experience, if your IBS has become bad enough that it has affected your ability to work in any capacity at all, you still have the right to have your doc write up something, and make sure your doc notes in your med recs the difficulties you are having, what you've tried, etc. You can still mention that IBS has been debilitating to you, especially if you end up filing for short-term disability. IBS can be that bad for some people, there were days, sometimes weeks where I couldn't move, was bed-bound, I was in so much pain, or I was literally sleeping in the bathroom so that I would make it in time if I had to go. You shouldn't feel bad about legitimately asking for what you have a right to.

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XOXO from lil' ol' me. (IBS-C, mood disorders, etc., etc.)

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