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hi.. i have Chrohn's Disease and i wanted to know is it possible to work despite having the doctor check ups, short surgery stays every 8 weeks from Remicade infusions and the occassional comeback of losing weight and being weak.???

is it possible to get a job and maintain keeping it while having the problems with Crohn's disease?

if someone have Social Security and want to work, im just curious to know if the person can lose their job for being sick too much from taking days off and have a fear of losing SSI benefits as well. I live with my family and like to be on my own eventually and handle my own affairs but when im sick i get dependant on them when i cant think clearly on decisions.

Any advice?

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

I know exactly what you're talking about, I live at home at the age of 21 and I feel bad about it.Though I have a job I miss alot of work days due to pain and going to the bathroom alot,but somehow I haven't got fired yet(i'm blessed with a patient boss).So yes it a possibility to hold a job even if it's just part time, I don't know about the whole surgery thing i've yet to have a surgery so I don't personaly know how bosses react to that,but you should be fine.

Have you considered working from home? I hear alot of people are starting to do that and I have considered that myself.

 Reply posted for kimhg.

I would love to get a list of some of the jobs to work from home. I have been dianosged in the last couple of months and i have missed alot of days prior to finding out what the problem was. When I did find out it was Crohns my work was support at first but i am in sales and it makes it tough to make sales calls and have to cut them short to run across the building to a restroom. I am new to this and have become very frustraed at an early time. Any advice would be appreciated.

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

i am very lucky my employers are very understanding i have to take at least 1 day every 8 weeks for my remicade and am always told if i need to stay home just to do it. for the most part i try to go into work everyday even if it winds up i have to leave because of a flare. i guess they feel when i am there all my work gets done and if i have to take off i will always bring the work home to catch up.

 Reply posted for prospero.

Hello fellow teacher!  I too am a teacher and after being in remission with colitis for 25 years have had numerous flare-ups this past year.  I love my job, but this past year was awful for me.  I finally had to take a medical leave  for the last 6 weeks of school(first time in my life) because I developed a serious form of pneumonia which was caused by all the immunosuppresant drugs I was taking.  Thank goodness it's summer now!  I am doing much better, but if I have any more flares, I am seriously considering surgery.  I don't want to go through another year like this past one.  Don't you find it hard to have to find coverage every time you need to run to the bathroom?  I feel like a big burden to some of the other teachers.  And by the time I find someone to watch my class, it's too late anyway.  I am planning on returning in Sept. unless I end up having surgery later this summer.  I'm told the recovery time is 8 weeks! 

 Reply posted for Kammerklavier.

I have a college degree but for some reason, I been painting for a couple of people and its cool but Im still new on being a painter since my real goal is to become a cartoonist. When I have flare ups, i get real weak and takes me almost 2 weeks or more to get better. Its very hard to concentrate as an artist..visually..i feel like my brain is clogged..mite be a poor descrition but the only way to describe it. I got support from my family and thats cool but I really dont like being dependant. Only when Im at my weakest, its when I appreciate it. Im still trying to pursue becoming a cartoonist even if it is a very competitive field. Im just trying to figure out how to get in that field and wondering if my health will be my downfall.

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

Hello,
I am a self-employed musician, so in the artistic sector as well. I was diagnosed with Crohns while still in college/grad school, but have managed to have a career where I am mostly in charge of my own hours (though once I have set them up, I stick to them very reliably, unless I feel REALLY bad). I would definitely not call it a low-stress job, what with performances, etc., but I'm doing what I love and I have had first a father, then a husband, who has health insurance through his job, which helps tremendously, as that is hard to get in an artistic job.  I have heard of other musicians who needed health insurance going into some kind of government job, like postal worker, or something like that, since they seem to have good benefits, and are not as  likely to lay people off... so that might be an option.

Good luck!

Hillary

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

I fortunately have a very understanding boss. When I have flare ups or doctors appointments, she doesn't ask any questions. She always tells me to take care of myself. I hope her kindness and understanding doesn't run out.

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

Some circumstances are a lot more understanding and tolerant than others, but I've never been unemployed since I was diagnosed at age 19 and that was in 1974. I worked in auto shops and for newspapers and today I work for a car magazine. I can do a lot of my work online so I telecommute three out of five days. In some ways, I recognize I'm really fortunate to have this situation, but it only exists because I proved to my employer that the quality of what I do is worth the "downside" of having an employee who's not at every meeting and skips a lot of the evening events. A "norm" in my business is the 18 hour day during peak periods, meaning 10 or 12 hours on the actual job plus an evening dinner/entertainment activity. I can only do that once in a very long while, but they "get it." A big enabler was having ileostomy surgery in '86, which vastly reduced the intrusions of the disease into daily life. I've had flares since, and the ostomy poses its own challenges, and I've had several long medical leaves, but the message is: a job/career is possible.

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

I have had different jobs while having UC.  Although I was in remission for a good while, for the past year.....and I am a teacher.  I have learned to manage.  My kids know that I am sick, I leave for just a few moments and of course have someone in charge.  In fact, I have learned to manage it so well, most of the other teachers in my building have no clue I am ill.  My Remicade infusions ate up most of my sick days and I hate prepping sub plans.  It is a management thing.  I used Saturday to recover from all of the energy I spent during the week.  What you cannot control..you manage.  I am going to rest for the summer and hopfully kick back into remission.  Well, sort of rest...teachers actually have to go to training during the summer.

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

I've been able to work with my UC.  I suggest looking into government jobs.  I work for the federal government, and they have good benefits.  Many state governments have very good benefits as well.  I was able to use my Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for my remicade treatments.  That allows you to take up to 12 weeks off for medical or family emergencies (i believe you have to work for a company with more than 50 employees) once you have worked for the employer for at least 1 year i believe.  Luckily my employer allowed for paid leave, but the Act at the very least protects your job, even if your employer will not pay you for those hours of leave for treatment . . .

Although low stress jobs are probably helpful, I manage a very high stress job as an attorney in a political atmosphere, and travel frequently long distances.  It is possible, just listen to your body and take care of yourself.  If i'm feeling particularly tired and know i can take a day off that looks like a light work load day, i do it just to rest up and prevent getting sick down the road.  Take advantage of those opportunities, and you will be quite successful!  Good luck!

 Reply posted for kimhg.

sure.

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

I think you have to have an understanding boss.  I have always worked up until Jan of this year when I finally did lose my job that I had worked at for the last two years because of all the time I lost last year.  Of course they didnt say that was why they were letting me go but because I am a sales rep and couldnt meet quota most months because I was taking days at a time off then of course they had to let me go.  I think having a job that doesnt require alot of stress or pressure would be best.  There are jobs that you can do from home and if you are interested let me know and I can give you some info on some of them.  Good Luck!

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

I've had Crohn's for 10 years and I have worked the whole time.  I did take a medical leave when I was in the hospital, but I have been able to manage Remicade treatments without taking off more than 1 day at a time.  You just have to learn how to manage your own disease with the right food and meds and get plenty of rest.  If you have understanding employers it help a lot.

 Reply posted for Sierra.

sorry it took me a minute to respond i had a remicade infusion yesterday.

anyway.. im an artist and thats cool if people buy your work but i like somethng that pays in the meantime. art is the only thing i know but i like to get a job that wont stress me out and put me in the hospital. i hate losing weight and the extra stuff im sure every one of yall familiar with.

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

i've had a job the entire time i've had crohn's (about 4 years now). as long as you have understanding people yuo work with, it's alright. i'm thinking of going back to school for something lower-impact than being a special ed paraprofessional, either graphic design or transcription, because of the ability to work from home. working from home would be the best thing to do if you're really sick, like working on a computer or something. it's a thought!

 Reply posted for Sierra.

what is considered a low stress job?

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

I have held a job full time for my entire diagnosed life and I supposedly have a moderate to severe case of Crohn's. The trick sometimes is to have understanding people that you work with. If your work is good enough, they will understand when you have to call in sick. I try to work my Crohn's appointments around my work schedule. Appts. in the morning or during a long lunch. It would also help to have a job in a lower stress situation so that the job does not actually make your disease worse.

 Reply posted for blackdisney.

i have colitis and i have a job. although im surprised i havent lost it with being sick sometimes...especially lately.

i deff would say you should try disabiliy if your really sick .

I would if i were real real real sick but if u ever need to talk or whatknot u can email me !