I work as a property lawyer and I find crohns is really affecting my perfomance. Fatigue means I often struggle in the mornings and lack concentration. Whilst employers can often be sympathetic they invariably get fed up after a while and I'm left feeling guilty for being ill. It's almost as though the employer thinks I'm using the illness as an excuse which can sting quite badly. I don't think any crohns sufferer would choose to live this life if they had any other option.

Do any others on here work full time and what effect has crohns had on their working life?

Hi!
I'm a 22 year old medical student from hungary. I'm learning all the day, i cannot rest any minute. I don't have any sympoms 2 years ago. My Crohn was diagnosed 3 years ago. That time I was 40 kg, bone and skin. I missed one year from school. After then I planned that I'm going to find my answers to crohn. So I'm learning all the day medicine. I usually sleep 6 hours per day. I hold the diet, but I am brave so I tried to exotic foods etc. I can eat everything without stomachpain. I recreated myself and I have my own goal to research this disease. Another important thing: I'm honest with the people, with my patients too. They can trust me, and i can trust them. I think you should more honest for the people. Maybe that can help you.
Tom
sry for my english

Hi Oli

I work for a small cabinet making company and my boss has been very understanding even though i am still awaiting a diagnosis. He has told me to work when i feel i can, used to do about 60 hrs a week but recently have only been doing 25 hrs some weeks. I am ok first thing most days, it is in the afternoon that i get very tired and i also have a problem not being able to concentrate very well.

Take care

Ian

Hi oli, I was 99% diagnosed in October last year, but i was so ill in August that i was off work and unfortunatly im not back in the work place, because im in a lot of pain, and with a few seconds warning that i need the loo, i have had a few accidents, which has now caused me to become depressed, and anxious about leaving the home alone, I know how you feel about the work stuff, My emplyer has been fab, but there now talking about finishing me on the grounds of ill health, which i totally understand, They cant keep my job open, and has you well know crohns, will be lurking there in the curtains one minute and the next woops its to late, hope all goes well tc xxxsuexxx

Oli, I do work full-time but am lucky enough to a) work from home and b) work with a worldwide group. This means that I can be out of bed and at my keyboard within minutes and it also means that I don't need to stick to 9-5, I can do the work when I feel up to it. I have often gone for a couple of hours nap in the middle of the day and then come back to the work.  It is often more convenient to be working early or late as that gives me a chance to be online at times when people in California or India or Singapore are around too. Working from an office would be tough for me as for most of us but my current role seems to work OK.

I am the Headteacher of a large inner-city primary school. I've had surgery twice in four years - and lots of other treatments. After 15 yrs I am only just facing up to the fact I can't beat this. I'm still working hard -but, it can be tough. I've been successful despite Crohn's but, relationships have suffered. There's no right answer or right way to do things.

Juggling appointments is pretty tough - blood tests, injections, tests, hospital follow-ups its not easy to get them in the working day. Yes I'm shattered all the time -but, I don't think I know what normal is anymore.

I've really had to think about whether I should be working at this level - but, why shouldn't I just because I have Crohn's. The same goes for all of us. It is that quality of what we do that should be judged - not the fact we sometimes get tired or have appointments.

I used to practice law as a Barrister but changed occupation to more mundane but better paid work. Fatigue is the biggest problem I have and I find that I have to fight tiredness throughout the day. I also suffer a lot of pain and this impacts on me at meetings and access to the loo is sometimes difficult. I am lucky in that I can get to medical appointments without too much difficulty but have to juggle this. Hospitals and GPs do not seem to care if you have difficulty attending during work time. I refuse to give up work although there are times when I wish I had the money to call it a day. It all comes down to money for me as I have a wife and children and need a reliable income. I know what it is like to be skint and signing on and never want to rely on state benefits again.

Keep on trucking.

I am i the same boat as you Ian, apart from the wife and kids, but i do have a huge mortgage to pay ever month. If i had the money i would give up work tomorrow, seem to be able to work for a couple of days and then have to take 1 or 2 off as i just feel exhausted, trouble is my work is very physical.

Keep smiling

Ian H

Hi Ian

I started my working life in construction and trained as a carpenter / shopfitter  - city & guilds in my day - before turning to law. I don't envy you as I well know how physical and demanding cabinet making and any joinery work is. I always thought that when I retired, I would make small items of quality furniture at a snails pace and never have to go on site. Here's hoping.

Regards

Ian

Hi Ian

If i had enough money in the bank i would i would like to try and turn my hobby of photography into some form of money making venture.

Keep smiling

Ian

I work as an administrator, in a modern spacious ofice with excellent facilities.  I am also very lucky that my employer is a trade union (ie they have to set an example by doing things properly) and that my manager has worked with people who have had Crohn's for years.

I've never had a problem with getting time off for hospital/GP appointments but I still feel guilty about taking the time, even though I make it back up.

Sometimes I wish I could work part time, or afford not to work at all.  Then I remember the massive satisfaction I get from doing my job and it makes the battle through fatigue and pain worthwhile.

I got made redundent and am not looking forwrd to getting a job as my crohns has been flairing every two months.
Would not look good and i cant hide it!
Its a worry.

I work full time as a nurse. While my Crohns was under control I had no problems working at all, but since I started my current flare (about a year ago) I've really struggled with the physically demanding nature of my work. I've been on long term sick leave since Jan, I tried to go back in March and lasted 3 weeks before I was off again. It just sin't the sort of job you can do when you keep running to the loo/having to sit down because of cramps. I hate it, I just want to get back to work, I go onto half pay in a few weeks which is scary as I have a mortgage to pay and a little boy of 20 months to support (luckily not on my own, but my partner's salary isn't immense!)

My employers have been really understanding...I guess being the nhs they have to be! lol! I'm having surgery in 5 weeks and am really hoping it will be the key to getting healthy and getting back to work!

My job is in Management Accounts is incredibly boring, the problem too many staff and not enough work, so nothing to stretch the brain, and to take my mind of the various goings on in my body, oh to be able to afford to give up work.  No, my husband says count my blessings, the job is not difficult, it pays well, shut up and keep my head down, very hard when you need more to keep you going.  My employers have been very good, and I know I'm lucky.  I keep playing th lottery and live in hope....................

Hi, I'm a bus driver and tiredness normally sets in between 12pm and 2pm, never thought it was related to crohn's until I read on this forum. I have to take a cat nap even if its 5 minutes and use cold water which i keep on me to chuck on my face and neck to freshen myself up, it works for a while but not good enough.

On days off I can sleep up to 2 hrs or more as I get very lathargic.  I'm due to see my consultant today so I will bring this subject up with him.  Ive had some very close calls while driving.