[19943]

I feel seriously Low right now... My IBS-D is getting out of control again and I'm struggling to cope with it..I have just Graduated from University and really need a full-time job as i only work part-time right now.. But i feel like I can't apply for 9-5 jobs as I don't think I will be able to hold a job down...I am so ill in the morning that I can barely leave the house so how on earth am i going to be able to get to work for 9am.. Please help me... I've suffered from IBS for 10 years since the age of 12 and It is running my life and ruining my life...I need to know how other sufferers of IBS-D hold down a job...

 

[16485]

Hi Rachel, I have IBS D and have had for many years. it stopped me from going to university as a teenager, and I finally went and qualified last year. How do I cope with a full time job? Well my answer is: not very well. I have a high sickness absence and find that I come down with anything that is going. I am currently reducing my hours to something more appropriate. I have decided that working full time with this condition is too much. I am fortunate that I have a well paid job and can take the pay cut, however, I also have the opportunity to work extra hours when I feel well enough. I am sorry if thats not what you want to hear, but I feel that it is the best way forward in my case. If I was coming out of uni again, I would try to start with a 2/3 contract in my chosen profession and be great for those 2/3. I'd also explain my condition to Occ health and see if I could get annualised hours (gives you the oportunity to work more when you feel well and less when you don't without affecting your pay). They could also ensure that you get flexibility over start and finish times whilst you are working. This gives you the opportunity to stay home if you feel unwell and come in when you are more in control, (as long as you make up your hours over the month). Getting a flexi-time post might also help.If you're wondering how I know all this it is because it is my job! Where are you from. If you are UK based you could attempt to claim IBS as a disability. You will need evidence of how it has affected you from day to day and a doctor to support you. But it can be done. I don't know about the states, but you could try.If it is classed as a disability then it helps ensure that the employer cannot decide not to hire you based on your IBS (or fire you for that matter, and will need to make "reasonable adjustments" to ensure that you can perform the job.Hope that helps. I know it's not easy, but try not to let it get you down. You are in a very good place at the moment. Once you have your degree the world is your oyster, you just have to find the right oyster bed to put it in.

 

[19943]

Thanks for your reply and yes It's not what I wanted to hear

and I know this whole job thing is going to be a huge struggle... Yeah i'm from the North East of England but I was led to believe that IBS is not recognised as a disability... Am i wrong and do u have further information on this..Flexi-Time sounds like a better idea but the type of job I want sometimes doesn't offer this.. they want you in 9:00am on the dot and that is difficult when you're so ill and I'd also have to battle 45 mins of rush hours traffic with IBS-D not a good combiniation...This is what is stopping me applying for jobs and it's so frustrating because I feel like I;m under-achieveing just sitting in the house..I'm glad you got to Uni eventually I have to admit it was a massive struggle for me to get to lectures on-time.. When i first started I was on anti-depressents for 6 months to stop my aniexty.. I have nervous IBS-D and they worked so i led a normal life for 6 months then as soon as I came off them I was back to normal but 100 times worse...

 

[16485]

Hi Rachel,For something to qualify as a disability in the UK, it must be 1) a recognised medical condition, (you get that one). 2) Must significantly affect the ability of the individual to perform their normal activities of daily living, and 3) must have existed, or be likely to exist for a period of 12 months or more.Also these factors have to EXCLUDE medication.In other words if you are fine on medication, but without it you would not be able to function then you fit the category.It depends on the individuals IBS whether they are disabled by it or not. Hence the need for your GP to be supportive. I work in Occ Health and my manager has stated that this condition, in my case is definitely a disability under the terms of The DISability Discrimination Act.What do you want to do for a job anyway?Jax

 

[Screamer]

Umm at the risk of sounding totally med proactive if the anti deps helped you would you consider going back on them? Maybe if they kick in and clear up the D problems again you'll feel you are able to work? I too have mostly D from anxiety and stress. I'm still trying to find the one that suits me and helps me get better but I have had improvements on some, just an awful lot of not so great side effects

 

[19943]

Hi Jax,My Ideal Job would be to work in an Art Gallery or museum but there are rarely jobs advertised for that.. So i'm just looking for interesting work involving It, computers, maybe library and archive work aswell.. although i doubt i'll be able to hold down a job anyway...Hi Screamer,I hear what your saying that if the anti-depressents helped then go back on them.. They really did help and I didn't have D once and they stopped all my anxiety and nervousness.. I led my life like someone without IBS-D and it was great...However they are just a temporary solution to IBS-D and as soon as I come off them i'm back to square 1... Also I got bad side effects from them.. 1. Seriously bad nightmares...2. Problems with sex...3. And I found that whilst I was on anti-depressents I have some memory loss from that time.. I was on them for 6 months and can hardly remember what happened in my life during that time.. Very scary thought!!Rachel x

 

[Screamer]

Yeah, they all cause sexual problems. My DH is NOT happy about that side effect let me tell you! I too had problems with my last one (Paxil) where I started getting blackouts which was scary and the nightmares, well I don't even want to remember most of those (shudder). I'm the same way too that as soon as I stop taking them I'm back to square one but I'd rather have the break from my IBS for now I guess. I'm trying not to think about what I'll do if the one I'm about to start doesn't work or has horrific side effects like the paxil has. What about an anti anxiety med just for the mornings? Or have you tried the hypno at all? I'm also about to give that a go (just awaiting the postie

)Either way, I hope you find something that helps soon. Oh and have you tried Linda's calcium info? A lot of people on here have had a lot of luck with D and calcium. I plan on giving it a go post new anti dep.

 

[19943]

Hi Screamer thanks for your reply..I was on fluoxetine anti-depressants 3 years ago for 6 months.. Then I went back to a different doctor a year ago and he prescribed them again.. I took 2 days worth and had a horrible terror attack (although it was probs a nightmare) I was terrified cold and sweating in bed late at night.. I was paralysed to my bed and couldn't shout out to my mam for help.. That was awful which is why I stopped them straight away and wouldn't go back...At the moment i just take imodium to prevent an attack if i'm going somewhere i don't want to be bothered by D.. Like when I go clubbing to the theatre or for long days out and long car journey's...I am seriously considering Hypnotherepy because my dad said it helped him relax more as he has had IBS-D for 30 years.. He manages his better than mine.. I have found that it costs £50 a session at a private clinic I would think maybe 4 sessions so thats £200 a lot of money which I don't have.. Would u download hypno tapes from the internet? would they work aswell?What kind of anti-anxiety med were u thinking of?I will certainly check out linda's calcium Info.. I'm new to these boards so i will have a look at all suggestions..Rachel xP.S. Thanks for all support x

 

[Screamer]

Hi! Yeah, I'm about to start the hypno. I ordered Mike's tapes from the hypno thread on here

Much cheaper than going to a specialist and specifically designed for IBS. I'm just wating for my postie to visit me

Umm I a lot of people on here have had a lot of luck with buspar or xanax. They're benzoates and you technically shouldn't use them long term or on a regular basis cause they lose their effect if you take them for a long time but on occasion they might be helpful. Good luck with the calcium info. I'm going to chat with my doctor about it tomorrow but I think I'm going to stay off the anti deps for now. I'm just fed up with them.

 

[14416]

Actually buspar isn't a benzo and can be taken long-term. It actually has to build in your system like an anti-depressant, and can take up to 4 weeks to see the desired results.xanax is a benzo. it can be taken long term with no problems. since the new ssri craze, its just harder to find a doctor who realizes the benefits of these medicines.

 

[19943]

Screamer let me know how u get on with those hypno tapes.. Do you think they really will work?I'm going to read all info on them first then have a chat to my dad see what he thinks about buying them... he's had hypno before and found it did help a little to calm his stress and anxiety..I'm going to research the benzo medications too but I really don't want to be on tablets like that long term.. At the moment I must stick with trusty imodium to see me through

 

[19047]

I work full time and am working today. I too, freak out especially if i have to do something out of the norm or go somewhere due to anxiety which brings it on. I feared going to the pumpkin patch with my daughter last weekend. Always have the "what if" in my mind. Its not so much the "runs" i freak on, it is the pain that comes along with it. I get some serious hair raising chill pains that turn me ghost white. I have had to excuse myself so many times and avoid trips or events in fear of episodes happening. I don't have much sick leave on the books due to having excuse myself and fly home. I panic and hate to use public bathrooms. I still don't think many doctors like to think of IBS-D as a condition. I had a few tell me "don't you think it could be mental" and it makes me depressed. I flew to Maui once and don't think i'll ever do that again. I had not eaten the day before the flight and loaded up on Imodium AD, only drank water. I was still having pain. I would only do that again if someone could give me anisteshia to deal with the flight...sorry may have mis-spelled that word but you can figure out what i was saying. I am so glad i found this website so i can find someone out there who can relate to me with this. I am a hermit now. i am 36 years old and have children and i fear that there will never be a cure for this and that taking imodium AD everyday will eventually hurt me. I take a half tablet each morning and am usually fine until something triggers a mass explosion. it's not something i would wish on anyone. Sometimes I can laugh about it with a good friend of mine. She refers to my episodes as poop attacks. But it is a sad sad situation. I wont travel far anymore thats for sure.

 

[Screamer]

Rache, I'll let you know how I go with them but if it works for me it's no guarantee, likewise, might not work for me but be great for you

 

[13718]

Did anyone try eating only light cheeses (that have been boiled). The other cheeses cause me IBD and I just discovered that they changed the way they fermented cheese about 9 years ago (when I started my IBD). Please try this and see if any of you get improvements. That is, stay off ordinary cheddar, brie, blue cheese, camambert, palmesan and just have light cheese slices or fat reduced grated or block. I reckon they have to boil the stuff to get the fat out.carolyn

 

[phillipm2]

Racheal66, congrads on getting through school. I know it couldnt have been easy IBS. I too graduated from school and have went to work in an I.T. Department. I have IBS-D and it really was severe when i started. Going to work is sort of like going to battle. I've never been in the military but preparedness is always key. School should teach you that. Whatever company you go to work for you have to get a strategy that will work the best. Before i started, i looked around for the nearest restrooms and mentally measured how fast i could get there from my office i would be working in. On top of that my first day i knew i could not be nervous because i knew would be introduced to the entire department. So i took Xanax and immodium to slow my insides down. It worked out fine. My typical day starts out with a light breakfast like toast or no breakfast, lunch is usually something i know i can eat without having a spasm attack like baked chicken or plain nachos which seem to do the least damage. On bad days i just go to the restroom, basically just getting up and going if they have qustions they can ask later after i'm done. When you got to go, you know that you just have to go. At the end of the day i eat just about what i want because im at home. i live alone and have gotten used to this routine and have become sort of comfortable with it. Ive been working at my work now for about 2 years. Good luck starting your career.

 

[phillipm2]

By the way, i do carry immodium everywhere i go just in case its a really bad day...

 

[19223]

Rachel, my husband is going through the same feelings you are having. However, you are an inspiration because you did graduate. When he started back to college part time is when he was diagnosed with IBS. He started back fulltime in August and has probably missed 4 weeks of that time. Sorry to take the focus from you...I just wanted you to know that it's great you graduated! Good luck getting a job!

 

[19943]

Thanks for all your kind words it has been really nice and encouraging...Yes getting through University (UK) or College as it's called in US has been extremely difficult at times... The only way I got through it was by taking half an imodium and praying that my IBS-D would settle down so i could get through lectures.. However I used to spend ages on the loo before a lecture started to make sure I didn't need it whilst I was in there...I have been thinking that maybe I should get an anti-anxiety drug for when I first start work until I settle into a routine with the job...I also think that I am quite lucky in a way because I don't get pain with my IBS-D I don't know how i'd cope with pain and D aswell x

 

[17566]

I HAVE SUFFERED WITH IBS-D FOR 9 YEARS NOW AND HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING.(DIET,EXERCISE,MEDS.THERAPY.ECT).I AM NOW THINKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A TEMPORARY COLOSTOMY.I AM TIRED OF SITTING AT HOME MISSING OUT ON EVERYTHING.HAS ANYONE HERE TAKEN SUCH DRASTIC MEASURES OR TALKED TO SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD THE SURGERY.