Crohn's Disease Support Group

I have been a bit sick lately. At my job in the dept. I work there are three specialists, one of them is off for a week because of a medical problem, the other took a couple of vacation days. That left me, the only one to do the job of three, as we all know stress is bad. I dragged myself into work during a flare up(not too smart by the way). I tried to get caught up with thing so I could maybe go home early, I was actually scolded for wanting to go home early by my immediate supervisor. I almost had a "panic attack" I have never been one to be that way(only when on prednisone that is.) I have not had my anti depressants for over a week and really felt overwhelmed and under appreciated. I want so much to keep working but some days I don't know if I can. The pain is horrific and vicious. I go through a good day in the tummy dept. but my back, knee and heel spurs are bad. Yesterday my heel and knee were halfway decent and crohns was terrible, I call it the ass of fire. I was in the bathroom in tears and then my boss is bitching because I want to go home early. And then I tell someone since I stayed the whole shift I may not feel well enough to open today, they say the HR is tracking my call offs to stick it to me, this of course sends me over the deep end. Luckily another colleague told me about the FMLA, I will definitely look into that to cover my butt. My higher up manager's wife has this too and I believe he told me about it when first diagnosed because he knows how this works. Anyway it is the middle of the night, my tummy hurts, my whole leg is throbbing because of my knee and I just can't believe this is where I am, feeling so alone, they really do act like it is no big deal as I myself have tried to do, but it may be a big deal, it is not just about being in the bathroom alot( and that by the way makes them talk to, like you are taking too many breaks or something.) Sorry if long winded but I had nowhere else to go

I am empathetic to your situation of having a flare and holding down a job.

Other than HR, do you have a union rep or an Employee Assistance Program at you place of business? If so, contact them ASAP.

Your supervisor, MAY have had a bad day and was bombarded with work. Sometimes when we are in a flare, we are more sensitive to criticisms and tones of voice. THIS IS NOT TO SAY he was justified in his/her actions or that you were in the wrong!

Second, do you have any progress notes or commendations of your work in your company/agency? If so, gather it together and put it in a file, in case HR and your supervisor is looking to take action against you.

Third, to be eligible for FMLA, you have to be working for full-time for a year at the same company. You will have to go tour DR. for all documents stating your illness and justify why you need to take off. Be wary FMLA does NOT guarantee the same position when you return. Make sure you talk to your HR rep about it.

Fourth, our illness is covered by the American with Disability Act(ADA), especially employment. If you feel you are being discriminated because you are having this disease, you may have a case(though you need a lot of proof)

Hope this was helpful

PS-- NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LONG_WINDED-which you weren't!

Dgwinvre we are here to listen to everyone and understand what we all go thru or have been thru. I think maybe alot of us have been in your position before....working with morons..

Like NeShama stated crohns is covered under the ADA....something few employers realize.

Unfortunately most States do not actually protect the employees, unless you are in a Union... BUT I would not allow anyone to make me feel guilty nor obligated to work when I am sick.

Get your GI/Doctor if you have not already to document statements about you health. Have yourself covered (CYA) and make sure the HR department has this on file.

People who are not faced with a chronic disease can easily assume that we are not as sick as we are. Why we would fake it is beyound me.. This makes them morons. But walk in our shoes for a good week of crohns or any other disease and watch what your body does.

There are days when I cannot hardly walk due to joint pain. Standing on your feet all day only intensifies this. Not only will crohns cause you to be in the restroom at the most inconvenient times but it will wreck total havoc on your other body parts.

If you have never considered disability maybe its something you should look into.

Please let us know how you're doing and we wish you luck with the employer.

Thank you both. I will definitely get the papers for the FMLA it is just so that when I do have to call off I am covered. And if I ever need to take an extended amount of time off. I know they don't guarantee the same job but it does have to be on the same level and pay rate. I just needed to feel protected. I don't have a union where I work so no help there. Thank you also for helping me know that what I am feeling is normal for people with CD. I thought maybe it was psychosomatic. I know I feel the pain in my joints and the fatigue, but I was starting to think it was all in my head. Maybe because that is what my husband keeps telling me. Work through it and you will be fine. Then when I am in the Bathroom too much they seem to think I am crazy, faking or just lazy at work. I can't believe it. I went through trying to get disablility with my husband. Don't look forward to doing that again. Also thanks I did not know that CD is covered under the ADA. That actually made me feel vindicated in a way.

Dgwinvre what is your husband thinking? Having diabetes himself he should realize that fatigue is not something you are faking. Geez, not to make any males upset but my own husband never really seemed sympathetic during my first years of diagnosis either. Even going thru the surgeries I did and bouncing back like I did. UNTIL he had shoulder surgery a few years back and then it was like the end of the world for him. In bed with an ice pack and you'd thought he was dying. Honestly I couldn't help feel a bit of sweet revenge remembering his lack of compassion for me during my recovery times. Sounds evil I know but it was kind of like karma. Just don't let your husband push you into over extending yourself. Your body is trying to tell you something and that is it needs some rest. Working full time and coming home to run him around seems quite unfair to me. Can't he find a family member or friend to run him around while you are at work? Please tell me he at least keeps house and has your meals ready when you come home??!!

Yes for the most part he does have the house clean and half the time he has meals ready. We have no family here and he won't ask friends for anything. I am sure there are some good guys out there that would be more supportive. I am hoping that he will figure it out one day. He means well and I think that he thinks if he expects everything he has always expected that means I am fine, not sick. Anyway that is what I have to believe to deal with it. Thanks for your support, thank God for this site and people like you.

I am very glad to hear that.

Maybe you could try just sitting down with him and having a real heart to heart. Just really open up and tell him how you have been feeling. The fatigue and working full time is bound to be wearing you down. Its kind of hard for us to keep going when our bodies are trying to fight crohns. Maybe get him some books from the library or book store on crohns.

He needs to understand that you are just as sick as he is and may end up in the hospital if you don't get to take care of you..

I hope I have not offended you in anyway I know how spouses can be, mine has been slightly slow in learning about crohns himself.

Post edited by: libit, at: 07/29/2012 05:39 AM

No not offended. Things will get better I am sure