How many people here work full-time?

I do.

50 hours per week. It all depends on what you do. I'm not sure a physical job would be good for a poucher.

I work as a Web Designer. 3 days in the office and 2 days at home with weekends off.

Been working fulltime since take-down, more than 19 years ago. My job is not physically demanding, though, and I have easy access to the bathrooms. If possible, you might want to ease into it for a week or 2 - maybe half-time? I hope everything works out for you.

I got my ileostomy when I was 10 years old due to UC. Have worked full time ever since I left school 25 years ago (I HAVE asked the cats if they will go to work and earn the money instead but they just look at me then walk off with tails in the air! lol)

Full time attorney for 20 years since takedown despite manageable pouchitis, this includes numerous trials, mediations, arbitrations etc. I average about 50 hours per week.

I was in my later 40s when I got sick and got my pouch. Dont discount that if you have a good result you will be able to return to most fulltime work, but be prepared, and inform your work and keep your doc in the loop, as Dr may have to support you with documentation that the 'recovery' can take a long time. For me, I was able to return to work after several weeks, but it has taken about four years to get stable so I can routinely work 40-50 hrs per week. I have essentialy a desk job. I do walk daily and workout with weights in the evenings.

Good Luck,

Mark.

I work full time. It's not always easy but the easy days far outweigh the hard ones. Come prepared. Bring all your 'worst case scenario' tools. Wipes, creams, spray bottle,pain relievers, immodium, toilet smell spray, extra clothes, the works. Nothing worse than being stranded at work with a sore ass.
Also bring some safe foods you can rely on. Crackers, bottled water, individual applesauce, whatever works for you.

My goal is to return to work full time by the end of September(desk
job). Not much of a choice really, the bills have to be paid and no
job = no insurance.

I am a cardiologist working between 60 and 90 hours a week, depending on call schedule. I am on my feet all day long, avoid the elevator. I try to run or swim an hour a day, try to do 2 or 3 marathons a year. I am a failed triathaloner (I sink). J-pouch in 2004.

I have just quit worrying about cramping/number of BMs in a day. I take one peptobismol before bedtime and keep going

Also full time employee, 45 hours a week, plus another 4 hours a week at the gym and one weekend day of hiking. Unfortunately I'm too busy to relax; I have no time for anything else.

Sue

Full time teacher. Few problems with pouch at work. The first year back was rough, however.

Even j pouchers can do physically demanding work. I am 5 weeks post takedown and I am back to work full time as a directional driller/ heavy equipment operator for a construction company. I average 55-60 hours a week and the drilling side of the job is very physically demanding. I came back to work 3 weeks post takedown and feel great!!! I just pack a little more water in my lunchbox now!

I am 19 years in as a jpoucher. I am an auto tech and work on my feet 50 hours a week. Physical work! Yes you can work! Stay hydrated. It will take a little time but your strength will come back! Good luck!

You may not have the strength in the beginning, but you'll build up to it. Depending how long ago you had surgery, how adjusted you are to the pouch, if you're active to begin with, so on.

Here's my story:

I'm an OR nurse, and the director of orthopedic and spine at an outpatient center. I work 35 - 50 hours a week and most of that is in surgery on a good week. Sometimes I'm in the operating room assisting the surgeon for like 7 - 8 hours, and I don't always get a break. I do just fine, better than people with colons! 12 years since take down, been doing this since 2004. I also finished school full time for my masters in psychology on top of my work schedule. However, I'm also 29, work out at 5am just about every morning, and eat healthy (as healthy as I can with any diet restrictions I have). I say this because all of that helps 'me' keep the pace I live very easily. There may be things that help you as well with whatever goal you're looking for.

It really just depends on you, what you do, your normal stamina, things like that. I may not be able to do things other's do in their jobs, and a lot of people probably couldn't do my job at the pace I keep.

I work full time. I am a pyschiatric nurse at youth residential treatment facility.

I've been working full time since 4 weeks post takedown. I have a desk job. Currently I average 40-50 hours per week in the office, and I also do additional work at home. I'm at the gym at least 3 times per week and at the barn (I horseback ride regularly) another 4-6 hours a week. I also have a pretty decent social calendar, so I'm frequently on the go.

Admittedly I was tired when I first started back to work full time but my energy levels quickly improved. To be honest, I'm one of those people who thrives on activity--the more I do the more energy I have. I tend to get fatigued with too little activity, so I'm happy to be always on the go.

i work full time also, and started back full time a month after takedown....it was very rough in the beginning though...im fortunate to be a social worker, so generally its not a physically demanding job....i cant imagine doing manual labor full time, even how im feeling now 4 months post takedown...but everyones different.

DJB i commend you for being confident in a courtroom where if you had to go, it might not be feasible...way to go!

quote:

DJB i commend you for being confident in a courtroom where if you had to go, it might not be feasible...way to go!

In 20 years I never had a problem. One time I warned a Judge I might need a quick recess due to "gastrointestinal issues", but never requested it. The key is that when I am in Court I am careful and use discretion with when and how much I eat beforehand. You actually can't bring food into the Courts but they have coffee shops where you can buy snacks and things.

The other thing, I believe, is that when I am in Court I am totally focused on what I need to do and there is no time to think of bowel issues, personal issues, or anything else. 100% of my attention must be devoted to the task at hand. I have often wondered if maybe adrenaline or whatever has carried me through the times when I thought I might have a problem. Fortunately, I mostly have had things under control as far as pouchitis, and that helps too. Up until very recently, I was having like one bad day a month. And usually I have been in my office on that one bad day. So maybe I have gotten lucky too.

I am a full-time property manager/real estate agent. I went back to work at my office job 2 1/2 weeks after takedown. I don't do marathon tours of showings houses. 4 is my limit, but I have no problems at all working the 50-60 hour work week.

I also just recently went back to Tae Kwon Do. I worked up my energy by starting with yoga a few months after takedown. I have no problem keeping up with the class and my pouch does fine the occasional times I get a kick or punch to the stomach.

I have worked full-time for 26 years, my current job is in local government. When I had my colon removed I was off for almost 2 1/2 months, and with steps 2 and 3 I was off for 3 weeks each. I've always done some type of exercise and recently me and my husband have taken up bike riding. I feel a lot stronger now compared to before getting sick.

I am a nurse and work fulltime 12 hour shifts. I am 3 months post takedown and am having no problems with work at all. Initially I was more easily fatigued but I have learned to rest on my days off and refuel as I am on my feet the whole 12 hours. I also have a family and a lot of my time is for family.

Yep! Full time musician and music teacher. Been back into it since not long after take down in 98.

I work full-time too! I do have some energy issues but have other health issues too. Enjoy the health I have since the surgeries and am much more active on week-ends now too!

All of your posts fill me with hope. Six weeks out now and my energy is still not normal. It is getting better but I would not be able to do my job full-time. Exercise is the key to full recovery for me.
Every day I push myself to do a little more than the day before. More than a year in bed really wiped out my muscles.
I have been using the down time to learn a lot of new software and to become fluent with the new software on both apple and ms systems. Who says an old dog cannot teach herself some new tricks?
Please keep posting responses!

You'll get there. I'm about 5 months post take down and I just started feeling "normal" in the last 2 weeks or so. I grad student full time and also have a 2 year old son to take care of (he's really fast!). I also started doing karate again for the first time in 5 years and I certainly haven't been holding back (aside from not sparring for the time being).

All things in time. 6 weeks out I still felt like crap. Now, I feel like myself.

Seems like most who replied have had good experiences with the jpouch. It really depends on the person and job I think. DH worked full-time (teacher with little to no access to bathroom when needed)for about 5 years before pouchitis started and changed everything. Was able to retire early thankfully.

I am 4 months out from takedown. I went back to work 2 months after surgery. I had a couple of complications. I went back half days for the first 2 weeks then on to full time. It wasn't always easy. I work in an office and thankfully have a bathroom close by (sometimes too close and I run the water for noise reduction and to have hot water for my portable bidet). Last week was my first full decent week. So def. everyone is different and you will figure out what works for you and what limits you need to set. For me each my mornings are generally good, it is the afternoon time that is tricky for me. I have to really be careful about what I eat at lunch time and always try to make good choices even though sometimes I want to dig into those wings or pizza the rest of the office has ordered But I don't. Good luck!

You all are inspiring.

I was only able to work part time, before my final flare from hell,mainly due to fibromyalgia. Unfortunately I have not been able to even go back part time and am receiving social security disability and private LT insurance benefits. (I'm glad I kept up the self paid LTD insurance when I was first diagnosed with UC.) I would rather work and have not given up.

I know there are others on here that have not been able to go back to work but we are a minority.

I bet you will do just fine

I work part time and the rest of my time I spend carting my kids around to their activities. It wipes me out but not because of my j pouch. I'm still battling anemia but I'm starting iron infusions this week and Im confident it's going to help give me my energy back. My part time job is retail sales so Im on my feet and busy.

Marianne,
Have you read the articles connecting pernicious anemia with vitamin B-12 deficiency in j-pouchers? On the original subject, working part-time and taking care of active children is a time and half job. I raised four children. I don't think I could have done it in my current condition. You deserve a big congratulations!

Going back to work today as a full time teacher for the first time in a year and a half. I had K pouch surgery last December following all three j pouch surgeries and a failed j pouch. I am excited to go back to work, though nervous about having to empty my pouch, (the smell and the sound and lenghth of time in the toilet). I am also nervous about my energy level....I am used to having plenty of time to rest. I also have two young children that keep me busy with sports and other activities! Wish me luck, hoping to turn over a new leaf today!!!

Good Luck Rosie

I suggest you don't plan on doing errands on days you are working so you can get as much rest as possible during the week.

I am a bartender 3 nights a week and work in an office full time Monday-Friday. I also am a dancer and practice 2 days a week at the studio and have several performances and shows throughout the month. Life is good!

Just went back to work as a substitute teacher. I generally work 35 hours there a week, though the early year is slow going, which may be a blessing so I can ease into it.

My night job in a retail store has been hell- I go way too much at night as of now. I am leaving that job soon to become a night-time tutor for an additional 20 hours a week. I'm only one month out though, and I feel like I'm on a good trajectory. With time I'm sure night work will be fine too.

I had quit my job due to UC issues prior to my J-Pouch surgery. I could no longer take the commute and lack of suitable bathrooms. About three months after my takedown I felt great and went back to work 40 hours per week. I had no problems, but going to the bathroom in the work bathroom was a little embarrassing since my pouch is very noisy. I also kept a stash of wipes and cream with me at work in case I had bad day, but rarely had to use these. Recently, my husband relocated for a better job and I am a stay at home mom for now. I keep very busy and am much more active than I was with my desk job and still no issues with the J-Pouch. I also have more instances where a bathroom is not easily accessible and have no issues with that either.

Keep up the great posts everyone! I just met a newspaper managing editor with a j-pouch. She has never told anyone at work about it.
So the question is would you tell your employer or not?

quote:

So the question is would you tell your employer or not?

Everyone in my office knows of my health situation. How exactly would I make up a reason for why I had my last surgery (in 2000)? If you don't mention it to your employer and then suddenly tell your employer you need time off for surgery related to IBD, your going to invite a background check from hell. In light of all of the nonsensical embezzlements I have been reading about lately in my area (all by municipal employees), employers are well advised to do thorough background checks anyway, and health issues like this could pop up, notwithstanding HIPAA. There are a lot of really good private investigators out there and you would be surprised what they can find. Information that most people think is private, isn't.

Don't lie on things your employer can have checked out. You will be sorry if you do.

Also, the ADA may protect some of us from any kind of employment discrimination regarding our condition, and that is another reason not to lie......by lying, you could ruin a possible ADA claim you may need to make in the future. Lots of legal issues on both sides but the bottom line is do not affirmatively lie or affirmatively fail to disclose.

No, your past health history is not your employer's business! My employer knows only because my 2 year struggle was in this job. However, if I were to get a new job tomorrow I wouldn't mention it. I have no issues that prevent me from doing my job so and that's the only question that's asked on applications.

Sue

If you are applying for a new job that offers group health chances are you will have those questions on the group health application. To what extent your group health carrier shares or can share that info with your employer, I don't know, but if a whopping premium is demanded your employer can/will probably be given some reason.

It really depend on the employer and the benefits.....but lying on applications has severe repercussions.

Voluntarily giving out info is another story......

none of their business. even health insurance companies will tell you that. insurance companies will probably need to know this information, but will not/should not share it with your employer. if they do, then it may be under some generic medical code.

IBD, medical issues and surgery can happen any time and you can't always predict or plan. you can tell them you need time off for surgery, or abdominal surgery, but they don't need to know all the DETAILS, like IBD, j-pouch, etc. it's up to you how much you want them to know, but my philosophy is they don't need to and shouldn't need to know details. Unless you want to let them know something specific or want to talk about it with your coworkers, that's up to you. i don't know everything about my coworkers, and i am sure a lot of them have some sort of health issue or another.

i've seen some people talk about their medical issue so openly at work and others don't. depends on you, the job, the company culture, your team and coworkers and how comfortable you feel like sharing details. but your employer in general does not need details.

in some cases, you might want to mention you cannot do heavy lifting or need to use the bathroom more. they still don't need to know the details. maybe just a doctor's note confirming it. even the doctor won't divulge all the details.