I've just applied to Uni to study Nursing. Do you find that you get tired from your work? If you had Crohns whilst you were studying, do you have any tips on how you made it work?I'm a mental health nurse. Love it :Karl::Karl:
Good luck with your application!!I've just applied to Uni to study Nursing. Do you find that you get tired from your work? If you had Crohns whilst you were studying, do you have any tips on how you made it work?
Good luck with your application!!
Yeah, I had some serious fatigue at times - especially on the wards where I was there for 12.5 hour shifts - murder:ybatty:
I had my diagnosis 3 years prior to starting my training so I had figured out the little tricks that worked for me by that point. I'd say, for studying, do it in short bursts and powernap to keep you alert. For the actual placements I kept a very strict diet as I was desperate to avoid flaring so I practically:
- lived on fish (good for reducing inflammation and boosting brain power too), banannas (slow release energy, and for me not a trigger food) and water
- I was also strict about sleep and never stayed up past 9.30 because I was usually exhausted anyway but if I did have a late night I would suffer for it for days later
- restricted my eating on working days so there was no "urgency" to get to a bathroom (not sure I'd recommend that one per se, but it worked for me)
- I kept all my doc appointments and bloods up-to-date
As a qaulified nurse now (and in an active-resistant flare), I tend to have switched the restricted eating bit to having liquids like complan so I'm not malnourished. I'm a community nurse so I know where all the supermarkets are so I can access bathrooms when out and about. I take methorexate so I administer it on a friday night so I'm not ill with the side effects mon-fri when I see patients. I tend to have lots of mint tea when it's my office days as I don't like taking painkillers regularly as they can sometimes make me drowsy and if you have inflammation in your rectum (as I do) you can become constipated (with codiene for example). Mint tea can help with stomach cramps, not sure about the rectal side of things, but I just tell myself it does that as well.
Hope that helps, but you'll find your own little tricks that will work better for you
Are you a professor? I have plan to apply for PhD program this year.What kind of interests do you have academically? This should also factor into the equation I would think. Research positions are generally what I have stuck to and was able to work even during flares although there were some times I'd take time off :/
Very much. I'm an elementary music teacher and currently looking for a job in something else because I just can't keep up anymore. Even when I'm not in a flare, I have yet to go into remission and symptoms still interfere, and I have the worries over what I'll do if a flare strikes.Can anyone else identify with the loss of ability, skills etc ?
I can relate very much with loss of skills and abilities. I was a Physical Therapist Assistant. I would sometimes treat a patient with a diagnosis I have treated hundreds of times and be totally lost on what to do next. I was only working 4 hours a day with a break and I still couldn't keep up with treatments and paperwork. My fatigue is what limits me overall and I would say I am in remission from other Crohn's symptoms except for fatigue. I finally had to retire and have thought about pursuing another career, but I have a good attention span for about 1-2 hours. I hope you can find a good solution for yourself! It is nice to know others feel the same way!I work in administration. I have a lot of responsibility, work long hours and have to meet multiple deadlines. When I'm feeling well, I enjoy the challenge and do a great job. When I'm having a flare up, the fatigue makes it much harder the keep all the balls in the air. I make errors I normally wouldn't and then I feel depressed about it. like I've lost my skill level.
I've been wondering about changing careers to something simpler. It's hard to let go but it might be better for me in the long run.
Can anyone else identify with the loss of ability, skills etc ?
Yes! I am so afraid of making mistakes anymore. Its like I don't have quite the same mental capacity. I joke with my co-workers and laugh it off with "I have a case of the dumb today" but really you can only say that so many times if you ever want people to take you seriously. The responsibilities I have feel so overwhelming at times that I feel like my job has outgrown me. I hate to admit that it's me just not being up to it most of the time anymore. I'm 2 years in, and feel like I'm losing it.I work in administration. I have a lot of responsibility, work long hours and have to meet multiple deadlines. When I'm feeling well, I enjoy the challenge and do a great job. When I'm having a flare up, the fatigue makes it much harder the keep all the balls in the air. I make errors I normally wouldn't and then I feel depressed about it. like I've lost my skill level.
I've been wondering about changing careers to something simpler. It's hard to let go but it might be better for me in the long run.
Can anyone else identify with the loss of ability, skills etc ?
Did you end up deciding to do the PhD Program?Are you a professor? I have plan to apply for PhD program this year.
The flexibility and fun of doing research really attracts me, but the stress somewhat deters me.
Yes, I will apply this fall and hopefully enter the program next year.Did you end up deciding to do the PhD Program?
feed mill operator. currently looking for a new job due to not being able to keep up with the physical aspect of my job. Thinking about going to school again for something like pharmacy tech.
In short, yes.I'm a small animal veterinarian at a very high paced, extremely over-busy practice. I feel like I am drowning all day every day, just trying to keep up. I go home and literally crash from fatigue and exhaustion, which makes me feel bad for my young children...they deserve better. Not sure what to do about it though...my job pays well and pays for my medical insurance.
Anyone else experience symptoms from a stressful work environment? My husband is super concerned that this stress will send me back into the hospital. I just recently achieved 'remission' status, but I have small bowel Crohn's, which can be silently wreaking havoc. When I'm super extra stressed at work, I get extra fatigued, intense headaches/migraines, and nausea, and then diarrhea. Anyone else notice an increase in symptoms with stress?
I'm quitting my teaching job. I know there are some people who have been able to manage Crohn's and teaching, but I can't do it anymore.
My loss of ability and skills unfortunately came from my mental health issues.I work in administration. I have a lot of responsibility, work long hours and have to meet multiple deadlines. When I'm feeling well, I enjoy the challenge and do a great job. When I'm having a flare up, the fatigue makes it much harder the keep all the balls in the air. I make errors I normally wouldn't and then I feel depressed about it. like I've lost my skill level.
I've been wondering about changing careers to something simpler. It's hard to let go but it might be better for me in the long run.
Can anyone else identify with the loss of ability, skills etc ?
I've taught for 9 years (elementary music). I was close to quitting last year, but didn't come up with anything last summer, so figured I'd try to push on for another year, hoping it wouldn't be so bad, and instead it was worse. So I'm applying for disability, and in case that doesn't work out, I'm looking at some sort of "office" work. Bathroom access is a big thing for me, too--I had accidents at work a few times this year (I was wearing disposable underwear at least) waiting either for someone to come watch the class for me or thinking I could make it until the end of a class period. I would need something lower stress, hopefully a little closer to home, and hopefully with somewhat more flexible hours. Less demanding of me, and where I'm less essential. I'm not sure I can really handle a normal job full-time anymore. I have migraines and depression as well, so that further complicates things for me.If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been teaching? And what do you think you will do after quitting? I've been wondering what I would do, figuring I would need a job that would allow me to access a restroom at all times.
Also in IT (Network Admin). Diagnosed in May. My last day with one company was a Friday, and the following Monday was my first with my current company. That weekend I got slammed w/ abdominal pain and wound up in the ER where I was diagnosed initially. Talk about awful timing.Hi all,
I am fairly new here too. My husband is the one with Crohn's and he is an IT professional. Diagnosed in Feb 2015, he went to work until end of May. But he had a flare up after that and has been working from home ever since. Luckily his boss has been extremely supportive so far (Fingers crossed), his organization usually doesn't do this kind of stuff much. I don't go to work (very thankful for it now since we are on our own and I am the only one to take care of him). Just waiting for him to get into remission soon Hope you all feel better soon too
Wow, timing's really bad. But look at all the positive sides of it. Not much stress, that's huge And if you have to travel, I would suggest you get it cleared with your GI first, because when my husband asked if he could travel to India for a month, he said he needs to be in remission first and then we would talk about travel. If you're cleared to travel, have a great timeAlso in IT (Network Admin). Diagnosed in May. My last day with one company was a Friday, and the following Monday was my first with my current company. That weekend I got slammed w/ abdominal pain and wound up in the ER where I was diagnosed initially. Talk about awful timing.
Being still pretty new at my current employer I'm a little nervous to ask for the ability to work from home, but some days it would really be useful. Fortunately it's not usually stressful work, just time consuming and unpredictable. I'll have some international travel coming up soon, which will be interesting. But hey, one day at a time, right?
LOL i can just imagine!I'm a nurse. Pretty sure that makes me a very annoying patient.
Oh man.. I feel your pain matt. Im still in the construction trenches! Looking to do the same actually and maybe start some sort of business i can run from home? Seems like the best option for people like us!I'm 33 and have had corhn's for 17 years. I started out working construction which was a bit hard on me as back then I was very sick. At my worse I was in hospital and weighed 119 lbs. And I'm 6'2 it was scary to see myself then. I switched my jobs and started an apprenticeship for a automotive service mechanic and have been doing that for the last 12 years. I have had a few flare ups along the way, usually a few weeks off work then back I would go. Now I've been off since October 7, ended up with a abdominal wall abscess and a fistula that now was excited out the skin. This is the longest I have been off work in many years. But im hoping this heals as I have had something like this before but internal and it's healed with antibiotics and prednisone. And also going to be starting humira once infection is under control and hopefully back to work. Or I'm even thinking I may start working for myself to reduce the stress and work load on me. All I know is that sitting waiting to heal is one of the most hardest things to do but this time I'm actually going to sit and wait till I'm better instead of rushing like I usually do. I guess this time it was a bit scary to see certain types of vegetables coming out of a hole in my stomach lol