A Typical Day at Work for Someone with Ulcerative Colitis

Have you ever gone to work with a bad stomach virus? If so, then you have an inkling of what a typical day is like for someone with ulcerative colitis. Some days are worse than others, and symptoms can wane as hours pass, but guessing when a flare-up might occur is like trying to pick tomorrow's lottery numbers. As you start to make observations about your body, some things start to make sense, but it is never fun to go to work when you have ulcerative colitis.

In fact, this disease is part of the reason why I decided to become a freelance writer. My wife saw how much I suffered as I ventured outside every morning to go to my law office, and I'd rudely snubbed many of my clients - although not on purpose - to go to the restroom. She knew that I loved to write, and she suggested that I start a new career where I could work safely and comfortably from home.

Of course, it is possible to be in just as much pain and discomfort in your home office as it is if you work in a department store, but you get my drift. People who have to go to work every day are more likely to get ulcers and damaged intestines as a result of their ulcerative colitis than people without a formal job. The stress combined with the attempts to hide the disease are a recipe for more sickness and pain.

When you have to go to work with ulcerative colitis, however, there are a few things that can help you stay comfortable and at least moderately symptom-free.

Buy a Seat Cushion

Anyone who has ulcerative colitis knows that sitting down can be painful after a particularly bad flare-up. If this sounds like something with which you are intimately familiar, purchase a soft seat cushion for your desk chair at work. This will help remove the pressure from your hind end, and can make those long hours less painful as you type away at your computer. This advice also works for the work-at-home crowd, because we all use computers and sit at desks.

Request a Private Office

Since sufferers of ulcerative colitis are up and down to the bathroom quite frequently, it's in your best interests to request a private office that's as close to the bathrooms as possible. Not only does this allow you to take restroom breaks less conspicuously, but it increases the likelihood that you'll make it to the bathroom on time, every time.

Save Sick Days

There will be times that your ulcerative colitis will prevent you from going to work at all. This is especially true if you suffer from the ulcers that it creates in your stomach and intestines. If you can, save your sick days for when you really need them, and don't use up too much of your vacation at one time. If possible, ask your employer to roll over unused sick days into the next year.

Communicate When Necessary

The toughest times I remember at work with ulcerative colitis were meetings. Whether I was sitting down with clients to review a case or taking a deposition, flare-ups always seemed to occur right in the middle. If you feel comfortable, communicate your condition to your boss or colleagues so they'll understand when you rudely exit a meeting to go to the restroom. It isn't worth it to sit in pain, and you won't be contributing much to the meeting anyway.