Working with UC

Hi Virgo,

Thanks for posting.  What a dreadful situation you found yourself in. I was lucky in as much as my UC developed just about six months before I retired and being office-based, had only to contend with the commutes to and from work. That said, I am in thre middle of my first flare-up for two years and have just arrived home, having messed myself in the car.  This is truly wretched disease!!

My instinctive feelings are that you must have a one-to-one chat with your line-manager and your Personnel/HR dept and set them straught upon the nature of UC and what you're having to deal with. Perhaps your GP or consulant gatro-enterologist could compose a short letter for you to take in to work? Perhaps also you could print some information from the internet for them to read? I feel so much for you and can only begin to imagine the stress you must be under, not only trying to live with your UC on a daily basis but with this totally unfair suspension and the possibility of facing unemployed. I am afraid there is such a lot of ignorance surrounding UC, that you need to see yourself as an educator a lot of the time. Do you have a trades union rep or staff side rep who could offer you some help?

I know this is all too easy for me to say - and irritating for you to read - but do try to eat and get some decent rest and sleep and do what you can to get back into some sort of remission.

I send you my very, very best wishes and please keep us all up to date on how things progress for you.

Peter       

I agree with everything said on previous reply! Good advice, your company simply must not do that to you. They need to be informed! Good luck, let us know how you do but take care of your health first!

How awful for you. I agree with the other posters above but please also be aware that being suspended is often done to protect the "acused" whilst a formal investigation is commenced. you will be interviewed and asked questions about the event and as soon as you tell them you have UC they should be understanding and if they are not remember UC is classed as a disability they therefore are required by law to support you and put measures in place to support you, they CAN'T just sack you. I definitely think you should go and see your GP and inform him what has happened, the stress of this will also not help you and at least your GP will have it on file and should write if required to support you. Good luck, I'm sure all will be good.

I think you should get a Drs note descibing your condition...and how the unexpected urgency can occur...like pca said..because you shouldn't be dismissed due to a medical condition...in the US there is a disability act...and there is nothing you could have done in that situation.

​Or if there is something your higher ups think you could have done you would then have the opportunity to discuss that for the future.

​My heart goes out to you...best of wishes for a good outcome on this.

Dear Virgo.

I am so sorry to hear of your awful situation. colitis is stressful enough to live with especially when in flare & you are trying to stay at work. i have colitis thankfully controlled with meds now, but had those times you describe where you come close to messing yourself. When i was off sick, my employers were fab, because i was open with them & discussed the condition in detail with them & showed them all correspondence from specialist etc. I would suggest talking to your HR department - even if they could visit you at home to discuss & tell them about the colitis & how if affects you. hats off to you for trying to attend work at the same time as a flare! Also see your gp or specialist & ask them to write a letter for you explaining the symptoms & difficulties of this horrid condition to support what you HAD TO DO! I totally agree with everything everybody has replied to you. Dont take it lying down.You could also try looking at the crohns & colitis uk website & giving them a call for advice. All the best to you, & keep us posted. Do try to rest properly as the stress will make your colitis worse. xx

Hi 

So sorry to hear this. Its horrible, everyone can relate to 'when youve got to go - youve got to go' with so much urgency. I hope this has a happy ending for you. :-(  

Sadly unless you actually suffer from UC, it can be very hard to understand the terrible urgency of no control during a flare! Whenever I leave home I chart in my head the places where there are toilet facilities Ican rush to even if that means the long way round to destination! Nightmare times! When will there be some advance in the care and treatment if this hellish condition? So poor!

sorry I meant its only the people with IBD that can relate to this.

Just awful! Many times I have rushed into coffee shop or pub and used their loo and on coming out had to buy a drink etc just to cover my embarrassment! More often than not the last thing I need during a flare is a cup of coffee or tea ! Time there was some publicity out there. Even having a card to show is not helpful as often there is no time to ask!