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Working with UC

Posted , 11 users are following.

Virgo60
Virgo60

I think I'm going to lose my job, as I found myself in an emergency situation out on delivery really bad stomach cramps feeling of messing myself imminent saw some waste ground and went to hide to my relief lots of gas someone said they saw me I checked to make sure no one was around and this person has reported me I'm now suspended on a charge of gross misconduct so upset can't sleep not eating I was on meds for U Cneed some advice

0 likes, 44 replies

44 Replies

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  • brightside2016
    brightside2016 Virgo60

    Posted

    I agree, also, try having a newborn baby with you constantly to add to the mix, I literally had to dump him at the customer service desk and run to the loo at tesco. Imagine how awful that felt leaving him. I also know mums that take their newborn in carseat to the loo with them at home, but I didnt, it just didnt feel right with me, not nice. I also remember on a dog walk having to go in the bushes - not nice either.
  • tony33900
    tony33900 Virgo60

    Posted

    Sorry to hear about this. Working with UC can be really hard in an office let alone being out on delivery all the time.

    As others have said talk to your union, talk to HR have your doctor write up an explaination of UC and it's symptoms. I don't know your business or their set up but maybe even suggest you would be willing to switch jobs to something office based if they are worried about you driving.

    Good luck and keep us updated with how things go.

    • Virgo60
      Virgo60 tony33900

      Posted

      Will do Tony reading thorough other people's experiences has helped me none of us are alone never joined a forum before off to see my doctor today and I have a lovely lady from the union to represent me now talking to her today
  • looloo43
    looloo43 Virgo60

    Posted

    Good luck Virgo at docs today & with your union lady. You have not done anything wrong! Your employers are probably ignorant of the details of your condition too & why you had to do what you did. I think with some help from your union lady, & perhaps a supporting letter from your gp, your work situation will be fine in the end. I know it is embarressing to talk about, but making your employers(HR dept) aware of the implications of colitis should make their understanding a whole different ball game if they are normal people, & make your life easier at work. I think you should talk to your gp about going back on meds too-in your 1st post you said you "was" on meds. most colitis sufferers have to stay on meds for maintenance of the condition (ie not stopping when you feel better). take care & keep us posted x
    • Virgo60
      Virgo60 looloo43

      Posted

      My Doctor has now signed me out sick for two weeks , I work in a male dominated office, different managers coming and then leaving I don't even know their full names felt so embarrassed talking about a personal hygiene issue as I have always asked for a female i.e. back to work interviews worried that I will be office gossip ,I used to take Asacol and sometimes prednisone short term,im very fortunate that often stay in remission for long periods of time I'd just returned from Eygpt when I relapsed not sure if there is a connection with some kind of bacteria x
    • looloo43
      looloo43 Virgo60

      Posted

      Hi Virgo.Thats probably the best thing your doc could've done at present when you are in flare & under extreme stress with the situ at work. I found when people knew at work what was wrong with me, they were very understanding & not all horrible or gossipy-it made things so much easier when people knew... it's not a personal hygiene thing either - its a serious medical condition you are unvoluntarily stuck with! if you come across any ignorant people at your work in the future - try to say to them "look: i have an awful condition called colitis which i have to live with daily & take permanent medication for. I didnt choose to have this condition." then walk away. it should make the ignorant minority think a bit. thankfully i didnt have to use this with anybody at my work, my colleagues were all very sympathetic. my employers put things in place to help me eg i dont start before 10am as my bowels are still "lively" in the morning so i give myself at least 3hours from getting up to leaving house to go anywhere. they allowed me to reduce my daily working hours permanently to manage the fatigue that comes with colitis - so now i can work, maintain my house & have a bit of leisure time balancing the need for adequate rest. has your doc put you back on medication ? even though my colitis is largely controlled i still have to take medication to prevent further flares. if i try to reduce symptoms come back. it was explained to me before that fatigue comes with colitis as your body is always fighting inflammation, which is why its so important to continue taking meds even when flares die down to maintain control. keep us posted virgo, plenty of rest & chin up. xx
    • Virgo60
      Virgo60 looloo43

      Posted

      Hi I'm, upset everyone is now talking about me at work due to breach of confidentiality
    • tony33900
      tony33900 Virgo60

      Posted

      I'm sorry to hear that I would talk to your Union about that as it shouldn't have happened.
  • looloo43
    looloo43 Virgo60

    Posted

    Forgot to ask you Virgo - did your doc write you a supporting letter about your condition for your work? xx
    • Virgo60
      Virgo60 looloo43

      Posted

      Hello, really feel for you your daily life has to be planned to deal with this disabling condition,my GP has not given me a supporting letter , but as I'm now signed of sick for more than a week HR services will write to my GP I. In 2012 I had a bad flare and had to take 29 days off sick then through Attos I went back to four weeks inside work gradually building up to full hours I've had mild attacks since then but kept it Quite wore a pad just in case and continued to do my delivery I I was on around with lots of public toilets and never had an accident I'm my own worst enemy with hind sight I wish I'd told a manager I was having a claret my office was short staffed and several of my work colleagues were unwell and on light dutys feel like a fool now
    • Virgo60
      Virgo60

      Posted

      Should be flare
  • Lauraaliceflo
    Lauraaliceflo Virgo60

    Posted

    Hi Virgo, sorry to hear about this rotten time you're having with a flare and with work.  Try not to worry too much about your job at the moment, especially if you're trying to get over this flare.  Further to the Equality Act 2010, having a disability means you're quite protected.  I won't go into all the law, but basically, even if your conduct is found to be 'misconduct', if the reason for that is due to your disability then you are protected and your work won't be able to dismiss you, they will also be obliged to put in place reasonable adjustments for you to combat your disability.  I hope you're feeling better soon, this disease is rotten!! I must say my work have been really good since I was diagnosed about 3 years ago, you might be surprised how accomodating employers can be, I doubt you're the only employee with a chronic condition.  xx
    • Virgo60
      Virgo60 Lauraaliceflo

      Posted

      Thank you for your post it's reassuring to know I'm covered under the disability act going read up about it Thank you again
  • looloo43
    looloo43 Virgo60

    Posted

    Virgo, you shouldnt feel like a fool! It is hard to open up about health issues sometimes; I know i felt like i didnt want to be seen as a burden or nuisance to my employer, but when it starts to affect worklife, you have to get your head round that feeling. It truly was the best thing i did opening up about colitis, as people understood i was trying to manage a normal life as poss with a really awkward, tiring & embaressing condition. They actually displayed compassion & respect that i was trying to maintain a working life & not give in to it. i was surprised how freely people spoke to me about bowel issues & symptoms!!! remember none of us chose to have this condition, we just have to try & live our lives with it as best as possible , & take our meds to control it. Also although i give myself 3hrs in morning to let my bowels settle, this is just how i manage, i also have ibs-d, & bile acid malabsorption-all bowel conditions & have a timescale of meds in morning- this just helps me be ready for the day- after that 3hrs i'm ususally good to go for rest of the day 95% of the time! Its just part of my daily routine & when i think what i was like a year ago.... virtually housebound off sick......my life is quite normal now just adjusted a bit with routine, work hours etc. did your doc put you back on meds? xx
    • Virgo60
      Virgo60 looloo43

      Posted

      Hello again, yes my doctor has given me meds, I have sent in the sick certificate I will let you know how things go xx
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