would IBU to get signed off work with this?

[colitishelp]

Hi need advice please. Last year got diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (for those who haven't heard of it, its a type of inflammatory bowel disease with wonderful side effects including explosive diarrhea, flatulence, bleeding and constipation).

Usually I just get on with it unpleasant as it is as I can leg it my bathroom or a friends if Im at theirs. Even in places like shops/soft play areas/restaurants there are usually several cubicles so can just hide in there till everyone leaves to come out if Ive had a bad episode.

The problem I have is in work there is only one womens toilet and it is directly in the main hall- 3 foot away from the meeting office, admin office, staff room and warehouse. People have to walk past the toilet all day to get in everywhere upstairs and managers will have meetings in this little corridor as it is where we keep all our noticeboards and you can hear EVERYTHING in these toilets.

I am dreading going in to work every week as it is so embarassing to have these loud episodes and stress makes it worse. So far I haven't been caught as I just don't eat the days Im in work but I am getting really faint.

I've just started some new medication as the old one made me worse but until this kicks in would I be unreasonable to see if I could get signed off or would the GP's even let me? I've never been signed off before so don't know how strict they are.

Have you told your employer ? They have a duty of care if you have a medical condition.

oh gosh thats an awful situation.

i can only imagine stress is making your condition worse and not eating is very extreme.

if you sign off you will eventually have to go back so it isn't fixing the problem.

do you work full time? any option to transfer or anything?

you have to weigh up quality of life vs your job.

its an awful way to live and I sympathise. you can't continue like that. its a vicious cirle and will only make your condition worse.

as an immediate relief by all means gp to GP for some time off, recover, rest and reassess your working life.

Usually you can be signed off if you explain why you can't work.

Just pop to the doctor and ask for a week off until your medication kicks in and explain why.

Happened to me after I had surgery. Could've worked but would've really struggled. I just asked nicely and they didn't mind writing me one.

:)

Sympathies with your health porblems, hope medication works. Might be a silly suggestion, but could you ask at work for a radio to be put in the toilets so you don't have to worry about the noise. I am sure all your colleagues would be happy to be able to switch that on when they are in there too. I hate toilets that are not sound proofed.

yes, 100% get a note from your doctor to cover you until the medication kicks in.
That sounds an awful thing to live with, poor you.
not eating on work days is awful, you can't keep that up - you'll make yourself ill in other ways!

Thanks for replies, I work 2 days a week and told them last year when i got diagnosed so they have it on my file. What would a duty of care include?

We are moving premises to a much larger site in August where there should be much more staff toilets so will hopefully be easier to manage then it is horrible at the moment. Like the radio idea but it would get round that it was me asking and why, NOTHING seems to be kept a secret in our place.

YANBU. Get signed off until your medication kicks in. Might be worth having a chat with a manager/employer you can trust when you get back and see if there is anything they can do about the toilet situation. I have IBS and I used to hate going to work toilets and used to wait until I was sure no one was around...I could be in absolute agony waiting and it wasn't good.

I hope the meds kick in soon and your symptons settle down. I fully sympathise.

OP I am really sorry you are having to deal with this. One of my good friends has ulcerative colitis and is usually ok as she can manage it with meds but has had to be signed off when she has really bad episodes as she has the same problem with the loos in her office.

FWIW, she finds that a few days off to let the meds get on top of things means she can get back to normal much faster than if she struggles on as the stress of worrying about it makes it so much worse.

I think you are totally right to go to the GP and get signed off until the new meds kick in. It is a serious condition and you need to look after yourself.

Take care,

X

Jesus, I would hate to use that loo anyway.

How can you have a relaxing pee/crap knowing that people outside can hear everything? !!

Definitely worth going to your doctor to ask. The stress and not eating can't be doing you any good.

Is there any possibility for you to work from home?

Basically OP a workplace once it is informed of a medical need has to ensure you can manage within the workplace. And within reason provide equipment etc. to help. , In respect of what you have they have to allow additional toilet breaks if needed and not stick rigidly to only going when on a designated break.

I know in workplaces that 3 instances of sickness within 6mths triggers a disiplinery. Even with sicklines it will still trigger a disiplinary after 3 times. Certain conditions however are excempt from this. Check with your GP if your condition is one that is covered.