Working and IBS

Hi there,

Thought I'd share my anxieties concerning going back to work..

A year and a half ago, I left my job due to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

I've been on sick leave since the end of July and am seeing a doctor next week about getting an extension. However, it can only be a couple of months more, and I'm already stressed out about the thought of going back to work.

I'm scared I'll fail again. Failing would mean I had to leave my job again due to my stomach.. I left my last job because I was so ashamed of my symptoms. It's just no way to live, being ashamed of who you are!

I don't know how I could accept my symptoms as part of who I am.. Many doctors believe IBS isn't an illness but a characteristic you're just going to have to learn to live with. Having tried everything under the sun to ease my symptoms, I'd have to agree that they're not just going to go away. They just make me feel like such a disgusting person

I do believe much of this is due to fear that I wasn't able to feel as a child.. I've been trying to face scary situations with the help of a friend, but I'm worried I won't have enough time to get rid of my worst anxieties before I have to return to the working world, and I know that there are so many scary things when it comes to finding a job and starting in a new place that my stomach is going to be SHOT..

My sister has anxiety along with IBS and has had many of the same feelings you are describing. She has also had employment problems around the bowel issue but she is currently working and doing pretty well. She is single so not working isn't an option for her.

My sister has a funny story, though. She was in the local grocery story and had to use the bathroom there - a huge attack of IBS that she said wasn't pretty. Next time she was at that store they had completely remodeled the bathroom and she wondered if she was the cause

I don't think it is possible to get the anxiety fully under control before you return to work since working is a large part of your fear. The act of going back to work and getting through it will ultimately diminish your fears and that will take time and effort. Some acceptance of your condition and who you are is part of the 'work' ... IBS does not make anyone a bad person ... just someone with an overactive bowel.

You've probably tried this but just in case you haven't….have you tried probiotics? I had a bad side effect to metformin and it cleared up my issue . But I don't have IBS.

There should be medications that help treat IBS or at least medication that helps deal with the actual stomach pain if the other symptoms cannot be stopped. Have you considered getting tested for allergies like gluten? I've heard some intense cases of stomach issues can actually be due to unknown food allergies. I'm not a doctor, but its worth trying. Some foods and drinks that really can irritate the stomach are coffee, spicy foods, gluten intolerances, acidic foods, chocolate, ice cream, heavy pastas, mashed potatoes, hot sauce, heavy creams, even regular milk can cause stomach aches. These all depend on the individual person of course, so you should consider speaking with your doctor to help manage your symptoms.

Have you been tested? There are many medical conditions that can cause IBS issues, including food sensitivities, and certain medications.

Also anxiety can make it worse, causing a feed back loop of sorts.

I was diagnosed with IBS but it went away when I stopped eating wheat.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to me!

I've had every test imaginable, all have come back normal.. I've also lost count of the special diets I've been on with little to no relief. At the moment, I'm trying out a strong probiotic which seems to help a little..

Still feel that if I could get my fear under control, the bowel problems would disappear.. I'm just dead scared of going to work and then having to run to the toilet at any given moment, and having to spend too much time in there, then getting sacked.. But it is what it is