Crohn’s symptoms and unpredictable flare-ups can limit a person’s productivity and make it difficult to sustain full-time work without challenges. Crohn’s disease is one of the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a group of inflammatory diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of Crohn's include urgent and loose bowel movements, blood in the stool, and persistent diarrhea with abdominal pain. While less common, IBD constipation is another uncomfortable symptom of Crohn’s that can disrupt the ability to live life on your own terms.
However, there are ways of surmounting the challenges to make working with Crohn’s more manageable.
Tip #1: Get a Move On
With the many different “toilet troubles” that Crohn’s causes, it may be tough to get through the work day without frequent trips to the toilet and extended bathroom breaks. Being physically active can help alleviate symptoms such as IBD constipation and get your bowels moving naturally. This can increase bowel movement frequency and reduce straining.
What’s more, more than 75 percent of people with IBD experience fatigue, an ongoing, overwhelming state of low energy that can also affect memory and concentration. Getting regular, low- to moderate-intensity exercise may help reduce IBD fatigue.
Take frequent movement breaks at work, especially if you sit for long periods of time.
Tip #2: Plan Ahead for Food
Certain foods can trigger or exacerbate Crohn’s disease’s inflammatory process. Other foods such as anti-inflammatory foods) can prevent or reduce the body’s inflammatory response and Crohn’s symptoms. Eating several smaller meals throughout the day, versus three larger meals, can also help your digestive system cope. Be sure you come to work stocked up with the right foods for lunch and snacks so you’re not left with choices that may trigger your IBD.
Tip #3: Work Remotely
Depending on the type of work you do, you might be able to work remotely. Remote work affords people with Crohn’s the flexibility to work around their symptoms and to attend health provider visits, which may be frequently needed with a chronic illness like Crohn’s. Working from home also means you can put in high-quality work when symptoms are mild and rest when symptoms are more severe.
Tip #4: Talk to Your Employer About It
If you’re living with Crohn's disease, there may come a point during the course of your illness that you do decide to talk about your illness. Remember, you don’t have to talk to anyone at work about your diagnosis until you are ready to, but you may be relieved to find that your employer is better able to support you and offer the workplace accommodations your condition calls for (and that you’re legally entitled to).
If and when you decide to discuss your health with your employer, be they human resource specialists or your direct supervisor, the Chrohns & Colitis Foundation offers online resources to help you broach the subject at work.
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