Crohn's Disease Discussion Board

thbjork · Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 26 Location: USA

First off i'd like to say that I love this forum and am glad to have found it, you'll see a lot of posts from me in the future.

I just wanted to say that Crohns doesnt have to mean the end of your current lifestyle. I was diagnaosed in 1993 while on active duty with the US Air Force, I faced medical retirement, fought it and stayed in and am 10 months from retiring at 20 years.

ASingal · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 71

Hey!

Thanks so much for the compliment, I'm trying very hard to
build this site and forum up to make it a great location for
support Crohnees!

Anik

brian · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 8

Hey thb, wow, you were in the military with this thing? What did they do when you had down-time, as in were sick...did they just understand?

brian

thbjork · Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 26 Location: USA

Well I think one thing that helped me stay in is that (not to pat myself on the back) I am very good at what I do and got a LOT of letters of recommendation telling the doctors that make the decisions on whether to retire someone that it would be a loss of a good craftsman to medically retire me. As for the downtime, I havent really been sick enough to have TONS of downtime, so it's not like I'm only there 50% of the time. I would say im able to perform my job at 100% capability about 90 - 95% of the time. So yeah, they take that into account and are understanding about it.

ASingal · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 71

Hey,

wow that is great, you know sometimes when I'm down, I go
down for about 2 weeks at a time. I run my own business online
so it fits me perfect...good to know that they are understanding!

Anik

tricks · Joined: 26 Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Location: ATLANTA

Do you know of anyone who had to stop working becuase of the disease? If so were they eligible for disability? I was diagnosed about 6 months ago. I'm currently not working I have good and bad weeks so I am skeptical about going back to the work. My profession is HR I hope I can find something that will allow me to work from home.

ASingal · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 71

Hey

I do believe that disability is just based on what your doctor says.
If your doctor signs it and can defend a reason, then Im sure it is...

Anik

charlie · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

Hello everyone, I am new so bear with me. By the way this site is fantastic!

I just wanted to respond. I am really glad that some jobs are really great with Crohns I have not been so lucky as far as careers go. I was a 24 year old female in the Royal Navy when I got diagnosed and I turned down a medical discharge and then was told that I would only be allowed to go where they decided due to the location of the nearest doctor - which meant that I could hardly go to sea - which defeated the object of me being in the navy as that was what I was employed to do. So I had to leave in the end due to not being able to make any career choices of my own! Fortunately now I am in a good job where they make everything easy, but some employers just dont give a hoot!

local_thing · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 6

yeah you are right

suffering · Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 6

you are so lucky to be able to be working normally! Sad

I wish i could... i'm lucky in some way that my parents are wealthy enough for me not having to work as i'm sick like 25% of the year.. and sometimes more..

lilac_star_flower · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 36 Location: scotland

Totally agree with all the above. My current employer is very understanding about hospital appointments and doesnt question my time off but the place i worked before (when i was first diagnosed) demended to see my medical records and stuff (i had only taken three days off!!) Rolling Eyes

Im working towards my counselling papers so hopefully in three years or so i can work for myself and be able to choose my own hours of work.

im glad i found this forum because sometimes i feel down because im tired a lot and have all the usual crohns stuff that my friends dont really understand. My mum is like my best friend because she knew how i was before and how it has affected me but i think reading post from people who actually go through it is both informative and can be quite positive when you read posts like thbjork's.

omg this post is turning into a novel...i'll shut up now Embarassed