Before you jump into the survey results, please take a moment and thank Larissa (pat her on the back, give her a hug, whatever you can) she’s another UC’er from San Francisco, California. She was a HUGE help in putting together this survey’s results, and a super great person. Since she is local (for me), we had the chance to meet up in person. I hope everyone enjoys it more than most surveys. “Thanks Larissa!”
Because the survey has several questions where participants could enter in their own comments, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of responses. For this reason, we’ve decided to break up the survey data into a few different links that you’ll find below. Also, Larissa and I decided to pick just a few “positive” and “negative” responses to the final “Question #5” to showcase on this webpage, but you’ll be able to read every single response if you follow the different links below. If you have any reactions or comments in response to this survey, please leave them at the bottom of this page, your comments are valuable.
Thank you again for everyone’s participation, without your time filling in the responses, the survey’s would not exist.
-Adam
Working and Having Ulcerative Colitis Survey Results:
(Completed April 2012 with the participation of 176 ulcerative colitis patients)
Question #1:
Have you ever been worried about losing your job due to your Colitis?
Yes: 94 people/ 53%
No: 82 people/ 47%
Read all 64 individual responses participants made by click here: https://www.ihaveuc.com/have-you-ever-been-worried-about-your-job-because-of-your-colitis/
Question #2:
Do you tell other people at your work/job about your UC?
Yes: 147 people/ 84%
No: 29 people/ 16%
Read all 72 individual comments that different participants submitted for this question by clicking here: https://www.ihaveuc.com/do-you-tell-other-people-at-your-work-job-about-your-uc/
Question #3:
Does your UC affect your ability to perform your job?
Yes: 112 people/ 64%
No: 48 people/ 27%
I don’t know: 16 people/ 9%
Read all 87 comments submitted by participants for this question by clicking here: https://www.ihaveuc.com/does-your-colitis-affect-your-ability-to-perform-your-job/
Question #4:
Have you ever had to take time off your job because of your UC?
Yes – I’ve missed 10-50 days of work since my diagnosis 59 people/ 34%
Yes – I’ve missed between 1-9 days of work since diagnosis 58 people/ 33%
Yes – I’ve missed more than 50 days of work since my diagnosis 38 people/ 22%
No – I’ve never missed any work due to my UC 21 people/ 12%
Question #5:
What type of job/work do you have, and would you recommend it to another UC’er who is thinking about changing up their career or looking to do something that might work easier with UC symptoms and all that comes along with UC? Why/why not?
(This question has 176 answers because it was required to complete an answer here. Larissa and I chose a few answers below, however, you can read every single answer here: Question 5 answer details)
A Few Recommended Jobs:
- I was a Real Estate Appraiser before I became permanently disabled. I believe it’s a great job for someone with UC. You are almost always near a toilet especially if you appraise residential real estate. There is some crawling around, climbing, etc.. but it’s usually pretty easy going.
- Graphic designer. Being indoors & sedentary does help when I’m not feeling good, especially since there is usually a bathroom nearby. I also am able to work from home, if needed which is a positive. I find I need to go to gym most days – helps with stress release. I walk to work as well (20 mins one way) I would recommend being a graphic designer as a career change – however – not everyone is artistic & has an eye for design! I’ve been a designer for longer than I’ve had UC (designing for 13 years, UC for 11 years). I’m lucky to do something I love without UC affecting my career too much to stop.
- I’m a Commercial Insurance Agent. Most of my work is done via e-mail so if I am having a”bad day” and end up in the bathroom a lot, it makes it easier to get away with it. Meetings and conferences are a different matter (I do a lot of praying then :))
- I worked full time in Santander business banking before being disgnosed. It is not a job I enjoy and was hoping to do something else some day. The only good thing that came out of my UC disgnosis was that after about 3 years of being unhappy and struggling daily I pushed myself into starting my own business. I now work in the bank three days a week and I run a vintage clothing website the rest of the time. Since taking the plunge I have felt a lot happier in myself and this has resulted in my UC being more controlled.
- I am a social worker. The schedule is good for me because it allows a lot of flexibility. If I come in late no one really minds as long as I make up the time lost. I schedule my own appointments so I make sure to do office work in the mornings when my colitis usually bothers me more so that I don’t have to cancel or delay appointments. I used to work full time and I managed it pretty well but now I work just 15 hours a week. I set my own hours so I can plan my work around my health.
- I’m a police officer and sometimes it’s rough being on patrol while I’m in a flare up but I manage. I have never thought about a job change because I love what I do.
- I’m a nurse in a hospital so it’s pretty easy to discuss my UC at work. Sometimes it’s difficult for me to be on my feet and do the physical stuff. I’ve considered a desk position or work at home. So far, I’m able to work at the hospital easily.
- I am a kindergarten teacher. I am lucky to have a full time paraprofessional in my classroom so I can step out to the restroom any time I need to.
A Few Not So Recommended Jobs:
- Law enforcement. I would not recommend it. Having to wear all the gear around my waist can be very painful at times.
- I am a registered nurse on an open heart cardiac unit. It is a very stressful job to be a RN. I would not recommenced this career to another UC’er. I just graduated college May 2011 and started working as a RN in October. So for someone with UC its difficult because the hours are 13-14 hours 3 days a week. Being at work for so many hours makes it hard to go to the bathroom because of being so busy.
- I am an Architect, I own my own firm. I think the stress that builds up from owning a business adds to my UC symptoms, so I have had to work on ways to mitigate and release my stress. As far as when I I flare…my office is right across from the restroom and there is only two of us in the office.
- Military. I’m hanging in there until I’m elegable for pension then I’ll be breathing a sigh of relief and leaving
- I am a high school teacher. I probably wouldn’t recommend teaching. You can’t leave the room very easily to go the bathroom and sometimes teenagers can be stressful. I love my job and have made it work so far but I don’t think I would recommend it to someone with a chronic illness. I am trying to find Online teaching jobs. After I finish my masters (which I took a leave from too). I will look into the online teaching environment more.
Read ALL 176 answers to this question by clicking here: https://www.ihaveuc.com/what-type-of-work-do-colitis-patients-have/
CONCLUSION:
Wow, this was an incredible survey. It is pretty amazing to sit back and realize how the UC’ers of the world really are a great representation of the whole planet. It’s easy to get bogged down with colitis and think that you are the only one living with the symptoms. BUT, that’s definitely not the case. So, next time you see a police officer, or an engineer, or maybe the next time you see your hairstylist or county administrator, just realize that he or she might very well be living with ulcerative colitis too. The same thing goes for whoever is waiting in front or in back of you while you’re in line at a public restroom.
Thank you very much for all your participation with this survey, and thank you for your patience with me posting up the results. And of course thanks to Larissa!
-Adam