J-pouch Life » at work with an IBD http://www.jpouch.net Stories: Ostomy, Ileostomy, Jpouch, Colitis, Crohn's, Surgery and Support Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:31:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Keepin’ it Real in the Real World with IBD. http://www.jpouch.net/2009/06/17/keepin-it-real-in-the-real-world-with-ibd/ http://www.jpouch.net/2009/06/17/keepin-it-real-in-the-real-world-with-ibd/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:54:33 +0000 Lizz http://www.jpouch.net/?p=1966 So, first off, I’m am really too white and too dorky to be throwing around phrases like, “Keepin’ it real.”  Just wanted to acknowledge that!  I am thrilled to have recently earned a position at a prestigious law firm in downtown Portland.  I am currently working as a paralegal and am super-swamped with work already!  I notice a trend when I’m working though-really, it’s a very personal thing and something that I think is common to a lot of IBD-ers/J-pouchers.  We tend to be, based on my experiences, very smart, good-looking (duh), and type A personalities.  Ironically, I can be very anal retentive, although I try so hard not to be.  After the Crohn’s diagnosis I embarked upon a major personality overhaul.  Well, I kept the sweet, adorable, witty parts, but tried to work on the neurotic, perfectionist ones.  So the bad thing is, I’m one of those people who thrives on stress.  I think it’s good for my brain and bad for my guts.  I can physically feel my body tensing up and I just feel like I’m constricting.  I am at least aware of this and do things like yoga, prayer, and simple acts of stopping to take deep breaths and remind myself to “keep things in perspective” and chill.

My new job requires me to write, a LOT, which I love, but I’m feeling really overwhelmed with my case load.  I know 99% of this is just coming into a new position and trying to become familiar with all the nuances of the work environment, people, learn how they do things, and become acquainted with my position.  I really had to check myself today though.  I had a reality check moment with myself and with God.  I just said, “Okay…I realize that I’m freaking out.  I see what will happen if I don’t get this behavior under control, I’ll get sick and have to leave another job and be unemployed again…” I know it’s something I can control, but it still shocks me how our personality types and stress levels can affect our diseases.  It’s just a pattern I’ve noticed with myself, so I’m trying to surround myself with Zen thoughts, but it’s been a rough transition so far.  It’s also a good reminder to keep things in perspective.  My job is important, but without my health, what do I have?  If there is anything good to be gained from being chronically ill, it is the appreciation for the things that matter.  Most refer to these as the “little things”, but we know better.

I’m trying to live life in the moment and not worry about things that, like my yoga teacher always said,” are no longer serving me”.  I’m enjoying my dog and my fusband (fiance+husband…we like fusband better) and learning that days go by a lot faster when you are incredibly busy!  So those moments of “little things” are already much more valuable.

Just a friendly reminder to all you workaholics out there to keep it real and be good to your guts, and yourself.

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]]> http://www.jpouch.net/2009/06/17/keepin-it-real-in-the-real-world-with-ibd/feed/ 6 Workin’ It, J-Pouch style. http://www.jpouch.net/2009/01/22/workin-it-j-pouch-style/ http://www.jpouch.net/2009/01/22/workin-it-j-pouch-style/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:35:26 +0000 Lizz http://www.jpouch.net/?p=1298 Lizz

Lizz

So, in my last post, I was bitching about pooin’ my pants.  I am HAPPY to update to you, my J-pouch friends, that this was in fact NOT a flare, rather a side-effect of one of my new medicines.  Nowhere do I recall reading on the label, “may cause one to crap one’s pants. Oops.”  But, indeed abdominal pain, diarrhea, et al. were side-effects.  I have since stopped taking it and have been continent and happy for several days now! Also glad that no scope was needed. “The dreaded apparatus!” as Kramer would say.

So, I am in Portland, apartment and job-hunting and had a nice interview this morning. When asked for a “candid” reason why I left my last job, I replied, “I had emergency surgery.” I did not go into detail, because explaining that I was having surgery for a twisted J-pouch required much too much explanation! She then followed-up with, “Are you doing okay now? Is this something that would prevent you from working?” I paused…answered, “No.” I wasn’t exactly forthcoming about my GI distresses, but I have been able to work for the past 6 months.  It’s hard to decide how to handle these situations. I can work now. There is the possibility that I will not be able to at some points in the future, but not being a fortune-teller, I kept my mouth shut.

I’m also on the hunt for a good GI out here, before I officially move. The one my current GI recommended is not in my insurance “network”. God bless the insurance companies! So, the search continues. Feel free to recommend who manages your guts in Portland.

Hope you are all having a good, adult-diapers-free week!

And just an added note about the aforementioned twisting of the pouch. NOT common. This happened b/c for some reason or other, I did not make the scar tissue most folks do that basically holds the pouch in place. It happened once, and was “untwisted” by my surgeon, who chose to avoid surgery to “tack it down” to my tailbone unless it happened again. It did happen again…So I had surgery this past April to fix it and so far so good. Very painful, but again, not at all common.  I asked my surgeon once if this could be because I did lots of yoga. He kindly giggled and said, “No.”

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