{"id":77,"date":"2023-04-19T07:35:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-19T07:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transparentdesign.co.uk\/blog\/?p=77"},"modified":"2023-04-19T08:35:21","modified_gmt":"2023-04-19T08:35:21","slug":"ibs-and-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transparentdesign.co.uk\/blog\/?p=77","title":{"rendered":"IBS and the workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today is World IBS Awareness Day 2023 . Therefore I am going to \u2018awareness\u2019 you all about IBS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those of you who don\u2019t know what IBS is, I thought I\u2019d ask chat GPT<\/a> who actually gets it spot on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that affects the large intestine, causing a range of symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and changes in bowel habits. However, there is no specific cause or cure for IBS, and the symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Therefore, treatment often focuses on managing symptoms through lifestyle changes, such as diet modification and stress reduction, as well as medications to alleviate specific symptoms.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A few things to note:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is is no cure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is different<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026but what it doesn\u2019t tell you is how much it can affect your life. Luckily, Wikipedia <\/a>sums it up well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIBS can negatively affect\u00a0quality of life<\/a>\u00a0and may result in missed school or work or reduced productivity at work. Disorders such as\u00a0anxiety<\/a>,\u00a0major depression<\/a>, and\u00a0chronic fatigue syndrome<\/a>\u00a0are common among people with IBS\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image courtesy of https:\/\/aboutibs.org\/what-is-ibs\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I have suffered for around 20 years with IBS, it gradually got worse when I worked in London and got really bad leading up to my wedding (that was coincidentally 15 years today!). So I know that stress and worry can affect me, but I can also have a bad attack seemingly randomly. I\u2019ve tried different diets and treatments which I won\u2019t go into here as I’m happy to have, yesterday, got a letter saying I’m back up to the top to see an nhs dietician. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(As an aside, please don\u2019t bombard me with \u2018have you tried aloe vera juice\u2019 (or similar MLM) messages\u2026 as this is not what this post is about!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of that is almost irrelevant as to why I\u2019m sharing this. What I\u2019d like to raise awareness of is how much this can affect me at both home and work. I moved back up to York from London after having my first child. That combined with finally admitting that I could no longer commute on the tube prompted the move. I had been so poorly every morning, I knew all the toilet stops on the Victoria & other lines and my journeys first thing were awful \u2013 I felt so sick, sweaty, hot & panicky. Luckily I had lovely workmates and bosses who let me come in a bit later and stay later if I had to (a bit of flexi working before it was \u2018in\u2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have since, for the last 13 years, worked from home freelancing. I struggled on and off getting clients who didn\u2019t mind me remote working. Until covid. Now people seem SO much more open to remote working. And this isn\u2019t just a good thing for IBS \u2013 lots of people have reasons to WFH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annoyingly, I\u2019ve had to turn down opportunities and maybe haven\u2019t got as far in my career as I would otherwise have done, without having IBS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I\u2019m so jealous of people who can travel and commute without even thinking about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or who can go out for a meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without looking at menus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without looking for the loos before you\u2019ve even got in the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without taking and packing Imodium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without eating and being worried the whole way through a meal if you\u2019re going to have to rush to the loo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or have pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or wind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or all 3.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The latter of those happened to me on Saturday at the seaside after having some chips. So yes, it’s often at the most inconvenient times and with seemingly bland food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few things you may notice about \u2018work\u2019 me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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