Community Forum

I am currently student teaching and have Crohn's Disease. I am so worried that I will not be able to become a teacher because of my disease.

How can I leave 25+ students if I need to use the bathroom? I am hoping to hear from anyone out there who is a teacher and how they deal with it. Sometimes I need the bathroom urgently and am worried I won't be able to wait for another teacher or nurse to watch over my class.

 Reply posted for capthugh.

Thank you for your reply. I hope you were able to return to work. I am also 34 and was diagnosed in 1997. I decided 2 years ago to return to college and enrolled in the Masters program to get my teacher certification. I am in a special ed class with a full time para and hope to get a job in a classroom with another teacher or with a para. I really appreciate your supportive message. I am glad that your school is so supportive of you and I hope you are feeling better. It is nice to hear from others who understand what I am going through.

 Reply posted for mirandaann.

Thanks for your reply. I hear you with the anxiety meds and immodium. I need to give it a shot after all the time, money, and hard work! I hope you find a career you are happy with. I am going to try to get a job with a in-class support teacher or as an in-class support teacher, that way there will be 2 of us incase I need to leave. Maybe that could be an option for you, too.

 Reply posted for jlepri9783.

Thank you for your message. I am student teaching in a special ed class with a ft para. I was told I was not allowed to leave her with the kids, not sure if it's true, but that is what my cooperating teacher told me. I feel much better now, after hearing from the replies, how cooperative the schools are

 Reply posted for bulldog fan.

Thank you for posting your message and sharing your story. I like the code you use!  Student teaching is over next week and I made it! I noticed that I get anxious when I am alone with the class and that causes me to feel like I need to run to the bathroom. I try to relax and keep busy with the students and it helps me keep my mind off of it. I find that my anxiety is sometimes worse than the Crohn's because it causes me not to feel well. I wish there was a cure for this disease. Hopefully there will be one day!

 Reply posted for bulldog fan.

Thank you for posting your message and sharing your story. I like the code you use!  Student teaching is over next week and I made it! I noticed that I get anxious when I am alone with the class and that causes me to feel like I need to run to the bathroom. I try to relax and keep busy with the students and it helps me keep my mind off of it. I find that my anxiety is sometimes worse than the Crohn's because it causes me not to feel well. I wish there was a cure for this disease. Hopefully there will be one day!

 Reply posted for Navy Chief.

Thank you for your reply and advice. I really appreciate the feedback. I will just have to give it a try and see what happens and hope for the best!

 Reply posted for jlepri9783.

I used to be an instructor teaching both Air Force and Navy Students.  The biggest class size I had was 12 students.  Fortunately it is adult learning and we are in the military.  I can always drop the hammer on them if they messed around while I was gone.  I've beening living with U/C for a little over 2 years.  I've had symptoms prior but not as much as now.  I am on Asocol three times a day and I'm fine.  When I do flare up, I know my body well enough to know what makes me run to the "head" (bathroom, a little Navy verbology LOL).  For example...before a lecture or what ever may occupy me for a long while.  I'll make sure I use the head before I do what ever it may be.  During the time I am lecturing or occupied...no foods, no soda and nothing that may upset my stomach...some water was always ok but you have to watch that too.  If it's too cold it'll make you go, if it's too warm, it'll make you go, if you drink it to fast, it'll make you go...but if you sipped it...it still might make you go LOL.  During a flare up is when I have to watch what I eat because it comes right out.  Good luck to you!

 Reply posted for madison1097.

I was diagnosed in Oct. 2007.  I am a regular ed teacher and to be quite honest it was very difficult at first.  I think it was hard, because I didn't know what I had and why I was so sick.  Once the drs. figured out what the deal was, I felt like a cloud had lifted.  My school is very supportive.  I have developed a code with my co-workers.  When I feel an urgent need to leave my classroom, I simply tell one of the teachers on my team that I need to make a copy.  I have changed grades this year, and my team mates are just as supportive.

Teaching is my passion, and my students help me to focus on something other than my pain.  I would not give up my profession for anything.  I am in my fifth year teaching and hope to be still teaching 20 years from now.  I really think if you love teaching, you should go for it, because the rewards you reap will be much greater than the inconvenience and blockades this disease can bring.

Good luck!

 Reply posted for madison1097.

I am in the same situation as you are.  I was diagnosed with Crohn's right after my student teaching.  For me teaching brought me the most anxiety and caused me to have severe diarrhea.  I lived on anxiety meds and imodium for months before being diagnosed.  I have decided to not pursue my teaching career even though I am licensed in two states, because I believe it would  be bad for my health.  The most important thing is to do what you feel is right.  If teaching will not be bad for your health go for it!  Congrats on student teaching.

 Reply posted for madison1097.

I am a special education teacher and I have Crohns disease.  I was diagnosed while in college and had my most challenging flare ups during my student teaching.  Since I am not a regular education teacher I do not have 25 kids in my room at a time but I can tell you that most schools are flexible.  Most of the classrooms where I teach have tutors/aides that are in the classroom who can watch the class while you run to the bathroom.  Depending on what grade you teach you can have a job for the students as teacher helper and they will be in charge while you run out.  Dont get discouraged, I found that if you are open and honest with your school and administration that you will find something that works for you.

 Reply posted for madison1097.

I am a 34 year old teacher diagnosed with Crohn's Disease 4 years ago.  I have been teaching since 1998.  I do not feel that Crohn's prevents me from teaching unless I am in a servere flare.  I work with special ed students in grades 2-3.  I sometimes need to leave, but have fewer students.  I have a packet of something they can do keep busy or get them started on something quickly that they can do while I am gone.   I also will let someone know on my way that might be able to check on the students.  Luckily this does not occur very often for me and the children really stay on task and work on what I leave them.

I have been fortunate in that my school district has been very supportive and has stuck by me through 2 flare ups that have required me to be out for 8-10 weeks since being hired 5 years ago.  Right now I am in a flare that has kept me from starting the school year.  It has been very difficult, but my district is so supportive they are willing to even let me come back 1/2 days and part time to help get my strength back up. 

Please don't feel that you can't be a teacher if you want to be a teacher.  There are so many things you could work out with a school district once you got hired.  I never thought of this, but I noticed a similar topic in another forum that suggested requesting a classroom close to a restroom.  I am sure you could arrange for some kind of plan in which you could still be a teacher.

Right now I am trying to come to terms with the fact that I may not be able to return to work due to this flare.  I know what you are going through and can't imagine doing anything but teaching. 

Good luck