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Hi.  I teach Kindergarten in an inner city school in Massachusetts.  I LOVE my job!  However, I havent had a flare up all summer.  I seem to experience more flare ups in the beginning of the year and the end of the year with quite a few in the middle.  My mom also passed away in May and it has been 21 months of her suffering with cancer.  Anyway, I want to stay healthy during the school year and I wish I knew how.  I had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago and there were definite signs of chron's disease.  Yes, I love my job but it is extremely stressful, like many jobs.  Any advice?  Good luck to all of you at the beginning of another school year!   

 Reply posted for spkeck805.

Hi.  I am finally coming back to this awesome web site.  All you teachers hang in there!  Exercise helps me so much!  I definitely need rest more when I am not feeling well. I hate to give into it but am going to try harder to take your advice.  I have a cookbook called Eating For IBS which has some great breads that I eat when I can't eat anything else.
ngc

 Reply posted for ngc249.

I am a substitute teacher in grad school for school counseling. I currently am interning as a counselor at an elementary school.

It is rough. I don't eat lunch or anything. i just have water all day, then go to the restroom at home when the day ends. If I have to go at school, it's awful because it takes up a lot of time.

Good to know I am not alone in the education field.

 Reply posted for ngc249.

I am a high school teacher in my second year of teaching.  Last year, my first year, I was out for a month due to being in the hospital for an abscess and then I had a small bowel resection surgery in December.  I was grateful for Christmas break! I only missed the first week back for recovery.  I am also a basketball coach and missed the first month of my first year coaching too! It was not how I wanted to start my career!

I feel like I may be starting to flare again and am on the borderline of deciding to call my doctor or not.  I have only been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease for two years, but it always seems to be worse around October.  This is when I was diagnosed and went to the hospital last year.

 Reply posted for ngc249.

I teach high school and have for 28 years.  I also have had Crohns since college.  I had an illeostomy my 3rd year of teaching.  I too have flares in the fall and spring.  I think it is the stress of starting a new year and the change in schedule.  I have, the last several years, tried to ease into the schedule change.   I also make sure i get tons of sleep during those stressful times.  It isn't always easy.  It is important to leave school at school and have a nice sancutary at your home to unwind and relax.  I try not to take papers home, but when I do, I do them after dinner--just like homework.  Give yourself some leeway.  The world won't stop spinning if the lesson plan isnt fabulous every day and if the papers don't get graded until tomorrow.  Just do the best with the gifts God gave you for the day then leave that day behind and start over tomorrow.

It isn't easy!!!  
Keep coming to the board for support!!!!!
alison

 Reply posted for ngc249.

I'm a high school teacher. I love my job too but there's no doubt it's stressful. I'm in my second year now and just a week ago I was diagnosed with Crohns. I've always had anxiety issues but they were manageable. This just drove me over the top. I can't sleep or think straight. I don't know what to do. Glad to know I'm not alone.

 Reply posted for heyteacher.

Hi.  I wish I knew how to keep stress levels down.  I do exercise 5 out of 7 days a week hoping this helps.  I go to bed early because my kids still do but I get up at 5 every day so going to bed at 9 isn't really that early.  Good luck to you!

Wow I feel your pain, literally!!  The beginning of the year has been difficult this year for me as well.  Of course stress levels are high, I don't eat the best, and don't get much sleep.  If you have any suggestions to share I'm all ears!!  Good luck to you for a great school year :)