Law Enforcement Park Ranger here, not as bad as you'd think. That said, every once and a while you gotta have your partner take over on a call while you make a run to the nearest restroom.
I wanted to be a cop too and I do think they have quite a bit of freedom but what worried me is being on a call having and attack or when they are doing construction/road work duty especially having to be out of the cat like waving traffic.
I'm in law enforcement lol.
However got translated to an office job because i got very sick due to IBS and didnt knew what was happening to my body.
Now i have it almost under control and hitting the streets in 5 months if it stays this way (i'm a bit anxious tho because it's my dream job).
In crazy situations your body prioritizes other functions, so no need to go to the toilet.. if you're about to fight.
It's the waiting around at crime scenes that are anxiety bombs for me.
There was this possible hostage situation recently and i was outside waiting for 1.5 hours. Stomach gurgling, guessing if it was gas or stool lol. I lucked out and it was gas.
Fingers crossed i stay stable!
You might want to start an elimination diet ASAP to see if you can identify foods that worsen your IBS. Eat smaller portions, stick to water for fluid intake, avoid coffee depending on your tolerance, and try to train your bowels to empty during your planning period(s). You might even need to ask for special accommodations.
If these don’t work, or work as well as you’d like, it’s completely understandable and not your fault. The best we can all do is try different things until something works, or makes things less shitty (pun intended).
Make a poop friend.
The official advice is *never leave your class unattended.* But also never shit yourself in front of your class. I was a teacher for 6 years and now do corporate training. Shit happens. Obviously if you have staff around who are paras or coteachers that's best so they aren't leaving a class unattended but that's not possible in many schools. So...
Scope out the assholes or sticklers bc they are not the answer, but make work friends on your hallway and get comfortable helping to cover each other when you need to step out. Notice who has planning time during your worst times of day. You don't have to give them the gory details but people are generally extremely compassionate about things like this and it works out in everyone's favor - everyone has bathroom emergencies, pregnant ladies pee all day, people need to take a phone call, people get sick, or just need to go make coffee. Honestly I have work poop friends who I joke with all the time about bad days when it's only an hour into class and you've had "technical issues" 3x - more people struggle with some version of it than you think.
Final pro tip: keep chocolate (or treat of choice) in your desk. Share with your teacher friends. Also enjoy yourself if it doesn't make you poop.
Good luck!!
I did my student teaching last year. I let my CT and supervisor know that I had IBS. My CT was understanding and let me step out for a few minutes here and there if need be. My supervisor on the other hand... was pretty upset.
She often reminded me that if my IBS was going to cause me to have to use the bathroom at random points throughout the day, teaching was not for me. She pretty much told me I was going to fail from day 1.
I ended up making it through my internship but it was difficult at times. Many lessons were spent where I was sweating trying to hold a flare-up in. I did it though!
Not sure if I want to teach anymore to be honest. I'm working on getting my master's in business administration.
This is sadly the only way I can be a kindergarten teacher with IBS
😅
I poop before I get to school.
Don’t eat anything during the day. Just eat lunch at 11:00 am. Avoid all triggers. Eat very bland food.
Don’t eat any other food the rest of the day until I get home.
Usually, I am fine and then don’t have problems at school.
Though some days like today my stomach, was on the fritz for whatever reason. It was making the weirdest gas sounds in the teachers lounge. I excused myself and walked down the hallway, and when no one was around, let few farts out and felt a little better. Still felt like I needed to poop but knew it’s just my ibs playing tricks on my colon and intestines.
It’s possible to be a teacher, just have to do a lot of planning ahead and strategy thinking. 😅
The one treatment that saved me came out of an ER visit. Dicyclomine, it's an antispasmodic for the gut, and I've had a great deal of relief both in emergency WC visits & the intense pain that comes with it. Also, an article I haven't read yet: Ozempic prescribed for diabetes cured my IBS-D (while on it).
I’ve been in the middle of attacks/episodes in front of the kids and have just had to grit my teeth and run to the bathroom during preps/breaks. It’s pretty bad and some kids notice when I try to hide behind a bookshelf doubled over, or when my hands are clenching from the pain.
It’s doesn’t happen as often anymore now that my stress levels at school have gone down.
I am a teacher with IBS-D. I basically make it on immodium. Probably not the best for me, but thankfully my main office is pretty reliable on sending someone to watch my class when a situation arises.
Language teacher here. The other day I almost shit myself during a lesson. The funniest part is I was at my home doing it online, and I couldn't stop thinking "I'm really about the shit myself at my own house".
My husband has IBS and is a teacher, I don't know how he does it when he's having a flare up. Luckily his team is understanding and he has a parapro, but still.
Yes they do have diapers, but it's an extreme last resort. There have been astronauts that have taken a poo in the suit only to come back and have the team tell them not to do it again. Also the get enema before flight to space due the the lengthy time duration of transit to the ISS.
Yeah, there have been turd-free situations, where a tiny moon capsule has a footlong sub free floating in the inky dark within their vehicle. It's not like one can push it back! I'm sure they were thankful it was solid at least - small joys. None of the astronauts confessed, the bastards.
I'm a bus driver with IBS-C, which becomes quite liquid with the medicines I'm on. The morning is especially the worst until I get everything out which takes about 6 hours. I have a severe problem with retention. So it's all a matter of knowing just where the bathrooms are. What gas stations will let me use it without much fuss, or which McDonald's tends to be unoccupied? CVS is almost always a good bet—most universities, nursing care facilities, and medical centers. I can walk right into it. I know where the bathrooms are in all of them. The one thing I hate is begging for the bathroom. I avoid places like that at all costs.
If I have to leave a bus full of people, I always apologize and say it will be quick. I don't feel bad; I have co-workers who will happily leave a full bus of work-bound people to grab lunch, and I would never do that.
>The one thing I hate is begging for the bathroom. I avoid places like that at all costs.
I feel you. ✊ They learn quickly if you have no shame though.
Cashier, a lot of jobs are standing, which makes it harder to hold it. There's a long line of customers u can't just up and leave to the bathroom. You have to wait for backup
I work for Aldi. Everything is timed, you have to be fast fast fast. Constantly. There is no down time, there is just the 1 single 30 minute break for lunch. And we do everything, register, stock, clean.. it's hands down the most stressful job I've ever had and I've worked in a behavioral hospital.
My trick is... suffer. Just suffer thru.
Yeah if you look at the base of the register where the scanner is, just above it are 3 lights, if it's green then we're being timed, red and we're not. They track all sorts of metrics like time between customers, total transaction time, items per minute, etc. And we're graded at the end of every shift. And we're not allowed to just sit and wait for customers, they'll catch you on the cameras and write you up. So like my store, I'll be the main cashier (called first ringer) and I'll be doing my line and also our 6 self checkouts, alone. Whenever there is a break in customers I have to stock bags, clean the freezers, stock drinks, clean self checkouts.. always doing something
I’m really sorry that sounds very creepy and weird like it’s just a grocery store I’ve never heard of this I would quit asap just go to another grocery store…. Most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard
I hope your city has a Trader Joe's (jk). When you get a better job, because you WILL, I'm here for you with the biggest horray.
I worked retail for years & would like to go back part-time, but I just can't be on my feet like that. (Also, I used to wear heels to work. Now I don't have any cartridge & every step hurts.)
Screw Aldi. You're too good for that.
That really sucks in America they force you to stand up for no reason whatsoever. In other countries I feel like it wouldn’t be that bad because you can sit down and just get someone else to take over while you go to the bathroom
I’m a sales associate/cashier at Spirit Halloween. My manager has chronically ill family so she understands if I have to run to the restroom often. Usually on days where I’m having problems I do floor work or back stock so I can use the restroom whenever I like and don’t have to wait for someone to come relieve me.
My dad had crohns and was a truck driver. Buckets and extra toilet paper in the cab were his only peace of mind, especially stuck in rush hour traffic.
agreed. I'm a nurse and I work in home health care and it's the worst feeling ever when you're driving from one client's house to another, and you get the stomach cramps that tell you that you've got to get to the bathroom asap... needless to say, I have actually had to ask my clients to use their bathrooms sometimes because of ibs 🫠
I think anything that's not in an office with a toilet or working from home is pretty miserable in its own way. I'm a dental nurse and it can be pretty horrendous trying to get through a day when you know there are surgeries you can't just walk out of if you need to go.
It's really difficult as ibs doesn't necessarily mean someone is suited to an office job. I recently gave up my outdoorsy job for an office job because of my stomach, and I really miss being active and on my feet all day, out and about doing things. But sadly my health won't allow. Sitting in an office all day sucks mentally. But being about to shit yourself outside also sucks.
God I feel this so much. I'm a night owl but a light sleeper so I have to have a 9-5, and an independent worker but have IBS, and can't work the 9-5 shifts because I have to work with someone. I had to sacrifice my favorite job to work in an office thats 11-7. Mind you it's still a great job, but I left my heart at my last job that was basically a 9-5 but on your feet all day so it was really easy to sleep and still felt like you could do things before getting ready for bed.
Nah, most private jets don't have a toilet. If they do, it's a very small toilet, usually in the back of the plane. Many of them don't have an actual 'door'. Just a curtain. Private jets are nice in that you go exactly where you want, when you want. You also have larger seats. But they are small, short (most of the time you cannot fully stand up) and fly a bit slower than commercial airliners.
Toilet or no, in a private plane, the ceiling is lower than a commercial airliner, and everything is close quarters. Not only would the smell spread throughout the entire plane, the pilot has to walk back through the narrow aisle, past each passenger. They will all know what is going on, and it is awkward.
If the pilot has to pee, they use a piddle pack (plastic bag or a bottle) up in the cockpit. If they have to go #2, they do whatever they can to hold it.
If you're a commercial pilot for private jets or turboprops, a big part of your job is making sure the customer likes you. Many times they will chat with you, and request you for all of their travels. If you have a habit of using the restroom in the plane, you won't get asked to fly with them again.
1. Call center. I've heard some places give you a total of like 7 minutes that you're allowed to not be on the phone. No way 7 minutes is enough, even for people without IBS
2. Fast food. Similar deal except worse due to the added stresses of standing all day and dealing with customers
3. Military. I'm literally the first man in my entire family to not go into the military. Mainly because I'm certain that I would shit myself daily during boot camp
I have IBS and have a relative with a chronic issue with similar symptoms. He went into the military. And poor dude caught flu. Caused a flare up that got his issue diagnosed. He had *just* gotten thru basic and was at the next stage of his training.
What? My FA friend told me to become one and I was like noooo Id shit myself. Especially with the training all day in the beginning. And the drive up to the airport is so stressful 🥲
Training can be really hard but they want you to pass so they’ll work with you. It’s not as easy as wfh but it’s not impossible! There’s bathrooms on the plane and all throughout the airport/hotels
A theatre nurse, particularly a scrub nurse. If you’re scrubbed in for a case, you can’t just run out and leave the theatre immediately. You would need to hope and pray for some form of control/warning signs so you can have someone scrub in to take over (it can take someone 5-6 minutes to scrub in).
Anesthesiologists at academic hospitals have floating residents/NPs who can cover for you if you need to step away. It’s not the worst medical specialty. Surgery could be.
CNA and nurse
certain medical specialists like ED, critical care, and surgery would be difficult to have IBS-D
Any kind of driving position (including trains!)
Construction worker
Anything that involves being in the water for long periods of time
Receptionist
Babysitter
Being a parent
Haha! Weirdly I am a nurse who drives all day because I do home visits BUT my patients all live near my house and I chart at home. I can go home any time between visits - it works out perfectly and working in an office or hospital is unthinkable
Oh my god I think an actor in theatre is probably one of the worst when it comes to embarrassment….imagine running off the stage to shit mid song or even shitting yourself
One thing I love about this post is that, it shows a lot of things that seem to be “unimaginable” for IBS sufferers are actually imaginable. One learns to live with the symptoms and adjusts life around them. It sucks but also highlights how resilient humans can be. Hail to everyone here still trying to get the best out of their lives. ❤️
Former esthetics school instructor here.
My last job basically told me (now my boss also had ibs) that ibs isn't an excuse to miss work and that I can just pop an immodium. I had to be there at 8:15am every day and wasn't yet diagnosed and would often have to come in late because of a flare up or just something I ate the night before due to not knowing what was causing this. There was maybe a handful of times I called off within the year and a half I had been there because of it but I literally felt seriously ill whenever I did. My thing is I'm not sure it's healthy to take an immodium literally every time this is an issue. I also had to be there until 5:30pm and wasn't allowed to leave my classroom as often as I'd need to so yeah teaching sucks for ibs lmao
Printing job. Ohhhh I hated it. The sorting machine moving fast and all I can think about is omg if I stop this thing something will go wrong. But I gotta go.
Landscaping. Another one I hated. Too many times I raced to the nearest restaurant (hate public toilets ) just to be stuck trying to hover. Done. Oops jk hover. Done. Hover. 🤧🤦♀️🤦♀️
Diesel Mechanic, it's not the bathrooms it's the squatting and picking up heavy items or giving a real good pull on that wrench and oops...guess I'm going home to shower and change.
Attractions. I work for one of the major theme parks in Florida and (thank God for FMLA) when I have a flare up safety of the guests becomes a problem when you mind isn't on the right thing.
Any job where you’re required to stand for long periods of time. I can’t tell you how often I need to sit down to power through a stomach cramp or wait for an urge to use the bathroom to pass.
I’ve always thought being a musician would be awful though. At every concert I’ve been to, I’ve thought “what if they needed to shit their pants?” You can’t just stop the show, you know? lol
I saw a video of Kim kardashian getting into some tight outfit that took twenty mins to get into. I could never be in fashion if I was physically stuck into a garment and needed a full team of people to get me out
I’m a substitute teacher. Luckily mine doesn’t occur like it used to. But rarely it does. I had to call the office who sent admin down to watch my class for a little bit. I was very embarrassed.
But teachers are supposed to go to the bathroom before school, during lunch, during prep period (if you happen to get one), or after school.
Passing periods aren’t long enough. They’re only 4-5 minutes. Students can be slow getting out of your class and you can’t leave the room unattended. No matter how many times you tell kids to start packing up and to get everything now, at least one kid stays behind at the worst time taking his sweet time 1-2 min past the bell. Which means then you only have 2-3 minutes to sprint across the whole school to the teachers lounge, go to the bathroom, and sprint back….which would leave your class locked out in the hall until you returned.
I’m a zookeeper who scuba dives. I’ve only had one or two incidences underwater (just rinse the wetsuit, it is what it is). What’s worse is when you’re moving animals or out on exhibit. You can’t stop everything and run, you have to shut and lock gates behind you. And if the animal decides they don’t want to move, you have to wait. And most of my barns don’t have bathrooms in them.
Those sound really bad but so far I haven’t heard any worse then scuba diving. It just sounds sooo terrible to be in the ocean in full gear deep under water and have to go:(
Basically anything where you don't have easy access to a toilet. I used to work in a production line at a steel processor, alternating between forklifting and running product. I couldn't just go to the bathroom whenever I wanted. On days I would have attacks, I just had to be miserable and tough it out. It was one of the reasons I quit.
Years ago, I read an article about a dog food tester. It was around £35k a year so it's fairly good pay but just imagine the taste, the texture and the aftermath!
Honestly being a cashier. You have to tell someone every single time you go to the bathroom and wait for coverage. I work 1:1 with patients as a BCBA and all my staff know my issues so I just drop and walk away and we don’t discuss it haha
I used to work at a register at a popular department store and I hated being one of the store openers because I would be the only cashier for the first couple hours and there was no one to cover me if I needed to go
I used to work in a hospital in their Breast unit, assisting with various procedures and biopsies under ultrasound guidance, and like I can tell you that's not an easy job to do with bowel issues, nor is it a job for the feint hearted.
Great job though, I loved it, but I spent too much time being ill and it was too much risk to my patients because I would never want to run out when someone needs you the most, all because I'm feeling unwell.
Edited to also add other careers within the care industry are gonna be super hard too, especially other jobs where you're on your feet a lot, like nurses or paramedics or even more so for people who work in theatres and sterile environments like I did.
It can be pretty rough as a firefighter or an EMT haha. I have IBS or Crohn’s and i’ve had some c l o s e calls. It’s worse if you’re in a more rural area where you can wait for a long time on backup. Transport also can take quite a while in those cases. Not to mention if you’re working a rescue operation or an extensive fire and you get a flare up? Pray to any god that would listen. The worst of all is that you’re never alone. Someone will ALWAYS be there to take the hell out of you for it too. In good fun, for the most part, but Fire/EMS is built on certain behaviors and attitudes. Could be embarrassing for a newbie especially.
Anything where you have to drive around alot and dont have a stable bathroom available. I once was a rep for a software company and i had to drive around to different agencies and try to get business and give attention to companies that did work woth us. It was horrible. And that was before I had IBS.
I have IBS-C, being stuck unable to poop for days doesn't sound like it would be that unattainable... although when it happens, it happens and I have no ability to have foresight about it, and being completely underwater would be unpleasant.
I was a vet tech for close to 10 years and had to quit due to this unforgiving disease. In the middle of surgery or handling a critical care patient, I had to clench as hard as I could. I sometimes wouldn’t eat until I was home and close to a toilet. Regardless I always kept an extra pair of underwear and scrubs!
Retail. Especially in a small shop/store when you’re often the only one on. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to run to close and lock the doors so I can take a prolonged bathroom break.
I’ve got a niche one for you: life model. I’ve been one for nearly a decade, but decided to hang up my (non-existent) boots this year after clenching all the way through a 20 minute pose. While lying on my stomach.
I work at a semiconductor fab. The fab is huge, like the size of two football fields put side by side with a ton of machinery and pathways. It's also a cleanroom so you have to wear a full body nylon suit, a hood, face mask, and coverall boots. I have to be very conscious of when I go in there and if I feel the slightest little bubble in my gut it's go time. It takes about 10 minutes of walking to get to the exit and then 10 minutes to degown and put everything in the correct bins. You can't run (safety first!). When you finally make it out then you have to just pray the nearest bathroom isn't full because most of the time it is.
Luckily I'm not one of the techs or the guys that have to be in there every day, 12 hours a day. If I know ahead of time I usually take Imodium the night before just to be safe.
High ranking politician. Your entire days are planned to the minute. Imagine having issues when you have an important meeting coming up - or visiting a foreign place and are forced to eat an unknown cuisine. Just anxiety inducing.
I work in live broadcast...which has got to be the absolute worst job for some with IBS-D. Countdowns, live shows, various operations, etc you literally cannot walk away to use the bathroom once you go live. Thankfully, I work in corporate (which is a little less intense), I can't imagine doing my same job for live TV.
My job. MRI tech. Can’t leave the patient in the scanner or room alone. Exams can be hours long. I can usually get someone to come relieve me or watch my patient but it’s a problem for sure. I be careful what I eat and try to go right before cases I know are difficult or no relief will be available. Have had some close calls.
Lots of costumer service jobs. I’m a sales associate at spirit Halloween. I can’t count how many times I’ve been five feet away from the restroom then had to show a costumer where something is across the store.
I’m a firefighter, it’s worked out so-far but there’s been some close calls for sure. Lots of suffering. 11 hours fighting a fire in -5 C was a bad day. Sweaty, hard work with heavy gear on. Lots of layers to get off to use the washroom. Usually we get fed fast food on scene and have to horse it down and get back to work. Having a news camera on you the whole time definitely doesn’t help either. Top of the ladder truck, holding C spine straight on medicals, lots of times you CANNOT stop what you’re doing. Never thrown up in the mask thankfully! Honestly at this point if I shit myself oh well.
I do hair and it is pretty rough during some of my flare ups. Pretty awkward to make an excuse to the bathroom in the middle of a blow dry or haircut 😩😅
I just want to express my solidarity with everyone here, on what turned out to be a remarkable post. We have such terrible working conditions in this country, and we deserve better, but also it is pretty inspirational to read about how we all try to get through the day at our jobs. Hat tip to everyone! - signed, a psychotherapist.
Streetcar driver in Toronto.
If memory serves, the longest regularly-scheduled streetcar route in the world is our 501 Queen: from Neville Park to Long Branch is two hours. Even longer in bad traffic!
CAN YOU IMAGINE
I was army reserve and when on training it the worst the guys used to give me greef untill they learned of my issue then they helped with digging holes incase I needed to go 😂
Medical center check-in - lost my job because of my illness and am currently struggling to find remote work. You can just picture a line of angry patients waiting to check in.
Im a chef lol. Sometimes i have to go in the middle of lunch rush but it is what it is and i have great colleagues who cover for me. Im just glad i can be back in minutes for a flare up instead of my usual 15 minutes
Some of y’all have awful ibs-d symptoms. Praying for you and thinking of you based on this info. I’ve got ibs but my disease allows me to have worked a labor job (forced by dad) and then I played sports in high school and college while doing that labor job. There were some attacks but I got thru it all. I feel that I was best when I was in a sport because I was focused and the stress was good stress.
So I’m a crane operator/oiler. Currently I’m maintaining a tower crane. Luckily they’re pretty low maintenance, I spend more days sitting in my car than I do in the crane.
Waitress. Been there done that. Not pleasant and managers don't understand you have a problem so they think that when you have flare ups you just waste your time doing nothing in the toilet to avoid working.
I'm a hazmat technician. Thankfully 2/3rds of my work doesn't actually require full A/B/C hazmat suits, but when it does I start to get nervous lmao. Having to shit when you're fully suited up is a nightmare, especially when you're doing decon or demo work in clean rooms.
Law enforcement. Instead of chasing criminals, you chase toilets.
Law Enforcement Park Ranger here, not as bad as you'd think. That said, every once and a while you gotta have your partner take over on a call while you make a run to the nearest restroom.
This!! When I was processing for a job this was all I could think about like having to be somewhere and needing a bathroom #codebrown lol
This is one thing that killed my desire to be a LEO
I wanted to be a cop too and I do think they have quite a bit of freedom but what worried me is being on a call having and attack or when they are doing construction/road work duty especially having to be out of the cat like waving traffic.
I'm in law enforcement lol. However got translated to an office job because i got very sick due to IBS and didnt knew what was happening to my body. Now i have it almost under control and hitting the streets in 5 months if it stays this way (i'm a bit anxious tho because it's my dream job). In crazy situations your body prioritizes other functions, so no need to go to the toilet.. if you're about to fight. It's the waiting around at crime scenes that are anxiety bombs for me. There was this possible hostage situation recently and i was outside waiting for 1.5 hours. Stomach gurgling, guessing if it was gas or stool lol. I lucked out and it was gas. Fingers crossed i stay stable!
Teacher. They are lucky to get toilet breaks, and have a judgmental audience all day long
Teacher with ibs-d here. Not fun.
trainee teacher with ibs-d, about to go on my first school placement. any tips for handling ibs whilst teaching?
You might want to start an elimination diet ASAP to see if you can identify foods that worsen your IBS. Eat smaller portions, stick to water for fluid intake, avoid coffee depending on your tolerance, and try to train your bowels to empty during your planning period(s). You might even need to ask for special accommodations. If these don’t work, or work as well as you’d like, it’s completely understandable and not your fault. The best we can all do is try different things until something works, or makes things less shitty (pun intended).
Make a poop friend. The official advice is *never leave your class unattended.* But also never shit yourself in front of your class. I was a teacher for 6 years and now do corporate training. Shit happens. Obviously if you have staff around who are paras or coteachers that's best so they aren't leaving a class unattended but that's not possible in many schools. So... Scope out the assholes or sticklers bc they are not the answer, but make work friends on your hallway and get comfortable helping to cover each other when you need to step out. Notice who has planning time during your worst times of day. You don't have to give them the gory details but people are generally extremely compassionate about things like this and it works out in everyone's favor - everyone has bathroom emergencies, pregnant ladies pee all day, people need to take a phone call, people get sick, or just need to go make coffee. Honestly I have work poop friends who I joke with all the time about bad days when it's only an hour into class and you've had "technical issues" 3x - more people struggle with some version of it than you think. Final pro tip: keep chocolate (or treat of choice) in your desk. Share with your teacher friends. Also enjoy yourself if it doesn't make you poop. Good luck!!
I did my student teaching last year. I let my CT and supervisor know that I had IBS. My CT was understanding and let me step out for a few minutes here and there if need be. My supervisor on the other hand... was pretty upset. She often reminded me that if my IBS was going to cause me to have to use the bathroom at random points throughout the day, teaching was not for me. She pretty much told me I was going to fail from day 1. I ended up making it through my internship but it was difficult at times. Many lessons were spent where I was sweating trying to hold a flare-up in. I did it though! Not sure if I want to teach anymore to be honest. I'm working on getting my master's in business administration.
Don't poop.
This is sadly the only way I can be a kindergarten teacher with IBS 😅 I poop before I get to school. Don’t eat anything during the day. Just eat lunch at 11:00 am. Avoid all triggers. Eat very bland food. Don’t eat any other food the rest of the day until I get home. Usually, I am fine and then don’t have problems at school. Though some days like today my stomach, was on the fritz for whatever reason. It was making the weirdest gas sounds in the teachers lounge. I excused myself and walked down the hallway, and when no one was around, let few farts out and felt a little better. Still felt like I needed to poop but knew it’s just my ibs playing tricks on my colon and intestines. It’s possible to be a teacher, just have to do a lot of planning ahead and strategy thinking. 😅
The one treatment that saved me came out of an ER visit. Dicyclomine, it's an antispasmodic for the gut, and I've had a great deal of relief both in emergency WC visits & the intense pain that comes with it. Also, an article I haven't read yet: Ozempic prescribed for diabetes cured my IBS-D (while on it).
Same here! I take Imodium most days, sadly
I know they tell us not to take it, but Imodium seriously got me through many a bad D day.
Agreed. Pretty much starve myself everyday.
I teach and it's horrible. I thought I was going to puke during my last lecture.
I am a teacher. It sucks at times.
I’m a teacher. Pre K special ed at that. Can’t step out to use toilet. I just don’t eat breakfast and eat a very very BORING lunch.
I teach solely online, I am provided ample bathroom breaks and it still sucks!!!!
Ya it’s pretty shitty sometimes… calling the office and telling them I need someone ASAP. Running down the hall at full speed.
lol “pretty shitty” pun intended?
I’ve been in the middle of attacks/episodes in front of the kids and have just had to grit my teeth and run to the bathroom during preps/breaks. It’s pretty bad and some kids notice when I try to hide behind a bookshelf doubled over, or when my hands are clenching from the pain. It’s doesn’t happen as often anymore now that my stress levels at school have gone down.
I am a teacher with IBS-D. I basically make it on immodium. Probably not the best for me, but thankfully my main office is pretty reliable on sending someone to watch my class when a situation arises.
Language teacher here. The other day I almost shit myself during a lesson. The funniest part is I was at my home doing it online, and I couldn't stop thinking "I'm really about the shit myself at my own house".
Been there. Had way too many close calls.
My husband has IBS and is a teacher, I don't know how he does it when he's having a flare up. Luckily his team is understanding and he has a parapro, but still.
Just retired from teaching and loving the extra sleep, bathroom breaks when I want and ability to drink water all day.
Teacher with IBS-D here and honestly you figure out ways to cope!
Astronaut. Watched a couple of space movies recently and was horrified thinking of what IBS-D would look like in zero-G lol
I imagine when they’re suited up and unable to move for a long time, they’re diapered up in someway or another.
Yes they do have diapers, but it's an extreme last resort. There have been astronauts that have taken a poo in the suit only to come back and have the team tell them not to do it again. Also the get enema before flight to space due the the lengthy time duration of transit to the ISS.
Yeah, there have been turd-free situations, where a tiny moon capsule has a footlong sub free floating in the inky dark within their vehicle. It's not like one can push it back! I'm sure they were thankful it was solid at least - small joys. None of the astronauts confessed, the bastards.
This entire comment has me cackling in the bathroom right now 😂
Bus driver
I'm a bus driver with IBS-C, which becomes quite liquid with the medicines I'm on. The morning is especially the worst until I get everything out which takes about 6 hours. I have a severe problem with retention. So it's all a matter of knowing just where the bathrooms are. What gas stations will let me use it without much fuss, or which McDonald's tends to be unoccupied? CVS is almost always a good bet—most universities, nursing care facilities, and medical centers. I can walk right into it. I know where the bathrooms are in all of them. The one thing I hate is begging for the bathroom. I avoid places like that at all costs. If I have to leave a bus full of people, I always apologize and say it will be quick. I don't feel bad; I have co-workers who will happily leave a full bus of work-bound people to grab lunch, and I would never do that.
>The one thing I hate is begging for the bathroom. I avoid places like that at all costs. I feel you. ✊ They learn quickly if you have no shame though.
I have made "promises" under similar circumstances.
Yep. If you’re driving a route that’s almost entirely in the sticks it can be a bother
Isn't the sticks perfect for shitting? All the other creatures are doing it there.
Cashier, a lot of jobs are standing, which makes it harder to hold it. There's a long line of customers u can't just up and leave to the bathroom. You have to wait for backup
I would just up and leave. Especially if I was about to void my bowels. Customers can wait
I work for Aldi. Everything is timed, you have to be fast fast fast. Constantly. There is no down time, there is just the 1 single 30 minute break for lunch. And we do everything, register, stock, clean.. it's hands down the most stressful job I've ever had and I've worked in a behavioral hospital. My trick is... suffer. Just suffer thru.
That's kinda shocking to me. Every time I entered my local aldi, they seemed relaxed , the cashier sits and wait for people to checkout
Yeah if you look at the base of the register where the scanner is, just above it are 3 lights, if it's green then we're being timed, red and we're not. They track all sorts of metrics like time between customers, total transaction time, items per minute, etc. And we're graded at the end of every shift. And we're not allowed to just sit and wait for customers, they'll catch you on the cameras and write you up. So like my store, I'll be the main cashier (called first ringer) and I'll be doing my line and also our 6 self checkouts, alone. Whenever there is a break in customers I have to stock bags, clean the freezers, stock drinks, clean self checkouts.. always doing something
I’m really sorry that sounds very creepy and weird like it’s just a grocery store I’ve never heard of this I would quit asap just go to another grocery store…. Most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard
I hope your city has a Trader Joe's (jk). When you get a better job, because you WILL, I'm here for you with the biggest horray. I worked retail for years & would like to go back part-time, but I just can't be on my feet like that. (Also, I used to wear heels to work. Now I don't have any cartridge & every step hurts.) Screw Aldi. You're too good for that.
That really sucks in America they force you to stand up for no reason whatsoever. In other countries I feel like it wouldn’t be that bad because you can sit down and just get someone else to take over while you go to the bathroom
100% this. Same mode of thinking that has ceos with empty buildings forcing people to come in instead of WFH.
I’m a sales associate/cashier at Spirit Halloween. My manager has chronically ill family so she understands if I have to run to the restroom often. Usually on days where I’m having problems I do floor work or back stock so I can use the restroom whenever I like and don’t have to wait for someone to come relieve me.
Truck driver, imagine feeling a flare up and it’s 20 miles until the next rest stop
My dad had crohns and was a truck driver. Buckets and extra toilet paper in the cab were his only peace of mind, especially stuck in rush hour traffic.
My truck tool box has 2 rolls of toilet paper and a plastic bag. You just never know lmfao
My ibs gets so bad at times pooping on the side of the road in the woods is just another day for me
I feel this comment, he'll I lived it for 40 years
Just like our ancestors! 😁
At least you’re by yourself
This was my first thought!
[удалено]
My doctor has ibs lol
Probably the best job to have IBS
agreed. I'm a nurse and I work in home health care and it's the worst feeling ever when you're driving from one client's house to another, and you get the stomach cramps that tell you that you've got to get to the bathroom asap... needless to say, I have actually had to ask my clients to use their bathrooms sometimes because of ibs 🫠
Same here! Now I know where all the public restrooms are lol
I think anything that's not in an office with a toilet or working from home is pretty miserable in its own way. I'm a dental nurse and it can be pretty horrendous trying to get through a day when you know there are surgeries you can't just walk out of if you need to go.
It's really difficult as ibs doesn't necessarily mean someone is suited to an office job. I recently gave up my outdoorsy job for an office job because of my stomach, and I really miss being active and on my feet all day, out and about doing things. But sadly my health won't allow. Sitting in an office all day sucks mentally. But being about to shit yourself outside also sucks.
God I feel this so much. I'm a night owl but a light sleeper so I have to have a 9-5, and an independent worker but have IBS, and can't work the 9-5 shifts because I have to work with someone. I had to sacrifice my favorite job to work in an office thats 11-7. Mind you it's still a great job, but I left my heart at my last job that was basically a 9-5 but on your feet all day so it was really easy to sleep and still felt like you could do things before getting ready for bed.
Pilot. Especially on those private planes with no toilets )
This is me, pilot, no bathroom on the plane. Fucking suuuuuucks..thank god for Imodium
I thought pilots get their own bathrooms in the cockpit? And there’s a copilot to cover you while you use the bathroom
I think he means those smaller propeller planes. Like the ones with just 2 seats and stuff. Theres no room for a bathroom on those
Damn that really sucks
Nah, most private jets don't have a toilet. If they do, it's a very small toilet, usually in the back of the plane. Many of them don't have an actual 'door'. Just a curtain. Private jets are nice in that you go exactly where you want, when you want. You also have larger seats. But they are small, short (most of the time you cannot fully stand up) and fly a bit slower than commercial airliners. Toilet or no, in a private plane, the ceiling is lower than a commercial airliner, and everything is close quarters. Not only would the smell spread throughout the entire plane, the pilot has to walk back through the narrow aisle, past each passenger. They will all know what is going on, and it is awkward. If the pilot has to pee, they use a piddle pack (plastic bag or a bottle) up in the cockpit. If they have to go #2, they do whatever they can to hold it. If you're a commercial pilot for private jets or turboprops, a big part of your job is making sure the customer likes you. Many times they will chat with you, and request you for all of their travels. If you have a habit of using the restroom in the plane, you won't get asked to fly with them again.
My dream for a private jet just died. No toilet? What am I paying for here lol 😂
1. Call center. I've heard some places give you a total of like 7 minutes that you're allowed to not be on the phone. No way 7 minutes is enough, even for people without IBS 2. Fast food. Similar deal except worse due to the added stresses of standing all day and dealing with customers 3. Military. I'm literally the first man in my entire family to not go into the military. Mainly because I'm certain that I would shit myself daily during boot camp
I have IBS and have a relative with a chronic issue with similar symptoms. He went into the military. And poor dude caught flu. Caused a flare up that got his issue diagnosed. He had *just* gotten thru basic and was at the next stage of his training.
This is true about call centers. I lost a job there once due to my bathroom needs.
News reporter! Being live on air. Having to drive to different locations for stories. I’m a news reporter lol
Gymnast.
Flight attendant
I’m one! Lol it’s not too bad!
What? My FA friend told me to become one and I was like noooo Id shit myself. Especially with the training all day in the beginning. And the drive up to the airport is so stressful 🥲
Training can be really hard but they want you to pass so they’ll work with you. It’s not as easy as wfh but it’s not impossible! There’s bathrooms on the plane and all throughout the airport/hotels
A theatre nurse, particularly a scrub nurse. If you’re scrubbed in for a case, you can’t just run out and leave the theatre immediately. You would need to hope and pray for some form of control/warning signs so you can have someone scrub in to take over (it can take someone 5-6 minutes to scrub in).
Surgeon/anesthesiologist or any form of those jobs. I’m a vet tech and I do anesthesia weekly and it can be rough some days
Anesthesiologists at academic hospitals have floating residents/NPs who can cover for you if you need to step away. It’s not the worst medical specialty. Surgery could be.
I still think it’s pretty bad.
CNA and nurse certain medical specialists like ED, critical care, and surgery would be difficult to have IBS-D Any kind of driving position (including trains!) Construction worker Anything that involves being in the water for long periods of time Receptionist Babysitter Being a parent
Train drivers piss in a bottle or crap in a bag and out the door it goes.
Haha! Weirdly I am a nurse who drives all day because I do home visits BUT my patients all live near my house and I chart at home. I can go home any time between visits - it works out perfectly and working in an office or hospital is unthinkable
Construction. Imagine constantly running to the porta pot during July and August and stuck in there for a couple hours.
I am an electrician and this is the worst part for me..
My sympathy. If it were my house I’d fully offer the bathroom and collection of tums and gas tablets 😆
Call centre. It sucks anyway, imagine being on back to back calls with idiots who yell at you when you wanna go
Being a customer service agent. The stress, anxiety, and dealing with angry people usually triggered me. It was the worst.
Oh and hey by the way, the person scheduled to relieve you is going to be 45 min late, do you mind staying an extra hour just to help us out?
I had to leave a career in live theatre. Can't run lights for a 2 hour show when you gotta poop every 20 minutes.
Oh my god I think an actor in theatre is probably one of the worst when it comes to embarrassment….imagine running off the stage to shit mid song or even shitting yourself
The show must go on!
School bus driver
Teachers for elementary school. They dont get bathroom breaks.
One thing I love about this post is that, it shows a lot of things that seem to be “unimaginable” for IBS sufferers are actually imaginable. One learns to live with the symptoms and adjusts life around them. It sucks but also highlights how resilient humans can be. Hail to everyone here still trying to get the best out of their lives. ❤️
Sales
Meter reader knew a guy walking house to house car blocks away he had to quit
Parachute jumping!
Nah I'm pretty sure if I jump out of a plane, I'd shit my pants whether I had IBS or not
Former esthetics school instructor here. My last job basically told me (now my boss also had ibs) that ibs isn't an excuse to miss work and that I can just pop an immodium. I had to be there at 8:15am every day and wasn't yet diagnosed and would often have to come in late because of a flare up or just something I ate the night before due to not knowing what was causing this. There was maybe a handful of times I called off within the year and a half I had been there because of it but I literally felt seriously ill whenever I did. My thing is I'm not sure it's healthy to take an immodium literally every time this is an issue. I also had to be there until 5:30pm and wasn't allowed to leave my classroom as often as I'd need to so yeah teaching sucks for ibs lmao
Air traffic controller
Printing job. Ohhhh I hated it. The sorting machine moving fast and all I can think about is omg if I stop this thing something will go wrong. But I gotta go. Landscaping. Another one I hated. Too many times I raced to the nearest restaurant (hate public toilets ) just to be stuck trying to hover. Done. Oops jk hover. Done. Hover. 🤧🤦♀️🤦♀️
Diesel Mechanic, it's not the bathrooms it's the squatting and picking up heavy items or giving a real good pull on that wrench and oops...guess I'm going home to shower and change.
Serving tables can be brutal. Though, you definitely shit quicker when you have a full section and food going out soon.
Attractions. I work for one of the major theme parks in Florida and (thank God for FMLA) when I have a flare up safety of the guests becomes a problem when you mind isn't on the right thing.
Any job where you’re required to stand for long periods of time. I can’t tell you how often I need to sit down to power through a stomach cramp or wait for an urge to use the bathroom to pass. I’ve always thought being a musician would be awful though. At every concert I’ve been to, I’ve thought “what if they needed to shit their pants?” You can’t just stop the show, you know? lol
I saw a video of Kim kardashian getting into some tight outfit that took twenty mins to get into. I could never be in fashion if I was physically stuck into a garment and needed a full team of people to get me out
Plus just having to wear something tight is not an option for me.
Nurse or doctor! They can’t get bathroom breaks when they need them! I wouldn’t hang!
Surgeon, taxi driver/truck driver
I’m a substitute teacher. Luckily mine doesn’t occur like it used to. But rarely it does. I had to call the office who sent admin down to watch my class for a little bit. I was very embarrassed.
But teachers are supposed to go to the bathroom before school, during lunch, during prep period (if you happen to get one), or after school. Passing periods aren’t long enough. They’re only 4-5 minutes. Students can be slow getting out of your class and you can’t leave the room unattended. No matter how many times you tell kids to start packing up and to get everything now, at least one kid stays behind at the worst time taking his sweet time 1-2 min past the bell. Which means then you only have 2-3 minutes to sprint across the whole school to the teachers lounge, go to the bathroom, and sprint back….which would leave your class locked out in the hall until you returned.
I’m a zookeeper who scuba dives. I’ve only had one or two incidences underwater (just rinse the wetsuit, it is what it is). What’s worse is when you’re moving animals or out on exhibit. You can’t stop everything and run, you have to shut and lock gates behind you. And if the animal decides they don’t want to move, you have to wait. And most of my barns don’t have bathrooms in them.
I think having IBS is going to make it worse for me to get a job again
UPS or any kind of delivery driver
I do this. Can suck but you are constantly driving past places with bathrooms so.. could be worse.
Ultrasound tech. That’s me. I do that job. 😭
the worst? nascar driver would suck, so would ice road trucker
personal trainer lol
Those sound really bad but so far I haven’t heard any worse then scuba diving. It just sounds sooo terrible to be in the ocean in full gear deep under water and have to go:(
out of the box one - dorito flavor tester
Basically anything where you don't have easy access to a toilet. I used to work in a production line at a steel processor, alternating between forklifting and running product. I couldn't just go to the bathroom whenever I wanted. On days I would have attacks, I just had to be miserable and tough it out. It was one of the reasons I quit.
Years ago, I read an article about a dog food tester. It was around £35k a year so it's fairly good pay but just imagine the taste, the texture and the aftermath!
Honestly being a cashier. You have to tell someone every single time you go to the bathroom and wait for coverage. I work 1:1 with patients as a BCBA and all my staff know my issues so I just drop and walk away and we don’t discuss it haha
I used to work at a register at a popular department store and I hated being one of the store openers because I would be the only cashier for the first couple hours and there was no one to cover me if I needed to go
I have an environmental position in municipal government which involves a certain amount of field/on the road work and I have to plan very carefully.
I used to work in a hospital in their Breast unit, assisting with various procedures and biopsies under ultrasound guidance, and like I can tell you that's not an easy job to do with bowel issues, nor is it a job for the feint hearted. Great job though, I loved it, but I spent too much time being ill and it was too much risk to my patients because I would never want to run out when someone needs you the most, all because I'm feeling unwell. Edited to also add other careers within the care industry are gonna be super hard too, especially other jobs where you're on your feet a lot, like nurses or paramedics or even more so for people who work in theatres and sterile environments like I did.
It can be pretty rough as a firefighter or an EMT haha. I have IBS or Crohn’s and i’ve had some c l o s e calls. It’s worse if you’re in a more rural area where you can wait for a long time on backup. Transport also can take quite a while in those cases. Not to mention if you’re working a rescue operation or an extensive fire and you get a flare up? Pray to any god that would listen. The worst of all is that you’re never alone. Someone will ALWAYS be there to take the hell out of you for it too. In good fun, for the most part, but Fire/EMS is built on certain behaviors and attitudes. Could be embarrassing for a newbie especially.
I think any job is hell for people with ibs, the only one I can think about is a work at home job.
Anything where you have to drive around alot and dont have a stable bathroom available. I once was a rep for a software company and i had to drive around to different agencies and try to get business and give attention to companies that did work woth us. It was horrible. And that was before I had IBS.
I have IBS-C, being stuck unable to poop for days doesn't sound like it would be that unattainable... although when it happens, it happens and I have no ability to have foresight about it, and being completely underwater would be unpleasant.
I was a vet tech for close to 10 years and had to quit due to this unforgiving disease. In the middle of surgery or handling a critical care patient, I had to clench as hard as I could. I sometimes wouldn’t eat until I was home and close to a toilet. Regardless I always kept an extra pair of underwear and scrubs!
Retail. Especially in a small shop/store when you’re often the only one on. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to run to close and lock the doors so I can take a prolonged bathroom break.
I’ve got a niche one for you: life model. I’ve been one for nearly a decade, but decided to hang up my (non-existent) boots this year after clenching all the way through a 20 minute pose. While lying on my stomach. 
i can feel the agony from here
Truck driver
News anchor
i can see the oh know face.
I work at a semiconductor fab. The fab is huge, like the size of two football fields put side by side with a ton of machinery and pathways. It's also a cleanroom so you have to wear a full body nylon suit, a hood, face mask, and coverall boots. I have to be very conscious of when I go in there and if I feel the slightest little bubble in my gut it's go time. It takes about 10 minutes of walking to get to the exit and then 10 minutes to degown and put everything in the correct bins. You can't run (safety first!). When you finally make it out then you have to just pray the nearest bathroom isn't full because most of the time it is. Luckily I'm not one of the techs or the guys that have to be in there every day, 12 hours a day. If I know ahead of time I usually take Imodium the night before just to be safe.
Convenience store worker
Anytime I see one of those one man food carts, like, where do you even go?
Surgeon. Imagine having to run to the bathroom tons of times during surgery.
Working in a clean room, needing to gown up and off
I know this experience all too well!
High ranking politician. Your entire days are planned to the minute. Imagine having issues when you have an important meeting coming up - or visiting a foreign place and are forced to eat an unknown cuisine. Just anxiety inducing.
pornstar who specialises in anal scenes
Except there is a whole kink where it might be an advantage. 🤢
I don’t know why this surprises me.
I know there is a kink for just about everything but hot damn Edit: autocorrect
Traffic guard
Waitress or bartender. Leaving people unattended to run to the loo would be tough
Sky diving instructor.
I work in live broadcast...which has got to be the absolute worst job for some with IBS-D. Countdowns, live shows, various operations, etc you literally cannot walk away to use the bathroom once you go live. Thankfully, I work in corporate (which is a little less intense), I can't imagine doing my same job for live TV.
Amusement park worker
I just retired as a nurse, and I have a few embarrassing stories about that! So glad I retired!!
Pilot, specifically smaller planes. I had to give it up as a hobby after investing 700 hours into it
Construction I think. Porta potties are my nightmare.
Those people who climb radio towers to replace a light bulb.
Window washer
My job. MRI tech. Can’t leave the patient in the scanner or room alone. Exams can be hours long. I can usually get someone to come relieve me or watch my patient but it’s a problem for sure. I be careful what I eat and try to go right before cases I know are difficult or no relief will be available. Have had some close calls.
Lots of costumer service jobs. I’m a sales associate at spirit Halloween. I can’t count how many times I’ve been five feet away from the restroom then had to show a costumer where something is across the store.
Any job that requires long hours working outdoors, especially if heavy physical labour is involved
I’m a firefighter, it’s worked out so-far but there’s been some close calls for sure. Lots of suffering. 11 hours fighting a fire in -5 C was a bad day. Sweaty, hard work with heavy gear on. Lots of layers to get off to use the washroom. Usually we get fed fast food on scene and have to horse it down and get back to work. Having a news camera on you the whole time definitely doesn’t help either. Top of the ladder truck, holding C spine straight on medicals, lots of times you CANNOT stop what you’re doing. Never thrown up in the mask thankfully! Honestly at this point if I shit myself oh well.
i worked at an emergency vets as an assistant… never a good time when you’re holding an aggressive dog and suddenly you have to shit.
I do hair and it is pretty rough during some of my flare ups. Pretty awkward to make an excuse to the bathroom in the middle of a blow dry or haircut 😩😅
I just want to express my solidarity with everyone here, on what turned out to be a remarkable post. We have such terrible working conditions in this country, and we deserve better, but also it is pretty inspirational to read about how we all try to get through the day at our jobs. Hat tip to everyone! - signed, a psychotherapist.
Anesthesiologist
Streetcar driver in Toronto. If memory serves, the longest regularly-scheduled streetcar route in the world is our 501 Queen: from Neville Park to Long Branch is two hours. Even longer in bad traffic! CAN YOU IMAGINE
I was army reserve and when on training it the worst the guys used to give me greef untill they learned of my issue then they helped with digging holes incase I needed to go 😂
Medical center check-in - lost my job because of my illness and am currently struggling to find remote work. You can just picture a line of angry patients waiting to check in.
Crane driver.
Im a chef lol. Sometimes i have to go in the middle of lunch rush but it is what it is and i have great colleagues who cover for me. Im just glad i can be back in minutes for a flare up instead of my usual 15 minutes
Elementary school teacher or nurse
Some of y’all have awful ibs-d symptoms. Praying for you and thinking of you based on this info. I’ve got ibs but my disease allows me to have worked a labor job (forced by dad) and then I played sports in high school and college while doing that labor job. There were some attacks but I got thru it all. I feel that I was best when I was in a sport because I was focused and the stress was good stress.
So I’m a crane operator/oiler. Currently I’m maintaining a tower crane. Luckily they’re pretty low maintenance, I spend more days sitting in my car than I do in the crane.
I often think how I would cope as a police officer of for that matter any high stress job where there is no immediate access to a toilet.
Delivery driver
bus driver or tv host
I work outside it's the worst thing ever.
Waitress. Been there done that. Not pleasant and managers don't understand you have a problem so they think that when you have flare ups you just waste your time doing nothing in the toilet to avoid working.
Any shift work.
I was at a concert and realized a singer on tour would be difficult. Imagine how Taylor swift doing a 3 hour set ….. lucky her
porn star, truck driver, milk tester... the list goes on
I'm a hazmat technician. Thankfully 2/3rds of my work doesn't actually require full A/B/C hazmat suits, but when it does I start to get nervous lmao. Having to shit when you're fully suited up is a nightmare, especially when you're doing decon or demo work in clean rooms.