Gutted with IBS at work? Don’t be…

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition of the digestive system that nearly all of us will have heard of in conversation. In fact, there is a probably good chance that you know somebody who is suffering from it. The symptoms include bloating, stomach cramps, constipation and diarrhoea. Unfortunately for the 12 million Brits affected by IBS, the symptoms usually strike intermittently, sometimes at the most inconvenient of times and can massively impact the day to day lives for sufferers.

One of major these impacts is the workplace. For somebody who is lucky enough to be blessed with a healthy-working digestive system, it may be difficult to fully appreciate the stress than can be caused by IBS or empathise with that work colleague who had to rush home because of a flare-up of their symptoms.

If the average person awakes in the morning to severe pain in their stomach, they can simply ring in sick to their employer and just return to work after a few days when the problems have begun to subside and they are feeling better. Imagine though having to wake up every single day to chronic abdominal cramps and unpredictable bowel movements, and this is before you have even arrived to work!

Even the commute to work would be stressful enough, panicking about if or when the symptoms could hit you again and your precise proximity to the closest toilet. Simply put: calling in sick each day is not a viable option. With Brits feeling the full force of the recession, many of us are forcing ourselves into work regardless of illness and this applies to those with IBS too. There are bills to be paid, mortgages hanging over us, and statutory sick pay just will not suffice.

In an ideal world for anybody who has IBS, they would be permitted to have their own private workspace and interminable access to their own luxurious bathroom area, without interruptions from others. As this isn’t always feasible, suffering with IBS in the workplace can create huge amounts of stress for those with the condition, which in itself can worsen symptoms as stress is one of the primary causes for IBS. If you are also stuck in a job you dislike or have a boss who is unsympathetic to your situation, this is not going to help matters either.

There are a wide range of problems and situations that could present themselves to IBS sufferers in regards to the workplace.  In severe cases, it is not uncommon for some people to experience three to five bowel movements before they have even left the house, often leaving them running late for work. On top of this, if you happen to work in a quiet office, the last thing you want to hear is a gurgling sound being emitted from your stomach due to the circulation of trapped wind. 

Having to try and cope with dealing with an unpredictable bowel can leave many people miserable at work. As any good Manager will be aware of; an unhappy employee will ultimately result in an unproductive employee. Moreover, trying to concentrate on a work task can seem an impossible mission when you need to get up to go to the toilet and then being required to quietly sit through meetings or presentations can be torturous.

Statistics to have been released into the public domain in recent years go a huge way in demonstrating how underestimated the seriousness is of IBS in the workplace, the demographic of sufferers and the financial burden it can place on the NHS and society in general.

It is estimated that certain complicated IBS tests at hospitals can drain the NHS of £3,000 for each examination, and it’s not always a foregone conclusion that doctors can get to the root of the problems or offer adequate treatment. It would appear than men are getting off lightly, with women accounting for 70% of the 5,000 IBS-related hospital admissions during 2011 in England. In total, women aged between 40 and 44 comprised of these 5,000 visits. Along with back pain, symptoms connected to IBS are among the most common reasons for time off work and it is costing employers and the NHS millions each year.

What can be done though? If you are suffering from IBS, you can make many small changes today that can have major benefits to coping in the workplace and prevent it from interfering with your job. One of the most important things you should immediately try to do at work is speak to your employer. They will probably be sympathetic if you explain your predicament to them and may be even able to provide a workspace slightly away from colleagues if flatulence is an issue, and also make sure you are seated nearby to the toilet facilities.

As mentioned previously, stress is one of the main causes for triggering IBS symptoms, and it should be minimised as much as possible. If workload is organised properly in an efficient manner, you will have a much better chance of meeting deadlines and not feeling overwhelmed. Another issue we touched upon earlier is dreaded long meetings or presentations. Do not feel afraid of speaking to your manager about this issue and then could even slightly alter your job role so that you are not required to attend them.

In regards to limiting your symptoms, try to maintain a regular schedule. Keep your body on an even keel by aiming for regular sleeping and eating patterns. Sticking to timed, small, low-fat meals can avoid unnecessary upset to your stomach. Pinpoint what foods may be causing your symptoms to flare-up or if you are unsure of the culprits, speak to your doctor and they can refer you to a dietician who may be able to identify the problem foods. Other things you can do include restricting tea and coffee to three cups a day as the caffeine may be problematic in some people, restrict your intake of fizzy drinks and aim to drink at least eight cups of water each day.

For the millions of IBS sufferers around the UK, we hope this guidance will provide you with more knowledge on how you can tackle your symptoms in the workplace. Nobody has to suffer in silence and by speaking out to those around you and sharing information, you can go on to enjoy work again and stop IBS from overcoming you.