Need help with IBS and what to do.

[debber]

Hi,
I'm hoping some can give me some advice on how to deal with this problem. I've had IBS for over a year which manifests itself in constant stomach pain and on occasion diarrhea. I am a delivery postman so it causes pretty bad problems sometimes. Luckily I've made it to toilets on my duty every time I needed to. Yesterday I had to use toilets in shops on my round 3 times.

I've only had maybe 3 absences due to it, but I feel like its come to a point where I need to seek help. I'm tempted to just go straight to my DOM and see if he has any suggestions, although I am guessing he won't have any inside jobs to give me. Should I go and see him? Should I take the CWU rep with me? Should I ask to be referred to Atos?

The problem is manageable if I am near a toilet and I know it's stress related as it mostly clears up during my time off. I'm just not sure how to move forward.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

1. Get it medically diagnosed, and certificated if possible.
2. Speak to the H&S rep - IBS can be covered under the old DDA act and they new Equality Act.
3. Then go to the DOM and ask for "reasonable adjustments" taking the H&S rep in with you. If possible make the request in writing (CC to rep) as it will help that its been documented but more importantly it will help you make your case as you can refer to the letter when making points.

Good luck.

[debber]

Thanks for the reply.

It is already medically diagnosed and I have mentioned it as an ongoing illness in at least 2 back to work interviews. I'll head back to the doctor on Monday, since it seems the tablets I've been taking aren't working now. Will my doctor certificate it? Not sure what this means. But, yeah, I'll get on with speaking to the rest on Monday as well.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Certificated just means a note from the doctor confirming the diagnosis.

[TeeferTiger]

What TBT said... and has it been confirmed as IBS? Have colitis and other intestinal issues been ruled out?

I know some people who have had success with this lady's therapy treatment thingy... http://ibshypnotherapycourse.webs.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, have you tried an elimination diet? Cut out dairy for example for a month, see if it improves.

[krussel]

My wife has this condition.

She takes "Buscapan" tablets which helps ease the pain and toilet problems. Explore your diet looking for triggers such as certain veg etc. If possible avoid stress situations.

Best of luck with this, its a tough condition.

[wheresourmoney]

I hope that when you go and speak to your dom he is more understanding than mine,before the revision i had a bike duty that enabled me to get to 3 local toilets without any mishaps, so when i got a trolley duty i was concerned for the future, it took a lot of courage to talk to my female dom about it, as i had to explain to her the ins and outs of the condition, her solution was to send me to the mail centre 30 miles away { i dont drive by the way }, i refused the offer,picked a delivery near to my house and use an old post office bike to do my delivery on, good luck.

[debber]

Thanks for the replies.

The doctor prescribed Mebeverine for me which seemed to work until recently, but from what I've read IBS can go away then flare up so maybe it was never working. Over the last year I've changed my diet quite a bit, upping fibre and cutting down on ready meals and junk food. It'd be nice if I could find a trigger, but it seems really hard to nail down what causes it to come on.

[Darren Bent]

If you have it in irregular period. Try to narrow down diet in 24 hours every time it happens. Then you will be nearer to identify the trigger. Maybe keep an diary to help.

[Lincox]

I am also on mebeverine for this condition. I do not suffer much painwise but suffer bad bouts of bloating, heavy heads and extreme tiredness. I find that when I have an attack the worst thing is drinking tea. I now only drink coffee or cranberry juice and this seems to be better. Funny thing is I always feel much better once I am out in the fresh air delivering.

[michael61]

hi debber suffer from ibs myself i take spasmonal tab,s 3 times a day fairly helps. would like someone to confirm if it is covered under the equality act. have been diagnosed with this over 10 yrs now doc has never said it is covered under dda nor atos.

[Pinky 1]

From the 2010 Equality Act

To be protected under the Act you must be “disabled”. A person is stated to be disabled if they
have a “physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on
their ability to carry out normal day to day activities

If you suffer with a progressive condition which has (or is expected to have) a substantial
adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities then it will be treated
as a disability from the point that it affects (or affected) your ability to carry out normal day to
day activities.

[Pinky 1]

Download it here and have a good read, it may help for future reference
http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... et#p428164" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[michael61]

thanks for reply pinky 1 have good days and bad days will look into it more once again thanks.