Teachers, do you seriously stress over pooping your pants at work?

[Anonymous]

I do.
I have seriously overactive bowels. Probably irritable bowel syndrome although it’s never been diagnosed. There have been many many close calls where I have been sweating bullets on my way to the restroom, and have even worked out an escape scenario where I bring my cell phone and car keys with me to the bathroom, so if the worst happens I can jump in my car and leave.
Have any other teachers put serious thought into what they would do if they ever find themselves in this humiliating situation?

[Anonymous]

You need to get tested, OP. This has nothing to do with your profession, but everything to do with your health. My daughter had sudden unexpected cramps and diarrhea and it turned out to be lupus - which is not a typical presentation of that disease. It took several months on Plaquenil for her symptoms to subside, and she basically needs to be on it for life, if she can tolerate it.

You can get bloodwork for autoimmune markers, general inflammation markers and IBS-specific markers in blood and stool. If it's IBS, you will need to start a FODMAP elimination diet and figure out what foods are triggers.

But you cannot continue to live like this! (Also, do you keep a change of clothes in a go-bag?)

[Anonymous]

or just start wearing depends as a backup

[Anonymous]

NP. I used to have situations like that and assumed the worst. No incidents at work but so many close calls and I can still feel the cold sweat on my face. I had a lot of different work ups revealed that it was:

-hormonal (PCOS-related in my case, but check other possibilities)
-autoimmune (hypothyroidism, so now I’m on thyroid meds)
-severe lactose intolerance (it’s hard to know what it feels like to feel normal if you’ve had this your entire life and just accepted it as how you’re supposed to feel)

I also cut back on caffeine in the morning because it aggravated all of these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to get tested, OP. This has nothing to do with your profession, but everything to do with your health. My daughter had sudden unexpected cramps and diarrhea and it turned out to be lupus - which is not a typical presentation of that disease. It took several months on Plaquenil for her symptoms to subside, and she basically needs to be on it for life, if she can tolerate it.

You can get bloodwork for autoimmune markers, general inflammation markers and IBS-specific markers in blood and stool. If it's IBS, you will need to start a FODMAP elimination diet and figure out what foods are triggers.

But you cannot continue to live like this! (Also, do you keep a change of clothes in a go-bag?)

DP. What type of doctor did she see? My DD has similar GI issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to get tested, OP. This has nothing to do with your profession, but everything to do with your health. My daughter had sudden unexpected cramps and diarrhea and it turned out to be lupus - which is not a typical presentation of that disease. It took several months on Plaquenil for her symptoms to subside, and she basically needs to be on it for life, if she can tolerate it.

You can get bloodwork for autoimmune markers, general inflammation markers and IBS-specific markers in blood and stool. If it's IBS, you will need to start a FODMAP elimination diet and figure out what foods are triggers.

But you cannot continue to live like this! (Also, do you keep a change of clothes in a go-bag?)

DP. What type of doctor did she see? My DD has similar GI issues.

DP, but I’ve been able to get a rheum panel ordered through my PCP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to get tested, OP. This has nothing to do with your profession, but everything to do with your health. My daughter had sudden unexpected cramps and diarrhea and it turned out to be lupus - which is not a typical presentation of that disease. It took several months on Plaquenil for her symptoms to subside, and she basically needs to be on it for life, if she can tolerate it.

You can get bloodwork for autoimmune markers, general inflammation markers and IBS-specific markers in blood and stool. If it's IBS, you will need to start a FODMAP elimination diet and figure out what foods are triggers.

But you cannot continue to live like this! (Also, do you keep a change of clothes in a go-bag?)

DP. What type of doctor did she see? My DD has similar GI issues.

See a gastroenterologist.

[Anonymous]

So sorry OP your situation sounds very anxiety provoking. I am used to stepping out if I need to while at the office. I don't think there are any other professions where you are unable to leave as needed to use the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to get tested, OP. This has nothing to do with your profession, but everything to do with your health. My daughter had sudden unexpected cramps and diarrhea and it turned out to be lupus - which is not a typical presentation of that disease. It took several months on Plaquenil for her symptoms to subside, and she basically needs to be on it for life, if she can tolerate it.

You can get bloodwork for autoimmune markers, general inflammation markers and IBS-specific markers in blood and stool. If it's IBS, you will need to start a FODMAP elimination diet and figure out what foods are triggers.

But you cannot continue to live like this! (Also, do you keep a change of clothes in a go-bag?)

While I don’t disagree with you that OP should be tested it does have a lot to do with her profession. She can’t leave the room until a certain time. So while she might have a regular bowel movement she has to hold it. I’m a teacher OP and I get it. I don’t drink water at certain times so I won’t have to pee. Sometimes coffee upsets my stomach but I like to drink it so I only do when I know I have a break coming up. Maybe adjust what and when you eat and drink ( yes I know this suggestion is sad but it’s the reality of the situation).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So sorry OP your situation sounds very anxiety provoking. I am used to stepping out if I need to while at the office. I don't think there are any other professions where you are unable to leave as needed to use the bathroom.

I'm not a teacher, but I also have a profession where I often don't have bathroom access. For me, though, it's not just that I can't leave, it's that no bathroom exists where I am. (I'm active duty and we often go out on a bus and do a ceremony or event where there is not a bathroom available for hours at a time.) A lot of us have these fears, like you do, especially if you have one bad day and then it really gets to you. I always carry pepto and imodium and do a bland, safe diet in the lead up to an event. But I can see that if it's every single day, that wouldn't be as useful. For me, most of it is anxiety. I really only have stomach issues when I'm nervous, so addressing that through meditation, mantras, and CBT therapy has been key.

If you're having frequent issues, I'd see your doctor for sure.

[Anonymous]

OP I am a teacher as well and have IBS, which mainly flares in stressful periods. It has always been a struggle and not just at work, but I definitely ruled out certain career paths due to this issue. I work in an independent school where I can leave to use the bathroom as needed, but if course there are times I can’t…like if I am giving a test or something. I nearly lost my mind the year we all had to proctor SAT’s and had to arrange for someone to be available to come relieve me if it was needed. I could never work in a
normal public school situation where teachers aren’t allowed breaks as needed. I have been to many doctors over the years but they didn’t really help me. I finally figured out that I just have several chronic conditions (GERD, overactive bladder, etc) which flare when I am stressed and so I have to manage my life accordingly.

Things that help me: peppermint tea after lunch,
reducing caffeine intake during flares, eating bland foods at lunch, having immodium on me for bad days, and using gut-focused hypnotherapy. The Nerva app works for me. I did the whole 6 week program to start and now if I have a flare I use it for 2-3 days and it works every time. Truly remarkable.

I’m sorry, it really sucks and I know that feeling well. But finding some hacks that work has really helped ease my anxiety over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do.
I have seriously overactive bowels. Probably irritable bowel syndrome although it’s never been diagnosed. There have been many many close calls where I have been sweating bullets on my way to the restroom, and have even worked out an escape scenario where I bring my cell phone and car keys with me to the bathroom, so if the worst happens I can jump in my car and leave.
Have any other teachers put serious thought into what they would do if they ever find themselves in this humiliating situation?

I am not a teacher but discovered that the best solution is to take Nullo tablets and wear two underwear or ones with thick material. I hated using the toilets to poop during high school and found that combination worked, and I could do it in my underwear without being discovered. I had the same problem with the toiles when I started working so started doing the same thing.

[Anonymous]

I had this problem during the short time I was a classroom teacher. More peeing than pooping, though. I became a specialist, and that pretty much solved it, since after that I almost always had another teacher in the room with me. Kindergarten teachers have aides, which is another possibility. Maybe try to find a position where you aren't stuck alone in the room for long periods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do.
I have seriously overactive bowels. Probably irritable bowel syndrome although it’s never been diagnosed. There have been many many close calls where I have been sweating bullets on my way to the restroom, and have even worked out an escape scenario where I bring my cell phone and car keys with me to the bathroom, so if the worst happens I can jump in my car and leave.
Have any other teachers put serious thought into what they would do if they ever find themselves in this humiliating situation?

I am not a teacher but discovered that the best solution is to take Nullo tablets and wear two underwear or ones with thick material. I hated using the toilets to poop during high school and found that combination worked, and I could do it in my underwear without being discovered. I had the same problem with the toiles when I started working so started doing the same thing.

God, I hope you're kidding, but otherwise this might explain why one of my coworkers reeks of sh!t all the time.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried a really high quality probiotic? I have mild IBS symptoms including occasional urgency to poop and it’s really helped. Might be worth a try. Probably won’t make things worse.