Let’s talk reality here….

1. Pretty much all of us need to work to make a living.

2. Getting disability is incredibly hard with Gastroparesis

3. Working with a chronic illness feels almost impossible

While I never tried for disability myself, I had a very hard time working when I was at the worst of my symptoms. So, how did I push through?

I am going to offer some tips that helped me get through. Of course, these aren’t fool-proof, and sometimes you are just too sick to work. So, keep that in mind and remember, there isn’t a magic pill in the world to make your Gastroparesis better.

Also, this can all be dependent on the type of work you do. Some tips will apply to everyone, some won’t.

Tips for Working with Gastroparesis

1. Figure out if mentioning it to your managers, boss, superiors is worth it.

   I am someone who likes to think that that people aren’t mean-hearted for the most part, and maybe I have just been lucky to have very kind and understanding bosses. So, talk to them, disclose your illness to the degree you are comfortable with, maybe even refer them to some of these blogs, so they get a full understanding of Gastroparesis. Figure out together what accommodations can be made for you.

   Does that look like working from home? Working longer shifts for less days? Being able to leave when you are too sick? All you can do is communicate with them, because the more they know and understand, the easier it is for them to empathize and not think you are just trying to get out of working. (I know, that sounds mean, but it’s the truth)

2. Build the rapport with your colleagues.

   So, not only do you need to do this with your managers, so that you are comfortable sharing. Do this with your colleagues. You don’t have to share intimate details, but you can let them know you suffer from a chronic condition and sometimes accommodations have to be made, but you are a team player and you will get your job done and it won’t get thrown on them.

   If you follow social media’s advice, you’ll see plenty of info about be there only for yourself and look out for yourself, and while there is a degree of truth to that, there’s a lot of that that’s gross. Your colleagues are there just like you, to make a living and do their job. It’s not you against everyone.

3. Build a good rapport with your doctor

   You might wonder how this works or why it’s important, but it is. If your manager has questions about your condition or needs any paperwork, you can either send them to your doctor or have your doctor write notes for you that require certain accommodations.

4. Make Lists

   Oftentimes, with Gastroparesis, we get brain fog and remembering all of our task and duties can be daunting. So, make lists. This is something I do daily. Each morning and evening, I sit down and write my to-do’s for the next day. This will help you take the load off your brain and reduce some stress, which is a factor with Gastroparesis.

5. Rest as much as you can

   When you aren’t at work, rest. Allow your body to take the pressure off. This also applies to sleep. There is a ton of research on “rest and digest” and how your body goes through so much digestion and repair while you sleep, so getting good sleep is important. I know sometimes it can be hard when you feel like crap, but establish a good routine and try to relax.

6. Fuel your body with the best possible food you can tolerate

   This one is the hardest, because GP is so finicky with what you can and can’t eat. However, when you can, make the choices to eat food that will provide you with energy that will last and not just processed food that will burn off quickly and make you crash.

7. Understand your limits

   Some days, you just can’t. And that’s okay. You need to listen to your body for when to push through or when to take a break for 10-15 minutes and lay down, throw up, go to the bathroom, etc. And if it’s too bad, maybe even take the day. This is where having that good rapport with your team comes in handy.

8. Grin & bear it

   And to combat the previous one, some days, you have to just work through the pain. We have all been there and sometimes it’s necessary. If you’ve taken too many days off, if you have a big deadline, whatever it may be. Sometimes, you have to push through and then go home and crash, and that’s the unfortunate reality of a chronic condition.

9. Take time for yourself

   And when you can’t do it anymore, sometimes you just have to stop working, go part-time, or even switch fields to something less demanding on you. Don’t be ashamed of it either. I was in that situation of doing something less demanding or stressful and it helped me on days when I didn’t feel like I could even get up. These days I have a full blown career and Real Peel, so remember, it doesn’t have to be forever.

While this list seems pretty straight forward, it can be so helpful to apply them all together. Maybe there is a point or two you never thought about.

I hope that you found this helpful and if you are looking for a place to start with your Gastroparesis Healing Journey, grab the FREE 3-Day Healing Guide.

Until Next Time,

Keep it Fresh. Keep it Simple. Keep it Real.

Aubrey