I'm new to your page but appreciate your content. I'm struggling with a flare at the moment and have had two accidents at work in the last two weeks. My boss is awesome and let me go home to change but I have a few other people that are teasing me about it. I think they think it is a way for me to laugh it off. What advice do you have, if any, for how I can talk to my team about my disease without the shame of having to discuss my occasional accidents? My boss has offered to say something but I think that might do more harm than good. I really just wanted to say thank you for your videos. I could never put it all out there the way you have, but am grateful you do.

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

Emmie - Let me start by welcoming you to my community. You’re safe here. I put up with no mess and have so many moderators in any livestream I might run that they will shut down any trolls before they even have a chance to troll. So thank you for coming, watching and being brave enough to comment. I’m double sorry you’re in flare. Ouch and group hug from people who get it. Accidents happen, especially if we’re in flare. Your body is going a little wild and until the flare is controlled that is a reality we have to accept. Have a discussion with your boss about the conversation you’re going to have with your team. Let them know that you intend to have a discussion about your disease and how it impacts you. You’re going to share this with them so they can better understand what you’re dealing with and the role they can play in helping you be a success at work even when struggling. I would directly ask the people teasing you to stop. Just explain the accidents are beyond your control and the teasing isn’t helpful. Most decent humans will stop. If they don’t this is a good point to bring your boss in to have a talk with them. But I agree with you, you talking to your teammates first will likely do the most good and have the biggest impact. Being open about what you’re going through empowers others to step up for you in big and small ways you can’t even imagine until you give them the space and opportunity to step up. Keep us posted and sending you all the good vibes. We Crohnies have to stick together. Hang in there! 💜❤️💜💯

@Emmie816

5 ай бұрын

@@BarrettLaurie thank you. I wish I had your sense of humor when talking about this. Look forward to the next video.

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

@@Emmie816 you’ve got this.

@JaxMcCall

5 ай бұрын

I finally commented on a vid after seeing yours. I've had too many accidents at work to count on one hand. I work in a large warehouse and my issue is having the time to get to one of our bathrooms. It is humiliating. I always keep a few pair of underwear, pants and socks (don't ask...diarrhea travels fast) in my locker at work. I am actively looking for a desk job so I can better manage these accidents. But it is slow going. Thanks for sharing your story. It was the shot of bravery I needed to share mine so I could ask my questions.

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

@@JaxMcCall I'm so glad you spoke up. I'm happy to answer any and all questions in the Crohn's realm. Never be afraid to speak up here. It is a safe space and we vanquish all trolls to bowels of YT hell if they try to get cute. Bet. Hang in there.

Roomier, more natural light, and a private bathroom??? Someone got the PROMOTION they NEEDED and DESERVED!!! 👏

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

Eeek! I don’t know about that but I’m grateful! I’ll tell ya that!

Watching Brylee freak out at getting a car ride is the best part of my day everyday. So much joy for a little thing! As for the bathrooms, ya know, that is a super power. You do sort of figure out bathrooms immediately upon arriving somewhere. I've been spoiled by never having to find them when we travel. 😆 Love you and proud of you. ❤♥

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

Ummm yeah. I got the bathrooms and 🏧 on lock. You always cover food. So we’re a hell of a pair!

Well done managing your life. The private bathroom sounds like a needed and nice convenience. You are built differently than I am. I hope I never have to go back into an office to work.

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Ben. It’s a balancing act that sometimes blows up in my face. But I do my best. I like working from home, but I need interaction! Argh! Your romance tropes vid is on my to watch list this week!!

The private bathroom is a sure thing that you need as standard! Hope things are going better this week! I'm in flare City but been there for a while so getting used to it 😅

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

Oh no, I hate hearing you’re in flare and double hate you having to “get used to it.” 😔 Hang in there my friend. You’re an inspiration to a lot of us, I only wish I could take the flare away. 💜

Private bathroom for the win x

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

💜❤️💜💯

I love your humor Barrett!!!

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

Ditto sister! I heart you to the moon and back!

My BFF has Crohn's and when we run errands, it has become my habit to spot bathrooms the moment we go through the door. When we do dog shows (or before iPhones, at least) I would print out maps so i knew where the closest hospitals and urgent cares were located. She was really moved when she found out. I'm impressed that you were upright at work all day. ❤❤❤

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

Ya know, I know your friend appreciates the consideration you put in on her behalf for her invisible disease. Thank you for being awesome Regina! 💜❤️💜💯

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

I remember the Mapquest days and days of printing out maps of arenas/conference centers for meetings or concerts. I used to keep everything in clear binders in a notebook. Easy to find what I needed. Kids today will never know what they’re missing. Big hug Regina! Thank you thank you. 💜❤️💜

@Emmie816

5 ай бұрын

This is so nice. As a Crohnie this means the world to them, I'm sure of it.

@MargaretPinard

5 ай бұрын

Quality Human Alert! 💘

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

@@MargaretPinard Regina had always been a good egg. Now we just see she might also have been a super hero.

PS I love that cardigan on ya!

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

Thank you! I got it in multiple colors. Part of my Dorothy from Golden Girls chic

@MargaretPinard

5 ай бұрын

You got a (cardi) friend in me...@@BarrettLaurie

Somehow I missed this notification on my other channel, but I got it here. anyways. I love that 💩 emoji you have. I hear you on the not being able to keep Up although I’m more apt to try keeping up with my youngest but I’ll tell husband I’m done. It’s a weird balance that I don’t manage well. Anyways thanks for sharing!

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

💜❤️💜

Re: the symptoms lingering even after infusion? Well, the %^#@$% insurance company made you miss one!!! Screw them anyway. Hang in there.

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

Thanks my friend. I totally appreciate the energy. Ugh they make me so angry!

I have watched this a dozen times. I was diagnosed w/ IBD this year. It's been rough. I'm currently looking for a new job because I know I can't stay at my current job with my condition (drop shipping fulfillment center). It is really inspiring for me to see you succeed at work in spite of your illness & I would love to learn more about the accommodation plan you have mentioned in these vlogs. Do you think you could go into more detail on that in an upcoming video? Is this kind of thing mandated by law? I live in the US so short of a state law, I assume what applies for you would apply for me? Thank you for doing this!!! I echo what another commenter said about putting it all out there. It makes me feel like soon I'll be able to be moe open about my RX.

@BarrettLaurie

5 ай бұрын

I'm sorry to hear it has been a rough go since diagnosis but this is not altogether surprising. My hardest year with Crohn's - since diagnosis - was my first year. It is a lot to digest - all pun intended - to deal with the fact that I will be sick forever. Maybe not in flare forever, but chronically ill. That is a tough pill to swallow. I wish you all the luck in your job hunt. My job before I took a job in academia was as a store manager in a furniture consignment store that was a warehouse with two restrooms. Oof, can I relate to how tricky that was some days. I'm more than happy to go into detail on the accommodation plan and share everything I know. I will also try to get the person from the University I work at to come on my podcast - Gut Instinct - to discuss it. She is absolutely awesome. Stay tuned and hang in there. You got this.