Phone Hell

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to tell you that the phone has become my greatest enemy.

I find that when I have a call and answer it, its only a matter of time before I need to go to the toilet. I can't put the phone down or end the conversation early without having an accident.

At home I can just about get away with it, but at work I fear that deathly ring.

What do I do?

Help

G

Is it possible to get a cordless phone at the office and or a head set type set up?? (Just don't flush until after the conversation is over.....that's what has to be done at home.....why not there????)

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61 yr old male~Colitis 1st diagnosed Jan '05-cleared up within a few wks. Flared again in May '06 (now UC) & hospitalized 5/07-currently heading towards a remission. Osteopena of spine from prednisone DX 8/07  Oct 07 feeling quite normal most days.  150mg Imuran 15 mg prednisone & tapering, 12 Asacol, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly 2%,multi vitamin, iron 1X day, DanActive, chewable calcium, Prilosec 20mg, enalapril 10mg, glipizide 5 mg, zocor 20 mg, baby aspirin, (Fentanyl pain patch 50mg 72 hrs  Morphine Sulf 15 mg twice daily)Cortifoam enemas AM & PM, folic acid 1mg, Fosamax 1x month

I often have this same problem, mostly just at home, not work. I have started just pooping while on the phone at home, but, yeah, it would be kind of hard to do that at work and not get funny looks.

Can you see your GI doctor and maybe they can up your meds a little to get your flare more under control?

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23 years old
Diagnosed with UC March 2007
Current inflamation in the rectum
Asacol 4 tablets 3x/day

Cordless phone all the way...you can cover the talk speaker when you're letting noisy ones rip and so forth, or use the mute button, which ever is easiest...besides when you've got some people that just won't let you get off the phone then a cordless is the way to "go", ha ha, literally...I couldn't resist.

:)

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My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it!  LOL  :)

I spend a lot of time on conference calls at work, and I have a wireless headset which has been a life safer for me (I don't have UC, but I've been trying to drink more water, and I seem to have to go to the bathroom every 15-20 minutes). So, I put myself on mute, go to the bathroom, and when I'm out take myself off mute.

At work for me, it is a shared restroom with multiple stalls, so if someone is in there with me, if I take myself off mute, even if I don't flush, if the other person does . . . So, it's not perfect, but it's far better than trying to hold it.

At home, I used my cordless phone (the handset also has a speaker phone), and I put it on speaker, and put myself on mute. I hope this helps you. Also, if your urgency is really bad, your flare is probably not under control - so you should (if you aren't already) look into what you can do to quickly bring this flare under control. Also, in the past, I've heard quincy mention a med (I think the name is Bentyl) for urgency - maybe someone can update this ticket with the meds that help with controlling the urgency associated with a UC flare.

Feel better soon.

PV

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Husband with Ulcerative Proctitis
Diagnosed March 2003, 1st Flareup after diagnosis Apr 2006
Currently in Remission
Nightly 1000mg time release Canasa
Even though he has no symptoms, he's on VSL # 3 (1 packet daily) for prevention
Was on the SCD, but we stopped after 4 months of no symptoms - he's doing fine on a normal diet

If you are talking to a coworker, try saying I only have a few minutes I have to call so and so or I am expecting a call or try email. If you are talking to a customer it woudl be more difficult, try saying my dbase is locked up and I need to get more information and I can email or call you w/the details. I find most customers like getting something in writing anyway.

hth!
Beth

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Beth, 32

Just be thankful phones with video hasn't caught on! On the other hand, it could encourage those calling you to hang up faster!

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--Mom of bratcat (16 years old)--

Gargamel

Oh my god! And I thought it was just me!!!

This ALWAYS happens to me.  Usually when Im at home though.  I switched to a cordless phone many years ago and have never looked back. I couldnt be without it. I would say during 80% of calls I answer, I have to run to the toilet! I still cant understand why...

All my mates know about my UC so I dont even bother to press mute anymore, lol

 

That is so weird you brought this up! I thought I was an odd ball! It doesn't bother me much when I'm in remission but as soon as I would get on the phone while in a flare, for some odd reason I have to get to the bathroom. I don't work so it only happens at home. Usually it's just my friends that call so either I tell them I have to use the bathroom real quick to either hold or I will call them back. But if you're at work that is kind of hard to do so I agree with a headset if you can.

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I think I mentioned in another post some time back that this happens to me too. I contributed it to the stress of receiving bad new phone calls regarding my daughter when she was a teenager.

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OK, I am not the one with UC, my daughter is. But I was waiting for her doctor to call me back (daily followup to see how her flare is and how the meds are working). Of course, he had to call while I was in the bathroom. And since we all know how hard it is to speak with the doctor, there I sat doing my thing while talking to him about bratcat doing her thing! And in the back of my mind I was thinking about all of you!

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--Mom of bratcat (16 years old)--

This is so weird - I thought it was only me out there.  I have the same problem.  One of the major reasons I had to leave work due this crazy disease.

love to all here

bob

We were in the process of putting our house on the market during my last flare. It would never fail either the realtor or mortgage people would call...literally 2 seconds into the conversation I would get awful urgency. Maybe it is psychological?? I remember squeezing and praying hard I would make it!

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Tabitha (Tab)

100mg Azathioprine, 2 Fibercon, Colazal-6 a day, Acidopholis Pearls, Prilosec OTC

http://www.healingwell.com/donate
Co-Moderator UC Forum

I have the same issue whenever I have meetings with my boss. Within seconds of the start of the meeting I have to go. Weird.

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28 yr old female