Ulcerative Colitis - advice please!

[t-stick]

Hi all,

Just after a bit of advice really..

I'm full time cabin crew for a British airline and have been signed off work for the last few weeks after I ended up in hospital with what docs think is ulcerative colitis (awaiting confirmation)
I have been on steroids which I'm now reducing down to none over the next few weeks and am taking Mezavant daily which seems to be doing the trick (touch wood!)
I just wondered if there are any other crew out there who do/have flown with UC and how it affects your career?
My concern at the minute is if I will be able to continue flying? And if I can't where that leaves me? i.e would my company have to find me an alternate position on the ground or can they give me the boot as I'm unfit to fulfil my duty as cabin crew?

Any advice will be much appreciated, thanks :ok:

[gingernut]

Unable to answer your specific employment questions, although I'm wondering if the Disability Discrimination Act may be your friend.

Long term, the course of the disease can be very variable, and I'm guessing that this may have an influence on your career pathway. I expect the authorities will be interested in things such as frequency and severity of exascerbations, predictability, time off on sick leave etc.

The good news is that treatments (these days) are generally pretty good.

Keep us posted, and good luck:)

[pinkpyjama]

I have had UC since 1995 and have been flying as crew since 1996. Throughout that time I have had flare ups from time to time. Some worse than others, thankfully at the moment I am in remission. The condition can come and go with varying severity.

Only once has an airline threatened to not employ me and I successfully argued my case enough for them to withdraw their concern. My current employer allows me to fly as long as I keep them up to date with any change in the condition. (I will admit though it is a worrying time when you fill out the medical questionnaire to see if you're ok or not.)

Steroids are very effective in the short term however large dose ie 25mg+ can affect you when flying in the cabin. You can feel at best almost high at worse very on edge. The problem with steroids is not only are they working on your colon but every other organ in your body too. Blood pressure can really go bonkers and as you know the body works harder when at altitude. For this reason I would advise you to think twice before flying when on a high dose. Fine at lower doses but remember, it's your health. I believe that Steroids are not allowed by the CAA however that is arguably for pilots only. It can be open to interpretation re - Cabin Crew. For this reason one can sympathise why some 'gamble' and don't tell their airline if they are only on the medication for a short period.

What has always frustrated me when dealing with airline doctors and GP's in general is that most of them know only the basics of UC. This does not help when particularly with airline docs, they are responsible for signing you off. Over time you may well find that you will know more than they do about the latest treatments available and how best to manage it. On the other hand most UC specialists know very little about aviation matters, nearly all have rejected any concerns with flying whilst on medication. All I can advise is my own experiences hence my notes on steroids.

I agree with the last post in that modern treatments have really moved on tremendously and with proper management, you should live as normal a life as possible. Be prepared for some nasty flare ups and also for many long periods of remission when you may well feel that your condition has healed. UC is a stubborn so and so and has a habit of waking up when you least expect it.

So my advice to you is be open (to a point) with your airline, do not over complicate matters in telling them too much, take steroids when you absolutely have to but bear in mind what I said earlier. Your specialist will not want you on them forever as they do have not so nice side effects. There are other very effective safer long term treatments he will look at for you. But again, take them in the short term as they do work amazingly well.

A really useful forum is found at Ulcerative Colitis Information Centre (http://www.ulcerativecolitis.org.uk) have a look and you will find some brilliantly helpful info here.

Hope that helps, I have had a brilliant career to date and UC has not helped but in no way compromised my career. Stay safe, keep fit, eat well and your career will be as long as you want it to be.

Good luck

PP

[t-stick]

Hi guys thanks so much for your helpful replies.

Pinkpyjama its good to hear something positive about UC and flying! My GP seemed a bit iffy with regards whether I will be able to continue flying, but I guess at the minute its a case of waiting to see how mine goes. Fingers crossed these steroids will take me into remission and I won't be back at square one once I'm off them.

If you don't mind me asking when you have a flare up have you always had to resort to steroids to control it or have you managed to control it using diet etc?

[pinkpyjama]

It depends how bad your flare ups are. What it comes down to is not so much the need for the loo but how much and for how long you can hold on for. For most of my flare ups until about a year ago I had little time to hold on, but could always manage until a loo became free. Then things got nasty and went on steroids one final time before going on another course of treatment (Azathioprine) which has been very successful so far.

As I said before try not to panic. Over time you will get a feel for what is good for your symptoms and what to frankly; avoid at all costs.

As for Steroids, only severe flare ups have resulted in me needing to go on them. Symptoms like blood, excessive mucus, significant weight loss, pain and very severe Diarrhoea over a lengthy period. Quite often one can have mini flare ups and for these I haven't resorted to them. Again try not to panic, I know it's easier said than done but this disease is with you to stay and you will soon learn to not only live with it, but to keep on top of things.

I guess in brief, try not to resort to Steroids unless your life is being seriously compromised as a result. Your GP and specialists will know when enough is enough re: steroids. It's not for me to give you a specific time as that would be wrong. I think I have said earlier that they are excellent in halting symptoms very quickly so if your doctors are ok for you to be on them then trust them.

I am a little concerned for you about your company's apparent reservations about you flying. This is nonsense and do not stand for that too much. Obviously if your symptoms are very severe that is another matter, but a huge majority of UC sufferers live perfectly active lives. As long as you feel well and have no prolonged absense from work, then frankly they should let you continue your duties. Keep on top of that one.:ok:

[pinkpyjama]

Re Above: Sorry after re-reading your post I note it's your GP that's concerned and not your company. My advice still stands in case your company do start to get shall we say 'funny' about things.

I guess your GP is just covering all bases. Give things time. UC can be at ease for long periods just as much as being active.

PP

[IJM]

Hi t-stick, sorry to hear about your problems with UC. I'm not in the aviation industry but the general comments on UC above are all very helpful.

I had severe UC flare-ups in 2006, but (touch wood) since then have been pretty stable. I am taking Azathioprine and Asacol on a daily basis which are keeping things settled. It has been useful to change my lifestyle too, ie. I drink less, try to eat a bit more healthy foods and I exercise a lot more.

The steriods were a very effective course of action over a short period of time to calm things down.

As well as the link that pinkpyjama mentioned, it would be useful to check this group out too:

Crohn's and Colitis UK (http://www.nacc.org.uk/content/home.asp)

Also, if you happen to live in North London, the staff at the Gastro Clinic at the Whittington Hospital in Archway were fantastic towards me, so supportive and helpful. If you don't live there, then hopefully your local NHS trust will be as good.

Best of luck to you, and hope things settle down soon (and stay settled).

Cheers, IJM