I’m a Registered Nurse and I absolutely love what I do. I just graduated so I’m young and could be living the time of my life. But instead today I had an accident on the way to work and had to call in sick last minute. This was the worst episode I’ve ever had… no changing of clothes or wipes would’ve helped.

Anyways like I said I’m a nurse so calling out last second is kind of a big deal and I’m very disappointed in myself and my life that I had to miss a whole day of work for this stupid disease.

I’m trying to ease my guilt by telling myself it’s a chronic illness and I would never choose for this to happen… but it’s hard. I hate to let my coworkers and my patients down. How do you guys get through this?

I am so sorry to read of your miserable experience. I worked in tech brokerage for a while and while I didn't have a messy episode like this, I knew often on my way in if I wasn't going to be able to withstand the pain and urgency and would then call in sick and turn around and go home. I used to plan my routes out as to where I could stop if I needed to get to a bathroom.

As you've said, it's really important to appreciate that this is chronic and not every day is going to be like this. You never chose to have this illness. None of us did.

I left tech and worked as a teacher and realized that I couldn't do the job looking after young children. While it's no fun to have such urgency that you can't make it to a toilet, I would reflect on all the times you were at work and were able to manage. You will have okay days again.

Have you ever spoken to your doctor about these situations? There are some medications that might help as well as cognitive behavioural therapy for situations like this.