Hi, I am Andrea. I am a newly qualified OT after having a career change. I currently work in a home rehab community team. I live with multiple chronic illnesses/ invisible disabilities, including Crohn’s disease with a permanent stoma and type 1 diabetes.
As World Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Day approaches on 19th May, I reflect on my 24-year journey with Crohn’s disease and how it has shaped both my personal and professional life as an occupational therapist.
My Diagnosis Journey
When I received my Crohn’s diagnosis at 13, I couldn’t have imagined how it would influence my future career choice. Now, I occupy a unique position—understanding IBD through lived experience while applying the knowledge and perspectives gained as an OT.
IBD encompasses two chronic conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract: Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. Both share similar symptoms and often involve extra-intestinal manifestations like joint pain, which contribute to fatigue, sleep disturbances and mental health challenges. These symptoms can significantly disrupt daily activities and meaningful occupations, ultimately affecting quality of life.
The Teenage Experience
Being diagnosed during adolescence presented particular challenges. While my peers navigated typical teenage concerns, I was learning to manage medication schedules, handle school absences during flares, and process the emotional impact of a chronic condition during formative years. Hospital stays became routine at an age when fitting in felt crucial.
Balancing Professional Practice with Personal Health
Twenty-four years later, I’ve developed strategies that enable me to work effectively as an OT while managing my own occupational performance. My typical workday requires careful planning that colleagues might not realise—scheduling toilet stops during community visits, finding moments to rest between patients, and sitting whenever possible to conserve energy and reduce joint pain.
As OTs, we analyse how health conditions impact occupation, but experiencing this firsthand brings another dimension to my understanding. I must constantly ensure I can pace myself throughout the working day to provide each patient with my full attention and capability.
Professional Strategies Supporting My Occupational Performance
Energy Conservation in Clinical Practice
- Identifying which interventions drain my energy most quickly and scheduling accordingly
- Working flexibly according to how I feel—sometimes seeing all clients consecutively in the morning with afternoon admin, other days spreading appointments throughout the day with rest periods between
- Prioritising essential same-day tasks versus what can wait
- Being transparent with my team when I need to reduce my workload during flares
Environmental Modifications
- Utilising Access to Work provisions (though this has been challenging to arrange)
- Planning regular toilet stops and using finder apps
- Carrying an emergency change of clothes
- Sitting to complete tasks whenever possible
The Dual Identity: Provider and Patient
Perhaps the most complex aspect of being an OT with Crohn’s is navigating the dual identity of healthcare provider and patient. I’ve delivered interventions while actively managing my own symptoms—teaching energy conservation techniques during periods when I desperately needed them myself.
This duality has required clear personal boundaries. I’ve established criteria for when symptoms might compromise safe practice and learned to accept help from colleagues without feeling professionally inadequate.
Applying OT Knowledge for Self-Management
Ironically, many strategies I teach clients have become essential to my own functioning:
- Activity analysis principles guide how I approach challenging tasks
- Planning, Pacing and prioritising techniques help me navigate full clinic days
- Environmental assessment skills help me quickly identify accessible options in unfamiliar settings
The Unexpected Benefits of Personal Experience
While Crohn’s creates challenges, it has enhanced my practice in meaningful ways. My authentic understanding of chronic condition management helps build rapport with clients, and my firsthand knowledge of healthcare systems helps me guide others through complex processes.
I deeply understand that occupational disruption isn’t just theoretical—it’s a lived reality requiring continuous adaptation. This understanding shapes my client-centred approach and reinforces my commitment to supporting participation in meaningful activities.
Moving Forward Together
To fellow OT’s: I encourage open dialogue about our experiences. Our professional training gives us unique insights into our own health management, while our personal experiences alongside evidence enhance’s our clinical reasoning.
My Crohn’s journey hasn’t diminished my effectiveness as an OT—it has added dimensions of understanding that enrich my practice every day.
AffinOT 