Ulcerative Colitis, but I want to be a Train Driver

Political Wall Map

Hi all,

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this.

I'm hoping for some advice.

I'm 26. I have Ulcerative Colitis.

I have it 4 years now. The first years were appalling, due to mis-diagnosis and mis-management of the disease. It was a nightmare at the beginning. I spent two weeks in hospital, lost 4 stone, the usual. It was after 2 years that I was put on Humira injections.

For the past two years my life is back to normal, with no sickness or pain. I enjoy an outdoors lifestyle, cycling, swimming, soccer, mountain walking. I am in remission.

I have letters to prove it.

My medications are;

HUMIRA and IMURAN

My problem is, I want to become a trainee driver with Irish rail. I passed aptitude tests and got through the interview.

However I failed the medical because the colitis.

Can this be appealed?
How can I prove or go about appealing and winning the appeal?

Am I fighting a losing battle and just accept that its not for me?

Thanks, any help is REALLY REALLY APPRECIATED.

livedadream

Political Wall Map wrote: »

Hi all,

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this.

I'm hoping for some advice.

I'm 26. I have Ulcerative Colitis.

I have it 4 years now. The first years were appalling, due to mis-diagnosis and mis-management of the disease. It was a nightmare at the beginning. I spent two weeks in hospital, lost 4 stone, the usual. It was after 2 years that I was put on Humira injections.

For the past two years my life is back to normal, with no sickness or pain. I enjoy an outdoors lifestyle, cycling, swimming, soccer, mountain walking. I am in remission.

I have letters to prove it.

My medications are;

HUMIRA and IMURAN

My problem is, I want to become a trainee driver with Irish rail. I passed aptitude tests and got through the interview.

However I failed the medical because the colitis.

Can this be appealed?
How can I prove or go about appealing and winning the appeal?

Am I fighting a losing battle and just accept that its not for me?

Thanks, any help is REALLY REALLY APPRECIATED.

the best bet is to cehck with them in regards to appealing, ive crohns and while its mostly managable i can understand your frustration.

if you appeal it they might need a gp letter or one from your specialist.

speak to the recruiter and see why they say you cant do it, is it due to the drug effecting your ability to drive the trains, is it due to potentail absenses, is it because of a health and safety issue or a practical issue, ie can a train driver cant just go to the toilet when needed.

Political Wall Map

livedadream wrote: »

the best bet is to cehck with them in regards to appealing, ive crohns and while its mostly managable i can understand your frustration.

if you appeal it they might need a gp letter or one from your specialist.

speak to the recruiter and see why they say you cant do it, is it due to the drug effecting your ability to drive the trains, is it due to potentail absenses, is it because of a health and safety issue or a practical issue, ie can a train driver cant just go to the toilet when needed.

Thanks for the reply. I'm waiting to hear back. I have already sorted a letter from the specialists in St James's. I've only missed 4 days in 2.5 years of work. So next step now is to see if the drug has any side effects I suppose.thanks alot for the advice