<p>Found a cool site that shows average commute times in the US [Average</a> commute times in the U.S. shown on awesome interactive map : TreeHugger](<a href=“http://www.treehugger.com/cars/average-commute-times-usa-interactive-map.html]Average”>Automotive)</p>
<p>Since many now telecommute, wonder how that affects this map?</p>
<p>My s has had a 90 minute commute each way for several years. They finally moved. Now its only about 50 minutes. When traffic is good.</p>
<p>Jym, colitis is simply an inflammation of the intestines. It is not always bacterial. I didn’t say Chron’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Her intestines became inflamed because she was so anxious about losing her job on the front end or her daycare slot on the back end that she often had diarrhea, which can be caused by stress in many people. Which caused her intestines to be inflamed, which is colitis.</p>
<p>MOWC, I am very glad it worked out so well for you. I remember reading about your job search, and it does seem like you landed in a food place in a great city. I love it when things work out so well, particularly when it wasn’t initially a sure thing.</p>
<p>Now that my oldest daughter has a commute (about a half hour), she has a new appreciation for it. Cracks me up!</p>
<p>My understanding is that bowel inflammation is typically an immune reaction/infection/bacterial, etc. Irritible bowel syndrome, and its flare-ups may be more stress related. IBS and colitis (ie irritible bowel syndrome vs inflammatory bowel disease) are related, but not identical, as I understand it.</p>
<p>I’ve read through the whole thread and I’m still trying to get used to the idea that you consider an hour commute to be unusually long.</p>
<p>In some places, it’s ordinary.</p>
<p>Jym, I don’t think we are talking about the same thing, but we could pm if you would like so we don’t derail the op’s thread anymore.</p>
<p>Marian, you make a good point. Also, it strikes me that the op would be driving so lack of bathroom could be less of an issue. I still think that if you can avoid such a commute it is better, which I have a,ready said, but I am sure the op will make the best decision and will make the best of it. As MOWC pointed out, in this economy, a job is a job is a blessing.</p>
<p>Not meaning to beat a dead horse, but there have been studies that reveal a higher frequency of anxiety in patients with IBS and IBD, but anxiety does not CAUSE inflammatory bowel disease.</p>
<p>You are perhaps right, Zoos, but my PMs are usually full. Am not meaning to derail the thread, but was just trying to clarify the difference between what was probably Irritible bowel syndrome (perhaps related to stress of a long commute to a stressful job) from true colitis. My S had colitis (developed C diff in response to an antibiotic, but I digress). He spent several days in the hospital. It wasnt pretty. He was very sick. Bad case. Bloody mess. Other s has had Irritible bowel syndrome. He spent time… in the bathroom. ;)</p>
<p>Jym, I am confident that you are absolutely right, as you usually are. I am also confident that my former neighbor was equally knowledgeable about her paricular situation. The difference in the two situations is that my neighbor suffered the chronic diarrhea over a period of more than two years.</p>
<p>Thanks, zoos. I think, perhaps, your neighbor conflated the two terms (irritible bowel syndrome vs inflammatory bowel disease). She may have had IBS, not IBD. True colitis flares can be pretty debilitating. Are you sure she isn’t related to my BIL?? ;)</p>
<p>Jym, she really was debilitated. Out of work for months and had a colostomy for a while. I am sorry that I didn’t make that clear. It wasn’t in the least funny. It was really an awful situation for a woman who needed her job and needed childcare. Sometimes working and childcare can be very tough things to reconcile. It may be that she had an underlying issue that was made worse by the anxiety of the commute because for someone with either bowel or bladder problems, bouncing in a bus for hours with no bathroom can be the stuff of nightmares.</p>
<p>Well the additional information makes a big difference, Zoos. Having a temporary ostomy is more likely indicativie of colitis/chrons/IBD. Chronic diahhrea is one thing. Having an ostomy is another. But this
is the key point of your post. It is unlikely it was CAUSED by the commute. There was probably some underlying issue.</p>
<p>I just finished two years at a job the required an hour driving commute, also against the traffic, and also with problematic winters. It does extend the day, and putting 550 miles on the car each week definitely was not cheap. I listened to lots of audio books, and very much enjoyed the transition between home and work (in both directions). I’m a morning person, tend to flag later in the day, so sometimes was really tired on the homeward journey. I think I adjusted just fine, but now that I have just started a new job that shaves 20 minutes off my commute in each direction, I’m enjoying the “extra” found time in my day.</p>
<p>Jym, the illness that put her out was caused by the commute. But I am confident that you are right about this as you usually are about most things.</p>
<p>While that is kind, I am not sure I agree with that. I am far from always right- but as its easy to conflate diagnoses and terms, its sometimes helpful to try to clarify.</p>
<p>That’s why I said “usually” and “most” and I am comfortable with that choice of words.</p>
<p>Returning to topic, my s’s unfortunate experience with inflammatory bowel disease (it was so bad they thought he might have E coli and I was fielding calls from the department of health, but again I digress) may possibly make him at risk for other situations that could aggravate or irritate the lower GI track. But so far, as far as I know (unless he isnt telling) the 90’ commutes, long woirk days and frequent travel havent triggered any GI reaction. </p>
<p>Long commutes stink, for sure, but in many metro areas, they are common. Difference is if one is in a car, they can get off if they need to use the facilities.</p>
<p>Fendrock-- congrats on the job opportunity. Go for it!</p>
<p>fendrock I travel 50 miles north to Newark NJ and 65 miles south to the Atlantic City area weekly for work. Going against traffic is much better. The trip to Newark is terrible. I usual leave really early in the morning and meet family for dinner and drive home about 9 pm. Stop and go traffic shortens your life.</p>
<p>You really need to factor in gas costs, tires plus other vehicle costs as well as the value of your time when you take a job a certain distance away.</p>
<p>When I commuted to Newark everyday I joined a gym by the office and worked out after work to avoid rush hour.</p>
<p>Yes, seems these are cross posting. I didnt receive a negative comment at all. To the contrary- it was in fact quite supportive. I guess its all too easy to misread the tone on posts. We must all be reminded to be sensitive to that.</p>
<p>So, back to commutes…Looking at that commute time map, it seems there are many places with the dark purple (60 minute) commute times. Ugh. <a href=“http://www.treehugger.com/cars/average-commute-times-usa-interactive-map.html[/url]”>http://www.treehugger.com/cars/average-commute-times-usa-interactive-map.html</a></p>
<p>it lets one put in their zip code and see the average commute time</p>
<p>Fendrock … well commute is headed the right direction. The trip around 495 shouldn’t be too bad at least until you get to Route 3 … if you have to keep going to Route 93 the miles from 3 to 93 often get jammed up some. In addition, it’s been awhile but I found the commute north much better on 3 than 93 in the morning. They are currently renovating a bunch of 93 which will hopefully add a lane (no idea is this is true; it’s hard to tell from the new bridges) … the renovations may help this ride if this is your route. Bottom line of all the hour long commutes from MetroWest this sounds like about as good an outcome as possible.</p>