College or 20 year olds?

[Aliciab]

college or 20 year olds?

I love that this site gives much support to everyone but I which I knew someone with the same situation as me. I'm proud of everyone that has been able to live with their issue for so long and be in remission but I find that I'm having a hard time being in college and being around things were my eating habits can't always be changed so easily. I've been diagnosed with UC and am currently doing test to figure out if its Crohns. Its hard to go to college because I feel uncomfortable talking to teachers. I'm currently working to find another medicine to take. As of right now I'm taking some samples of Lialda and I have pain medication for the flareups. I've only just been diagnosed for about a year and I'm finding it hard to deal with. I get really emotional about it and I feel it's hard to relate to people. Even on here I feel that people are so used to it but I'm still trying to accept it as this is going to be a part of me and sometimes its really hard.

 

[Rebecca85]

Hi, just wondering if you've checked out our teen section? I know technically you're not a teen, but you might find someone in the same situation as you with college in there.

And maybe DustyKat has some advice for you, she is a mum to two great kids, both of which are around your age and have Crohn's, Matt has only recently been diagnosed too.

 

[puddle_of_worms]

I was going to trade school last year, and about 2 months into the semester I ended up having a bad flare that lasted about 6 months. I certainly didn't feel like talking to my instructors about my issues ( I had a different instructor each week of the course). So I phoned up my GI doc, and had his fax a note to the course coordinator. Basically sating that I was going to miss some classes, I was going to have days when I would show up late, or have to leave early. That quickly took care of any concerns I had about grading and attendance.

What I found more difficult was eating in the cafeteria. I was on a liquid diet for a few months, and sitting down at the cafeteria table with 20 class mates was difficult. You can imagine that when classmates are around you for 8 hours a day, they can get a little concerned when the NEVER see you eating food. Then they'd make comments like, why do you always look so depressed at lunch time, like you want to cry or something?
I typically just stammered a lot and started stuttering ( not normal for me). something like: well, i uhhhh....you see, I just...you know. And then they'd drop it. I doubt that there is a simple way around the awkward conversations, I just made my health the priority, social life and school came after.

 

[Emily]

Hey Alicia!
I'm in college too and totally understand what you're talking about. I was diagnosed long before college so I imagine it must be so rough to still be recently diagnosed while dealing with all the major stress of school.

Have you gotten yourself registered with the Disability Office? They are amazingly helpful, and as it turns out, at my school if I have another flare or need to take time off, I'm required to be registered with them! They have been so helpful in getting me a single dorm room with my own bathroom, and notifying teachers that a student in their class has a disability.
This way, it's less awkward to explain to teachers, because you don't have to give them all the long details of your illness for them to understand, just say something like "I'm registered with the office of disabilities and may be absent or miss exams etc. If you have any questions, contact them.' And that's all you have to do, by policy they will comply with your illness.

I wish I knew some other people at my school with IBD. I think it'd be very therapeutic to be able to talk to people who are going through the same thing in real life. At least I have the forum though, this site has been so wonderful when it gets hard to cope. Anyway, I hope you get some good drug therapy on board and feel better really soon! :hug:

 

[KWalker]

Hey! I'm in University in Canada and although it's embarrassing to talk to teachers and others about crohns, the schools disability office has really helped me. They allow for notes when if I miss class, lenient if I need extra time during exams, and lots of other help.

It's definitely something all students with crohns should do.

 

[Jennifer]

Hi Aliciab and welcome to the forum!

I was in a really bad flare when I first started college but perhaps things were a little easier for me since I had been diagnosed as a child so I knew the disease and how it affected me and I was able to get that across to my professors. I always spoke to them at the beginning of the semester and let them know that I'll likely be missing classes, leaving class early, will be late on getting homework in and may need more time for tests and papers. I never had a teacher who wasn't understanding.

I tried going through the place at the school where you get more help if you're disabled but I was turned away because I didn't need ramps and I wasn't deaf or blind. They told me to just talk to my professors and so I did.

Here's what I told them roughly:
Me: Hi Mr./Mrs./Ms. ______. I wanted to talk to you after class because I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when I was 9 and its possible that I may miss classes, or be late or have to leave early and may need more time on homework, tests and papers.
Them: What's Crohn's Disease?
Me: It's an Inflammatory Bowel Disease where my immune system attacks my intestinal tract causing ulcers, pain, bleeding, frequency etc.
Them: Do you take medicine to make it better?
Me: Yes but even with medication I can still easily go out of remission and usually the medication takes a while to start working so I'll have good days and bad days. I can get a note from my doctor for you if you want.
Them: You don't have to do that. Just let me know what's going on and I'll give you more time when you need it and send me an email or call when you're missing class that day.

All that may sound simple enough but you're still working on possibly getting another diagnosis and you should let your professors know that. Your tests come first, then school. Always health first. Your professors will understand and if they don't then have your GI write up a note for them (make copies of it to hand to professors where you keep the original) and go to the counseling office and see if they have a program that helps students with disabilities get more time to finish projects and such and apply for that (you should ideally do both actually, apply there and speak with your professor).

 

[KWalker]

Crabby's right. Everybody I know gives profs a bad stigma and talks about how much they hate students but they're actually really understanding when it comes down to it and you talk to them. I've had some pretty strict teachers and even the worst (when I physically talk to them) are more than accepting of the circumstances and are willing to help.

Even during our best times we can have a bad day. Its not worth it to risk it without informing them before hand.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Some good advice has already been given to you. You will find it hard learning to deal with the different reactions about your illness, but you will learn. And you will learn to ignore any ignorant comments you get as well. In terms of your lecturers, I have always found that mine have been professional, they don't ask too many questions and the respect that I am asking for help and that I am still hard working, that I am not trying to use my illness as an excuse. I have provided them with any doctors notes that they have needed and they have helped and advised me along the whole of my course. (I didn't always take their advice but we are all guilty of that from time to time).

Good luck with everything and don't be afraid to talk about things, they will understand you find it difficult. Is it possible for you to write an email and tell them you find it hard to talk about?

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I know how you feel. I was 18 when I was diagnosed with UC and had just moved into the dorms. Pretty embarrasing when you've just gotten diagnosed and are living with some people you don't really know yet. Gotta admit that I'm a bit older now and married. But, I remember. Hope you'll find some people on here to help you. Take care.

 

[bjraggie10]

Hey Alicia,

I'm a graduate student who was diagnosed with Crohn's in January (although I battled symptoms for months without a diagnosis). It's definitely hard being a student with these kinds of diseases. In fact, I'm currently in a pretty bad flare right now. Luckily, my advisor is understanding and allows me to work from home whenever I'm going through these rough periods.

I feel the frustration and everything you are describing. Just hang in there and try to stay positive!