- Joined
- Oct 13, 2012
- Messages
- 12
Hi, I'm Kate. I'm 22 years old and a student at Penn State. I wanted to post on this forum because I was diagnosed when I was 13, and I thought I could be of some help in offering advice or maybe connecting with younger kids with CD or UC. It's been a long road for me and have moderate/severe CD.
I know how hard it is to deal with teachers who don't understand and 8th grade girls that are "mean girls". Or how other kids don't understand why you get special bathroom privileges or why you never get in trouble for always asking to use the bathroom.
I understand being hospitalized and being on homebound instruction because you are too sick to attend school. It is really really hard to teach yourself Algebra 2 by the way! I understand what it's like to miss dances or sports because I was too sick.
I don't know if your children are at the age to date, but dating with CD or UC is a whole different ball game. I had a pretty serious relationship toward the end of high school/beginning of college but he never understood why I was so tired all the time. No I can't stay up until 3 am when I have to work at 7 am, and no I just can't drink a red bull and get over it.
I know all about having a job and this disease, and how to talk to your manager about it. I also have dealt with many embarrassing situations such as having to tell my manager I needed to leave because I did not make it to the rest room on time.
I've gotten a speeding ticket cause I had to get to a bathroom, and I've made my mom stop the car more than once. I have a handicap placard and get dirty looks from people.
College is another thing I could help with. I lived in a dorm where you shared a bathroom with 40 other girls on the floor. I wish I would have known I could have gotten a doctor's note to have a semi private bathroom. I also have worked with my school's office of disability services so my instructors receive a letter stating that I have a disability and these are the accommodations I need. Some professors don't let you leave the room during an exam...yikes!
That was a lot, but if you need help/advice on the day to day living that goes with this disease I'd love to help. Additionally if your child/teenager wants to talk with someone closer to their own age who has been through what they are going through I can give you my email address.
Thanks for reading!
I know how hard it is to deal with teachers who don't understand and 8th grade girls that are "mean girls". Or how other kids don't understand why you get special bathroom privileges or why you never get in trouble for always asking to use the bathroom.
I understand being hospitalized and being on homebound instruction because you are too sick to attend school. It is really really hard to teach yourself Algebra 2 by the way! I understand what it's like to miss dances or sports because I was too sick.
I don't know if your children are at the age to date, but dating with CD or UC is a whole different ball game. I had a pretty serious relationship toward the end of high school/beginning of college but he never understood why I was so tired all the time. No I can't stay up until 3 am when I have to work at 7 am, and no I just can't drink a red bull and get over it.
I know all about having a job and this disease, and how to talk to your manager about it. I also have dealt with many embarrassing situations such as having to tell my manager I needed to leave because I did not make it to the rest room on time.
I've gotten a speeding ticket cause I had to get to a bathroom, and I've made my mom stop the car more than once. I have a handicap placard and get dirty looks from people.
College is another thing I could help with. I lived in a dorm where you shared a bathroom with 40 other girls on the floor. I wish I would have known I could have gotten a doctor's note to have a semi private bathroom. I also have worked with my school's office of disability services so my instructors receive a letter stating that I have a disability and these are the accommodations I need. Some professors don't let you leave the room during an exam...yikes!
That was a lot, but if you need help/advice on the day to day living that goes with this disease I'd love to help. Additionally if your child/teenager wants to talk with someone closer to their own age who has been through what they are going through I can give you my email address.
Thanks for reading!
