University-bound kids

[Tesscorm]

Looking for some advice from those who have had their kids go away for school (input from anyone is always welcome! ).

Did you have any specific advice for your kids re crohns? What guidelines did you give them re when experiencing symptoms? What about side effects from meds? ie do I freak Stephen out by saying 'you must check for swollen lymph nodes regularly'? Would that be going totally overboard?

I know I'll be seeing him, at least, every six weeks (when he comes home for infusions) but, that leaves a fair bit of time when I won't be seeing if anything looks 'off'. He's decently responsible about his illness BUT he's still a teen who believes he's invincible (so I wouldn't be surprised if he shrugs off minor symptoms); I do want to make him aware of what he should watch for...

What did you all do when your kids left home?

 

[my little penguin]

Have you checked out student health services on campus?
Local hospital so he is aware.
Did the Gi recommend someone he can get into quick on/near campus?
Has he talked to the disability office for students ?

That's all I have since my kid is staying in elementary school forever and ever .

 

[awmom]

Gosh Tesscorm, I will be asking the same questions in a year and I'm already super anxious, so I feel your pain. I don't know if Stephen has any diet limitations, but I would go over food choices, check out the meal plans and see what, if any, provisions can be made for him if he runs into trouble. I've often thought I would load him with a case of Peptamen in case he felt he was on his way to a flare. I often have to remind my son (when I see 1/2 a bottle of tabasco sauce disappear overnight) that he has a GI problem that will not go away and he has to PRACTICE MODERATION!!!

Having a Doc close by and talking to health services as MLP said is necessary.

The other big one is to get plenty of rest and to keep a check on his stress levels.

I'm just spouting these things because I keep rehearsing them in my head for when Nico leaves for college. I will be anxious to hear how he does (and how YOU do!) Best of luck to him.

 

[Tesscorm]

Thanks MLP, I will get the address to the local hospital/emergency. I think I'll also try to find the closest walk-in clinic and speak to a doctor there... give some background on Stephen in case he needs to go for a non-crohns issue. As far as a local GI, I did ask his GI about this... his response was that Stephen's school is only two hours away and Stephen should be able to travel two hours to see him, if he's in a condition that he can't manage the two hour travel, then he should be heading straight to the local emergency.

awmom - totally get the 'moderation' issue! :yfaint: Going to one of Stephen's GI apptmts, he said he'd like to grab something to eat on the way... I assumed he meant a bagel from the food court... he came out with poutine (in case you don't know... poutine are french fries, covered in gravy with chunks of cheese curds)!!! I told him I really didn't think that was an appropriate snack to eat on the way to a GI apptmt! :facepalm:


I'm planning to put together an information 'email' (so he can save it on the computer! :lol for him when he goes away! That's why I was asking for advice, etc.... I'm going to include things like what can help with diarrhea, constipation, what to do if he has a fever, what is 'low residue' should he need to eat 'lightly' for a few days and a list of symptoms he should 'follow-up' and not ignore. Hopefully, this will allow him to take some control of his crohns and make decisions about an issue but 'with' some guidance. (Happy to share it, awmom. )

And, MLP, good luck with the 'forever young' wish!

 

[Kaitlyn]

My oldest is going of to college this year I'm also like over worried. He is getting to that point were he knows what to look for but his problem is not taking a break. I would deffinatly get in touch with the student healt and if the unversity has office of disabilities but I would deffinatly get in touch with them. About the attendance issue usual the professes have there own attendance ( can't think of the word) but if he emails them or explains his situation most I'm sure would be understanding also if you get in touch with the office of disabilities they pretty much do all that for you
Good luck !!

 

[Maya142]

My older (non IBD) daughter, who also has Ankylosing Spondylitis, started college two years ago. Though she doesn't have IBD some of my concerns were the same as yours, especially since she was on Humira at the time. She registered with the Office of Disabilities and we met with the Director of Health Services before school started. It really helped since my daughter was then comfortable enough to seek help when she needed it and I wasn't worried that no one knew that she was immunosuppressed. We were also able to get Humira shipped to the Health Center and one of the nurses gave her the shot every week (she hates doing it herself).
We didn't have to find her a local doctor since she was an hour away.
The process of registering with Disability Services can be a pain (they need letters from all the various doctors, took forever to coordinate) but my daughter is the first to say she's really glad she did it. I don't know much about schools in Canada, but I'm sure there must be some equivalent?
Good luck!

 

[Dexky]

Hey Tess, will Stephen be with any close friends that you also know well? Maybe you could have a clandestine confidante

 

[DustyKat]

Hey Tess,

When Sarah moved away to university I did the following:

- My family live in Sydney so they were back up down there should Sarah find herself in an emergency situation.

- In our school system here in NSW if you apply for the Educational Access Scheme in your final year of school you are automatically flagged to the Student Disability Office at the university you are accepted to. If you do not have a system like this in place then I would ensure Stephen touches base with them.

- As Sarah would not have a GP or GI when she moved I made contact with the university medical service, Sarah asked me to do this, and spoke directly with them. I explained her situation and asked to that she be assigned a GP and then had that GP ring me. I spoke with him and filled him in on where she was at and then had an electronic copy of her records sent from her old GP. Since the University is attached to a very large teaching hospital I also asked the GP to suss out GI's at the hospital and refer her to one that had IBD as a specialty or special interest.

- I did not give Sarah any specific instructions as such regarding her Crohn's except to tell her to be sensible about her health and to ring me if she was in any doubt at all. As I have said before on the forum, Sarah was not in a good place in regard to her health when she left home and to say I was worried would be an understatement but I had to let it go and let her get on with things. As it was she stepped up to the plate and more. She did take control and there was one occasion that required she go to A&E. She rang me for advice and kept me in the loop the whole time.

Good luck Tess!

Dusty. xxx

 

[awmom]

Oh Tess, you sure made me laugh with your story of Stephen's mid-day snack!!

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

I would agree with the advice above!

I graduated a year ago so have insight from the other side.
I would suggest you give him some guidance on meal planning. Like, decide what you are going to eat for the week and buy food etc (will also help with budgeting). That will probably help with his diet.

But as for the other health type thing, other than making sure he has access to a doctor and apply as a disabled student by applying for a disabled student allowance (I got a whole load of stuff from them including a lap top) I would suggest you lay low on other advice such as take your meds etc. Mainly because he will be looking at uni as a chance of independence. If you nag him too much he is more likely to rebel. Hopefully he is aware enough of his illness to look after himself but if he does slip he will learn for himself.

The most important thing is he feels he can talk to you and call you if he isn't feeling well. I also had to go to A&E when I was at uni. I called my mum the night before and said I know something wasn't right. So by the time I called her upset in the morning knowing there was something really wrong, I only had to say "mum" and she knew.

Hope this helps!

 

[Tesscorm]

Thanks everyone! (I was away for a few days so sorry for the late replies! )

Dexky - he does have tons of friends who go to this university already, many of which he considers some of his best friends... so, a support system for him is there... a clandestine confidante??... more likely accomplices on his side than mine! :lol:

Dusty and LMV - thanks for your advice!! Dusty - it must have been terribly scary sending her away at such a young age (I'm sure I've read Sarah was only 17!) and when she was not in a good place with her illness!!! :ghug: Bet that rocking chair got lots of use!!

Stephen has registered with the disability office (probably a reason he was given an 'apartment' style residence rather than a dorm - this will definitely help with the diet!) but, other than registering with them, we haven't spoken with them. This week, I will try to reach them and get additional info re medical facilities, etc.

 

[DustyKat]

Yes Tess, Sarah was 17 and I think I blew a couple of rockers along the way! :lol:

Dusty.