Community Forum

 My son is a senior in high school. In the last seven years , he has missed tons of school, but has managed to keep his head above water. His usual is that he has one day a week that he has severe cramping and diarhea which lasts a few hours. So..........he either doesn't get to school that day or comes home early to sleep it off. After it all subsides, it's back to his normal routine. I was wondering if there are other kids that are living with the same "routine". How do you cope away at college? how do you hold down a job? if you are incapacitated once a week?

 Reply posted for asej4444.

I just finished my freshman year of college. My symptoms started last summer, so starting college while being sick and having no idea what was wrong with me was hard, I'll admit. It sounds like your son is a fighter though, which is good. People told me I should take a leave from school but I was determined not to fall behind. In high school I was valedictorian so I was not giving up on myself in college. I don't know how i did it but I got through my first year with all A's and a few A-'s, in the Honors Program, and maintaining a full scholarship. Because I had the scholarship I got to dorm at the college for free (I only live 15 minutes away). It was the best decision I ever made going there. I love the campus and it's so convenient. I slept there when I had early classes the next day...and came home the rest of the time or if I wasn't feeling well. I can't even begin to describe what a help it was to have the dorm just to have my own bathroom which i ran to MANY times between classes. I would really recommend that your sons considers a college close to home (although by this time i guess he's already decided where he's going). Also my college let freshmen have cars on campus. If I had been anywhere else I don't know if I would have been able to keep up with school while being sick. During one snowstorm I felt really sick and was all alone and my mom came to get me...and thank God she did because I had to be hospitalized the next day. Staying close to home has made college life so much easier for me!

 Reply posted for asej4444.

My daughter is a senior in HS this year too and just diagnosed with UC in Oct.  She has missed a lot of school as well, but has done great with her grades considering how she felt.  I read on another forum that for students going to college, it's helpful if they have a letter from their GI dr explaining their disease, take the ltr with them when they go to sign up for classes.  Try to get classes near restrooms, later in the morning, etc.  My daughter will be going to the local community college so she can commute and stay at home vs dorm living.  Let close friends know what's going on and why you aren't feeling well.  They should understand - if they are "true" friends.  As a parent I am acting as an advocate for my daughter too.  Letting teachers and school administrators know what's going on health wise.  They are more understanding when they know why a student is missing soo much school.  If they aren't informed they just assume the student doesn't care.  Good luck mom!

 Reply posted for KristinK.

 Hey Kristin,

I would love to contact you directly to find out more about your experience.  I'm specifically interested in how common it is for people to start off with a j-pouch and then move to a permanent ileostomy, or at least why you chose (or had to) do that.  Call me vain, but I would really like to avoid a permanent ileostomy if at all possible.  Also, I'm curious about difficulty with becoming pregnant after a colectomy as I would really like to be able to have kids in the next 5-10 years and I've read that it can be an issue.  Not sure how to contact you directly, but my e-mail is jordash911@aol.com and you're welcome to contact me directly and send me your info instead of positing it on the discussion board if you'd prefer.  Thanks so much for your response!

 Reply posted for asej4444.

 Be an advocate for your son.  Talk to his teachers and the administration at his school.  They should accommodate for his needs.  If he had diabetes or cancer they would work with him, so why not an IBD?  They can work with him in college too.

(I'm a college grad and currently am in a master's program...and I have colitis.)

 Reply posted for tallgrl30.

 

I make sure I get plenty of rest.  I try to figure out what foods hurt me & what foods dont.  I also just started taking something called Digestive Advantage for Crohns and Colitis pts & after 7 days it seems to really be helping me.  Other ppl have said fish oil helps too.  And also finally realizing "medication is probably a good idea" is helping as well hah.  Destressing, I know in times of stress I have a little more difficulty even though Im a very laid back person.  Make sure his close friends know about his disease & really understand it, its important to have that support system there, & that they understand that maybe its not a good idea to go for Chinese food or something.

Youll have good days & bad days...the bad days just make the good days that much better.  Even if I realized I went to the bathroom 2 times less than normal, that is a small victory in my mind.

If you have anymore questions let me know, Id be willing to answer!  Hope this helps!

 Reply posted for asej4444.

Im sorry if this response is drawn out.  I was actually diagnosed w/ UC as a HS senior as well.  It was mild at the time but still tiresome & embarassing & I was also concerned w/ college.  I managed to continue playing basketball & high jumping, despite being iron deficient.  It really tired me out. 

Unfortunately in college my UC got a little worse b/c I was in denial of having it pretty much & I had the "I feel fine, why do I have to take these dumb meds".  I was tired some of the time in college so I found that naps after class were good.  Also, fortunately in college its not like HS where you go to class all day long, its usually for a couple hrs then you have a break & what not.  I think my longest day was 8-2 or 7-3 (mostly b/c I had Nursing clinicals). 

I actually just graduated college in May w/my Bachelors in Nursing (took me 4 yrs full time).  Im currently working as a full-time nurse on an Open Heart Unit.  I still get flareups, I actually just finished battling 1 that lasted the last 5 months, its finally beginning to subside. (continued...)