Community Forum

This coming fall, I will be going off to start my college experience. I was diagnosed with Crohn's August 2011 so I am pretty new. I actually haven't been having too many symptoms besides going to the bathroom anywhere from 2-10 times a day but I still have some concerns for college. I live in Colorado but I will be going to college in Michigan so I think that it will be hard to be away from my parents who have been extremely helpful throughout it all and are the ones I talk to regarding my symptoms. Another concern I have is how I am going to tell my roommate about Crohn's. I am scared that I will gross-out all of the people that I am living with in the dorms. The bathroom situation is what really scares me. When I'm not at home, I sometimes wait in the bathroom for a very long time until I am the only person in there. Obviously I can't be doing that the entire time at college, but, again, I don't want to gross-out my roommates. Does anyone  have any suggestions/tips?

Reply posted for emzo1993.

College is a time for exploration, growth, and learning. However, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest challenges that college students face is roommate problems, which can range from minor annoyances to major conflicts. Another issue is expensive textbooks, which can put a strain on a student's budget. Additionally, coursework overload can lead to stress and burnout, while a lack of sleep can make it difficult to stay focused and productive. And let's not forget the headache of finding a campus parking! While these challenges can be frustrating, they are also opportunities for growth and learning. For tips on how to overcome these challenges, you can visit https://www.discoverybit.com/question/what-do-you-find-most-disgusting-annoying-as-a-college-student/.

 Reply posted for emzo1993.

Hi Emzo!  In terms of diet, college will definitely test your self-discipline. You're basically given a smorgasbord of options and in some cases, you just swipe your card and have an all you can eat buffet. But sounds like you're pretty responsible if you're thinking about this now. Protein is good because it's gluten free, has no fiber, and keeps you feeling full longer than carbs. Even though it has a lot of sodium, I love jerky and it's good on the go. But my GI doc has said that lean meats are best (chicken, poultry, pork). Fish and eggs are a great source of protein.

It's easy to get caught up with things and forget to eat. Or maybe you'll have classes through lunch or dinner.  I took bars and crackers and stuff in my backpack and ate in the library or between classes (also microwavable soups are great!). You could bring a bunch of non-perishables with you when you move-in. If you run out, it would make a great care package for your family to send you and you can re-stock during breaks (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.).  Just have to stick with what works for you and what you can keep up with.

College is great but it can be very stressful at times (esp. exam week).  Would advise making friends from class, forming study groups--great way to make friends and get through the material.  Definitely suggest finding out about health care on campus.  Where I went, the student health service clinic was AWFUL and was a pretty basic clinic (x-rays, antibiotics, shots, etc.).  Should find out what the health service can do and how good it is b/c if you have problems with your CD down the line, you might need to go to a clinic at a hospital or something instead. Would be a good thing for your parents to help with esp b/c of what your health insurance plan will/won't cover.

I hope this helps you.  If you have any other questions, feel free to email me: eyseitz@gmail.com.  Good luck!

Hi Emzo!  I was diagnosed with UC Aug 2011 too. I was in grad school and living with my husband so didn't have to go through what you are.  But just some thoughts: let people get to know you before they get to know your CD.  This disease is just a part of who you are, and you aren't obligated to tell everyone.  Like it's been mentioned, this is a very personal decision.  But I understand where you're coming from with the bathrooms since they are shared.  Even if you don't tell people, some might notice if you're in the bathroom all the time and the incriminating sounds coming from the stall (I've been there too).

On the more practical side, it would probably be a good idea to at least tell your Resident Assistant (RA) or housefellow (whatever they are called in MI).  Their job is to look out for you guys, so that would be something important to tell them.  It might be worth contacting campus housing to explain your situation and to see if you can get a room closest to the bathroom and to explain your dietary constraints (I think they can make allowances for you).  When I was in college, my room was all the way at the end of the hall from the bathroom. If I had UC while in the dorms, that would've been a BAD situation. 

Also, might be worth getting a mini fridge if your room doesn't have it.  We had a grocery store nearby college, so if you have one too that could be a good alternative if you can't always eat what's in the cafeteria.  Or you could squirrel away food you know you can eat from the cafeteria.  If you check out your school's housing website (i.e. if it's U of M that would be housing.umich.edu), they generally have menus you can look at to get an idea of what they serve. It might not even be an issue. Where I went, the dorm cafeteria had daily stuff like hamburgers, salad bar, sandwich bar, in addition to the meal of the day.

 Reply posted for emzo1993.

Hey, I totally understand the bathroom situation at college. I can't even begin to describe how hard of an idea that was. I felt like going to college, being away from my family, sharing a room and worse sharing a bathroom with five other people was my worst nightmare ever! Turns out, it wasn't all that bad. I'm going into my senior year at college so I've got a couple years of experience under my belt.  I think sharing a diagnoses is a personal decision. I've shared some semesters and not shared in others. I try and avoid my trigger foods and I'll be honest, I will try and go to the bathroom on campus when possible because of anonymity. The overall best answer, try and find an apartment with two bathrooms. Then when you do need some extra time in the bathroom, at least your roommates aren't left high and dry. I think the worst I've had is some playful banter about the smell, but hey, just use a match after you're done and that one is mostly taken care of too.

 Reply posted for emzo1993.

I did not limit my diet right after being diagnosed with UC because medicine worked extremely well.  It wasn't till my first flare after being diagnosed where I realized what foods I could and couldn't have.   I have specific foods that I call my trigger foods - which I avoid 100% of the time, and then foods that I avoid when I am flaring.  My trigger foods are alcohol, caffeine, highly acidic food/drinks and large portions of fried foods.  When I am in a flare I also avoid high fiber fruits and veggies and sugars.  I did try going gluten free and for me it definitely increased my energy and made me less tired but I have found that it didn't effect my UC enough to be worth it.  Everyone's diet is different so this may not be true for you.  

I obviously don't know you but one challenge for me in college was abstaining from drinking alcohol and caffeine.  Once you are 21 a good alcohol option is cider beer.  Since I was in a sorority when I was diagnosed I asked the house to provide foods for me that I could eat.  Being gluten free is becoming a lot more common and I think that most cafeterias will have a large selection of food that you can choose from.  The food at my college cafeteria always had several options each day for each meal. 

 Reply posted for amginda.

Thank you for your reply! I am nervous about how people will react but I just need to trust that they will accept me. Another question for you if you don't mind. Did you do much with your diet after being diagnosed? I eliminated sugar, gluten, wheat, yeast, etc. for about 5 months but now am not keeping up with it as much. Did you find it hard to restrict your eating habits and find food that you could eat? I am worried that I won't be able to discipline myself to eat the foods I should be eating. We're you able to find foods that fit into your dieting (ex. Gluten free foods)?

 Reply posted for emzo1993.

I was diagnosed with UC while in college, over 1000 miles from my parents, and while different than Crohn's, the experience can be very similar.  I was diagnosed while I was in a sorority and immediately told my closest friends, who were very understanding.  I soon learned that other women within my house (which could be similar to a dorm) started to speculate why I spent so much time in the bathroom.  To stop rumors I decided to become open with the women in my house about my UC.  To my surprise, I learned of several other women that I lived with had the same disease or knew someone that did.  It can be scary to tell people but I have found that almost every person you tell candidly will be understanding.  You may be surprised as you move throughout life how many people you will meet that have some connection to one of the diseases.  

I let my UC define who I was for the first year of my diagnosis.  I started to identify myself as that girl with UC.  I learned quickly that being the girl with UC started to alienate people around me.  Once I started being a girl who also happened to have UC my relationships started to improve drastically.  Those you are close with need to know what you are going through, but it can't be the only thing you talk about.  This perspective made a huge difference in my life.   Find a group of people that are passionate about the something that you are passionate about and the rest will fall into place.