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I'll send an e-mail to you too, I'm just don't want to post the address here. I am a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania studying engineering, and was diagnosed with IBS last November.
* Do you think your IBS is caused by stress?
I don't know so much about it being the cause. Stress certainly contributes to the symptoms.
* Do your symptoms get worse around the time of midterms or finals?
Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Intensely so. In the hours leading up to an exam I'm in the bathroom a lot. Only during the exam itself do the symptoms suspend themselves.
* What kinds of foods can you make/eat at school? (Super easy, cheap recipes that can be made in the dorm would be a plus!)
Some of the recipes in Heather's cookbook are pretty easy to make. I asked a similar question back in November, I can give you some of those when I e-mail you. In general, I eat a lot of bread from the dining halls.
* Have you explained your condition to roommates and friends?
Yeah, and they've all been really great about it. I'm Jewish, and on campus we make a lot of our own Sabbath meals instead of eating in the dining hall. Last week, my friends and I made a completely IBS-safe meal just for me. And they've all listened to me complain like crazy.
* Do you ever drink alcohol or caffeine? (two popular college substances)
No. I used to, then a few month before the IBS diagnosis, a doctor said I had a few other problems and shouldn't have caffeine or alcohol. Which is fine, because I have a low alcohol tolerance anyway.
* How has IBS affected your social life at school?
During attacks, I can't go out with my friends. Unfortunately, a lot of those attacks come on Saturday nights, so it really sucks. It's also restricted where my friends and I go as a group, because I always want to make sure there's a bathroom around.
* How has IBS affected your school work/GPA?
So far, I don't think it's brought down my GPA or schoolwork. I've missed a lot of class time because I keep leaving to use the bathroom. But nothing else, particularly.
* Have you explained your IBS to your professors?
Only one of them in detail. This was before I recieved official accomodations from the university for the IBS.
* Have you ever considered (or have) droppped out of school due to IBS?
No.
* Have you used any college resources to help you with your IBS?(Student Health, Counseling Center, Disability Support Services, Yoga classes at the school gym, etc.)
Yeah, Student Disability Services worked into my existing accomodations (I'm ADHD) the ability to leave the room for extended bathroom breaks. And I usually use an alternate location for my exams so I don't feel so self-concious if I need to leave for the bathroom.
* Any other anecdotes relating to college and IBS
I've got some stuff strewn about the boards, I'll see if I can track it down for the e-mail.
Avidan
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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I am a sophomore at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. I was recently, yesterday in fact, diagnoised with IBS when test after test came back normal.
* Do you think your IBS is caused by stress? I don't think that it is caused by stress but is definately aggravated by stress.
* Do your symptoms get worse around the time of midterms or finals? Definately, I am on tri-semesters , so I have the stress of finals THREE TIMES. this last time I had to get incompletes and do some finals on line.
* What kinds of foods can you make/eat at school? (Super easy, cheap recipes that can be made in the dorm would be a plus!) I have an appartment and currently I am trying to figure out what I can eat and make, etc.
* Have you explained your condition to roommates and friends? A little bit, but I am on spring break now so it is kind of hard. But when I go back to school I will tell my apartment mates.
* Do you ever drink alcohol or caffeine? (two popular college substances) NO, I have cut back on caffeine, as hard as that is, with two coffee shops on campus!
* How has IBS affected your social life at school? yes, my boyfriend broke up with me, not only because of my "problems" which were not diagnosed at the time but also I was never on campus always coming home on the weekends, during the week, etc. I am trying to get back into dating but I definately think it will be hard, since I can't even invite him to get a cup of joe and talk.! I also get scared that I will get sick away from home
* How has IBS affected your school work/GPA? I had to take an incomplete in one class, but my overall performance was affected instead of getting B+'s I got B's
* Have you explained your IBS to your professors? I told them what was going on before I was diagnosed and all were extremely understanding and wished me well again.
* Have you ever considered (or have) droppped out of school due to IBS? I thought about it, but knew that I would feel worse by not doing anything, so I decided to go back and.. hey I was offered an RA position!
* Have you used any college resources to help you with your IBS?(Student Health, Counseling Center, Disability Support Services, Yoga classes at the school gym, etc.) I am going to check into the counseling center for stress mangement, etc.
* Any other anecdotes relating to college and IBS
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Smile and the world smiles back
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Hi Guys,
I am a junior at Florida International University majoring in public Administration. I was diagnosed with IBS last November. I'm glad to know I am not alone, and that other college Kids can understand what I go through. IBS is soo weird!
*My IBS tries to complicate things when I am stressed. There have been time when I am stressed and it doesn't really bother me though.
*My symptoms dont really worsen around thoses times. They worsen around my ladie times.
I have found that Oatmeal is a charm for me! Also i can tolerate sandwhiches prety well. ramen noodles do a number on me!
*I have explained my condition to people around me. For the most part they have came to undertsand because they see how I try to get through it as soon as possible so i can resume my normal activities.
*At first IBS affected my social life becuase I would be scared to go out. Now I go out when i feel good. I also have to be very particualr about where I eat and what I eat on the Menu.
*My GPA actuallyhas went up. IBS has made me stronger and I am more dertermined to excel now.
*I haven't exaplined it to my professors. I just tell them that i have stomach problems LOL.
*I use the Yoga classes offered by my school. It definately helps manage stress.
College and IBS can be done. 
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Keep Smiling
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I'm currently an undergrad Economics student at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I had previously graduated with a 3-year BA in Economics in 2000, but returned in 2004. Here are my answers:
* Do you think your IBS is caused by stress?
Yes, partially -- it gets worse during stressful periods, but the primary cause is diet-related.
* Do your symptoms get worse around the time of midterms or finals?
Yes, the stress of the tests usually makes the IBS symptoms worse.
* What kinds of foods can you make/eat at school? (Super easy, cheap recipes that can be made in the dorm would be a plus!)
Keep it simple - baked/microwaved chicken breast with rice and frozen veggies is the basic staple, then add various spices or substitute ingredients.
* Have you explained your condition to roommates and friends?
No, there are very few people I know from school who know about it. Many long term friends know though.
* Do you ever drink alcohol or caffeine? (two popular college substances)
I drink both occasionally. The caffeine is worse than the alcohol for me.
* How has IBS affected your social life at school?
It's difficult to make commitments that you know you can keep since you don't know how you're going to feel hour-to-hour. Makes me more shy about getting to know people.
* How has IBS affected your school work/GPA?
During my first go at university, my GPA dropped over the two years I had IBS from about a 3.4 to a 2.2 because of missed classes/assignements/tests. It is only with years of experience now that I have gone back to attempt to reconstruct some sort of academic career. Since I can hadle it somewhat better, my previous term's GPA was 3.83.
* Have you explained your IBS to your professors?
Not the first time around. Now when I miss classes or have problems, I do mention it to them and all have so far been understanding.
* Have you ever considered (or have) droppped out of school due to IBS?
I originally intended to do an Honours BA in Economics/Political Science, but ended up because of the IBS getting a 3-year BA in Economics only, a degree that took me four years to get because of number of classes I failed.
* Have you used any college resources to help you with your IBS?(Student Health, Counseling Center, Disability Support Services, Yoga classes at the school gym, etc.)
No.
* Any other anecdotes relating to college and IBS
No.
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Hi Shannon,
I don't know if you have all the info you need yet for your article or not, but I thought I'd send you my IBS comments as well. I am an 18 year-old freshman at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and I am a vocal performance major and planning on getting a second degree in either Italian or Theater. I have had chronic abdominal pain originating from food poisoning for the past four and a half years. I've been diagnosed with endometriosis, fibromyalgia, IBS-C, and possible Celiac Disease. I've experienced severe weight loss due to my IBS symptoms and increased pain after eating anything, and I have visited over 100 doctors across the country, tried countless medications, and restricted my diet to try to control my IBS.
* Do you think your IBS is caused by stress?
-I think my IBS is aggrivated by stress, not caused by it. Stress makes my pain more intense and makes me feel crampy. I also get more sensitive in terms of nausea and how I tolerate foods during stressful times.
* Do your symptoms get worse around the time of midterms or finals?
-Last term during finals week I felt just awful. I had six finals and two funerals to go to, so I wasn't doing well emotionally or physically. My symptoms tend to get worse during tense periods of time, but this isn't consistent.
* What kinds of foods can you make/eat at school? (Super easy, cheap recipes that can be made in the dorm would be a plus!)
-I make Thai Kitchen Rice Noodles without the oil or flavoring packets and add plain salt and pepper. I have rice cakes with jam, muffins I make from home, plain turkey, chicken, fish...my diet is extremely restricted. I stick to plain meats (not red meat), veggies (except potatoes), fruits, and rice. I avoid dairy and use soy milk (I do eat eggs, though), refined sugar, wheat/gluten, most oils (I use canola oil and eat flaxseed for my main sources of fat as other sources make my reflux and IBS worse) and foods that I am allergic to (almonds, cherries, blueberries). This is very tough being a college student, and the dining services at school have tried to be accomodating, although they do screw things up once in a while. I get scared to eat at the dining hall sometimes because I never know how things were made. Since I live a few miles away from campus, I bring homemade foods to school and keep them in my fridge/freezer.
* Have you explained your condition to roommates and friends?
-I usually tell people of my condition as it is such a huge part of my life. I am in constant pain, so it's not something I can easily forget about. Most people are surprised when I tell them about my IBS, but they are concerned about it and always seem very empathetic.
* Do you ever drink alcohol or caffeine? (two popular college substances)
-Never alcohol, but I do drink diet soda occasionally.
* How has IBS affected your social life at school?
-Very much. I am always thinking about how things affect my health. I have to reserve time to do pilates and stretching to help with the bloating and muscle pain of my IBS and fibromyalgia. I have to get at least 8 hours of sleep, so I have to make sure I go to bed relatively early. I still go out and have meals with friends, but it's hard when so many social situations center around food since that's what triggers my IBS.
* How has IBS affected your school work/GPA?
-I have always maintained a high GPA and work ethic no matter how I'm feeling. If anything, IBS has caused me to work harder to forget the pain.
* Have you explained your IBS to your professors?
-Some of them. Most know about my IBS. They are very accomodating.
* Have you ever considered (or have) droppped out of school due to IBS?
-I have considered it, but I think it's important to not let IBS rule my life.
* Have you used any college resources to help you with your IBS?(Student Health, Counseling Center, Disability Support Services, Yoga classes at the school gym, etc.)
-I do my pilates in my room with a videotape, and since I live so close to home, my doctor is in town. It's so wonderful having my family here to help.
* Any other anecdotes relating to college and IBS
-There are times when my IBS gets so bad and it's hard to see others so happy and not having to worry about what they eat. Being able to eat anything you want is such a luxury. I wish I had more people on campus to whom I could relate in terms of IBS pain and the problems we IBS sufferers experience.
I hope this information helps you! Thank you for writing this article. It's so important for people with IBS to be aware of others who understand and are going through the same things!
-Alisa
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