Hey, I'm currently in first year at McMaster University and even though my IBS-D still acts up occasionally I'm having a great experience and having lots of fun. Please read my post because I have mentioned some very helpful resources that prospective students could use when entering university/college.
* Do you think your IBS is caused by stress? Stress is definitely a big trigger for me.
* Do your symptoms get worse around the time of midterms or finals? Yes i find they do because i get nervous.
* 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 am in residence but i live in an apartment style residence. I REALLY suggest finding out whether the schools you are applying to have apartment style residence as i have a kitchen to make my own food in and i only share a bathroom with 1 other girl. I honestly don't know what i would eat if i had to depend on the meal plan totally. To make sure that I ended up in apartment style as EVERYONE wants this, I got a doctors note explaining my condition and i wrote a letter explaining why I require special accommodations and then I sent it in with my residence application. It really does work.
* Have you explained your condition to roommates and friends? My roomate knows my condition, not all the details, but that I have IBS. My boyfriend and my other friends here at school know that i have "stomach problems".
* Do you ever drink alcohol or caffeine? (two popular college substances) Never! Within half an hour i would probably be in the washroom with D if i even had 1 drink of either of those! It's actually not bad tho..I still go out to the bars and have fun i just don't drink and if people ask me why i don't I just say I have stomach problems and I can't. Honestly 99% of the time people accept that and we end up having a great time! Plus i don't have to suffer the horrible consequences of hangovers the next day!
* How has IBS affected your social life at school? I'm not as social as I probably would be because if i feel like my stomach is going to act up I just don't go out.
* How has IBS affected your school work/GPA? It hasn't had any affect on my school work.
* Have you explained your IBS to your professors? No but they know that I require special accommodations (see below).
* 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.) This is another thing that I REALLY suggest students do that have IBS. I'm registered with a place called Centre for Student Development at my school. I have a counsellor there and at the beginning of every term I get letters that my profs sign allowing me to bring drinks/food into my test, i can leave for the washroom whenever i need to during the test and recently i have also started writing my tests at the Centre instead of with my class because i find its a less stressful environment and if i need to eat/drink/use the washroom it's not embarrassing doing it infront of everyone. Oh also i get an additional 20 min on every hour for my tests/exams. Really helps if I end up needing to leave for a bit to use the washroom. Please Please Please use the resources at your school, it's honestly made a WORLD of difference for me and the people are very understanding and nice.
* Any other anecdotes relating to college and IBS. Just that there are ways to deal with having IBS at college and you can and will get through it!
Julie
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Please read! (very helpful hints for college students)
