Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: A Hello and a request to college kids

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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