Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

For sure!

I assume your school has either a medical center or at least a clinic - can you get a doctor there to recommend you to the program? The doctor that diagnosed me at my clinic unfortunately was very old and a "its all in your head" doctor and refused to put me on the program. Luckily I still have Kaiser insurance through my father's company so I'm having a non-university doctor fill out the forms for me.

Or if you don't mind, you can see your schools psychologists [which are almost always free] and they can diagnose you with general anxiety and get you on the program as well - all you need to do is demonstrate to the program that your anxiety influences your school work and that should be pretty easy to do. I was given that option when my doctor refused, but I was worried about hiring discrimination - as mental disorders as compared to physical disorders are viewed less favorably, fair or not.

And I assure you, it was so hard for me to tell them as I'm incredibly shy. But the week before finals I had a mini breakdown -due more to lack of sleep and studying for 12 hours in the same room than fear of IBS - and I sent all my teachers explanatory emails. Its amazing what inhibitions you lose when you are desperate.

And they were surprisingly understanding - most of your professors have been teaching for a long time and have had plenty of students with embarrassing disorders. And to have that security -that you can leave at any time- walking into an exam is really helpful. I just finished all my finals and didn't have to use the bathroom once, but it was nice to know I had that option.

I go to one of the 10 Universities of California, I won't say which one this being the internet, but its a fun place to go to school:)

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IBS-D, Trying to make it through college

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