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Re: Any College Students??? Missing classes anyone?????
From: Margarette (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat Apr 10 13:47:12 2004
Just wanted to respond to the college students out there. I had endo
something terrible in college, and now, 20+ years later, I'm a college
professor (and still suffering and have been for my 15 years of
teaching). Can't help with insurance regulations, etc, but just wanted
to put in a little something from the professors' POV. Most will
understand (though one too many won't), but it really helps if you have
a note from your doctor explaining your medical condition. We do get
lied to a lot! Also, it doesn't hurt to try to explain things. Many
professors are clueless when it comes to different illnesses. We learn
as we go. So talk to them, and I recommend talking the first day of
classes. Just go right up and say, Dr. So and So, I have a disease
that causes me lots of pain and I might have a problem with attendance.
blah blah blah. It might be good to have a printout about the disease.
Teachers love research! This won't be good for lab classes, where
attendance is so important, but for lecture classes it's possible. I
was a bio major when I started school. Just couldn't do it with all the
labs. Ended up an English major. Ask the teacher if it's OK to have a
friend tape the classes that you'll miss--if it's possible for you to
have a friend do this. And if you need one, don't be afraid to ask for
an incomplete. Just make sure you do it as soon as you realize you're
in trouble. Even if you have to get a parent to call or a significant
other. When I was in school I had to have emergency surgery right
before the finals. I got my mom to call from the hospital for me since
I couldn't manage. Luckily, I had human profs that term. (I admit,
there are a number of really poor specimens of human beings out there
teaching.) Also, go to the administration--student services dept or
whatever it's called at your school. Educate them and get their help.
Many students with special needs are served every day. Why not women
with endo? Someone else mentioned that she changed her major because the
career she had planned would not have been possible. This is sage
advice. I worked in publishing for a while, but I just couldn't do the
50+ hour weeks. And the stress of the position didn't help at all.
Becoming a college prof took years of work and sacrifice (and I managed
to have 5 surgeries while doing it) and it took 5 years to get my MA and
then another 6 to get my PhD thanks to medical leaves, but now I have a
lot more freedom. If I'm not "good" one day my students get to do group
work, but I can usually manage to show up. Even better, I now teach
on-line for two schools. Look into this option as a student. I don't
think it's the greatest option in the world, but the good thing about it
is that you usually have a lot more flexibility and you don't have to
leave home if you can't. I often find getting someplace is the hardest
part. Once I'm there I can sit, but the train, bus, car, etc is just
too hard. Many schools are now offering on-line education options. You
might want to explore them. Good luck and don't give up. There are a
lot of options out there. One thing I've learned with this disease is
that the only one going to fight for me is me. Most people are
clueless, doctors aren't always much help (though I've had 2-3 fine ones
who I've had to leave because I've moved away) and we just need to be
our own advocates. Learn to talk to professors and administration and
maybe get some changes going. I can't believe things are no better than
they were when I was in college. Having this disease has made me much
stronger, so I hope that will be the good that comes out of it for you
all. So I'll stop lecturing now--occupational hazard. Hang tough!
Margarette
At Fri, 9 Apr 2004, CM wrote:
>
>Hi. I, too, can relate but was fortunate enough where the severity hit
>after college (though I had to wait two years to go to grad school
>because of the endo). Right before I started grad school, I had another
>lap and my endo symptoms were out of whack. Most colleges, if not all,
>should have an office called Disability Services or something like that.
>I went to them, explained my medical condition and found out that I was
>basically protected for the most part during my absences. Others may
>want to check this resource out at your college.
>
>At Fri, 9 Apr 2004, Keara wrote:
>>
>>Gals,
>>
>>Please don't lose hope. College is tough and some professors are down
>>right horrible but you can get through it. My freshman year of college,
>>three weeks into classes, I got diagnosed with two ovarian tumors. I
>>had to drop out and have emergency surgery. I tried to return in the
>>spring but the pain persisted and I was sick all the time. I took only
>>14 hours and spent the last two weeks in and out of the ER. I finished
>>my finals early and went home back to my OBGYN. Over the summer, I
>>decided to drop out of where I was and go somehwere closer to my
>>doctors. Right now I am about 1/2 hour away from home and I am so glad
>>I did that. Last Spring, my endo got sooooo bad that I was in pain
>>everyday, taking narcotics/end of life pain killers and having horrible
>>reactions to them. Less than a month before finals, after passing out
>>in the bathroom from pain, I convinced my RE to do another lap. He did
>>and I was out for 2 1/2 weeks. I wouldn't have been able to do that if
>>I was at the other school. Anyway, he wrote a note to all my professors
>>and that helped alot. I returned slowly back to my classes(I was only
>>taking 10 hours) and then had a post-op infection so spent hours driving
>>back and forth from Chicago where my RE is. I missed so many classes
>>and my insurance company hated me at this point. But, what saved my
>>butt is appealing to the insurance company. Both my parents, myself,
>>and my doctor wrote a letter to the insurance company explaining the
>>situation adn how much I wanted to be full-time but b/c of my health I
>>couldn't. I have had to do that twice and both times they continued my
>>coverage. Don't be afraid to fight back, appeal. Contact your
>>disability specialist or nurse on campus. Give them a letter from your
>>doctor educating them about your condition and explaining why you have
>>been missing classes. I am incredibly far behind and I have taken
>>summer courses and I only have three more semester and I'll graduate! If
>>everything continues to go well for the next three weeks, I will finish
>>my first full year of college. OF course, this summer I'll be taking
>>courses and working full-time but it's okay. I have had wonderful
>>professors that have understood. I had one that yelled at me for not
>>coming to him sooner and telling him what was going on. I had another
>>one(from Biology of Women) that wouldn't let me have surgery until I did
>>a presentation on endo....he told me that I wasn't going to miss
>>anything cause that is what we were covering while i was gone! He's
>>like, I think you understand that stuff better than any of us. Hang in
>>there and be strong. Don't hesistate to fight back and appeal. It
>>never hurts...if I didn't do that with my insurance, God only knows
>>where I would be today....dead? Take care~
>>
>>At Thu, 25 Mar 2004, Sherly wrote:
>>>
>>>Hi everyone i 'm a junior in college and because I missed so many
>>>classes, I will perhaps graduate in 2006 or 2007 who knows. I was a
>>>premed student, dropped and doing nursing so I could spend less time in
>>>school. I have missed so many classes especially my bio and bio lab. I
>>>spoke to my prof but in my college your attendance is 10% of your grade.
>>>I had dr appointment during school time and several other pain killers
>>>which made me dizzy and tired. i kept pushing the date to have my
>>>surgery done. Finally I tried to get pregnant because I have loan and I
>>>was afraid to take medical leave. Anyway I am 11 weeks pregnant but I
>>>still have pain. I manage to go to school and ask the profs to return
>>>my work a little late. I'll say talk to your professors. I am sure
>>>they'll understand. Also ask for extension, work with other students or
>>>have other students call you if you can't make it to class. It is very
>>>hard but you can make it with prayers. Just don't give up and do what's
>>>best for you
>>>
>>>--
>>>Sherly
>>>
>>>At Tue, 23 Mar 2004, Melissa wrote:
>>>>
>>>>I tried to finnish school but after 2yrs it was too hard with endo and
>>>>wasn't worth the money. If I would have gotten my degree id be in no
>>>>condition to work in that proffession w/endo. Find a job that suits
>>>>your lifestyle for a while until you decide what to do.
>>>>
>>>>-Melissa
>>>>
>>>>At Tue, 23 Mar 2004, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>At Tue, 23 Mar 2004, Softball wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Tiana, I know exactally what you are going through. I started with 17
>>>>>>hours this semester now at 14, but getting ready to drop my chemistry
>>>>>>class, which then I will be in the same boat as you and not ahve 12
>>>>>>hours unless i find another class. I'm tired and in pain all the time.
>>>>>>However, one thing I have for me is that I only go to class fro 8-9:30 2
>>>>>>days a week. All the rest I do online. However, I am finding it very
>>>>>>difficult to do my homework. I am used to A's and B's and I have a B-
>>>>>>and a C right now along with a D in chemistry. I thought about doing
>>>>>>the medical leave, but I know at least with my insurance that would kick
>>>>>>me off. I'm doing my best to tough it out and I figure with all that
>>>>>>i've been going through this semester a C would be acceptable. Or at
>>>>>>least I would have to accept it. Email me anytime at
>>>>>>softball34life@yahoo.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>--
>>>>>>Softball
>>>>>>
>>>>>>At Tue, 23 Mar 2004, Tiana wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>HELP! I am a Junior in college and I am having the roughest time this
>>>>>>>semester. I have been experiencing so much pain and fatigue that I have
>>>>>>>missed a lot of classes this semester. I have talked to all of my
>>>>>>>professors about what I am going through and most of them are
>>>>>>>understanding. As far as grades are concerned I am doing well A's and
>>>>>>>B's but I know my attendance will bring down my overall scores.
>>>>>>>Depending on how my visit with the endo specialist goes I am considering
>>>>>>>taking a medical leave and taking Incompletes for this semester and
>>>>>>>making it up over the summer. Has anyone here done that before? How
>>>>>>>does it work? I am also in a bind with my insurance if I am not
>>>>>>>registered for atleast 12 credits (full-time status) I will not recieve
>>>>>>>medical insurance. Will the medical leave affect that? Is anyone
>>>>>>>familiar with this? Please help. I don't think I can make it through
>>>>>>>much more of the semester. The work is piling high and I just don't
>>>>>>>have the strength. Should I just suck it up? Anyone out there with some
>>>>>>>words of wisdom?
>>>>>>
>>>>>Hi, I sooo know where your're coming from! I'm a FIFTH year senior in
>>>>>college. I have had numerous problems with my health, and my school
>>>>>work. I had a 3.89 GPA, where as now I'm struggling with a 2.0 I have
>>>>>done medical leave, and summer classes, and can't seem to finish.
>>>>>Between getting into the classes I need, and surviving lecture, I wonder
>>>>>all the time if it will be worth it. I have to drive home (2.5
>>>>>hours!)every week for either a doc appointment or for my lupron shot. I
>>>>>strongly suggest you evaluate yourself to see if you can finish your
>>>>>semester's classes successfully. I toughed it out one year and ended
>>>>>lowering my GPA drastically. No school can erase the grades from
>>>>>classes you took, be it an A or a D. So, if you know you can finish the
>>>>>classes, and do well with them; do it. Otherwise, do the medical leave.
>>>>>If you do leave though, you will lose your insurance. If you're under
>>>>>23, you'll still be covered under your parents, if they have insurance.
>>>>>Or, you'll have to buy your own policy. After my medical leave last
>>>>>semester, I came back in the summer for classes which helped a lot. The
>>>>>classes were smaller, and the professor's had more time to deal with
>>>>>students one on one. I hope this helps a little. I know where you're
>>>>>coming from. I wish there was a way that students can take classes,
>>>>>even when they can't get there everyday.
>>>>>The system is such a catch 22. If you stay in school, you keep your
>>>>>insurance and your can get medical help. At the same time, you feel
>>>>>like crap, you have to make your schedule fit your dr.'s availability,
>>>>>and you have to deal with biopsies, hystersono's, etc. Not to mention
>>>>>class! Never mind the exams!
>>>>>If you leave, at least you can rest (finally), and have the time you
>>>>>need to go to the doc.'s. But, now you lose your insurance.
>>>>>So, you stay in school, and keep your insurance, and feel crappy all the
>>>>>time,. Or you go home, and be ABLE to go to the doc. but now can't
>>>>>afford to because of the insurance. When I learned all of this (about
>>>>>two years ago) I realized life isn't fair no matter how good of a person
>>>>>you are, and how hard you try. God, now I sound depressing.... It does
>>>>>get better. I'm back in school after two laps. One in Sep, and another
>>>>>in jan. I swear my dr.'s scheduled them on purpose to be at the
>>>>>begining of the semester. (OK maybe not, but I did keep on saying
>>>>>NOOOOO not during school!) Anyway, instead I am now part time, and
>>>>>bought the school ins. which is available for part time students too.
>>>>>This seems to be the best solution so far. In my opinion, I think that
>>>>>leaving isn't always the best solution. I missed school so much when I
>>>>>left! Yes! Okay, maybe not all the crap that comes with it, but you will
>>>>>miss the fact that you aren't learning anything new, and aren't
>>>>>accomplishing anything!
>>>>>Sorry this is so long. I just know all the frustration that comes along
>>>>>with the endo, and school. Good luck to you. Hopefully you'll start
>>>>>feeling better and will be able to finish. If you have any questions
>>>>>about the ins. or the school medical leave in more detail, I've been
>>>>>through it all. Feel free to ask any questions. Again good luck! Liza
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>Liza
>>>>>
>>>Hi everyone i 'm a junior in college and because I missed so many
>>>classes, I will perhaps graduate in 2006 or 2007 who knows. I was a
>>>premed student, dropped and doing nursing so I could spend less time in
>>>school. I have missed so many classes especially my bio and bio lab. I
>>>spoke to my prof but in my college your attendance is 10% of your grade.
>>>I had dr appointment during school time and several other pain killers
>>>which made me dizzy and tired. i kept pushing the date to have my
>>>surgery done. Finally I tried to get pregnant because I have loan and I
>>>was afraid to take medical leave. Anyway I am 11 weeks pregnant but I
>>>still have pain. I manage to go to school and ask the profs to return
>>>my work a little late. I'll say talk to your professors. I am sure
>>>they'll understand. Also ask for extension, work with other students or
>>>have other students call you if you can't make it to class. It is very
>>>hard but you can make it with prayers. Just don't give up and do what's
>>>best for you
>>>
>>--
>>Keara
>>**Co-Leader of the EndoCenter of Chicago, IL**
>>
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