Getting sick in college

Parents Forum
61

<p>Teriwtt makes some very good points here.</p>

<p>Learning to communicate effectively with health professionals is a skill that takes many years to acquire -- and even some of us who are well into middle age don't always do it perfectly. My own husband -- a 55-year-old with a PhD -- is having an invasive diagnostic test performed tomorrow, and he left the doctor's office on Monday when he made the appointment for this test without getting clarification on exactly what he should and should not do before the test. Just last night, he was looking at the (rather sketchy) written instructions he was given and he realized that the instructions did not specify (and he had forgotten to ask) whether he should take or skip his usual prescription medications on the morning of the test.</p>

<p>If a middle-aged guy with a doctorate can't get essential information from his doctors, consider how much harder it is for a college freshman. Yes, of course my husband should have asked the doctor about what to do about meds on the day of his test. But he was rattled by the fact that he had been told he needed this additional test, which suggests that his problem may be more serious than he had realized, and he forgot to ask. A younger person with much less experience in dealing with the health care system would be even more likely to forget to ask a crucially important question.</p>

<p>What we're trying to coach the OP on, mostly, is how to communicate with both health professionals and college officials. She is sick enough that she is considering modifying her academic program, leaving school, or not completing some of her courses. That's a pretty drastic situation. It's important for the health professionals caring for her to realize that she is sick enough that she can't keep up with her normal activities and that this has been going on for a long time, and it's important for her to realize that she isn't "bothering people" when she asks for help. Her situation is bad enough that she needs to be assertive about getting both her medical and academic needs met.</p>

<p>I also don't think patients who ask specific questions like "Could this be mono?" or even ask for specific tests are going too far. I'm sure that the doctor is quite capable of telling the patient if the symptoms don't match a particular diagnosis or why the test is uncalled for.</p>

62

<p>All right, so: mono and strep tests are both negative, complete blood count shows signs of infection (could be an early mono infection, but it's inconclusive), and I'm supposed to come back for another mono test next week. At this point, I'm almost hoping it is mono, if only so that I'll have a definitive diagnosis instead of a Mystery Disease, but I'm not sure how likely that is given that the first test was negative.</p>

<p>Anyway, I spoke to my drawing professor; she said that I have to find some way to catch up on assignments soon ("Do you think you could do it this weekend?") or it'll be reflected in my grade, and that it is impossible to take an incomplete and finish the work later. However, I had a great class this morning (I love figure drawing!) and really do not want to drop the course if I can avoid it. I'm still considering dropping anthropology, but the drop deadline isn't until November 15, so I have a while to decide. I am not currently considering taking a leave of absence.</p>

<p>Thanks again for your support, and as always, I'll keep you updated. :)</p>

63

<p>"I find it a little frustrating when people trust someone they have never met, more than they trust me"</p>

<p>I don't mean to be rude, but that's your problem -- not the patients'.</p>

64

<p>Look, I agree with most points here. I started out giving an opinion like all of you. My opinion was that it was a good idea to get a doctor you trust so that you could get advice, explanation, and treatment from the person who was going to be responsible for your outcome and perhaps getting it paid for. I later explained my motivation and bias, as I certainly did not want to deter the OP, and some of you did the same. I even agree that getting frustrated can be my problem. This is not my thread, so I guess I'm not entitled to share it here. I thought I'd point out that you can improve communication with your doctor if you can establish some trust.
But getting good health care, and getting your health care paid for is a problem for everyone, not just me. I especially agree money makes a differene. If you want to pay cash, you can buy just about any test you want, and maybe any doctor you want. For most doctors to get paid, and to get it paid for, they have to be able to prove it's going to make a difference in treatment and outcome. I did learn from this thread that a main benefit of diagnosing mono is it can get you some administrative support. I did not know that. It usually doesn't change treatment much. </p>

<p>Whatev....(smile....I'm smiling and saying this in a conversational tone, okay ?)</p>

65

<p>For what it's worth, I interpreted Shrinkrap's comments differently than a lot of others. I thought he was saying that a lot of people on this forum really care about cameliasinensis. And that while we might not be the best source of medical information, we might be able to help her if she has un-covered costs.</p>

66

<p>camelia, you may very well be able to catch up on some of your drawings over the weekend. You might want to try scheduling relatively short periods of time in the studio (say, an hour or two at a stretch, several times during the weekend, rather than one marathon session) or see whether you can bring some of the work to your room if weekend studio hours are limited. The idea here is to get some work done while only getting moderately tired rather than extremely tired.</p>

<p>And, unless you're already taking a medication that includes acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) or something that's incompatible with Tylenol (call the pharmacy and ask), taking a dose of Tylenol before going to the studio might help. But be careful NEVER to exceed the allowed dose and frequency of Tylenol -- overdoses can damage your liver.</p>

67

<p>Shrinkrap, establishing a relationship of trust between a patient and health professional takes time.</p>

<p>As a college student in her first year, and as a member of a family that recently moved from one metropolitan area to another, the OP has not had an opportunity to build up a relationship of trust with a health professional. But the fact is that she is sick NOW and needs to deal with both the medical and academic aspects of her problem NOW. </p>

<p>And although it would not be true in an ideal world, getting administrative support (or at least cooperation) is one of the most important reasons for getting a diagnosis for those patients whose lives are dominated by bureaucracies, such as college students. Among other things, camelia needs to establish that she has a real problem and is not using illness as a phony excuse to get out of some academic responsibility. Every abnormal lab test (or day spent barfing in the infirmary) helps in that regard.</p>

68

<p>Camellia (I always think of you as "tea for short")... I remember when my kids were freshman in college, they both had a period of a few months where it seemed they got every single virus in the college virus pool--and then they had developed immunity and were done. My son got sick one more time (when he went back after a semester-long break and then developed strep) but other than that they were both healthy. </p>

<p>It's possible that's all that's going on with you, and that symptomatic relief and a focus on taking care of yourself--and no one else--will bring a fast recovery. My recommendation as a mom is: lots of very hot showers to loosen all the gunk in your chest and help you cough it out, plus get everything moving, lots of fruit, especially oranges and lemons, lots of yogurt (for digestive health), and lots of sleep. I would recommend my mother's recipe for a good night's sleep but part of it is illegal if you're under 21... one whole lemon, sliced in quarters, one cup boiling water poured over the lemon, two teaspoons honey... and a shot of vodka. Leave out the vodka and it still helps, though. The lemon oil in the lemon skin is a natural antibiotic.</p>

69

<p>Cam,
Good progress.
Marian's advice about sketching in your room this weekend could be helpful. Your last post mentioned figure drawing, and perhaps that must be done in class with a model.</p>

<p>The intention of my posting is only to brainstorm some new ways to balance out your academics with your health needs, in the immediate present next several DAYS. I think you'll klnow immediately when reading the paragraphs below whether it might work for you, and if not, just toss those suggestions into the mental wastebasket! </p>

<p>Only you know the nature of the missed assignments, but what if you emailed the art professor to say you're in process of determining whether you have mono (in between lab tests) so want to catch up on as much work as you can while still getting rested to fight off these many symptoms, in case it IS mono.. </p>

<p>Then say, you'd like to work from this weekend as much as possible alternating art work with bed rest. Could any of the past assignments be MODIFIED such that you can accomplish the same artistic objectives through media that can be set up in your room, for example: still life drawing, simpler work on an illustration pad, and so forth. </p>

<p>Healthwise, there's a big difference between sketching while propped up on pillows in bed (my D does that all the time), compared to coming in to the studio to work.</p>

<p>OTOH, maybe you do better when you arrive at the studio, with nothing else to distract you, and you get more done per hour, so it's worth the haul.</p>

<p>Only you know that balance. </p>

<p>I'm a grade school teacher and former college art major (Studio Art and Art History combined, how I loved it...) I'm just thinking sometimes art assignments are given to accomplish the educator's goal (such as using different media, trying out a new genre - landscape, portrait, and so on.) </p>

<p>If your teacher would be willing to slightly modify an old assignment such that it STILL MEETS HER ARTISTIC OBJECTIVE (emphasize that~), you're not asking her to make "easier" assignments because that would be snarky. Yet if the modification might let them be done from your room this weekend, that might be a compromise to help you make up a few old assignments while seeing to your health.</p>

<p>(If it were me, though, I'd fall asleep trying to sketch in bed, but my D doesn't so much.) Once you ask for a modification, you really must follow through
100% on it.</p>

<p>I hesitate to suggest asking for assignment modifications, because I've never taught college. Other college profs might know if I'm giving you baaad advice. I'm thinking you're at an LAC place where some easements are more possible than teachers who face more students numerically each semester.</p>

<p>At the very least, maybe leaf through the old assignments and see if there are choices to accomplish them already built in, some from home. If you have to chase around to assemble collage materials, perhaps enlist a healthy friend to go collect things, run to a stor to buy you glue, whatever. Assembling the art materials was often the hard part for my college D (Art and Religion major). Seems like she'd spend DAYS collecting found objects, seedpods, whatever and that was lots of runaround.
There, maybe a friend can find things for you to assemble. </p>

<p>Best wishes, keep us posted.</p>

70

<p>Camellia:</p>

<p>So you love your drawing class and the prof cannot or does not want to give you incompletes. So you best option is to either drop another course or ask for an incomplete in a course that does allow for them; this would enable you to focus on the drawing class. Whatever you decide, keep your freshman dean in the loop to make sure that what you and your profs come up with is in line with college regulations. Profs are not always the best source of information on this!</p>

<p>You may still have a mystery disease, but as far as deans and profs are concerned, you have a disease! That's a step forward. Now for the cure....</p>

71

<p>Quick tip from my D...whenever she needed to ask friends for favors (like running to the store, buying lemons, whatever..) she could always "pay" for them by offering some old little sketch or doodle that was no longer meaningful to her. They'd hang over their computers or for mini-posters. Some were small as post-its. </p>

<p>Understand that if you have art skill, especially light drawings, it's a barter currency on the college campus! Ask for favors and don't be shy. </p>

<p>Some kids are kind and do you favors "just because." Other times, if you offer them payment of an old page of your sketchpad, well, not everyone can DO that and everyone likes paper posters.</p>

72

<p>I feel like you're making progress.</p>

73

<p>You've acquired many new moms and dads who are looking out for you. Don't forget your own parents. I know I would be devastated if my college freshman didn't inform me of an ongoing health issue. My #1 advice to my son is sleep. I'll be checking in on you , too!</p>

74

<p>I really agree with leeislegal. I want to encourage you to speak with your parents. They know you the best and there is nothing like getting a bit of sympathy from mom and dad. I know that you are worried about a lecture regarding not having gone to Sweden, but you could become sick anywhere, and that includes Sweden.</p>

75

<p>Hi cameliasinensis,</p>

<p>I agree with weenie. You need to see a real doctor. </p>

<p>The week my son went away to school he got sick, and like most boys, he did not want to go to the school clinic. It took him four weeks to finally decide to go, but they did not help him at all. We had to bring him home and his doctor said he had a sinus infection. The doctor gave him a strong antibiotic and he was finally cured. He had been miserable for nearly eight weeks total. He had no energy and could barely walk or think straight. </p>

<p>Now he is much better and can think well enough to get his grades back up to the 3.8 + range. I wish I had brought him home sooner. If there is any way to get to a real doctor, please try to do it.</p>

76

<p>
[quote]
You need to see a real doctor.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>As critical as I have been about student health centers, this statement suggests that the doctors there are not real. They graduated from medical school just like all other physicians. I think what most of us here have offered as an option is to see someone not affiliated with the limitations of a student health center. They are understaffed and forced to practice medicine within a very limited budget. Sometimes they do fine, but most college kids (freshman particular) do not know how to work within the system, nor be advocates for themselves. It does not mean that these doctors are not real doctors.</p>

77

<p>The college health center might be staffed by "nurse practitioners" most of the time and not have "real doctors" around very often; this was my experience in college and grad school.</p>

78

<p>My D goes to Camellia's school, and her experience has been that they are very clear about when the NPs are in and when the MD is in - they are staffed by both. However, the MDs may be residents, and I dare say the NPs have actually seen more mono.</p>

79

<p>Real doctors or not, it's hard to believe that a college health clinic would not have seen students with mono!</p>

80

<p>But it's also hard to believe that they wouldn't recognize staph... Especially in the last month when it's so much in the news.</p>

<p>I think one advantage of the university clinics is that they know what's going around in that particular population.</p>