<p>I know I posted this in the college life section, but I'd like to hear a parent's perspective who possibly when through the special needs housing process. </p>
<p>My college offers medical/psychological and learning disability special needs housing. I am thinking of applying for the medical special needs housing because I suffer from frequent migraines. Medications have stopped helping me altogether and the only thing that seems to help is rest. I frequently get nauseous during my migraines and will throw up. It drives my roommate crazy when I get a migraine because she can't really come into the room since I really need complete silence and darkness. I was planning on trying to obtain a single through the lottery, but when I told my friend about the reason behind why I wanted a single she thought I may be able to apply for special needs housing.</p>
<p>I was wondering if you all thought if this was a valid medical reason for a single.</p>
<p>I think it’s a valid reason and you should be able to get a Doctor to sign off on it as well if you don’t have it already. My roommate sophomore in college had similar issues and she said if she felt it coming on the room would have to be dark and may need to stay that way for a few days. I was fine with it and just went elsewhere when that happened but it wasn’t frequent. She ended up moving to a single that came available just because she felt she imposed too much and I certainly understood. Good luck!</p>
<p>Many colleges accomodate special housing needs for kids with a documented medical need. Talk to your housing office about what they would need to see for you to qualify for a single or for what ever other housing accommodations they have. Your situation is one they have to deal with every year, so the sooner you talk to them, the more likely they can accomodate you.</p>
<p>I definitely think you should request special housing. One of my sons requested a single for special needs prior to the start of his freshman year, and he got it. It was in one of the least popular dorms, but he was absolutely thrilled! There were rules about what documentation he had to provide and who had to sign off on it (doctors, of course). But it was no problem at all. I would certainly think your condition would qualify. You’ll just have to provide good documentation. Good luck!</p>
<p>skywriter is correct. Most colleges have very specific documentation requirements, and this is usually the time to request housing for next year. </p>
<p>Have you tried the ergot-type meds? A student of mine tried every possible combo of Imitrex, Aleve and Maxalt - broke through every time 3 weeks ago tried the ergot nasal inhaler. Very strong vasoconstrictor - great results!
PS You should certainly qualify with proper documentation.</p>
<p>I read recently that some patients have recently been given oxygen from a tank and have had relief for migraines. I live in a college town where a lot of medical research is conducted. Admittedly, I sometimes don’t know what information is old and what is new,
but if I suffered from migraines I would look into it.</p>
<p>Yes, pursue it. It might help a lot – it may be that they are undersubscribed and it is easy to do. If there are students with greater needs, then accept that news gracefully. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, do speak words of appreciation to your current roommate. It is not your fault you have migraines but it does sound like it has been a great challenge for your roommate. Your words of profound thanks may be helpful to finishing your time together with some sort of grace. People are often sympathetic to the sufferer – and it can be the “support staff” that bears as much of the brunt of the load.</p>
<p>I just had to hurry up and file disability information with housing here, I had like 12 hours to get it done and though it did get done it was kind of rude of me to give my doctor such short notice filling out the paperwork. Don’t hesitate to at least get that step out of the way, there’s no rule that you have to turn in the paperwork if you change your mind, but get the documentation you need.</p>
<p>I had to email my parents the form to be faxed to the doctor to be faxed back to my parents, scanned, and emailed to me so I could email the paperwork to housing. I wish I could run a fax in my room.</p>
<p>Yes, I think it’s appropriate to at least ask. This falls under “Chronic Pain” and noise, disruptions etc…are very difficult for many with pain and migraines. Good luck and I hope your migraines go away. Many people outgrow migraines. I hope that is true for you.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your advice! I had an appointment today with a person from the Health Center who said she’d write me a recommendation for a single. Now it’s time to keep my fingers crossed and hope Res Life agrees with the health center and myself.</p>
<p>Also, my migraines seem to be hereditary as both of my parents get them quite frequently and terribly. Unfortunately for all of us medication does not helped, so I think I am stuck with this for the long haul. My father is a doctor who specializes in pain management (how ironic) and he has been unable to find any medications that truly help us. For awhile Imitrex and Maxalt helped, but now they don’t. </p>
<p>My diet doesn’t seem to affect my migraines at all, at least since I go through different food phases. I used to think it was my periods or stress that caused them, but then it became apparent that they were unrelated…</p>
<p>I posted this awhile ago and on friday I got the news that I got a single in my second choice dorm. I am super happy and I am glad that you all encouraged me to go for it.</p>