Hello all! I’m on a gap year at the moment, and will be a freshman in the fall for reference. Deposit is sent in, and while room assignments aren’t for quite a bit, my mom has brought up a point that had me worried; all of my prescriptions and medical supplies.
I have various health issues, and with that, a LOT of supplies to treat them. Most things are pretty useless as far as recreation goes, but I do have some mild painkillers for some foot issues, as well as a lot of needles monthly for insulin. I also have a lot of medical supplies that, while useless recreationally, cost a lot of money and can be sold for a good amount of money pretty easily. I’ve read around people recommending lock boxes or safes, but I haven’t been able to find anything large enough to fit all of the supplies that wouldn’t cost a fortune, and I know from past experience that anyone looking to make a few thousand dollars, or wanting to get high, can pretty easily break into these.
My university doesn’t offer singles to freshmen, and while I know they have medical singles, and a few people have recommended I request one, I’m not sure if “I have a ton of pills/supplies/machines” is really a good enough excuse to ask for one. I’d like to think the best of my peers, but losing these supplies for even a day could mean hospitalization, and I’d prefer to hope for sunshine and prepare for rain.
Does anyone have any advice as for what I should do in this situation?
“I have a ton of pills/supplies/machines” is exactly why they have medical singles. Put a request in, and see what they say. If they deny the request, residence life might have some suggestions on how to handle the situation.
I would contact ResLife and ask if you would qualify for a medical single (once your provide any required documentation) and if not, how they recommend you safeguard your medical supplies.
First of all, your room won’t be open to all and sundry people.
You and your roommate need to lock the door when you are not there.
Don’t talk about what your medications are.
I know a college student with diabetes who has a single as an accommodation. Talk to your endocrinologist and see if s/he thinks you should be living in a room with another person or if a single would be better for your health. And talk to the disabilities office at your college (it may have a different name) and ask what accommodations they routinely provide for students with diabetes with respect to housing, food and academics. You will need appropriate documentation to get whatever accommodations you need. They’ll be able to tell you what you need.
The focus here should be on what you need to stay safe and healthy. You are a person with a disability under the ADA and the school is required to provide appropriate accommodations.
If you have other diagnoses in addition to diabetes, those may also play a role in determining which accommodations you need.
Another thing to consider as a type 1 diabetic…do you often/semi-often have low blood sugar episodes? Would it be good to have someone vaguely keeping an eye on you?
@pincaustic I learned something today that may be of use to you. The health centers at some schools have large refrigerators, accessible 24/7, locked with combination locks with keypads and hooked up to a generator. Students can keep meds and related supplies like needles in the refrigerator. This provides protection against both theft and power outages. The idea is you keep a smaller supply in your room for everyday use and the rest locked in the health center. You may want to talk to your school’s health center about this.
I looked at my daughters school and they do not have the ability to store meds in their refrigerators. They would supply a small fridge for you to have in your dorm. The point is to look at what your college(s) provide.
Also look for medical accomodations and single dorms in the housing website for the college. Usually you must be enrolled with the Student Disability office.
You could get a trunk, either full size or a smaller end table sized one to contain your supplies that don’t need refrigeration. Lock the trunk to your bed with a bicycle chain and put a padlock on truck itself.