College

[Hannee432]

Hi everybody-
I'm new to this site. I'm 17 years old and I live in California. I was diagnosed about 2 months ago with SLE. My mom also has Lupus, among other things, so we were able to recognize most of the symptoms early. Anyways, I'm a senior in high school this year, and I'm planning on going away to college next year. The university is about a 14 hour drive north of where I live, only a 2 hour plane flight. But it's still far. I'm still getting used to living with this and I'm nervous about going away and living on my own. My best friend is going to the same college, which is great, but it's still not the same as having the support of your family. I will also need to find new doctors, and learn to deal with the colder climate (which makes my joint pain worse). If anyone has any helpful advice, please send back. Thanks a lot.
-Hannah

[sweetpea_uk]

hello hannah,

I am Charambraclet and i hear your having touble deciding whether to move away to college. Well i had this same scenario when i was 19. I was in a dilemma whether to go to a university nearer to home or away.
For me i was diagnosed with SLE at age 15 when i was still in school and i had always known i wanted to attend UNI.

I am from the UK and live in a city called Manchester. Lucky for me this uni was my first choice, only because the course i did there (Psychology) was very good, it had nothing to do with it being my home town. However i knew deep down that if i did not get the required grade for the course there was the possiblity of moving away. I know that this really disappointed my mother because as all mothers she would worry about me so much and again there was the whole thing about finding new doctors etc...plus moving is a stressful experience for someone wih Lupus.

In the end i got the required grade to attend Manchester Uni. All i knew is that i wanted to be as normal as all the other students. So although i lived in Manchester i decided to live in the student halls of resisdence on campus for my 1st yr. i wanted to live, breath and experience uni life first hand and this was my way of doing it. My mum still wasn't pleased, i mean the uni was only a 20min drive from my place. But my siblings and other family memebers finally reassured her to let me dlive out, and did return home for my 2nd and finally year.

Uni life is greeeat!!! i did have my rough days which was to be expected and the course was i thought very demanding. Hannah, it is very imoportant that u visit the uni 1st and get a feel for the place. Another thing is that my uni had a great disibility department. The uni provided me with my own personal laptop for me to complete my work if i was too ill to get to lectures...which i was allowed to keep after i graduated. i had extended period of time to keep library books, and extra time and rest breaks in exams. The uni was vert sympathetic to my needs and this is very important. Don't feel afraid to take advantage of such facilities dear.

I first i felt fake and that i didn't deserve a place there. But then i really thought about it and said to myself "it was me personally that put in the hard work to get here so i have as much right as anybody else to be there with the added medical condition to contend with!!!!"

i think its good that you have a friend who knows you and will be goin to the same uni. But you may be on different courses, make new friends and drift apart...so u have to be strong and let people know about your SLE if you want to. My advice would be to GO 4 IT!! my moto is:

'DON'T LET LUPUS CONTROL U, LET YOURSELF CONTROL THE LUPUS'

let me know how you get on...its a big step in your life so make sure u weigh up the pros and cons
Bye for now
CHARMBRACLET

'

[stefanie]

I think if you can then do it!!! i'm away from my family (living with boyfriend) and planning to return to shcool here, have your family doc recommend a doc and Rhuemy in the area you'll be they can set all that up for you before you go so that would take a load off you.

And as for managing make sure you know where the hospital is, you doc's, and carry a list of your meds with you at all times incase!!! Remember to rest when you have to and advise your school of your health so that you can get any extra things you may need to feel more comfortable

extra time on assingments and tests
exused abstances
and any other considerations you may need (taking breaks for meds, bringing food to class etc.....)

anyway if you take the time to make sure everything is covered you can for sure live and go away to college it's an experience of a lifetime!!!!! Good luck

and like terij said don't let lupus control your life! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif

[Sprinkly]

Hello,
College life, is great. Be careful of your health in relation to your studies. I am 24, in my last year of Bach. degree of Liberial arts. I have taken all the required courses to complete my associates degree first then started my BAch degree in cultural studies. I would advise for you to take a general course load of reduced or easy courses first before taking hard cources like calcullus or something similar. Take simple course that are manditory life english comp, fitness and nutrietion instead of PE. The instructors are more pushing for text grades then physical effort. Read everything from the instructors point of view, during class notes.

The instructors tend to talk (licture) their material instead of explaining it. Make sure you can have a copy of the class notes from instructor or fellow student for each class. This way you will not tier out by righting instead of listening. (be nice, but pherm for your rights (assistance during labs, writtings)) with the instructor.

Have any questions please email me. College is great, take the 1st year slow then build.
Have fun studying (reading, writing loooooooooots)
Sprinkly style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hehe.gif

[Hannee432]

Hi again. I just wanted to say thank you all for your advice and support. I'll definately make sure the school has everything I need. One of my big concerns, though, is that while it's a beautiful campus it's known as "Hills and Stairs University", so it's not the easiest one to get around. I'll have to take that into consideration, and ask them about extra time between classes. Anyways, if you have more advice or comments, they're really helping. Thanks again! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif
--Hannah--

[joannemc]

Hannah, At my college, they have an office for students with disabilities. Im in Boston Mass. Ask your school if they have an office like that. they should be able to help you. Ive started in Jan. and Ive only missed 1 class due to a flare. But everybody is different, I also agree with everyone else, Dont let lupus control you. Make sure you ask your school. Hugs...Joanne

[oxoshortieoxo]

hey hannah!

Me and you are in a very similar predicament. I live in pennsylvania and im 17 too. I am dealing with the same issue of whether I should go to a school close to home or far away.

It seems like every time I get the courage to want to go away to school I get a flare up or some other problem to make me change my mind, or get discouraged.

But im gonna tell you the same thing that my doctors told me. They basically said that you cant base your whole life on an uncertainty. Like, something could go wrong. Or, you may not be able to find a doctor as good as the ones that im used to. But you will never know for sure until you try it out. And if you find that things arent working out for you far from home or you miss the doctors that you`re familiar with than you can always transfer closer to home.

Im sure its probably nothing new, but sometimes you listen to things differently when it comes from other people.

Im here for ya .. hope things work out the best for you!

<33 Dionna

[Hannee432]

Hi Dionna-
I know exactly what you're talking about with the uncertainty. It's hard to know what it will be like in a new place, and once you get used to a routine you don't really want to leave it. But you're right, you'll never know until you try, and it does help to hear this from somebody else. Thank you, this really did help me.

Good luck with college, and feel free to contact me if you need to talk also, since we are in the same boat.

<3 Hannah

[natfab15]

Hello i have lupus. I go to university. I have disabled room there so if i have a bad day i am ok. I think you should go for it style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

Natalie

[whyseesangel]

um, if u dont mind i would lyk to add.. i am 19 and i am currently in college, i have the same problem too, i was in college, and i was thinkin of stoppin school for awhile coz i dont know wat to do, i mean, i dont want to make it worst for me... the school is lyk two hours away from where i live and its stressful thinkin that i should go home every now and then, i have been in boarding houses before i was diagnosed with lupus and at those tyms the symptoms were showin but i didnt pay attention i thot it was just minor health problems, but recently i was hospitalized because of joint pains and some kidney complication after 5 days of bein in the hospital, the doctor told me i had SLE and i didnt know wat to do about it... my graduattion for completing the 1st year in college is comin on the 30th and i dont know if i should come or not... im confused...

[Daina]

I'm also 19 and have had lupus for a little over a year now. I'm about to finish up my first year of college and so far have not had two many problems with my lupus affecting how i function here. I go home every once and a while for doctor's appointments and a ll that fun stuff and have had my occasional bad days, but so far evething has been worth it. Don't give up on any opportunities that present themselves just because you have a "disease". If you do you'll probably regret it for the rest of your life. You should never let anything hinder your dreams or future, they're what makes life worth living. Plus if you talk to your proffessors they'll understand if your not able to make it to class and it should be covered under the disabilities act.

[whyseesangel]

yea... i was thinkin of tellin my teachers about this.. i only got 5 more subject to finish teh second year module.. i hope i can make it....

[hurley]

I agree that if you have the desire to go to college/university and you are feeling well enough to do so, then you should go.

Whyseesangel - you have made great progress. I hope that you are well enough to attend you 1st year graduation. Which college are you going to and what are you studying?

Hugs to you all!!

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif

Julie

[whyseesangel]

My graduation is on the 30th, i wish i could come and practice will be on wednesday.. I was thnkin that i would attend the practice but im still observig on how my body responds to the sun, i am afraid of getting flares again... Im excited about it, i mean it will be my first time, but im scared and i have doubts bout attending it... i hope all goes well... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif