High School

[K-lee]

WOW high school is REALLY hard with this condition. Going to school period is hard. I would really like to home school but of course its WAY too exzpensive. I was just wondering how many people in here were still in school and what you do to deal with the everyday chaos.

K-lee

[dansfever]

k-lee i was home schooled so i didn't have to worry about chaos. i would not recimend it. yes it will be very hard while you are in high school. it's bad enough that you have to deal with the teasing and everything else and deal with ic at the same time. the best thing i think would be to have a meeting between you, your parents, teachers that you have this year, and the princible. just tell them the whole thing about ic and if one of them is really currious give them this website. also try to see if you can get a picture of your bladder and then of one without ic. it might be easier to use pictures and explain at the same time that way everyone is on the same page. also when you have this meeting make sure you tell them all what would help you get through high school with ic. something like if you have to go to the bathroom a lot all you have to do is leave and go. another thing would be to not pentilize you if you are flaring on the day of a test see if they will either let it be brought home to you and bring it back the next day or if you can come in after school and do the test. they should be willing to acomidate to your needs, but don't take advantage of the generosity because some teachers will agree to something and then change their mind.... so be careful and good luck keep us all posted and let me know what you decided to do
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veronica

[ICNDonna]

Veronica has given you some excellent advice. There is much to gain by interacting with people your own age --- and most school systems will accommodate your needs.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[Imustpee]

Oh yes...I went through all levels of school with I.C. back in the 60's and 70's when the dr's didn't even know what was wrong with me...I was told I had IC when I was in 11th grade in 1976..

[K-lee]

I understand what you're saying but I can hardly get out of the bed in the mornings. I feel so bad. Its not that Im teased or anything like that I just want to be able to get up a little later so I dont feel as bad.

Thanks again,

K-lee

[ShadowDudeR54]

Hey im new ive had ic for 3years ive been dx 2times..long story... i am home schooled but i know if i was in school it would be realy hard still trying to find out what i can and cant eat but my parents are helping just started takeing elmiron im not feeling well today and only doing a little school

[dansfever]

shadow good luck i know how you feel.

k-lee it's not that i'm talking about the teasing i'm talking about talking to your teachers and people of the school to see if they can do anything to help. so you may get through school, you have many days ahead of you to were you will not want to get up or you just can't get up because you are in so much pain. i think what would be a good idea would be to talk to the teachers and everyone else like i mentioned before and see if your doctor get write a note to the school saying what your condition is and what will help to better help you through school. kind of like you could say special treatment. hope this helps. you should come to chat one of these times and get some different ideas.
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veronica

[hiphuray4peas]

I survived high school with I.C. and key word survived. Try wetting your pants giving an oral presentation in front of 50 students your senior year. That was the worst it got. I see that your initial problem is actually getting and staying at school. Now I'm in college and have more distance to travel from class to class I have devised plans that may help you. I plan a route from each class that I know passes certain bathrooms. In addition I wear a dress (or something that covers my bum) over pants, so if I wet my pants while walking my dress hides the puddle. Pads are my new best friends, and yes big ones just in case I don't have an oppertunity to change it.
I like what veronica has to say, no matter how embarrassing you do need to clue in your teachers, and involving the administration would be an excellent idea. Typically teachers are willing to work with you if you put forth the effort, they don't really like giving handouts. Remind them that I.C. is sometimes diabilitating, and can be just has limiting as having another disability.
One foot in front of the other.... you'll get thru it!

[angelaharrell]

Hi K-lee, IC is a disability, there are laws that would require the school to allow you certain things like maybe leaving class five minutes early to escape to the potty before the bell rings.

When you say you can't get out of bed in the mornings, is it because you've been up all night with frequency or does your body physically hurt? You know IC has lots of related or sister diseases.

[K-lee]

I usually dont wake up many times during the night, well not compared to most of you. :) I just feel really weak. Im so confused! :mad: :loco:

[ICNDonna]

K-lee, what time are you going to bed? When I was in high school, it was not unusual for me to be up at midnight or even later, which made it very difficult to get up in the mornings.

Donna

[angelaharrell]

I know you've been to the Doctor for IC, but have they run any blood work on you? IC is an autoimmune disease and some IC'ers have anemia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyaliga.

[K-lee]

I dont think I have anything else and Im not going to believe that I have anything else. As far as staying up late Im never up past 11 on a school night. Usually not even that its usually 10.

[angelaharrell]

Hon, if you're waking up tired, you're not getting the rest you need. There are different stages of sleep, one of the stages is where your body really rests & gets recharged. If you're not waking up feeling refreshed, you're not hitting that particular stage of sleep. Some people with sleep apnea or people like myself that get up and down all night, never get to the final stage of sleep that our bodies need.

Also, if you have a lot on your mind, this can stop you from getting the rest you need as well.

[dansfever]

K-lee
If you have a problem waking up in the morning it my be what angela said but also maybe you are waking up and just not realizing it b/c you don't remember doing it. It may also be that you toss and turn a lot in your sleep which will cause you to be tired when it's time for you to wake up. One thing that I have noticed that helps me is that my uro perscribed a muscle relaxor which I will take at night b/c of how early I have to be up to be at work by 5:30am. If you do have either pain killers or muscle relaxors try and take them about 3-4 hrs before you go to bed that may help you to wake up more easily in the morning. But to see if this works try it like on a Friday that way if you do wake up let you will get a 3 day weekend.LOL. But if you take it the way I said then there should be no problem with being up on time. B/c these types of pills only usually last 8 hours at max. It's worth a shot. Good luck. You can also tell your dr about this and see what they think would be best. I would really use a sleep aid but thats up to you.You can also try that workeds is Tylenol PM that you can take probably 1-2 hours before you go to bed. Hope something helps.
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Veronica

[jessied]

i am in high school it is so hard to make it through the day espically when my teachers dont let me go to the bathroom as needed i spend more time disagreeing with the school i was supposed to be put on homebound from my school but my school felt that it wasnt a good enough reason to homebound me i am still disagrein with them about that so i agree with u on that

[ICNDonna]

It may be that some help from your parents is needed here. I know that if you were my daughter, I would get a letter from your physician, take it to the principal's office and make sure that teaching staff is made aware of your needs. You should be able to leave a classroom at any time to go to the restroom.

I have two sons with asthma and I had to take the trek to school every year with a new letter from their physician to arrange for them to be excused from some activities.

You'll find school is much easier if you are able to sit near a door and can leave for a few minutes when needed. And if, after your parents have talked with the principal, a particular teacher gives you a problem in that area, let your parents know so the issue can be resolved.

Good luck!
Donna

[K-lee]

I had this problem at first and I had even brought a note from my doctor explaining that I needed to be allowed to go. I had problems with one of my teachers so I told my principal about it and he personally wrote my teacher a note telling him that when I said I needed to go to let me go. Anytime they wont let me go I walk out even though it seems hard sometimes just know that you cant get in trouble for walking out to go to the restroom. Good Luck!


Also Veronica its not only being tired its hurting. My back and my stomach hurts. I dont know what it is but I want it to go away so bad. When my boyfriend gets up to leave its hard for him to because I just cry Im in so much pain. Please if anyone else has this PLEASE talk to me im so tired of this. Thanks,

K-lee

[dansfever]

k-lee
i have the same problem with pain in my back but mostly in the pelvis for right now. dr.'s have not figured out why i am in pain in my back. are you in pain just below your sternom? if so that would be your diaghram. i had that problem with pain and pressure and all it was was gas and the dr gave me meds ro take care of it.

right now i am having a problem in the left side of my pelvis and an ultrasound was done. they found fluid in the pelvis and a large mass in the vassinity of my ovary area. the dr.'s have no idea what it is. any thoughts please help.

[green_the_fish]

Hi everyone, I'm also in high school with IC.

This year, I've planned out my route from class to class so I can go to the bathroom between every class period. I used to have a talk with my teachers at the begining of every semester, letting them know that I have IC, but this hasn't been neccessary lately. Still, I would recommend it for those that don't have access to a bathroom between all periods. It also helps that periods are only about 45 minutes long at my schoo; I know that periods are a lot longer at some schools. It often to helps to have a doctor's note, written by a urologist, explaining the urgency/frequency symptoms of IC.

The hardest part of high school with IC for me, though, was gym class. Luckily, I finished my last credit of gym last year. Anyway, I remember that one time I was running across the track when my bladder started to hurt a lot. I clenched it with my hand and practically limped over the gym teacher, asking to please be allowed to sit out. I was allowed to, but I was already so embarrased that I started to cry a little bit.
I was flaring big-tme that entire semester. Most of the people in the class would pick me last for teams, and that was embarrasing too. I didn't want to swim because I was so afraid of incontinence, so I had to sit on the sidelines for that as well. I just felt like a loser a lot of the time in there.
I'm really doing better this year, though, health-wise. I'm not severe pain anymore, so I'm pretty much down for whatever.

Well, if anyone wants to talk about anything, feel free to bring it up with me or PM me about it.

[K-lee]

Wow I wish my classes were 45 min. long. our classes are 1hr. 45 min. long (4 classes a day) It makes it really hard and I dont always have time to go between classes. I have given all of my teachers a not from my uro. but I still have probs. from time to time. I go back to my Dr. the 16 of this month and Im going to talk to him about home bound schooling. I guess we'll see.

K-lee

[green_the_fish]

Wow K-lee, that's rough! Now I feel really grateful for my schedule: 9 periods a day. I don't know if I would still be in school right now if my classes were as long as yours.

I hope everything goes well if you decide to homeschool. By the way, what grade are you in? I'm a junior. I was just thinking... if you're a senior and you have enough credits, I bet you could figure out a way to graduate early. Some seniors at my school choose to do that, and it's a really sweet deal for them, since the school still lets them go to prom and go through the graduation ceremony with their class. Have you talked to your school councellor about alternative options like this?

Let us know how it goes with your doc!

[Cheries]

You have a disability that is protected by the law. I know this because I am a teacher and I used to teach high school. You DEFINATELY need to have a meeting and get some paperwork that will require them to accomodate you. I had a student who was diabetic and had to have an insulin pump. I had to let her leave at any time to get her insulin tested. YOUR DISEASE IS NO DIFFERENT. JUST BECAUSE YOUR DISABILITY IS HIDDEN!!! Please educate those around you. Demand that you be accomodated and make sure your parents do so also.

[jessied]

i have 4 90 minute class periods and i dont have the time to go between classes i tried to get on homebound but i guess i dont have a good enough medical condition to be on homebound even if my dr said it was important that i was put on it good luck in ur tryin i hope u have better luck then me

[K-lee]

I hope I do to...im so sick of this. Our classes are 105 min. and there no time. If your dr. says that it is then the school has no choice. I think you need to check back into it. Good Luck.

K-lee :grouphug:

[jessied]

i also have chronic pelvic,arthritis in my back and in my pelvis and ibs so it is about impossible for not only me to be there but stay all day if anybody has tips please help

[hiphuray4peas]

jessied.... BE ASSERTIVE.... (I know it's hard when you're in pain but it'll help you in the long run...) If homebound still isn't an option... try to get your teachers to format some of their lessons so that you could do them at home.... take home tests and whatnot... maybe work up a contract with them, like about how many points you need (possibly adjusted to suit your needs) and about accepting latework and protocall like that
teachers make these things work for kids with learning diabilities.... why shouldn't they do this for you...
Tell teachers you're going to be late to class so you can use the bathroom plot the quickest routes, and where the closest bathroom is... I got this card from the ICN shop that I show to people in the line for the bathroom exactly why I NEED to go right now and why I can't wait in line.... perhaps you can do that too...
The thing is you need to be very open and honest about whats going on with you to your teachers and administrators... NO FEAR... YOU WILL GET THIS SOLVED... It's just gonna take a little work, and being assertive.
(Ps. be grateful that you're not dealing with incontinence too... I did, and wet my pants in class and had to beg the teach to go to the bathroom during class, only to hide out in the bathroom until my mom came with and extra pair of clothes... it always could be worse)