3 hour classes!

[magnolia86]

I go to an art school, and we have 3-5 hour studio classes everyday. I almost didn't make it to the restroom twice today. I really hope I can go into remission soon... I'm not sure if I can do this next year! Plus, all my teachers are starting to notice and they think i'm 'skipping' out. I didn't want it to come to this, but I think next semester I am going to have to be up front with them about my condition, despite how awkward it is. Do you guys have any good coping strategies? Especially when you are in the middle of a big test, or in a situation where you really can't get up and go? I'd appreciate some response, thanks!!!

[kadi]

Hi there,
The good news is you are a student in the US, where there are laws to protect you. Do check around your school & find out if there is a disabled student services office on campus. If the school is small, you might want to go to your counselor & explain IC to him/her & have the counselor run interference for you with your profs. Other students with IC have made arrangements for testing in a room near a restroom & are allowed to go as they need to.

I'm taking a three unit class & told the professor up front about IC. I've not had any problems, though I did miss 1 out of the 4 required Saturday meetings and two out of the 15 afternoon meetings during the course of the year (we've been meeting since Sept). She said she would have to lower my grade. I'm curious if she'll actually do it, because my attendance has not been significantly worse than any one else's in the group. I won't mess with it if it's at least a B for the term, but if I get a C over it, I'll file a grievance.

Good luck! Hang in there!

[kuntrygurl78]

If you go to the IC store there is a card that quickly explains IC and your multiple trips the bathroom. I would recommed giving each of your professors one of these. Dont wait till next semester. The sooner you act on this by telling them, the better it will be.

I would also talk to the disabilty dept of your school. There are so many things that they can do help..even talking to your teachers if you are not comfortable doing it. You might even get a note from your doctor.

Good luck!

[kdfurgi]

i agree with the other two. it is better to be up front with the professors and the conslers. i talked to the admitting office when i applied for school in January (didnt start yet again because of pain) and they were cool with it. i have talked to a large school and a small one. i didnt think to talk to the diability office though...hmmmm, might have to do that. anyway both schools said that they would make sure that the proffessors knew what was going on and that i would be given a seat near an electrical outlet if i needed it. they are usually really helpfull if you just let them know what is going on. hope you feel better soon.

[TabbiH]

Looking at it from the viewpoint of both a student and a teacher, it's best to bring it up before there's a problem, instead of making it sound like an excuse after you've skipped class/failed a test/whatever else. But just lay out the basics without whining about how you "can't" sit through a class. Make sure to come up with a plan about how you will complete all the required work if you have to miss. The disabilities office can help you with this. I think the plan is the trick to getting what you need and retaining the teacher's respect.

[dipietrom]

i agree. i have been in school for 4 years with IC. I go to a small school and attendence is very strict.

i found that at the begining of the term, I send an email to each of my teachers. i tell them a bit about IC, and direct them to the website. I then tell them that I will definatly complete all work they assign, I just might not be able to adhear to the attendence policy (due to pain) I also tell them that i dont mean to be rude, but i will have to get up and go to the bathroom often.

Usually this works, a few times teachers have had me do an extra credit paper or something. 1 teacher has me write a paper about IC.

As long as you are upfront with them, they should be ok.

Also, the students with disabilities office is good too. you can get a wheel chair from them too, at my school, which was nice on some days.

[sexymami04]

does anyone else have a problem with sitting in a class for more than an hour? i especially start feeling uncomfortable when i wear my tight jeans in my 2-hour class, so i started to wear only sweatpants to that class. am i the only one with that problem?

[ICNDonna]

I absolutely agree that it's a good idea to let your professors know about your IC. It shouldn't be a problem for you to leave a class for a few minutes for a restroom trip --- especially if you have a seat near a door.

Sending encouraging thoughts,
Donna

[WhiteWolf]

Hi, I am 23 and going to school as well. Telling your teachers is very important. If you are shy about talking to them face to face, send them an e-mail explaining your condition. At most schools they have a person that you can talk to you and they make sure they get it in the school system so that they are aware of it. I just make sure I grab a seat right by the door and I am very open with my professors. The more they understand what you are going through the better.
Oh, and whoever it was that asked about the jeans, I completly understand what you are going through. I LOVE jeans and am now unable to wear them. You can't imagine how angry this makes me. But you don't have to wear frumpy jammies just to be comfortable. There are some very elegant pants out right now that are in style and are as compy as sweats! In fact, I just bought some, I believe they are called Gaucho's. I got mine at a mall, but there are also some really cute ones in Victoria's Secret magazine. And there are pants that look and are as compy as Gauchos but of course they go all the way down the leg. (the gauchos are like capris)
Hope that helps. God Bless you all!
-WhiteWolf

[Stasia]

Yeah, I've told my professors about my IC and they don't mind if I leave for a minute. In my big lecture classes people come and go all the time. Only a few have a problem with people leaving the class. But I don't really care if they have a problem with it, if I can't concentrate because I have to pee or whatever then thats no good for my grades. It also helps to have a friend in a class that you can call if you, last minute can not make it to class. That happens with me. I wake up fine then when I start moving around, my pelvic pain starts.

[KendoSam]

I am a junior in college and am transfering to the Univesity of Florida from a community college in the fall. I have been dealing with IC for a year and my symptoms started when I was taking 17 credit hours (go figure). I found that it was best to be up front. Most of my teachers were great. They understood that I am a good student and was not skipping class. When I had a particularly bad day and missed a quiz, I told my humanities teacher. When I said I was sick he asked what was wrong, I told him (being beyond able to embarras by now). He looked at me shocked and said, "No, way! My wife has IC!". As soon as he found out what was going on he was very supportive and a very good listener when talking about dealing with ineffective treatment. So you never know, your teachers might be some of your biggest advocates! Good luck.

sam

[MelissaJ]

When I was doing my bachelor of journalism I'd just let my profs know I had to go to the washroom - they never had an issue with it, they just requested that I sit close to the door so i didn't interrupt everyone else more than necessary. This was actually probably not so bad since this meant I had to sit at the front of the class. The only time I was ever embarassed was in my first year history when a group of students kept leaving class in the middle of lecture to get junk food. My prof then made a rule that "no one except Melissa" was allowed to leave before break.
Do you have a doctor on campus?? YOu could maybe request that he/she have a copy of your file and that way if there are any issues (ie missing classes) you can get a note from the on campus doctor. I did this a few times when I wasn't able to make a class on days when assignments were to be handed in.

[yvette]

Art School was kind of its own unique animal...we were free to come and go, especially b/c class, studio and critique took so long.

Definitely sit with your counselor...you should have one. And they can help make things a little easier. If not formally sit down with each professor and/or put it writing and slip a letter into each of their mailboxes.

I didn't have IC at the time but drank enough coffee to mimic it (2+ pots a day!!!) My western civ class was only an hour long and I went 3-4 times during it...as long as I wasn't disruptive...no one really cared....and the occassional ribbing about drinking waaaay too much coffee. I never had a problem, but I understand each school and atmosphere is different....

What school are you going to...SVA, perhaps?

Good Luck, I know you'll do just fine :)

[icmandy]

i've found it's best to be upfront. also, if i've missed a class, i be sure and go to the office hours, even if i'm still in a flare-up....most professors can tell the pain i'm in, so then they know that i'm not just faking it.

you never know what experiences your profs have had...i spoke with one prof who had bladder cancer a few years back....we ended up exchanging stories and urologist info.