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teens and/ or other college students?

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Posted 11/23/2008 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hey! i just joined. I've had fibro since I was 11. I'm 18 now and a freshman in college. just wondering how other teens deal with the fibro. Do you tell your friends? i find it hard with all of the work I have, cause i'm always pushing myself too much, and regret it later, when the pain gets too bad to do anything. Can't wait to meet you!!
Posted 11/23/2008 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Colabear and welcome. We do have several college students on here so I'm sure they will be of help to you. I didn't get fibro til my 50s.

 

Read the fibro 101 thread, second on first page, it contains a lot of great info. Read, ask questions and vent when you need to and we will be here to help.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 11/23/2008 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
hi! I am 23- and in college..I don't know what year...i started out full time for a year, and then took a year and a half off...and have been going part time ever since..partially becuase of the fibro. I found it very hard to keep up with my classes full time and work. it was just impossible some days. and as far as friends go....a few close friends know, but thats it. its hard to even bring up to them...what do you say- "hey, whats up, did I ever tell you I have fibro?" its also very hard to explain...so I keep it to myself for the most part. I will tell you something though....if you ever need to ask questions..or just vent, to some people who know whats going on, this is THE place for it.
Posted 11/23/2008 4:39 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Colabear!

I am way past my teens but wanted to welcome you to the forum. You will find many helpful and caring people here. All you have to do is ask and they are there for you. Glad you found us & hope you are having a happy pain-free day :-)

There are several college people here, so I'm sure they'll find you soon.

Hugs!!  Margie

Posted 11/23/2008 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much!!! yeah, i find it awkward to bring it up and say that I have fibro. I have only told one other friend, and he hasn't told our other friends, but I'm starting to feel bad lying to them all the time about why i can't do certain stuff cause i'm in so much pain. it's nice having one friend that know, since he cares so much about if i'm in alot of pain or not. i guess i just wasn't sure if people told their friends, since i'm scared that they won't want to be my friends anymore after I have told them, and i don't really want to try and cause its a strange topic to just bring up randomly.
-Aliza
Posted 11/23/2008 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm 24 and I suspect I've had fibro for most of my life. I finished my associates degree last year. The fibro made school really hard. Everytime I tried to take a full course load I would fall apart so it took me 5 years to get what should have been a 2 year degree.

Try not to push yourself too much and try explaining to your professors if you need extra time on projects. If they aren't understanding, there should be a student accommodations office at your school that you can talk to to try to get leniency on your assignments.
Posted 11/23/2008 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, not a teen, much older but in college. I started out working on my master's full time. Next thing I knew I had to repeat classes because I was too exhausted. I try to remember that first year and all I can come up with is pain and sleep. lol

I changed to part time status and have been that way since. I have my master's now and am working on a graduate certificate in strategic communications.

Donnaeil
Posted 11/23/2008 10:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hi, me too - not a teen, but a grad student.  As a grad student I work in an office, conduct research, teach classes and take classes.  My office mates are 21 -24 years old.  We created an exercise club for ourselves and committed to exercise a certain number of times a week.  I tried climbing the rock wall and had a horrible flare. I tried to explain why I couldn't do it and the 24 year old male said "oh don't make excuses."  I think he was teasing, but it was kind of weird. 

My profs know about it and understand when I have to call in sick.  They are very understanding.  They don't go around asking me all the time and coddling me, which would be awful.  I am thinking of getting services from student disability center.  I just haven't asked my doctor for the forms yet.  You should look into it.  There could be something they could do - like give you a good chair or something else like that.

Sue

Posted 11/23/2008 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
thanks yeah, i'm registered with my school's disability center and they're amazing there. whenever i have a problem, they try really hard to fix it. i do get accommodations, but sometimes the professors are hard to convince and explain that i need an extension, because at my school, the professors just know your accommodations, they aren't told why, so they don't know that I have fibro, and i guess since I look fine to them, they don't understand why I need extensions and stuff.

you should register, i don't know what I would do without it, even though i don't use the accommodations as much as I should! i'm not sure what you might get, but I get a copy of the professor's notes, i type everything, extensions, and i can miss class without it affecting my grade.

Aliza
Posted 11/24/2008 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Colabear-

Welcome to the site and I see your already meeting some of the members closer to your age or in college. I, like Marlee did not get fibro till this last year and I am 52. That is great that you are going to college and that your school has these accomodations.
As far as telling your friends, it is whatever you are comfortable with. Was nice meeting you!

GamJill
Posted 11/24/2008 2:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Colabear!

I am a full-time student, although I am in my 30's. I will have my Bachelor's Degree this Spring. I am SO ready to be done with school!! :)

I understand that it is difficult to fully comitt to and concentrate on school and homework when you are exhausted and hurting from your Fibro. I was obsessed with maintaining my 4.0 until last year...I had to let it go and allow myself to just be a good student instead of the best student.

I have hardly told anyone about my fibro in the years that I have had it. Close family and one of my bosses is all that know. That is something that I am hung up on....not wanting to be treated differently and never wanting to have an excuse to not do something. I try and do everything I would normally do....and I always pay the price later.

Good luck and pace yourself through school. Try and be a good student, but do not push yourself to be the best one. A degree with a 3.0 average is just as good as one with a 4.0.

I am proud of you for continuing with school. Hang in there and do not give up. When it seems like you want to quit and pick it up again later.....MAKE YOURSELF GO....GET IT DONE!! I took a "break" when I was 20 and did not make it back until I was 30!!! :)

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