School

Um... what medicine? If there was a medicine that cured IBS, like antibiotics can cure a viral cold, then we wouldn't have this board. IBS HAS NO CURE. THERE IS NO MEDICINE TO CURE IT. Maybe you should impress that to your aunt. Actually, she doesn't sound like a very decent human being, so it doesn't seem like there's any good reason to try and explain your very legitimate illness to someone so ignorant. Just be glad you can continue your schooling so you don't end up like her. I assume your parents, who watch your struggles daily, understand how sick you are all the time and don't feel this way?

You are NOT a failure. Plenty of kids get long illnesses (cancer, meningitis, etc.) for which they need home schooling; plenty of other kids are physcially handicapped and can't go to regular school either. Are they failures? Are they bad or disappointing? You haven't done anything to give yourself IBS; how is any of this supposed to be your fault? You've actively pursued homeschooling so that you can continue your education, despite your illness, and this is disappointing and drug-addict-like how? Drug addicts tend to drop out of school; you're still in school, even if it's alternative education.

I think this is a very good opportunity for you, because most homeschooled kids are better educated than mainstream kids because the teacher can slow down when they need help and speed up when they master something. In other words, other kids won't be hindering your learning. May I suggest that, for fun or book reports or to fulfill reading requirements, you try finding some books written in the 1800's or very early 1900's (this company reprints a lot of old books: http://www.applewoodbooks.com/ I bought a book on ettiquette from them that was published in 1866; it's very interesting); the reading level of these books is much higher than the reading level in books for similar-aged persons. It's amazing how dumbed-down our reading levels are in this country compared to 100 years ago. If you can read any book from that time period, I guarantee that your reading level will start outstripping other kids your age, not to mention Jane Austen and Shakespeare will become easier to read as well. And when you read well, you write well, and that's what a lot of colleges really look for. There are no multiple-choice, standardized tests in college; it's all about writing papers.

Nst114,

Congratulations!!     You are doing what is right for you and that is OK.  It is commendable.  Don't pay attention to your Aunt.  In fact, why don't you send her this link, maybe it will help her understand:

IBS explained for people who do not have IBS

Glad you're staying in school!  It will be so much better for you to be stress free.  Enjoy it while you can. 

Exactly what you said I never really paid any attention in some classes because i was too scared on is my stomach gonna make some kind of noise ..or will i have to ask the teacher to go to the bathroom while they are talkin infront of the whole class

Okay, I might get some wrath here...but have you tried anything to control your symptoms so that you can stay in school?  I ask because in my opinion (and I must emphasize this is only one person's opinion!), during these years of your life, it is best to stay in a normalized school setting, among your peers.  It's a crucial time in your development and I fear that if you stayed at home because of nervousness or anxiety about your bowel problems, it could heighten them down the road for you during adulthood.

I know how terrible bowel problems can be, and how hopeless people feel when they are enduring them.  I know it's embarassing, especially for a young person, to be going to the bathroom all the time.  But I wonder why no one has suggested treating the symptoms with something that will make it bearable for you to be in a regular school setting. 

I'm not saying homeschooling is bad by any means!  I think it can be really beneficial for some kids.  But if you have been raised going to public school, and suddenly you are home-bound, that can be a pretty big whammy for a youngster.  I'm going to read your other posts to see if I'm missed something, though.

thanks for your reply

the reason I'm going home bound is so I dont fail school by missing so much school I have had IBS since Elementary school so some of the fears of what people think have gone ..... I dont want to go home bound really that much I just think it would be something better to do than have F's in classes I would rather have A's and B's ....but thanks I can understand where you are coming from