Back to school and terrified

Make sure the school itself knows. They can be extremely helpful in these matters. You are doing yourself a huge disservice if you don't take advantage of that.

Certainly, tell your professors about your health in private.

Your concern mostly sounds like vanity, and social anxiety over it. It's easy to say, but I'd say let it go. You're describing temporary side effects from a course of steroids; it'll go away.


Most other students won't truly get uc, know what it is, etc., and it'd be a heavy-lift to get them up-to-date. I'd give short, answers and deflect where you can: you just don't want to talk about it. I don't see a lot of upsides of explaining it

How are you feeling? is often answered with fine, great, etc. it's the expected, social response. Most do not expect/want/care about the details. My grandmother, you'd have to be cautious to ask that question as she'd go through a long list of this aches, that hurts, and it'd take her 5 minutes or so (brutally honest) lol.

What's wrong? Again most expect an answer of nothing I'm fine. Or nothing for you to worry about. It's just social chatter with the impression of wanting to know, but not really.

Go to your course councillor and notify them of new diagnosis. There will inevitably be others with IBD at your school and they will be aware of them and the issues that come along with the disease to a degree. Notifying them now will help in the future as this is who you can go to if you're having trouble keeping up do to a flare or flare before an exam and need to delay it etc etc. Better to be on top and up front now rather than suffer in the marks department.

Thanks guys
First of all ur right that it's probably social anxiety and vanity
It's weird cuz I used to be very laid back and chilled and since UC I'm very tense and get anxious
So it's all very new to me
And I spoke to the dean and the head of my department and they told my teachers.
I'm just gonna have to put a smile on my face and hope people don't ask too many prying questions

I'm sorry your daughter has to go through this.from your signature it looks like we are in a similar situation. I am not a mom but I can imagine it's pretty hard for you to see your daughter suffering. Is she able to absorb fat? If yes try having her drink ensure. If she is able to tolerate dairy make her milkshakes using very good quality ice cream that is high in fat ( caravel, Ben and Kerry's). You can add a few tablespoons of peanut butter to squeeze in more calories.
It's going to be really tough when she goes back to school and she will probably deal with a lot of awkward prying questions but she is going to have to be an expert deflector. She should tell a couple good friends what's going on and maybe they can help her deflect the awkward and prying questions by changing the topic....

I don't think there is anything wrong with telling your classmates but I think it's overwhelming to come back and start talking about a disease that people don't really understand

Dikid - big hugs, it is awful about the anxiety this disease can cause I find having plans helps, ie sitting near doors etc. like PP above have said. once you get the first day under your belt you'll probably feel more comfortable & questions might not be as intrusive as you think. I don't share my disease with anyone I work with as in my line of work (client presentations etc) it could be seen as a bit of a weakness plus I just don't really want to talk to people that I'm not that close to about it, although it would certainly help at times if they did know. During times of flares etc. I just say I've had bad tummy bugs etc.

Desdebbie hope it eases up for your daughter soon. I find frozen bananas are a good dairy substitute to thicken up a smoothie.