Venting - Missing Class because of Health Conditions

[marileew]

I miss soooo much class because of my migraines (which are sometimes chronic...very severe... and sometimes completely out of control...).

I sometimes wonder why I even still go to school. I can't take a full time schedule. It's frustrating. I work with disability services and stuff... but even they recently suggested that maybe I just can't go to school until I get the migraines under control.

It's frustrating because some terms are fine and I do really well in school and then some terms the migraines hit and even the medication can't control them... and then I have to drop at least some classes and sometimes withdraw completely. It feels like playing the lottery. I never know if I will finish the term or not because I never know when I'll get migraines or not.

I already graduated high school, and graduated a certificate program at college and graduated with a degree from college. But... I am still trying to go to college to further my education more. I am currently only taking one course right now... I had to drop one course already this term... and even with just the one course I am still in, I miss a lot of class.

Anyway. I keep playing the lottery. Because, I figure, I've graduated a lot of times already dealing with this... so, I just have to keep playing the lottery even though it's expensive and frustrating.

I just wanted to vent a bit. That's all. Anyone else feel the same way ever? Like you are playing the lottery by signing up for courses because of your health conditions?

[HyE_jO0]

I understand you.  I live with Chronic Abdominal pain for the last 3 and a half years.  I've had to drop out of Radiology school and normal college classes about 2-3 times now.  I started out this semester with 15 credits I am down to 12 now....and I may have to cut down to 8 soon too.  I have missed this whole week thus far.  And I hate missing all that time, and it's hard to deal with the stress and the pain and then return and add on all the catch up you have to do as well.  I don't think doctors will ever have any answers for me and they tell me I may be living with this pain for the rest of my life....so if that's the case how do I live if I can't get through a whole year of schooling?!

[Zenji]

I totally understand. I was diagnosed with Chiari two years ago. I was born with it and have problems (mainly horrible headaches) since I was a kid. I was so angry that they didn't find it until two years ago. I am 21. I grew up in foster care so my only family is my brother and 2 sisters. Thankfully I have a scholarship which allows me medicaid until I graduate. Thing is to keep my scholarship (monthly stipend I live off of included) I have to in school full time. I was diagnosed a little before the end of fall semester and the only reason I went to the doctor was because I couldn't see enough to drive home. I barely made it through my finals. My doctors told me not to enroll for spring because I would be having surgery but my scholarship said I had to be full or they would be sending me a termination letter which would end my insurance and rent money. So then I wouldn't be getting the surgery. I enrolled and made it through my first surgery without my grades slipping but two more operations caused me to fail. which didn't make the scholarship happy. The following fall semester I failed again because of 4 operations. Spring semester I withdrawled so I wouldn't fail. My GPA went from 3.76 to 1.97. My doctors said if I enrolled again they would take my computer away from me and put me in rehab to heal. I called the lady at my scholarship place and told her. She waited until I got to baltimore (i live in florida) to say she was mailing my termination letter. I researched every Florida statue  till I found my answer. I told her since they had to pay for my appeal I needed 33 envelopes to mail my appeal letters she asked why and I ran down a list of all her bosses bosses, the state representatives and senators, governor, and even the president. I said I would send my appeal letter to everyone including letters from my doctors stating how I could die if i continued to go to school instead of getting medical care. 3 hours later hse called back saying it was cool and not to worry about school. This fall my doctors allowed me to go back to school only for me to have to withdrawl again two weeks ago because I had surgery again.