Lyme Disease Support Group

I'm wondering how others have gone about dealing with absences be it with work or in a college environment. I currently have a rather extensive letter from my primary physician explaining in great detail Lyme disease and the impact he believes it has had on my academic ability/attendance.

Now, I have yet to present my teachers with this and need to do so ASAP as I have received a number of letters recently indicating failing grades due to my absences. To compound all this I this have been anxious wreck internally since finding out and generally depressed.

I apologize for the long winded exlanation but I'd be ever so grateful if anyone has any insight into how I should inform the school and my professors to convey what exactly I have been dealing with. Thanks so much in advance to anyone who takes the time to read this.

This is Iulia from Romania. U from USA? Sorry to hear about your news. But hey it's not that bad don't worry. There are worse things.

Well you shouldn't worry so much about how to tell the eachers and eveyone. It's not your fault you got sick. Plus, it's a disease like any other. Just tell them: listen, I'm sorry for my absences, i wouldn't normally do that, but I'm sick. I am infected after being bitten by a tick and it's causing me a lot of problems. If they wanna har more tell them more, explain. Don't worry i'm sure you'll be fine.

If you are keeping up grade wise but the attendance is the only issue, I would approach the instructor and explain your illness. Some might be sympothetic and allow you to miss the class as long as the work is accomplished.

If you are also behind on the grades you might want to withdraw till your a little better or perhaps online courses would work better for you.

OR you should be able to take an incomplete for the semester - and are give X amt of time to complete the work on your own...

I did them both when I was going after my BA.

You have to do what you have to in order to get better. I was lucky in that I had built a few very good relationships with some of my teachers, and they could see the change in my performance. So they spoke up for me if there were others that did not understand.

You have options...First You NEED to speak with a coulsilor...they will give you your best ones. Its their job to get you through school...not pass jusdgement on what is wrong with you. Get your on your side, and adjust your plans...

feel free to pm anytime

Christine

Post edited by: cmany, at: 04/14/2009 05:22

I did not know the true nature of my disease when I was trying to complete college. All I knew was that I was treated and viewed by friends, family, teaching staff and coworkers as "normal".

I felt terrible because I liked attending class. I always did very well on tests and short essays. I participated in nearly every discussion in classes.

I had pretty good grades. My professors always enjoyed my input and I loved to give it. Imagine that...LOL

My problem was attendance and reading volumes and volumes of text and paper writing. I was so embarassed. I have always been someone who was considered a gifted and talented student and now I couldn't even get through more than a few pages of my texts without getting totally confused, overwhelmed and a massive headache.

At one point I did see counselors and my individual teachers and even went to the students with diabilities office.

All of them were happy to help if I could simply proove my disabilities and need for accomadations. Plus there was about 5lbs of paperwork that needed to be filled out by various physicians.

Unfortunately for me, I wasn't seeing anyone at the time, as my former treating doc felt that my remaining symptoms were just fibromyalgia related.

My abscences continued to grow as I was then commuting an hour each way to school.

I became so embarassed and avoided my teachers when I couldn't finish papers on time and they would give me extra time and I still couldn't finish all the required reading to complete the papers.

Embarassment turned to depression.

I didn't understand what was happening to me and I blamed it on myself...which just lead me down even further...I was beginning to believe my dad was right about me...just a useless waste of space...a POS...nice right?

Plus I was trying to work because I had bills and eventually was trying to work, go to school AND complete my student teaching...it was a nightmare but at least I made it through my student teaching.

The moral of this sad tale is...if you can not get accomodations through the school that work for you, definitely look into a medical withdrawl or at the very least withdraw and take an incomplete if you have to and make up any work you are missing.

I made the mistake of letting my embarassment and despair get in the way of thinking clearly and making the right choices. Now I owe $40,000 for an education I never completed and my deferrment/forebearance allowances end sometime this coming fall.

I have more credits than any one program requires to graduate, but they of course, don't all transfer neatly into one degree program. So I am stuck still with 1 or 2 semesters to graduate and am even sicker and now have a Lymie(asymptomatic for the time being) toddler to care for too.

It is wiser to take a semester or 2 off if in treatment so you can allow your body to begin healing without the stress of homework and dragging your butt to class...

I have great respect for all of you doing "it all".

If your grades are up but the attendance is the issue, I agree with toothfairy that you should talk to each of your teachers. Some will cut you a break, others won't.

Also, is it more because you're too sick to physically go to class, or that you mentally can't handle it even if you get there? Are online classes an option? I agree with Christine that you should see your counselor/administrator/whatever they call it at your school.

I've been there, it sucks. My entire high school experience consisted of arguing with my teachers, school principals, counselors, the school system itself, and even my parents before we knew that it was Lyme. For 2 years I had to fight to make everyone realize it wasn't in my head, and then for the rest of the time I had to argue about my condition even with a diagnosis. Some teachers were great. Others were dead set against me. Now I'm withdrawn, and will have to test for my GED instead. Then college is going to be even more of an issue, because they're even more strict about absences.

I also couldn't keep my job (which I had for over 2 years, and loved) because I was too sick, and calling out too much. My employer was much more lenient than most would be though, because it wasn't a chain store type of thing. This disease is terrible, it even robs you of things most people "hate" (e.g. school/work). I'd kill to be back at work and school.

What type of college are you going to?

Feel free to PM me, I have a bunch of info that has to do with medical issues/school. Hope some of my rambling helps. Sorry if I carried on too much, it's one of those days.

I just can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that it is in fact a medical condition behind it all. While conversely it is also oddly refreshing to have an explanation for the five bouts of extreme flu like symptoms, swollen glands, conjunctivitis, aches, and being quite frankly in a daze on a daily basis, all of which has defined this year.

Kellogs, with regard to the symptoms that are currently giving me the most difficulty, it would be, A) Insomnnia Sleeping for 14 hours+ and still being exhausted C) In terms of cognitive function it is difficult to decipher as I have ADD as well and consequently have always struggled to remain engaged, organized on the ball etc. But what has really become apparent is an inability to sit down and write. I'm an english major and prior to this was able to sit for anywhere from 6 - 8 hours at a time working intensely. Now forming a coherent sentence can often be a struggle. Though, I will say today has been a good day, yay for banging out a 7 pager last night.

Anyway, I am off to speak with the office of Academic support/disabilities, medical work in hand. Hopefully it will go swimmingly. (insert eye roll) Thanks again.

Post edited by: ALymeLife, at: 04/14/2009 08:54

Embarrassment turned to depression.

Amen Dharma.