Hey there,
<br />I'm Ashley, 19 yrs old and a sophomore in college.
<br />I had the same feelings and concerns as you, don't feel alone.
<br />At first, I really wanted to go off to college and not stay near home--to prove I could handle things on my own or something. It turned out that the college that worked for me is near my house, everything kind of fell into place... you will know which one is right for you, it just happens.
<br />So I am about 30-40 min away. I really do love it. Managing my treatments and regime hasn't been too hard. It was actually easier because you get to make your schedule however you like. I'm not that good in the early mornings and tend to rush treatments so I was able to make my classes start at 10..some people start at 1--whatever works for you.
<br />Last year I lived in the dorms. Kind crazy but my roommate was someone I have known since kindergarden. I had not been in school with her since then because I had moved away when I was younger, but we kept in touch throughout the years.
<br />It really helped because she knows everything about CF and is really involved in the CF community. If you can, I would try to find someone you know. If not, I know that all colleges usually require that you fill out a survey for housing answering questions like if you stay up late, are a clean freak, etc. They will match you w/ someone that has the same schedule and outlook as you.
<br />I really do recommend living away from your house. It will give you the confidence knowing you can handle yourself-- it makes you accountable and allows you to grow up. If you get sick and don't really like it, then you can always go back home. Nothing is ever set in stone. I got sick this semester and had to go in and missed two months of school. I commuted from home when I had the picc and everything worked out.
<br />I ended up finishing the semester even though I missed two months. You should talk to the universities disabilities program. Mine is called Center for Academic Success. I met with the head gal there and she sent out accommodations to my teachers letting them know what was up and to give me leeway when I was absent.
<br />They were good at communicating with me all the work I had missed. Sometimes you have to stay on certain teachers more than others, but overall I was able to finish off with A's.
<br />Also take into consideration where your school is located and the resources it has--local hospitals, etc. I looked at a lot of schools on the coast because of the good air quality. Mine is a little inland and I have run into some problems due to local fires that have happened which have gotten pretty bad at times causing me to go back home for a week or so.
<br />Something I am still figuring out is how I can workout. I'm not sure if you workout much, but I did a ton in high school and played vball. Taking classes at school helps because it forces you to get up and be somewhere. You also meet more people, get involved, and have fun.
<br />Hmmm I'm trying to think of more things. I don't know if this has anything to do w/ Cf, but I go to Chapman University which is a smaller school. I wanted to go to a larger uni, but end up liking it a lot more when it is smaller. You feel more apart of campus, not so overwhelmed. You also have closer relationships w/ your professors... I still email and meet up with ones that I have previously taken.
<br />As far as people getting sick in the dorms, it is just like ppl being sick in high school-- wash your hands, keep a distance, etc.
<br />I told my Resident Advisor about my CF the first night I was there. I am not one to go telling everyone about it but it is good for them to know just in case anything comes up. My initial reason for telling him was so he didn't think I was smoking in the rooms if he ever thought it looked steamy from treatments haha. He was totally cool about it and was always there if I needed anything at all. Sometimes kids would be smoking in their rooms and it would go through the vents into my dorm and he was really cool about making sure none of that was going on. He actually had asthma so I felt we were on more of the same page.
<br />Don't get stressed about telling others about CF, do what feels right. My closer friends at school know that I have it. They don't care at all. I never feel weird doing my treatments around them, they always say that they have never thought of me as having CF and never realize it unless I tell them I have clinic check-ups or something.
<br />This year my same roommate from last year, Brittany and I live in a apartment on campus. Our dorm room last year was crappily placed right in front of a lot of construction and dust. We notified the housing department and they were really cool in placing us in the new apartments for 2 people, not the customary 4 ppl apartment. It is soo much better. Mostly because we have a kitchen and I can sterilize my treatments parts a lot better. Last year I had to do it by buying one of these heat up boiling pots you plugged inthe wall. Also, if I ever feel crummy, I can stay in and not have to go to the cafeteria. More space is cool cuz I am able to store things better. It wasn't that big of a deal last year, you just get creative. My vest and machine were under a nightstand next to my bed which had a tablecloth over it so no one could see. Most dorms let you rent a microwave/fridge set so I was able to refrigerate meds and could always heat up a heating pad when I needed it. I also got a big storage box drawer thingy and put it on top of the microwave with all my other meds inside it.
<br />I hope I have helped you out a bit! Please PM me if you need anything else at all. I feel like I have just been rambling so let me know if I haven't answered a question of yours or something <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />Ash
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