chronic illness (Crohn's) and medical school

[Doodledog]

I have Crohn's disease. I have dealt with this frustrating disease for about 15 years, been in and out of the hospital several times and have had to 'give up' alot of my life to constant flares and illness. At this point in my life I am in a state of 'semi-remission'.
I still deal with alot of pain on a daily basis, but I'm so use to it that I would like to say it doesn't really affect my life, and very few people around me have any idea there is something wrong. I have alot of endurance and energy. I am passionate about going into medicine (precisely because of the pain I have suffered because of my illness) and I know that my first hand experience with disease will make me a better doctor than I would have been otherwise.
I know I will be a good doctor, and I plan on going into PM&R which would not have too demanding of hours. The question is, can I make it through the process? There is a certain amount of structure I need to have in order to stay in remission. I need to stay on a very strict diet, I need to have a somewhat normal schedule, I need to go to bed at a decent time and get sleep (my normal schedule is to go to bed around 10pm and wake up around 4am) Like I said I have alot of endurance and can work hard for long hours, but will this be enough to make it through rotations and residency?

I don't want to go into this only to be re-hospitalized during rotations and not be able to finish? Have others with a chronic or autoimmune disease made it through? What were difficulties they encountered or strategies that assisted them?

Thanks

Hi - There are others on SDN with similar health issues and hopefully some will respond here. If anyone wishes to respond directly to the OP but maintain their username confidentiality, they may indicate this in their post here. If you wish to communicate to the OP, then send a PM to me and I will forward it to the OP. If one does that, please make sure your PM to me specifically indicates that it is okay to forward your username to the OP of this thread. I can't be a go-between forever. Also, be patient, I will be traveling a bit in the near future and won't have access to SDN each day.

With regard to the question, certainly one will need to look carefully at the schedule and curriculum. In general, I think it will be easier to make accommodations during medical school than residency. Still, depending on your health at that time, things can be worked out with the PD and your fellow residents. A key issue will be night call which is nearly impossible to completely avoid as an intern. Someone in PMR would need to comment about the options there but at this point remember that you may change your interests during medical school. Good luck to you and I hope SDN helps you make some contacts that will be useful to you.

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[Ferdie]

I also have Crohn's. I was diagnosed in my first year of med school, and am now in my fourth, applying for residencies. I spent that first year feeling much as you describe, but have been fortunate to be largely in remission since. That said, there have been times over the past four years where I feel like the stress of school has affected my illness - I got very ill, for example, while studying for Step 1 of the boards, took the day-long test feeling miserable, and was told after the fact that I had a partial SBO. I did great on the test though!

My school knows about my "condition" and they have been very good about giving me "official permission" to take extra bathroom breaks and reschedule exams if I'm sick, etc. Everyone at my school can use the bathroom during exams though (we're adults and professionals, after all), and I haven't really needed to use any other "special allowances."

I think you'll find most med schools will be pretty understanding of students with medical issues. Where you will run into problems, however, are when taking the board exams and during rotations. You can apply for special permission to take bathroom breaks during the board exams, which I didn't do but wished I had when I took it feeling miserable. You need to do this well in advance of the exam, it takes some extra time for them to approve you. As for rotations, I was advised to let my attendings know about my Crohn's at the beginning of each rotation. I eventually stopped doing this because I really haven't had many probelms. On my surgery rotation, however, which was stressful and not conducive to frequent bathroom breaks, I did let my attendings and residents know, and they were nice about letting me duck out of rounds or scrub out of surgery if needed.

There will definitely be times you won't be able to conform to your sleep schedule or eat exactly when you'd like (and maybe not even what you'd like). On call, for example... In that situation people aren't going to excuse you to go to sleep at 10, but they will (generally) excuse you to go to the bathroom.

It's do-able. People at my school with much more serious health problems have graduated and thrived professionally. Best of luck to you, feel free to PM me.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Having dealt with a number of medical students with chronic illness, including one with UC who chose to go into surgery because of his personal experiences, I would certainly say its possible, with some flexibility.

As Tildy notes, it will certainly be easier during medical school than residency, but even the most rigorous residency should not be out of bounds for you should you decide that's what you want to do. Remember, it is possible to make up time missed, even when unexpected absences occur, you just have to be open with your faculty and colleagues. If you need to be hospitalized and miss several days or even weeks because of your Crohns, it is possible to extend medical school or residency, or to use vacation time. Do not discount this as an option. Most programs will work with you if they know there's a problem.

I don't have any personal experiences to relate, but hopefully others will contact you with some to share.

 

[Doodledog]

I am posting this for an established SDN member who wishes to remain anonymous

I am a first year student and have been getting a flood of scary diagnoses slapped, thrown, and delicately placed on my plate in a matter of months. The latest system to start failing: ah, the good ol' kidneys.

I think the hardest thing is pretending like you're a real gung-ho student who actually has times when you don't think you can make it out of bed (or the bathroom, or wherever your illness takes you)...and then you have to explain to the professor who's class you missed if it would be difficult to make up an exam a couple days later since you've been in the hospital, etc. At first many of my profs thought I was being a lame-o whiney until I showed them documentation, and then I pretty much got whatever I needed.

So I only tell the profs I'm close with, or the ones who absolutely need to know, as well as the dean, who does all that paperwork stuff. Most of them have been very helpful. This - whatever it is - better get under control STAT because I cannot see rotations commencing with this cluster in the way. Take heart and be your own advocate and don't let 'em get you down!

 

[45408]

One of our professors told us at the end of his lecture that he went into medicine BECAUSE he has Crohns, and it was the disease that inspired him to become a specialist on the topic. If you don't think it will hold you back (which you don't), then I wouldn't let it hold you back.

 

[Cosmo75]

I can't speak for the rigors of med school, but I too have crohn's and made it through 4 years of grad school working on my doctorate in clinical psychology. It too was a main motivation for me to go back to school and do something more fulfilling than I was doing when I was diagnosed. So I certainly think it's possible. Others have given good advice. I just wanted to add that I'm out there too, and understand the concerns. But don't let it stop you.

Good luck!

 

[beannaithe]

I know this thread is probably old news. But this is the first that I'd seen it.

I just wanted to add that I have Crohn's too and I've made it through the first 2 years of dental school so far. Personally, I was really afraid to try and make it through this because I didn't think that I'd be able to do it. But I've learned that if you want something, you'll make it happen. And when you're really sick, the school WILL make accomidations to help you.

My own personal advice to you is mind over matter. When you think you can do something, you'll find a way...even if you need to move mountains. If you believe you can't, you'll never be able to do it...no matter how easy.

It's definately doable...so don't let Crohn's stop you.

 

[Coy]

I have panhypopituitarism and I'm currently researching the health insurance plans that medical schools in the northwest offer to students. It's my understanding University of Utah doesn't offer prescription coverage, students pay out of pocket. University of Washington appears to offer a prescription program that is half way decent.

One of the medications I take is HGH (humatrope), which is about $1400.00 a month that comes out of major medical under my insurance plan. Aside from that I have to pay about $500.00 out of pocket monthly for my other meds.

My main concern is how does someone afford to pay for all these medications? Especially when it's impossible to work full time while attending medical school.

Your thoughts would be appreciated!
Coy

 

[beannaithe]

I have panhypopituitarism and I'm currently researching the health insurance plans that medical schools in the northwest offer to students. It's my understanding University of Utah doesn't offer prescription coverage, students pay out of pocket. University of Washington appears to offer a prescription program that is half way decent.

One of the medications I take is HGH (humatrope), which is about $1400.00 a month that comes out of major medical under my insurance plan. Aside from that I have to pay about $500.00 out of pocket monthly for my other meds.

My main concern is how does someone afford to pay for all these medications? Especially when it's impossible to work full time while attending medical school.

Your thoughts would be appreciated!
Coy

Coy -

My advice is to be very flexible in where you want to go due to the health benefits. I asked at every interview I went on and got information from every school after I was accepted. I also called the insurance companies to ask about PRE-EXISTING CONDITION CLAUSES! Those things will kick you in the butt if you're not careful.

When I decided on a school, I was really liking 2 places. But one had $5000 annual prescription cap (make sure you check that out and the lifetime prescription cap) and the other one was a great PPO insurance run from the hospital across the street. Ultimately, I chose the one with the better insurance and have been mostly happy with my choice. I couldn't even imagine what I would have done if I had to pay for some of my meds out of pocket. If I'm not covered, they cost more then my rent!

I take out more loans to pay for my meds. It's necessary and worth it. I'm paying about $100 for supplements and co-pays. I just cut a little bit more elsewhere....like I don't go out as much as other people to save money and I don't eat out as much either. If you budget yourself, then you should be okay.

If you have any other questions about it, PM me and I'll explain as much as I know.

 

[Doodledog]

I am posting this anonymously. The person who wrote it has used their real name in the post and their school. In general, we do not recommend doing that on SDN although if the poster really wants this information in the post they can PM me and I'll put it back in.

With regard to the question being asked, in general, having a medical condition such as UC would not lead an admission's committee member or dean to look at your application unfavorably. Having a chronic health condition will not however, make up for a bad GPA, MCAT, etc.

Hi, my name is ........, and I am currently a pre-med student at .......... I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis back in 2001, and had a bunch of ups and downs in the years that followed. Fortunately, as of now, I am doing well. I am able to be normal, not have to run to the restroom like 15 times a day, and am able to eat many different foods as part of my regular diet. (i am a food fanatic fyi, so this is very important to me). My issue right now is that I am passionate about going into medicine, and because of my condition, I have developed a huge interest for gastroenterology, but I am struggling with these pre-med courses. I have already retaken one course, o chem, and came out ok the second time. Right now I am struggling with my current courses, partially because I seem to be studying or emphasizing the wrong material when midterms come around. Regardless, thats an issue i need to work on, but i wanted to know, does having a medical condition lower your chances of getting into medical school? I have read all these posts about people in medical school with conditions, but I havent seen my exact case yet, which is, wanting to go to medical school and telling them on my application that I have a disease. I feel that i get really heavy test anxiety all the time, and I wanna say that its because of what the disease has put me through, but i really do not know for sure. When I applied for undergrad, berkeley and ucla sent me a special questionnaire that asked me about my condition, which showed that they were willing to hear me out on my condition, and were curious if it has effected my studies. I am still on medication, and am always tired, which i still havent found the remedy for (i tried getting extra sleep, but same deal). When i apply for medical school a few years down the road, will explaining my disease and struggle with school as a result help me or hurt me, or, will they even see this "special case" if my stats arent high enough? I would appreciate very much for some advice. thanks

 

[xscpx]

Thanks to everyone in this post! Your misery has made me happy! (kidding!) But seriously, its nice to here of other people with the same problems I have, staying strong and making it work.

I have Crohn's disease. Lucky me I also have Celiac's disease. Increasing my luckiness, I'm allergic to nearly everything in existence including allergy medicine...Again more luck, my Crohn's carries with it this wonderful little tid-bit where nothing moves through my intestines unless quite literally forced, which causes fissues all through me (not to mention inflamed organs and serious pain!) . I'm pretty much bleeding internally constantly. As such I'm always severely anemic and need to get blood transfusions whenever I drop below 10.5 hemoglobin and 20 iron. (I'm usually around 10.9-11.1 and 30-40 respectively....normal is 14+ and around 90-100! )

I was worried about grad school. Worried about how much I would miss if I had a flare up since most classes are just one day a week. I planned on telling my professors about my conditions to make sure to excuse me from class when absolutely necessary, but I'm still worried about falling behind. I have my heart set on Emory for my PhD and I need absolutely perfect grades for that. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to not fall behind due to health problems? Undergrad was never an issue because I usually did the work ahead of time just in case. Grad school seems to be such an increased amount of work that it isn't really possible. If anyone can share some of there secrets it would be really helpful!

As much as it sucks that we are all suffering here, I'm glad that we can talk to each other. I'm somewhat relieved that I'm not the only one in such a position and even more relieved that some of you have survived through it! Thanks for this post!

 

[eforest]

I'm going through med school with a chronic illness- bipolar- different from Crohn's but I have some of the same issues when it comes to managing a chronic condition. Make sure you go to a school that is flexible, in case you do need to take time off.

Also, medication may be a financial issue.

My meds are over 1000 per month and school insurance has a cap on total maximum yearly coverage for prescriptions. Of course I run out- so I go to the drug companies. Most have assistance programs. You may not technically meet criteria for assistance if you DO have insurance but it is inadquate- but you can argue.

I have Glasko Smith Kline, Forest Pharmaceuticals, and Astra Zeneca sending me free pills.