Girlie AGDee's College Search Thread

[happilyanchored]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Thanks. They did refer her to a neuorologist but she'll have to do that in NYC. She had been having trouble with headaches prior to the accident (she had one the day before and the day of the accident). They seem to be "monthly" but this was the worst one yet. It did have more symptoms of a migraine than anything else. They did the typical neuro screen too (pupils, balance, etc.). She was ok for several days after the accident, til this migraine hit. But, overall, headaches have increased in the last few months, especially at that time of the month.

I had migraines when I was younger and they've been coming back this year. College and stress are honestly the worst thing for migraines. I feel for Hypo! Keeping her in my thoughts (the ones I have when my brain is functioning that is...haha)!

[Go Alpha Gam]

Hope things improve soon!!!

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Hypo has been home for spring break this week and it has pretty much been a disaster. She had the car accident Friday night, within 24 hours of getting home. She and her dad had a fight about her boyfriend (who is a very nice kid, her dad is being ridiculous). I took her to ER yesterday because she had a migraine for two days that wasn't getting any better. She was completely incapacitated for two full days. When she wasn't sleeping, she was crying from the pain. They gave her a headache cocktail and she was more like herself afterward but she hasn't gotten much of her homework done. This break has stunk for her. I hope she's feeling ok the next few days before she flies home on Sunday.

:::hugs to Hypo:::

I remember the only big fight I've ever had with my dad--it was in college and related to my boyfriend at the time. Some fathers move into having their daughters date in college (as opposed to high school dating) well, and others just have a tough time with it. My dad was emphatic that if I had a boyfriend it would distract me from my studies, which was really just a cover for not wanting me to date at all. I guess he just had a hard time with that part of my growing up. It was bad--going through my stuff, threatening to pull financial support, and other stuff that led me not to trust him as much as I did. It's a shame because my ex was a good kid too--I guess it's more what these boys represent--sex! Independence! Growing up!--that can shake a father up.

[AGDee]

So I went online to check Hypo in for her flight, pay for her baggage fee and print her boarding pass. I put in the confirmation number and it said there was no information available. I double checked the email I'd received and discovered that when I booked her flight, I scheduled her to go back to NYC last Sunday instead of tomorrow. OMG!!!!! I just paid $200 for her to fly home tomorrow on another airline.

[Sciencewoman]

OMG is right!

[AGDee]

Now that things are stabilizing a bit...

Hypo STILL has that headache and is going to health service today because she is almost out of prescription meds. She has been alternating ibuprofen and prescription meds to keep it under control but it has been a very rough week for her still. She has also withdrawn from a class, with my blessings. She got an email from the professor that was obviously sent to more than one student in the class saying that although they were still adjusting midterm grades, the people receiving the email were probably getting a "C" or below and since it was the last day to withdraw or switch to P/D/F (Pass/D/Fail), he wanted to let them know. Neither of her essays for that class are graded yet, but she was afraid to take a chance on possibly getting a D or failing. She went through that stress with two classes last term and ended up with B-'s in both, but she is already feeling really stressed with the headache and work load. It has been a tough semester for her.

She had taken on way too much back in February with two jobs, 16.5 credits, and recruitment/new member period starting. I told her at the time I was concerned she was doing too much and putting too much pressure on herself. With the dropped class, she still has 13.5 credits. Since she withdrew, she can take that class again. If she had done P/D/F, she couldn't. ALL of her classes have multiple books to read (one a week for two of the classes) and many essays this term. She was supposed to read three novels over spring break which typically wouldn't be a problem but between the accident and the headache, she couldn't get it all done. We did pick up the Spark Notes for two of them so she could at least look at those. All of her classes also have separate lectures and lab/discussion sections, all of which have separate assignments. It was a bad mix of courses, I think. I can't tell you how many times I have seen her posting on Twitter that she was pulling an all nighter. Her schedule was such that she didn't have any time to eat lunch 4 days a week because she was in class/work from 9 am- 3:45 pm straight two days and 11:00-4:55 the other two days.

She's still sort of working two jobs but her campus job is only 10 hours a week and she has a weekly Friday or Saturday night babysitting job for a couple on the upper east side who pay her very well to have a date night for themselves. The kids are very young so they go to bed early and she can actually catch up on reading for school during that time, so it's good.

She was in tears about this yesterday and I tried my best to reassure her from afar. She will take a class locally this summer, I think, to make up a few credits. She talked to her adviser yesterday who told her they accept credits from community colleges as long as they are accredited so that seems like a good option. She is feeling like a failure and that is heart breaking to a mom. I told her that this allows to just focus on the classes she still has and really kick butt in them.

On the plus side... "Big/little" week starts Monday and her Big has created a tumblr about how excited she is to be Hypo's Big. It's so funny and cute and it has Hypo very excited for the week. This tumblr basically talks about how awesome Hypo is. That's helping her psyche a bit

I got to spend a lot of time with Hypo's boyfriend over spring break and I really, really like him a lot. He obviously cares about her a LOT. They share so many interests and he has a great sense of humor. He has a real enthusiasm for life. They are so young, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is "the one" for her. He treats her so well. He graduates from U of Michigan next April and is planning to look for jobs in NYC so he can be close to her. She did tell me over spring break that she wants to stay in NYC after graduation. That is no surprise to me. I knew that would happen. Her boyfriend found out yesterday that he got an internship with one of the longest sitting members of Congress (from Michigan) and he is VERY excited. It's a great opportunity for him.

I let him sleep on our couch the night before she left and he came to the airport with me to drop her off. As we drove off, he had tears in his eyes. Adele's "Someone Like You" came on the radio and he said "I don't think this is a good time for that song to come on." I said "You're right" and changed the radio station. We found a more upbeat song. Since we had gotten up at 3:30 am to take her to the airport, I suggested he sleep a bit before driving back to Ann Arbor and he did. Her dad needs to get over his issues because this is a really nice guy who treats her great and has high aspirations in life.

In the meantime, I'm trying hard to hold her up from afar. I'm really worried about a migraine that has lasted almost two weeks now. I'm hoping that one less class helps her destress some. She's still figuring it all out... going from barely having to do anything to get A's to being in such a competitive and demanding environment.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Now that things are stabilizing a bit...

Hypo STILL has that headache and is going to health service today because she is almost out of prescription meds. She has been alternating ibuprofen and prescription meds to keep it under control but it has been a very rough week for her still. She has also withdrawn from a class, with my blessings. She got an email from the professor that was obviously sent to more than one student in the class saying that although they were still adjusting midterm grades, the people receiving the email were probably getting a "C" or below and since it was the last day to withdraw or switch to P/D/F (Pass/D/Fail), he wanted to let them know. Neither of her essays for that class are graded yet, but she was afraid to take a chance on possibly getting a D or failing. She went through that stress with two classes last term and ended up with B-'s in both, but she is already feeling really stressed with the headache and work load. It has been a tough semester for her.

She had taken on way too much back in February with two jobs, 16.5 credits, and recruitment/new member period starting. I told her at the time I was concerned she was doing too much and putting too much pressure on herself. With the dropped class, she still has 13.5 credits. Since she withdrew, she can take that class again. If she had done P/D/F, she couldn't. ALL of her classes have multiple books to read (one a week for two of the classes) and many essays this term. She was supposed to read three novels over spring break which typically wouldn't be a problem but between the accident and the headache, she couldn't get it all done. We did pick up the Spark Notes for two of them so she could at least look at those. All of her classes also have separate lectures and lab/discussion sections, all of which have separate assignments. It was a bad mix of courses, I think. I can't tell you how many times I have seen her posting on Twitter that she was pulling an all nighter. Her schedule was such that she didn't have any time to eat lunch 4 days a week because she was in class/work from 9 am- 3:45 pm straight two days and 11:00-4:55 the other two days.

She's still sort of working two jobs but her campus job is only 10 hours a week and she has a weekly Friday or Saturday night babysitting job for a couple on the upper east side who pay her very well to have a date night for themselves. The kids are very young so they go to bed early and she can actually catch up on reading for school during that time, so it's good.

She was in tears about this yesterday and I tried my best to reassure her from afar. She will take a class locally this summer, I think, to make up a few credits. She talked to her adviser yesterday who told her they accept credits from community colleges as long as they are accredited so that seems like a good option. She is feeling like a failure and that is heart breaking to a mom. I told her that this allows to just focus on the classes she still has and really kick butt in them.

On the plus side... "Big/little" week starts Monday and her Big has created a tumblr about how excited she is to be Hypo's Big. It's so funny and cute and it has Hypo very excited for the week. This tumblr basically talks about how awesome Hypo is. That's helping her psyche a bit

I got to spend a lot of time with Hypo's boyfriend over spring break and I really, really like him a lot. He obviously cares about her a LOT. They share so many interests and he has a great sense of humor. He has a real enthusiasm for life. They are so young, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is "the one" for her. He treats her so well. He graduates from U of Michigan next April and is planning to look for jobs in NYC so he can be close to her. She did tell me over spring break that she wants to stay in NYC after graduation. That is no surprise to me. I knew that would happen. Her boyfriend found out yesterday that he got an internship with one of the longest sitting members of Congress (from Michigan) and he is VERY excited. It's a great opportunity for him.

I let him sleep on our couch the night before she left and he came to the airport with me to drop her off. As we drove off, he had tears in his eyes. Adele's "Someone Like You" came on the radio and he said "I don't think this is a good time for that song to come on." I said "You're right" and changed the radio station. We found a more upbeat song. Since we had gotten up at 3:30 am to take her to the airport, I suggested he sleep a bit before driving back to Ann Arbor and he did. Her dad needs to get over his issues because this is a really nice guy who treats her great and has high aspirations in life.

In the meantime, I'm trying hard to hold her up from afar. I'm really worried about a migraine that has lasted almost two weeks now. I'm hoping that one less class helps her destress some. She's still figuring it all out... going from barely having to do anything to get A's to being in such a competitive and demanding environment.

Does she need anything? It sounds like its a lot of stress under normal circumstances.

[AGDee]

We'll see what health services says/does about the headache. That's my biggest concern. I'm glad they did a CT scan at ER when she was home so my head isn't going crazy with "It's a tumor" or something.

Hopefully one less class to worry about will ease her stress up.... with the excitement of Big/Little week and Initiation coming up

[AGDee]

She thinks health service is sending her to ER. Oh crap.

[FSUZeta]

Please let us know when you know something. With kids who attended college 12 hours away, I know how hard it is to try to deal with health issues from a distance and if i could, I would buy you a coffee and sit with you while you wait to hear from your daughter.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

She thinks health service is sending her to ER. Oh crap.

Columbia sends kids to the hospital when it's not run of the mill health clinic stuff. The er is right across the street. Asthma attacks, allergy attacks, that sort of thing that most colleges can treat in the infirmary Columbia takes to the ER. It may not be as bad as it sounds. The tough thing is that it's really an inner city hospital.

[AZTheta]

Dee - I've had migraines since age 11. The worst one started like Hypo's (hormonal) and went on for ten days. She is in my thoughts and prayers, as are you. It's just so seriously scary when it's happening.

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

Please let us know when you know something. With kids who attended college 12 hours away, I know how hard it is to try to deal with health issues from a distance and if i could, I would buy you a coffee and sit with you while you wait to hear from your daughter.

Yes please. Mine is 9+ hours away and it's so hard when they don't feel well. Sending you some hugs!

[AGDee]

Thanks all. So the ER told her it was a concussion. They told her to keep taking ibuprofen and that, in time, it would get better. Hypo called me feeling really angry that there was no resolution and feeling like they didn't listen to her and treated her like she was "dumb."

The doctor at Barnard had given Hypo her cell number and told her to call when she was done at St. Luke's. When Hypo was walking back to her dorm, that doc was sitting on a bench outside the Quad (dorms). Hypo talked to her and the doc called her in a prescription for the med she's been on and asked her to come in at 9 am Monday again. She wants her to see an eye specialist and had told the ER that she wanted an eye specialist to see her but apparently one was not available. The ibuprofen and other medication she is on will take care of the pain but they don't resolve her blurred vision.

The Barnard doc told her "No reading, no homework this weekend." She said she would email Hypo's professors. Hypo is feeling a lot better that this doctor validates her. She also said she was thinking "Well, if anybody asks in a job interview why I withdrew from a class freshman year, I can tell them I had a concussion because St. Luke's said I did."

She was having headaches which seemed stress related before the accident. It was several days after the accident when this headache started. I don't really know whether it is a migraine, a concussion or something else entirely. I know the CT scan was clear and the night I took her to ER here, the neuro screen they do was fine.

I just want my baby girl to feel better. And yes, even though she's 19, she is my baby girl. I really want my son to go to school close to home, but he's talking places far, far away.

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Thanks all. So the ER told her it was a concussion. They told her to keep taking ibuprofen and that, in time, it would get better. Hypo called me feeling really angry that there was no resolution and feeling like they didn't listen to her and treated her like she was "dumb."

Sometimes the medical centers (be it on campus or off) can get such an influx of students who don't take care of themselves that this is the immediate reaction. I remember a doctor telling me I was pregnant when I had food poisoning even though I told her it was impossible (and it really really was impossible). Another told my roommate that her headaches were imaginary, when she had a hormone imbalance that caused them. The stories go on and on.

The best thing is to continually be an advocate for herself. If she doesn't like one doctor ask to have a different one come in. Write down names of ones she likes in case she has to return and ask for the doctor by name. If the ER isn't too slammed (it might be in NYC compared to a college town) they can often accomodate this.