The Worst Thing About College & Ulcerative Colitis: Shared Bathrooms

I have two words for you to describe the worst thing about college and ulcerative colitis: Shared Bathrooms. It was one of the worst experiences of my life, and you know what I'm talking about if you live in or are planning to live in a dorm. During my undergraduate years, I lived in a dorm with a roommate and two suitemates, which meant that one toilet was split between the four of us. I had ulcerative colitis, though I didn't know it yet, and one of my suitemates felt that the bathroom was his own personal territory.

It isn't common for men to share the bathroom at the same time in college. One guy's in the shower while another's on the toilet and yet another is brushing his teeth. We didn't think about it much back then -- unless you were me. There was no way I could share the bathroom during one of my UC flare-ups, and I couldn't handle the prospect of someone walking in while I was on the john.

If you have ulcerative colitis and are planning to attend college, you should know that there are a few uncomfortable situations facing you. Dorms are just the tip of the iceberg; you'll also have to worry about those extra-long classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and professors who take it personally when you exit their classes in the middle of a lecture. Even worse are the days when you have terrible cramps and diarrhea during exams or labs because bathroom breaks are rarely allowed.

Unfortunately, college is different from other levels of education and even from work. Your professors don't care about your individual problems, and roommates can be as cruel as fifth-grade schoolyard bullies. Any reason you give for behavior that is out of the ordinary is considered an excuse, even when your medical situation requires that you be given special privileges. As you well know, the world just doesn't work that way.