Stress of a new school

It should be Josh's [13 ] first day at high school today, but he has been very nervous about this over the past few days and his crohns is playing up big time He was meant to get the school bus this morning, but was instead on the toilet! He has been going about 8 - 10 day for 4 days so far. He has taken imodium but it hasn't made any difference. I am really hoping this is all stess related and not the start of a flare. Hopefully he will make it into school later today. I was really hoping he would make this first day in with no problem as it is such an important start. This is when they meet their new teachers and find their way round a new school.

I hope he finds the energy to go. D has been nervous too. She left 2 hrs before school started in case she had to stop along the way. (On the public transit it will take her 30 mins to get there). Maybe he can go part of the day and see how he feels if he can make it longer? Crohns picks the worse times!

Did he make it? How is he?

He did make it in, a couple of hours late, but we got there :thumleft:
He is now having to go to the toilet in the mornings, far more than he has for a very long time. He has managed to get into school the last couple of days, though getting there on time has been tight due to not feeling well.
This did start when we were in Canada in August, but at the time we put it down to change of water.
It seems to be gradually getting worse and even today we couldn't go out due to Josh not being well. Josh puts it down to being an "off day", but I wonder how many "off days" we can have?

It is a difficult one to know what to do. In himself he seems fine and eating [ though appetite is decreasing ], he is just getting a lot of stomach pains and going to the toilet a lot. I know the hospital won't do anything yet until things get worse. Fingers crossed that this a blip and he picks up soon.

Supportivemom how is D doing now?

Have you called the GI about the blip?
Even minor blips our gi wants to know about.

I hope it is just stress causing the change and once he settles things go back to the way they were. (BTW it was great meeting up with you when you were here!) I agree with MLP, I would tell the GI.

D is not much different then when we saw you. Great spirits but surgery is scaring the crud out of us. Simponi was started 2 days ago so no change yet. Hope it works fast to avoid surgery.

my little penguin you obviously have a better GI than we do. I think that Josh would have to be crawling in pain to get seen before his next clinic appointment. It can be a nightmare to try to contact anyone in the dept to discuss changes. The specialist nurse who is meant to be our first port of call only take voice mail messages or emails, which I rarely get a reply to!!

I have considered moving hospitals for Josh, but it is pretty difficult in the UK to do this, and because of where we live there isn't another hospital close enough with a paediatric GI dept.

SupportiveMom, I hope the simponi works for D and allows you to avoid surgery for now. She is a wonderful girl and we also loved meeting you both xx

My daughter Caitlin had the same problem when she started intermediate and she had to move to a new school. She was really anxious and she wouldn't get out of the car when we arrived at school on some days. I had to eventually get her out of the car and take her to the sick bay so she could calm down and then her class teacher would come and collect her. She has complaining of a sore stomach.

I think one of the reasons she was anxious was that not many of the children had moved on to this school from previous primary school. So she did not have any friends that she could connect with. I spoke to the class teacher and she teamed her up with a few other girls in her class. After this Caitlin has settled down better at school and is excited to go.

Does Josh have friends at high school that he knows? I also gave Caitlin's teacher information on Crohn's and how she can support her and she has been a great support

Justfortoday, yes Josh does have friends at the high school. Most of his middle school have all gone to the same high school [ it is the only one in the area that they can go to ].

Like you, I have given all information on crohns to the school. I had a meeting with the medical support before he started so they are well aware of crohns disease. It is too early as yet to say how supportive they will be, but I am thinking positive

That's great to hear that he does have friends there. How is he doing at the moment? and how is his appetite.

Does anyone else have the problem of their child not eating much food at school? Caitlin eats well at home but does not eat much at school. I am not too sure if it may be that she is afraid she might have to go to the toilet?

He is doing well, though we are only 3 days into the new term. He is a very bright boy who luckily does well at school despite the amount of time he has had to have off.

Appetite is decreasing slightly which is worrying. At school he takes a packed lunch as he is too fussy to eat school meals.

Being afraid to use the toilet at school is pretty normal, I know Josh avoids this at all costs if he can. He is allowed access to the disabled or staff toilets, which ever is closer, and he also has a card to allow him out of class without having to wait for the end of a lesson, but I know he tries not to use it as he feels it singles him out.

D is eating very little at school & she says she is worried about having to run out of class in a hurry. She knows she goes within 15 mins of eating so she has been getting her lunch from the stores across the street and bringing it back so she can eat it when close to the bathroom. I also noticed she is back to skipping breakfast. I hope that changes as it will make things worse down the road. I am glad Josh brings his lunch. It makes things easier to see what he is/is not eating. Is he eating once he gets home from school?