How to Deal with Getting Sick During School

“It’s probably bacterial. I’ll send those antibiotics over to the pharmacy,” was what my doctor said during my appointment with her. I thought it was just a small cough, but when I started coughing so hard I was throwing up, I set up a time through the MyCUHealth portal and was told I had bacterial bronchitis. It usually affects people with terrible immune systems, including me, and it’s kind of crappy to bomb an occasional midterm or miss a homework deadline from passing out. 

Stress, dorms, crowded lecture halls, frat parties, and less-rounded nutrition can all result in people having worse immune systems than usual, and since the flu’s going around, here are a couple of tips.

Don’t go to class.

It could be a little cough or the occasional digestive problem, but please, for the love of god, don’t go to class. Most professors record their lectures, so use that instead; I promise you it’s better than feeling exhausted and spreading the plague in the process. (I’m being hyperbolic)

Take care of your lungs.

It’s no secret that a lot of people vape or smoke weed. If you have a respiratory illness please don’t double the intensity by putting things in your lungs. I’ve had friends make that mistake and end up getting hospitalized because they left themselves in a vulnerable state. CU Boulder has resources for nicotine cessation so definitely check that out!

Talk to your professors.

Being super behind in classes sucks, and especially in a larger class, a professor might wonder what’s up. If you’re open and communicative about how you’re struggling, they’ll definitely be more accommodating. If you don’t know where to start, usually just sending them an email or a message on canvas works pretty well!

Get lots of rest.

Getting rest is probably the best way to feel better besides appropriate medications when applicable (such as antibiotics). College students also don’t get enough rest anyway, so maybe now’s the time to chill out a little bit!

Even though getting sick in the middle of the semester is a pain, it’s usually doable as long as you take the right precautions!