That Girl with the Glasses: Immune system blues

It is a truth universally acknowledged that as soon as you’re nine hours from home without a car, your robust health and Herculean immune system goes down the drain. At least that was my experience.

After regularly speeding across campus on the poetically worn soles of my favorite shoes, I became afflicted with a sore toe about a month into my freshman year.  It hurt like the dickens. It was limp-inducing. I began to ponder the likelihood that I had somehow broken my toe without noticing. Finally, as I was hopping between Beacom and Arts and Sciences on my one good foot, the thought occurred to me that I should see a doctor. It would be my first of many, many visits to the Sanford Health Clinic.

For those of you keeping score at home, I darkened the doorways of Sanford for various reasons over the course of my freshman year. The first time was because of tendinitis in my foot.  I departed with a prescription for muscle relaxants and the doctor’s advice to wear shoes with more arch support. The second visit, the following Saturday, I hoped to solve what I thought was a bad reaction to the muscle relaxants. It was actually the early stages of strep throat. I spent the first month and a half of the spring semester visiting the clinic around once a week due to various (and most likely stress-induced) symptoms that WebMD had convinced me were sure signs of ovarian cancer. From clinic to emergency room, consultations to ultrasounds, I consider myself an expert on the Sanford experience.

If you’re like me, you may not have ever gone to the doctor without a parent before college.  My advice to you is simple: don’t be too embarrassed to ask questions.  The receptionists, doctors and nurses know that they’re working in a college town and dealing with plenty of young people who are away from home for the first time. Their job is to help you stay healthy. In fact, sometimes I would call the clinic and ask to consult with a nurse instead of going in and meeting with a doctor in person. The majority of my visits to the clinic were helpful ones that improved my situation, so keep that in mind when you realize that Google isn’t always the best source for a diagnosis of that pesky headache.

Even though the clinic is only about a half mile from campus, you may find yourself with a bad foot, no car and a problem getting to your appointment. Last year, I only knew one person with a vehicle, and luckily for me she was always willing to drive me to my appointments when she was able (thanks a million, Nicole!). If you haven’t yet met someone with a car, I have three words for you: Vermillion Public Transit. I know it might seem silly to spend a couple bucks to be driven such a short distance, but it’s even sillier to brave subzero temperatures while controlling the urge to vomit in any and all open containers. Just give the office a call, tell them where you’re going and when, and they’ll be happy to pick you up.

So you’ve been reasonably healthy your entire life, and as soon as you’re away from home you can’t speak without coughing up a lung.  Fear not!  Just down the street there’s a clinic full of professionals willing and able to cure your ailments. All you have to do is call. Trust me,  I’m an expert on going to the doctor.