IBS anxiety and exams

8 replies

FruitofAutumn · 03/10/2018 12:56

DD is 17 and suffers from IBS.It has got worse as she has got older and it causes her great anxiety at school.'Quiet' situations are the worst e in tests and exams.She constantly feels bloated, and constantly feels she needs the toilet and is worried about wind.

Last year she was doing AS levels and she asked about the possibility of doing them in a room away from the main exam hall.This was not allowed .She felt so on edge during her exams she couldn't concentrate well .
DD has tried most drugs to help but doctor is worried she is wrecking her bowel, so now only buscapan and 'emergency ' immodium
I have been reading more and I feel as DD has a long term medical condition, they ought to make reasonable adjustments for her. Another girl who suffers anxiety is allowed to sit exams separately.

OP posts:

Soursprout · 03/10/2018 13:08

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pennydrew · 03/10/2018 13:12

Yeah they should and I think you can force them to. Our school allows children with different needs separate rooms to do exams in. Seems petty not to accommodate a valid medical condition.

Malbecfan · 03/10/2018 16:46

I agree with previous posters. It is a reasonable adjustment and she should be allowed to take her exams in a small room. A number of our students do this for similar reasons and nobody bats an eyelid.

If the school is being awkward, I would ask the GP for a letter requesting separate arrangements for your DD. Bear in mind though, the school may be "gate-keeping" this issue as a way of saving money. If everyone is in the hall, they only need e.g. 6 invigilators. If they have a separate room, they will need extra staff which obviously costs them more as they cannot leave the hall understaffed.

Keel · 04/10/2018 12:11

My dd has IBS and has to take Buscopan almost every day. One thing which helps is meditation and hypnotherapy. I booked some sessions with a lovely lady and my dd said afterwards it was the only time she didn't have stomach ache. I would contact schools l and explain the situation. My dd's school has a lead invigilator who doesn't allow toilet visits but dd has a toilet pass from matron so will be allowed. It's a horrid condition isn't it

Original poster

FruitofAutumn · 04/10/2018 13:42

Interestin you should say that.We have booked some sessions with a hypnotherapist, starting next week.....

OP posts:

Myneighboursnorlax · 04/10/2018 13:45

I had this exact same problem when I was at school. My doctor wrote to my school and they allowed me to take my exams in a separate room. Could you ask the doctor if they would be willing to do this?

chitchattery · 10/10/2018 22:24

Just a quick thought and you may have already done this but could be worth getting checked for coeliac disease. DD just diagnosed at 19 and according to the consultant it is massively under diagnosed. Simple blood test to see if there could be a problem. Good luck with getting the school to be much more supportive

Bluebonnie · 11/10/2018 18:06

YOU need to speak to the SENCo about accommodation away from the main exam hall. Explain the situation, and expect the SENCo to ask for a letter from a Consultant (not the GP) confirming the condition as IBS.

However, might your daughter feel even more tense and embarrassed if she's in a room with just six others, rather than in the exam hall with 180 students?

(I doubt that the school would be willing to accommodate her on her own in a separate room with an invigilator, but you can only ask)

Flip