Read an Excerpt
The Doctor's Complete College Girls' Health Guide
By Jennifer Wider, M.D. Random House
Jennifer Wider, M.D.
All right reserved. ISBN: 0553383426
Chapter One
1
TAKING CARE OF YOU
The Basics
Did you ever play that game: What three items would you take if you were stranded on a desert island? Or what would you need if you got stuck in a cave or buried in an avalanche? How about this one: What would you need if you left home and were on your own for four years?
While college isn't exactly a desert island, you may feel like you're in a cave from time to time or buried underneath an avalanche of work. And although most of you won't need night- vision goggles, ropes, or a canteen of water, there is a list of supplies you'll want to include for that long journey out of the safe and friendly zone formerly known as home.
The Complete College Girl's Health Kit
As you pack up your old life and put it into boxes and duffel bags, put aside an extra box for a health kit. Even though your health is probably the last thing on your mind as you're getting ready to go to college, you'll find that having the following supplies on hand will make your life there easier. One of these days you'll thank me for this list--like when you have a pounding headache at one a.m. and you don't have to go looking for an all-night pharmacy, because you have all the pain relievers you need right there in your health kit; or when yourroommate twists her ankle racing down the stairs to class and you're the only one in the dorm with an instant ice pack; or when there's a power outage across campus, and you've got a working flashlight.
"The Complete College Girl's Health Kit" is specifically designed for female students going off to college for the first time. It contains all of the basics necessary to keep you safe, healthy, and well taken care of while away from home. Stocking Your Kit
First, you'll need a large and roomy box--not as big as a laundry basket, but maybe about the size of two shoe boxes. Next, you'll need to go shopping at a drugstore for the following supplies:
•Bandages (in all different sizes).
•Ace bandage with clips.
•Instant or refreezable ice packs--for injuries that involve swelling. Use as soon as possible, and keep applying every few hours during the first two days.
•Pain relievers--ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin), which is good for muscle pain and cramps; and acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is good for fever control and headaches.
•Antihistamine (Benadryl)--for allergic reactions (if you have a history of severe allergic reactions, include an EpiPen).
•Antibiotic cream--to help prevent infections in cuts, scrapes, and minor burns.
•Hydrocortisone cream (1%)--for common rashes and insect bites.
•Antacids (Tums or Rolaids)--to treat heartburn.
•Pepto-Bismol--for minor stomachaches (great for adjusting to cafeteria food).
•Antidiarrheal agent (Imodium/Kaopectate)--to control diarrhea (like after half-price sushi night).
•Yeast infection treatment--for those nasty vaginal infections you occasionally get.
•Athlete's foot spray--you'll know why once you see the showers! (Don't forget your flip-flops, and hopefully you'll never have to use this one.)
•Digital thermometer.
•Cough drops.
•Cold/flu nighttime medication (Nyquil)--when you have a cold and need to get to sleep.
•Earplugs (especially if your roommate wakes up at five a.m. to row crew!).
•Saline eyedrops.
•Tweezers--to remove splinters or ticks.
•Sunscreen lotion and lip balm (with SPF of at least 15)--to apply all year round, so your skin will stay young (not to mention cancer free) for many years to come.
•Emergency acne medicine (benzoyl peroxide cream/gel or whatever works for you)--a must for that unexpected breakout before spring formal or any oral presentation!
•List of emergency numbers--Mom, Dad, Grandma, and your family doctor at home.
•Flashlight and batteries.
This kit will help you deal with most of the health issues you are likely to face. But don't get any ideas; you're not the school nurse! Contact your student health center or local doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
Navigating the Campus Health Care Center
At my college, no matter what ailment you had, the nurse at the health center always asked: "Are you sexually active?" She felt that she was on a mission from above to give out condoms to all sexually active students. I'll never forget the time one of my good friends had fallen and cut her chin. As blood streamed down her face, the nurse asked, "Are you sexually active," the second my friend walked through the door of the health center. Through all the blood, she managed to answer candidly: "No! Kick me while I'm down!"
Chances are you'll visit the student health center at one time or another during your college years. Whether you'll need a prescription for birth control or treatment for strep throat or the stomach flu, it's important to get a sense of who works there and what's available to you. Although birth control and other sex-related health issues account for the majority of student visits to the health center, the center can provide many other invaluable services.
Of course, the facilities at student health centers across the country vary greatly. Some have a limited staff; others have a variety of counselors, physicians, and nurses available to assist you. Some have very few programs, while others have an unlimited array of offerings, support groups, and intervention programs. If your school is affiliated with a medical school or other graduate programs, you can expect a wide variety of services.
When you arrive on campus, take a trip to the student health center to familiarize yourself with its services, or read about it in your campus information packet. Remember, you need an annual checkup, including a pelvic exam and Pap smear (see the section "Your Annual Pap Smear and Pelvic Exam," in this chapter). So, if you didn't get one before leaving home, you could schedule your appointment and check out the center at the same time. (Some women will opt to get their exam at home during break; that's fine, too, as long as you get one!)
Here's a list of some of the resources that may be on hand at your school:
The staff: Many schools have a multidisciplinary staff made up of doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, health educators, dentists, and physical therapists ready to assist you.
Medical services: Most schools have primary medical care available by appointment. Many have the ability to treat walk-in emergency cases or will refer to a local hospital. Many have inpatient services, which allow you to stay overnight or for several days if need be. Some centers have travel-planning services (immunizations for a semester or year abroad).
Psychological services: Many schools have crisis-intervention teams in place to deal with issues ranging from date rape to eating disorders. Some schools offer individual or group therapy, peer counseling, and support groups. Some offer depression screening and suicide-prevention programs.
Birth control: Depending on where you go, your school may or may not offer birth control pills and/or emergency contraception.
Don't be embarrassed to seek help. They've seen it all before; I promise. I knew someone who accidentally put two tampons and couldn't get them out, in but was too mortified to go to the health center. After much persuasion by her friends, she finally worked up the nerve and went. And lucky for her. Had she waited much longer, she would've had a really nasty infection to deal with!
Depending on the campus, you will find all kinds of resources available if you need additional assistance. From residential advisors to religious leaders, people are there to help you. If you need support, don't hesitate to ask for it!
Reasons to Visit the Student Health Center
A large number of college women will visit the student health center only in case of emergency or to get a prescription. If this sounds like you, we're about to change all of that! Seeing a doctor once a year is a must. And visits to the dentist are also important.
Your Annual Checkup Should Include:
A physical exam: This is the normal, head-to-toe, open your mouth and say "Ah" exam. Your height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse should be taken. The doctor may listen to your heart and lungs. Your vision will likely be tested, and if there are any changes, you'll be referred to an ophthalmologist. Don't forget to mention any medications that you're taking, any allergies you may have, or other medical problems you may suffer from.
A breast exam: The doctor should examine your breasts for lumps or other abnormalities. This is a great time to learn how to do a self breast exam (SBE), which you should be performing on a monthly basis, one week after your period.
A gyn exam: You should have a full gynecological exam, which includes a Pap smear and pelvic exam.
The talk: Take advantage of this one-on-one time to discuss any issue weighing on your mind. Don't be shocked if the doctor initiates a conversation about sex, drugs, alcohol, or your dietary habits.
Don't Forget Your Teeth:
A dental exam: You should visit the dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup.
Immunizations
Most colleges will require your immunization record to be up-to-date before you start school. But you may need booster shots for some of your childhood vaccinations. Check with your doctor at home. Other vaccines that you may want to consider before starting college include hepatitis and the meningococcal vaccine, especially if you'll be living in a dorm. You can discuss these options with your physician as well.
One Last Thing
The student health center will most likely be able to service all of your needs. However, if you have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes or asthma, you may want to contact a local specialist. The health center can offer referrals, or your doctor at home can call a local physician.
Your Annual Pap Smear and Pelvic Exam
Most people think that a girl enters womanhood when she gets her period. But that was true way back when marriages were arranged, girls were having babies at thirteen, and the average life expectancy was forty. Now most of us get our first real glimpse of what it means to be a woman during our first pelvic exam.
Let's face it; divulging private info to your doctor, someone you probably don't know that well, taking your clothes off, wearing the ugliest-colored gown they could find, putting your legs in stirrups and spreading them, only to have silver instruments and long Q-tips inserted up your holiest of holies, will never make your Top-Ten-Fun-Ways-to-Spend-an-Afternoon list.
But we all have to do it, and you know what? I think in some way it makes us stronger! This is an important step in taking control of your own health. And the truth is, it's not that bad, especially if you have a nice doctor who goes slowly and talks you through it. If you've used tampons before, that, too, will make things easier.
Nightmare! Do I really need this exam?
I can't stress enough how important this exam is. If you are having problems with your period, a pelvic exam can help to determine the cause. Even if you are not having any problems that you know of, the exam allows your doctor to look for early signs of any conditions that might affect your reproductive organs and to treat them before they do become problems.
For example, the Pap smear, which is a routine part of any pelvic exam, can detect abnormal cells in the cervix. If the condition is not treated, these cells may turn into precancerous cells and eventually cancer. But by giving an early warning, Pap smears have dramatically reduced the number of cervical cancer cases in our country.
If you are sexually active, the pelvic exam can detect most diseases that you might have contracted and allow your doctor to prescribe the proper medication. Since almost everything can be treated, this can save you much trouble and pain in the future.
When should I get one?
You should have your first exam by the age of eighteen. But if you are sexually active, you need one regardless of your age. Many women schedule an appointment with their doctor before they leave for college. Some women prefer seeing a doctor they already know.
Do I still need one if I'm in the V Club (a virgin)?
The answer is yes. And you thought membership had its privileges! Every woman needs to have a pelvic exam and Pap test by the age of eighteen, regardless of her sexual status. Here are a few other reasons to get one:
•Your period has stopped and you don't know why.
•You've never had a period to begin with (you should have an exam if you haven't menstruated by the age of fifteen).
•You have bleeding or spotting between your periods.
•You have a funky discharge or weird odor coming from down under.
•You have itching, sores, or swelling (same region).
•You have pelvic pain and/or bad abdominal cramps that really, truly hurt (not the kind you used to get out of gym class in high school).
Who performs this exam?
The exam can be performed by doctors, nurse-practitioners, midwives, and physician assistants. Some women feel strongly about having a woman examine them. If you do, make sure to voice your preference clearly. If at all possible, your request should be honored.
What will happen to me?
The first step is to relax! You are not going to be tortured; I promise. Since you're going to need this exam every year, it's best to get used to it as soon as possible. Let me paint you a picture.
The nurse or doctor will show you into an examination room, where you will need to disrobe. You'll most likely be handed some ugly paper gown that really doesn't fit anyone properly. Someone will measure your height and weight and check your blood pressure.
Continues...
Excerpted from The Doctor's Complete College Girls' Health Guide by Jennifer Wider, M.D. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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