Surviving Flu Season in the Dorms

College can be hard on students with psoriatic arthritis. Classes are draining and keeping up with friends can be exhausting. But for students using medicines that lower the immune system, you can find yourself getting constantly ill- especially if you live in the dormitory or apartment with other students.

I spent a whole semester of college getting sick constantly while I was using a biologic. Being sick was draining- I worked to the brink of exhaustion to keep up with classes, and I isolated myself from friends so I had some time to rest and recover. Looking back now, there were so many steps I wish I had taken to prevent myself from getting sick.

Get a flu shot

If you only take one piece of advice from this article, let it be this: go get a flu shot. While studying and living in tight quarters, you need every bit of help you can get to protect against illness. Even if you're living in a single room or with people who are very clean, it can make a big difference come flu season.

Better yet, see if you can get your roommates on board! Herd immunity can help cut down on the spread of the flu. Some colleges even offer flu shots at their student health center. There's no harm in asking or bribing your roommates to get a flu shot.

Keep communal items clean

Say hello to your new best friends, Lysol spray and Clorox wipes. Before and during flu season, it's a good idea to keep any communal surfaces in your dorm clean. Usually twice a week, I took fifteen minutes to wipe or spray anything that was touched often: doorknobs, light switches, faucet handles, the refrigerator door, couches and throw pillows, and the oven door. Even with the cleanest roommates, it doesn't hurt to do a once over- you can never be too careful.

Hang out in the back

If you hear a lot of coughing and sneezing in class, consider changing your seat. Often, I sat in the back where there were fewer people. Is there any scientific proof it helps? No, but I did manage to escape a nasty case of pneumonia that went around my class- twice. Plus, it gives you more room to stretch out.

Ask to be moved

It can be difficult when you don't see eye to eye with your roommates, about cleanliness. Piles of dishes, unswept floors, and dirty countertops can lead to flies, bacteria, and the spread of illness. If your roommate is unhygienic to the point it affects your health and they've made no attempt at cleaning after talking them, consider asking your college for a room swap.

Colleges often leave rooms aside for students who need immediate room changes for health or safety reasons. If you talk to your college and they still seem unwilling to move you, provide notes from both your rheumatologist and your primary care physician (and any other doctor you see for your arthritis) and demand action. Trust me, it's worth it

Not taking your medicine is not the solution

College should be a time of studying, making friends, and learning about yourself. You shouldn't have to be sick all the time due to your lowered immunity. And you shouldn't have to stop taking your medicines because of inconsiderate roommates. Young adults are sometimes unaware that their habits are unhygienic. Even if it's awkward, it can help to confront them and let them know you need help keeping things clean. If they don't understand that you need to keep a certain level of cleanliness to preserve your health, then they're not your friends. You shouldn't have to be sick all the time just to have friends or pleasant roommates.

I suffered for a year being constantly ill, and it was not worth keeping the peace. To anyone who is entering flu season while living in a dorm, please remember to put yourself first. You deserve to be healthy.