Going back to school after an IBD Flare

Going back to school after an IBD flare can feel like a big step.

You might be excited to see your friends again and get back to your normal routine. But you might also be worried about needing the toilet, feeling tired, catching up on work, or having another flare while you're at school.

You might be thinking:

“What if I need the toilet suddenly?”

“What if I have an accident?”

“What if everyone asks where I've been?”

“What if I get tired?”

These worries are completely understandable.

The good news is that you don't have to figure everything out on your own. A little planning can make going back to school feel much easier.

🟣 Going back to school

Before you return, talk to your parent, carer, teacher, or another adult you trust about anything you're worried about.

It can help to have a plan for:

• Getting to the toilet quickly

• What to do if you feel unwell

• Catching up on schoolwork

• Taking breaks if you're tired

• Keeping spare clothes at school

• Getting help if your symptoms suddenly get worse

Knowing what will happen can make your first day back feel much less stressful.

🚽 Make a toilet plan

One of the biggest worries after an IBD flare can be needing the toilet urgently.

Before you go back, make sure you know:

• Where the closest toilets are

• Which toilet you're allowed to use

• Who you can tell if you need to leave class quickly

• What to do if you need the toilet during an assessment

• Where your spare clothes are kept

You should be able to use the toilet when you need to.

You shouldn't have to sit in class worrying that you won't make it in time.

Talk to your teacher about having a quiet and discreet way to leave the classroom when you need to go.

You shouldn't have to explain your symptoms in front of everyone.

🎒 Pack a school survival kit

Having a few things with you can make you feel much more prepared.

You might want to keep:

• Spare underwear

• Spare shorts or pants

• Tissues or toilet paper

• Gentle wipes

• A waterproof bag for dirty clothes

• A water bottle

• Any medicines you need to take at school

• A small snack if you're able to eat

You don't need to carry a huge bag of supplies.

Just keep the things that make you feel more comfortable and confident.

😴 You might still be tired

Even if your tummy is starting to feel better, you might still feel exhausted.

A flare can take a lot out of your body.

You might notice that:

• A full school day feels harder than it used to

• You have trouble concentrating

• You need more breaks

• You don't have enough energy for PE

• You're exhausted when you get home

That's okay.

You don't have to be back to 100% on your first day.

If you need extra rest or flexibility while you're recovering, talk to your school and your parent or carer.

📚 Catching up on schoolwork

Being away from school can mean you've missed a lot of work.

Coming back to a huge pile of assignments can feel overwhelming.

You don't have to catch up on everything at once.

Ask your teachers:

“What do I need to catch up on first?”

They may be able to give you:

• Extra time

• Extensions

• Notes from lessons you missed

• Help prioritising your work

• Changes to assessment dates

• A smaller amount of work to complete while you're recovering

Remember:

Missing school because you were sick doesn't mean you're falling behind forever.

Give yourself time.

💬 What do I tell my friends?

That's completely up to you.

You don't have to tell everyone that you have IBD.

If someone asks where you've been, you could simply say:

“I've been unwell, but I'm feeling better now.”

If you want to tell them about your IBD, you can.

You might say:

“I have IBD. It's a condition that can sometimes make me really sick, so I sometimes need time off school.”

You get to decide who knows and how much you want to share.

You don't owe anyone your medical information.

🚽 What if someone asks why I keep going to the toilet?

You don't have to explain.

You can simply say:

“I just need to go.”

Or:

“It's a health thing.”

Then change the subject.

If someone makes a joke about you using the toilet, remember that there is nothing embarrassing about looking after your health.

Anyone who needs the toilet should be able to use it without being made to feel ashamed.

🏃 Getting back to sport

You might be excited to get back to sport and PE.

Or you might not feel ready yet.

Both are okay.

If you're still recovering from a flare, talk to your parent, carer and healthcare team about when you're ready to get back to exercise.

You might need to:

• Take it easier

• Take extra breaks

• Modify an activity

• Sit out for a while

• Build up your activity gradually

Listen to your body.

You don't have to prove that you're better by pushing yourself too hard.

🩺 What if I suddenly feel sick?

Sometimes symptoms can appear when you weren't expecting them.

If you suddenly feel unwell at school, tell someone.

You might need to:

• Go to the toilet

• Sit somewhere quiet

• Call your parent or carer

• Go home

• Get medical help

Know who your trusted person at school is before you need them.

That way, you don't have to work out what to do while you're feeling sick.

💛 It's okay to feel nervous

You might feel nervous about your first day back.

You might worry about having an accident, being away from home, or what your friends will think.

That's normal.

Try not to think about the entire week at once.

Think about one step at a time.

Get ready in the morning.

Get through your first lesson.

Then get through lunch.

Then make it to the end of the day.

You don't have to solve everything before you've even arrived.

🌱 Give yourself time

You might expect yourself to feel completely normal as soon as you return to school.

But recovery doesn't always happen that way.

You might have a great day and then feel exhausted afterwards.

You might feel better one day and have more symptoms the next.

You might need extra support for a while.

That's not failing. It's part of recovering.

Be patient with yourself while your body gets back into its routine.

🚩 If your symptoms start getting worse

Pay attention if you notice changes such as:

• More diarrhoea

• More frequent toilet trips

• Blood or mucus in your poo

• Increasing tummy pain

• Feeling much more tired

• Losing your appetite

• Feeling generally unwell

These symptoms don't automatically mean you're having another flare, but it's important to tell your parent, carer or IBD team if things are changing.

You don't have to wait until you're really sick before saying something.

💛 Remember

Going back to school after an IBD flare can be scary.

But you don't have to do it perfectly.

Ask for help.

Take breaks when you need them.

Use the toilet when you need to.

Tell someone when you're not feeling well.

And don't be embarrassed about something you can't control.

Your IBD is only one part of you.

You're still you — your friends, your hobbies, your sport, your favourite subjects, your personality and your dreams are all still there.

You might need a little extra support while you get back into your routine, and that's okay.

Take it one day at a time. 💛