Missing School for Appointments

One of the frustrating things about monitoring is that scoliosis doesn't always stay at the doctor's office.

Sometimes it follows you into school.

Not because of pain.

Not because of treatment.

But because of appointments.

Every few months, there may be an X-ray.

A checkup.

A follow-up visit.

A specialist appointment.

And while missing a few hours of school may not sound like a big deal, it can feel stressful when you're the one trying to keep up with everything.

You may worry about missing a test.

Missing a lesson.

Missing an assignment.

Missing something important.

You may even find yourself thinking more about the school you are missing than the appointment itself.

That's normal.

Most students don't like feeling behind.

Most students don't enjoy returning to class wondering what they missed.

But it's important to remember something:

Going to your scoliosis appointments is part of taking care of yourself.

You are not skipping school.

You are not doing something wrong.

You are attending a medical appointment that helps your healthcare team monitor your spine and make sure you are getting the care you need.

That matters.

Sometimes students feel guilty about leaving early or missing part of the day.

Try not to.

If you had a dentist appointment, an eye appointment, or another medical visit, nobody would expect you to feel guilty.

A scoliosis appointment is no different.

The challenge is often the anxiety leading up to the appointment.

Many teens find it difficult to focus in class on appointment day.

You're trying to pay attention to math, but your brain is thinking about your X-ray.

You're trying to listen to your teacher, but you're wondering whether your curve changed.

You're trying to complete an assignment, but your mind keeps jumping ahead to the appointment.

That happens to a lot of people.

Monitoring comes with uncertainty.

And uncertainty can be distracting.

One thing that helps is reminding yourself that worrying during class will not change what the X-ray shows.

The appointment will happen whether you spend the day worrying or not.

The results will be the same.

That doesn't mean you'll stop worrying completely.

But sometimes it helps to gently bring your attention back to the present.

Back to the class.

Back to the assignment.

Back to the moment you're actually in.

Another thing to remember is that most teachers are used to students missing school for appointments.

You're not the first student to leave early.

You're not the first student to miss class.

You're not creating a problem simply by taking care of your health.

If you're nervous about missing work, communicate.

Talk to your teacher.

Ask what you'll miss.

Make a plan to catch up.

Most teachers are happy to help when they know what's going on.

And if you're feeling especially anxious about the appointment itself, don't keep that to yourself either.

Tell a parent.

Tell a trusted teacher.

Tell a friend.

You don't have to carry all of that stress alone.

Because while missing school for appointments can be annoying, it's also a reminder that you're taking care of yourself.

You're showing up.

You're monitoring your scoliosis.

You're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing.

And that's something to feel good about—not guilty about.