What to do When You Get Sick

Whether you used to get sick often growing up or not, now that you’re in college it’s almost inevitable that you will get sick at least once every year. This could happen for a number of reasons. There could just be the annual virus that’s quickly making its way through campus or its flu season, but whatever it may be, it’s best to be as prepared as possible. 

The smart thing to do is to always have a small stash of cough, flu and cold medicine. Having things such as ibuprofen, Tylenol, Emergency packets, Liquid IV, cough and flu medication, and maybe even some Claritin or Allegra is always useful in a college dorm. Yes, you can always just go by it when you start to feel something coming on, but you’ll thank yourself for having it ahead of time.

Before getting into the resources available to you both on campus and in the surrounding areas, there is another aspect of getting sick while you’re in college that you should be aware of. Believe it or not but being overly stressed can cause your immune system to crash thus causing you to fall ill. Personally, I got sick after finals season almost every year because I put all my time and attention into passing my exams, and less effort into taking care of myself. It’s definitely no easy task to balance academics, move-outs and your social life while trying not to overwork yourself. This is why it’s really important to continue to take care of yourself, at least to the best of your ability, during highly stressful times of the year.

First and foremost, if you are sick, take the time that you need to get better. Drink lots of water, eat nutritious meals, get lots of sleep and most importantly do not go to class. For the benefit of yourself and others, staying home is honestly the best thing you can do. Not only because you need the rest, but you also don’t want to get anyone else sick. Langston is a small campus that has hundreds of people living in close proximity to each other, so you can imagine how quickly illnesses, viruses or infections can spread. Any good professor will understand your circumstances and give you an opportunity to make up any of the work you missed. So just do yourself the favor and stay home.

There are multiple resources and services available to you either on campus or nearby. The Langston University Wellness Center, located on the first floor of the Women’s University building, has a health clinic that can assist with basic diagnosis and getting over the counter medication for simple ailments. The clinic is run by a nurse practitioner and a licensed nurse who can professionally treat you or assist in finding a professional who can. They offer a range of services including but not limited to women’s exams, diagnosis and treatment of common ailments, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing, flu shots, and preventative education. 

Fortunately, these are professionals who will act as such, meaning that anything that you discuss or do during your time at the clinic is completely confidential. This rule even applies to school administration, despite it being a university health clinic. There are no appointments necessary, and the clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

The next closest available clinic is the Mary Mahoney Health Center at Langston located at 300 Martin Luther King St. Within the City of Langston, this clinic is a little more equipped than the health clinic on campus. Although you will have to schedule an appointment, Mary Mahoney offers a much larger array of services. Outside of the general medical care, MMHC offers limited diagnostic testing, immunizations, STD/STI testing, Women’s health care, health screenings, prenatal care, dental care and counseling services including mental health, nutrition and substance abuse counseling. Just be aware that these services are not free.

Now outside of Langston, there are multiple different medical departments available in Guthrie and Edmond. Although these options will also come with a price, they are fully capable of handling your personal health needs. 

Surprisingly, the Logan County Health Department also has a clinic that is available to all via scheduled appointment. Located at 215 Fairgrounds Road, Suite A, this department is linked to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which contains a system of health clinics, centers and providers all across the state. According to their website, they provide services related to disease treatment and prevention, family and child health, health education and promotion, and health care and Medicaid services. Although this is one of the cheaper options in terms of health services in the Guthrie area, they take on more clients, which could keep you from getting in to see a doctor as soon as possible. That being said, they are a great option for general diagnosis, testing, treatment and prescribing medication. 

The three aforementioned medical offices are mainly for your general healthcare needs, but there are a few emergency medical options available as well. Located at 1201 S. Division St in Guthrie, OK, the Express Wellness Urgent Care is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 8pm and Sunday from 1pm to 7pm. This urgent care offers all of the services mentioned from the first three health care facilities and then some, as well as takes a wide variety of payment and insurance options. The other emergency center available to you for both non-life threatening and life-threatening injuries and illnesses is Mercy Hospital Logan County located at 200 S Academy Rd in Guthrie. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this is the closest hospital to you if you are staying on the Langston Campus. Now, I feel as though I don’t need to explain what services are available to you at a hospital, I do feel like I need to encourage some to actually go if the situation calls for it.

Obviously there is not a great history of the type of treatment black people have received in hospitals, but that does not negate the fact that in some instances, it is truly going to be your only option. Please do not feel scared to go to the hospital if you feel it is necessary. Despite the fact that we are in Oklahoma, these are healthcare professionals who nine times out of ten will carry themselves as such. But, in the case you feel as though you are receiving unfair treatment, please advocate for yourself or find somebody who will. And remember, when you’re a part of the Langston community, you have a village that is ready to fight for you. 

Hopefully, you will get through your entire college experience without needing to go to the hospital for anything or without getting too sick. But, if you end up needing to speak to a healthcare professional or receive treatment, at least you’ll be aware of multiple facilities fully equipped with dealing with such circumstances. It’s just up to you to seek the help you need.