I've taken a week off here and there over the years. I just tell them I have the flu. However, a year or so ago I had to take an entire semester off due to being hospitalized. I wasn't working at the time, thankfully. Unfortunately I had to go to school for an extra year. Thankfully, somehow I made it through and graduate in May. I'm thinking about applying for disability again, but I'll have to speak with my doctor.