Struggling through exams

iggly_pop

I haven't posted on here for a very long time as I have been attempting to complete my last year of A levels. I have what the rheumys think is developing into OA in the majority of my joints so I have pain in the majority of my body, making it difficult to compensate in different ways from day to day. I woke up this morning, with only 4 days before my next exam, barely able to move, it was so bad my Mum had to help me out of bed (I'm 18 and currently live at home- hopefully heading off to university this september). It's been a long time since I was so bad that I wasn't able to get out of bed in the morning. I'm running out of ideas to get me through the last of this exam season, I can only average about 7 and a half hours of sleep a night due to needing to get up at 6am every morning. I don't take any medication on a regular basis anymore, however, when I have flare ups I do take 2x 30mg codeine throughout the days that I am bad. Guess what I'm asking for is just any advice on how to make my body cope better with the flare ups during my exams..

From

Rebecca

barbara12

Hi Rebecca
Sorry I dont have any advise, apart from some sought of relaxing music to stop you getting stressed.
I really do wish you well with your exams, you go for it girl ...you can do it

elnafinn

Hi Rebecca

I just wanted to wish you well with your exams. I am sorry that you are suffering with all this at such a young age.

I have OA and I was prescribed an anti inflammatory med which really does help me. You did not say that you had been prescribed any. I also like you have coco's to take. Before my knee ops I was taking the maximum of 8 cocos per day but do not need to take them now but I still take the anti inflammatory med. I know they help, because I ran out of them for a few days and what a difference. I used to take two of them daily but am ok on one per day now to keep the aches and pains away at a tolerable level for me.

Look after yourself,

Elna x

stickywicket

Hi Iggly_pop,

It's a long, long time since I struggled through O-levels, A-levels & Finals with arthritis in tow (RA) and, in my case at least, the stress of exams certainly caused flares every time. It's a bit harder for you if you don't have an actual diagnosis yet but, for what it's worth, here's what I'd suggest.

1. If your school/college isn't aware of your current flare tell them immediately. Unless there is a timescale here, they can arrange extra time, an amanuensis to write for you if necessary and a note to the examiners that you were ill during the exams.

2. Go to your GP. I'm not too hot on OA treatments. Most arthritis meds take time to work but, even at this stage, you might get something that'll give you enough relief to compete on better terms though you're probably better without strong painkillers as you need to think clearly.

3. My GP sent a note saying I could only do one exam per day. The school/college should be able to sort this out.

Please do ensure the professionals (ie doc & teachers) are fully aware of your situation. I wish you all the luck in the world in your exams and your future.

km89

Hi Rebecca,
I know exactly how you feel. I've been doing my uni exams over the last couple of weeks, during which I've felt like crap with my RA. I think the best advice I could give is to try take the meds on a regular basis to get you through the rest of your exams. I'm not as knowledgable about OA and how much the symptoms differ to RA but as it's been said already, the anti-inflammatories may help as it targets the pain in a different way to the cocos.

I would go to your GP as this is an important time to feel the best that you can. I found it so hard to revise as sitting in one place for a long time as it made the aches and pains so much worse.

So yeah, I'd try and get some better meds to help you cope during the exams. I hope you feel better soon.

Katie x

valval

hi sorry it so hard for you the stress of exams can make things worse the co codamol can affect your thought process as well. i would advise trip to doc as well, you need more help by the sound of it. also school should alow you longer to take your exams when things are so bad i think, but you would have to check with them on that good luck hope ypu get uni of your choice val

tjt6768

Sorry to hear that you are struggling with the exams.. I hope that you can figure out some meds to help etc.. Mind you, I really wouldn't grumble with the amount of sleep you're getting. That's not bad going at all.. Having said that, I know you are a student and as such require a minimum of 18hrs a day lol...

Best of luck, hope today is a good day for ya.

JayneN

Hi
I am at uni, but I am luckily doing an online course. I use voice recognition software otherwise I would have had to jack it in long ago.
When you get to uni you should apply for disabled support allowance. Its assessed to see what equipment you need to help you with your studies.
I wish you all the best with your exams.

JayneN

iggly_pop

Thank you all so much for your responses. I'm going to head back to the doctors next week and see if there's anything else they can try me on. Everything in regards to these exams is a bit crazy as I have 8 in total (3 I've already done now) and I need to get AAB minimum to get into St Andrews to study Geology. I'm just so worried that I'll fall at the last hurdle because of the pain, I feel like I've worked so hard to get here and I've put up with the pain since I was 7 just don't want to crash now. Thank you all for your recommendations and I am looking into DSA for this september, thank you and anything else you can come up with I would greatly appreciate, feeling a bit lost at the moment.

Rebecca