school exams time = headache

[motherknowbest]

My DD is at the moment doing her second round of mock exams before GCSE's
She has mild headaches most days and manages to control them with paracetamol, however during exam time, she has stronger headaches and comes home wanting to go straight to bed unable to do anything else, paracetamol doesn't help on these days. I am worried when the real GCSE's start how is she going to cope.
Any tips?

Does she take paracetamol most days? Can’t that (weirdly) cause headaches? If they’re stress related then look at what would help that. Does she do any exercise?

Is she drinking enough? My DS was allowed to take a completely plain water bottle into each exam - she needs to stay hydrated.
Have her eyes been checked recently?
I know it's difficult with revision, but is she getting enough sleep?

Don't forget, the actual exams tend to be a bit more spread out than mocks, and hopefully with study leave, it will be easier for her to get breaks during hte times she is not sitting exams to get a bit of fresh air etc.

If you take paracetamol all the time you can get rebound headaches - does she take it every day? She probably needs a break of a couple of weeks from the paracetamol tbh, which won't be easy!

Thank you all. The paracetamol is only taken when the pain is very strong, it could be once a week or even less, she has headaches almost every day but she tells me that they are mild and she can manage without medication, but during exams that's when they are stronger than ever and paracetamol doesn't help.

She takes a water bottle to school every day and drinks plenty during the day. She does not exercise, but we are going to give it a go, see if it helps
Saw optician 9 months ago, he picked on something but after a visit to the hospital and doing all the exams, we were told everything was normal.

GSCE's starts in 2 months time, we have to find a way to manage these headaches. She need to maintain her high grades in order to get into her 6th form (no pressure...)

Tension/ stress headaches then. She needs to find ways of dealing with stress. Exercise is great. Relaxation techniques or mindfulness etc.

Ah, I thought she was taking paracetamol every day - not that, then, prob tension headaches as Wolfiefan said. Hope she find something to help soon OP, and good luck with her exams.