Illness during GCSEs

[bizzy1234]

My daughter is having terrible wisdom tooth pain over the last couple of days.
I have taken her to the dentist today and they can see it's inflamed and given me a prescription of Amoxicillin.
They've said if it doesn't clear up to come back next week and they can investigate further.... trouble is her GCSEs start may 13th!
Should I fork out at huge cost and get a second opinion private or just hope antibiotics work.... not much time to play around with!

As someone who’s suffered with wisdom teeth I’d follow the advice and give the antibiotics. Get her to gargle morning and night with salt water to keep away bacteria. Use pain relief if sore. Ibuprofen might be good if swollen. Cool or warm compress on jaw if helps.
Realistically not much else can be done even going private before May 13th. Having them out (if necessary) will be much more pain, longer recovery in which prone to infection etc).
Also- if this affects the exams - you can always get a drs note and contact exam board via school to advise them she was struggling with this at the time- they will take it into account and may ask the teacher to report or predicted grades etc
By all means go privately if you are still having trouble post exams and there is a long wait for further help on nhs but navigate this difficult time first if possible would be my advice

Thank you for your sound advice!! Just terrible timing for a child whose never I'll!!

Again a tick in the box not to worry as that will be clear from attendance records etc - as a teacher I had to do multiple notifications to exam boards re sickness so there will be a procedure in place. Perhaps talk to your school exams officer to put your mind at rest and check if there’s documents you should be collecting now

Do notify school before the exams rather than after though.

I'm an Exam Officer so definitely notify the school and get a letter/ note from your dentist confirming your daughter's suffering and treatment.
If she's particularly suffering on an exam day which affects her concentration etc then the EO can apply for what's known as Special Consideration- this is where the exam board take her issues into factor and she may receive a percentage grade increase.
I had this last year with a student with chrohns disease and the poor lad spent around a quarter of the exam in the loo. He got 5% grade increase

Another vote for let school know ASAP that she’s been struggling and ask them for policies/procedures in writing so you’re ready for anything. Get proof of each drs appointment/prescription etc so you’ve got a paper trail if you do need special consideration.

Thank you for your sound advice.... she’s feeling much better last 2 days... do you think I should still mention it to school?

Thank you for your advice. She’s feeling a lot better the last 48 hours.. fingers crossed it doesn’t come back.
Do you think I should mention it to school anyway?

Great news that she's feeling better but still say. I'd want to know so that I could look out for her wellbeing in an exam and be prepared to apply for SC if required

DD was ill with d&v during her exams. She still sat them but was kept apart from the other children, supervised and had toilet access. We would take her in just before and she left as soon as she had finished. The school will be supportive if you keep them informed I'm sure.

you can always get a drs note

dentist's note please! You'd be amazed by how many people approach their GP for notes when we weren't the professional who saw them.