The ABC of university life (2019/20 cohort) - Will NewModelArmyMayhem18 forgive me?

[MrKlaw]

previous thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3701968-The-ABC-of-university-life-2019-20-cohort-settling-in-we-hope

Hope you don't mind - people have pent up comments about cheese graters and traffic cones to get out of their system!

That sounds like a tension headache to me .

Sorry to hear that so many DC are ill. I've no idea how my DS is as he is too busy socialising to call me. I have had a couple of texts but not much info on how he is.
The accommodation situation was a deciding factor in both my DC's final decisions about where to apply. Some places it was ludicrously expensive, others grotty and some quite scarce.

@Benjispruce I agree but the only thing that doesn't fit with tension headaches is that she's had a bit of nausea too. Unless that was just associated with the two migraines?
I've googled her symptoms which was a big mistake and meant I didn't sleep last night having worried myself silly. Stupid I know but it's horrible not having her here to look after knowing she feels rubbish. I've offered to bring her home but she's says they're not bad enough to be 'off sick'

@Juicy0 can she get an appointment with a chiropracter in her area?

I would also reiterate that the accommodation at NTU goes ridiculously quickly, my DS is now there and by the time he had firmed his choice all the uni accommodation had gone. However he ended up with a room in private halls which seem just as nice as the uni rooms and no more expensive and he is very happy with his flat mates (all first years too), no idea why NTU is so difficult for accommodation, I didn't really believe it could be as bad as it was until we went through the experience .

Or osteopath? DH had an amazing response to one session with an osteopath at £40. Well worth it. Not headache but they can be related to stress, tension, posture.

Thanks Ragwort

All useful information.

Glad your DS is settled and happy.

@juicy0 does she need glasses or need a change of prescription? Ds who previously had great vision suddenly needed them in 6th form. Possibly from all of the studying that he did lol (or watching films on his phone more like!).

@Benjispruce, that's what I meant about them offloading onto you and then they go off feeling better and you feel like the worries of the world are on your shoulders!

@Clankboing, that's exactly what happened to DS. And actually DD in her first year at uni!

I'd second the suggestion of seeing an osteopath for the headaches - I see one monthly, and it helps enormously with all the tension I'm holding in my neck and back.

Neck stretches, conscious relaxation, and applying warmth can all also help tension headaches possibly.

@juicy0 I get nausea with tension headaches.

@Dunlurking - DD (York Vanbrugh) went to the GP with her "freshers flu" last week and they confirmed it was a viral infection. She's still feeling pretty rubbish and I think she said that about half of her flatmates have it too. She wasn't great last weekend, so it's been over a week now

@juicy0 Sorry to hear your DD is still suffering. I've just remembered I used to use an app called migraine buddy which helps keep track of migraines symptoms, timings and possible triggers and also suggests possible treatments. Might be useful to identify any pattern and/or show the GP.

Thanks for the app suggestion @JennyWreny she is keeping a diary but an app might help.
@Witchend what do you find helps with your headaches?
I've found a cranial osteopath close to UEA so I'll give them a call tomorrow. Thanks everyone.

Only thing that really clears my headaches are cocodemol (can get it over the counter) and sleep.
Perhaps sounding silly, but washing hair in a warm bath sometimes clears me of a milder one.

@JennyWreny thanks for letting me know about your dd and her flat mates. I’m sorry to hear how bad it’s been. Hope it clears soon. Honestly I hate the viruses that linger for a month or more after. Fingers crossed this isn’t one of them.

Dd messaged to say she managed to cook herself a meal last night, and ate plenty of Vit C packed fresh fruit and veg.

Hope everyone’s dcs escape the lurgy, or recover quickly.

JuicyO - it’s good that the acute pain has gone and I think it’s quite normal to have ‘legacy’ pain. I do think her room and the lack of air isn’t helping and I would be incined to seek a room change on medical grounds. I feel she would be better on the top floor - could sleep with window open and it would be quieter perhaps. I second the poster about warmth - suggest that she gets a hot water bottle or two - lie with neck resting on one and other on tight band area. Perhaps get a travel kettle for her room so she can heat up water in the night. My DD is also suffering with bad headaches at the monent - I am trying to get her to do stretching and relax her shoulders to release the tension. I hope your DD responds to osteopath - you could try acupuncture too?

"but washing hair in a warm bath sometimes clears me of a milder one"

I expect the massage and warmth will help relax the tension.

Brief message from DS this morning saying course is still difficult but manageable (as an A-level FM student he probably has a fairly soft ramp up compared to some so hopefully he'll keep up), and that he's joined the squash club. Thats a relief as we had no info on any clubs he'd joined (I assume he's joined the tennis/football already - he took his kit with him just in case)

nice to see this thread is still so busy...
so talking finance, ds2 had nearly a £2000 reduction in his catered hall fees at Durham, so it really is achievable for low income families.. I spoke to him yesterday and he said he hadn't spent any money in the last week, he doesn't drink and says there's always food available ..
I think it is a good idea that they deal with their own finances, as someone said earlier, it helps build up their credit rating, but if they get into the habit of checking their bank apps regularly now, it will hopefully be start of good financial planning. And they do need to start saving for 2nd year house deposits now...

Dd is cooking regularly for a guy in her flat who cannot cook and has no money. She's feeding him 3 or 4 nights a week. I'm really quite pissed off about it tbh.

ah DS hit the classic 'the football society is too competitive - no recreational footy' issue.

That's not good Trewser . I think she needs to contact student services, if nothing else it will establish if this is a genuine case of hardship and they are the best people to help, or if he is simply taking advantage which they should also deal with to be fair or at least then your DD will know what is going on.

She has been assigned a mentor who is lovely apparently and she's going to talk to her about it

That sounds a good idea.