Medicine 2026 Part 3

[MyGreyBiscuit]

Hi everyone, here's the new thread!

Thanks @PurryGrowls - he’s our first one to leave home too. I’m panicking inside!! Also thinking about summer hols. Anyone booked anywhere yet?!!

and yes no need to recreate A&E activities so near exams. He developed a sudden allergy to penicillin. Never had that before. It was hideous and he didn’t sleep for 4 days? And had a whole body of rash. Like we couldn’t see skin. And still went into the exams! Exam boards were oh so generous (not). And I think a couple awarded 1-2 points.

@MyGreyBiscuit DD also had a severe reaction to penicillin out of the blue last year! She was covered in an awful rash head to foot itching etc, it started on an open day at Sheffield, we ignored it for a while and it just got worse. Unfortunately she then had her week's work experience at hospital and I had to go and explain she wasn't contagious so could she still come as she couldn't afford to miss. Goodness knows what the others must have thought of her spotty appearance. It took over a week to go.

Just glad it didn't affect her exams like your poor DS!

oh wow @bluefineliner - hope DD was ok after that. I thought our reaction was due to a change of his other meds that might have interfered. Having said that, friends of mine said they randomly developed allergies in their 20s and 30s... so it might also be random!

Happy Fri-yay everyone. it's been a slog!

I only discovered I was allergic to penicillin in my 20s, in my case I'd never needed antibiotics before then. My maternal GF was allergic to it as well, but my Mum still doesn't know if she is because she's never had to take antibiotics (she's 80 this year).

Goodness, I too am allergic to penicillin - since childhood. It’s a real pain sometimes! I saw on the news a while back that many people are wrongly labelled as allergic - though sounds like your two had very severe reactions @MyGreyBiscuit and @bluefineliner !

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66934909

@Sachetaandb Yes, our school is a little extreme though results are good. The discipline is something else!
I think they believe it’s more important to catch the less able kids and improve their outcomes than allow more academic kids time off to study - but it’s a frustrating blanket policy.

I think we can't take any chances as he's also immunocompromised - which makes everything slightly more awkward. We did think if and when he's off this other drug, then perhaps he may not be so reactive to penicillin or other things.

Hi all - how are your YP getting on… ?
First exam 10 days away here. Getting very real!

I've barely seen DD recently. She's either at school or at the local library. But library only open this morning and then closed for the BH weekend, so she'll be around more this weekend. She has seemed quite stressed, but has been doing flashcards with her sister this morning, and now they've just popped out together for a bit. Which is weird as it's for an activity that we used to do as a three, but DD can now drive them there and I'm not really needed...

16 days to go here.

hi! Happy bank holiday weekend!
yes now that DS can drive, it’s been interesting with lifts and disappearing off to the uni library! He’s just spent the whole day there and is now enroute to picking his sister up from the beach - so I managed a visit to the gym and some decluttering and gardening!

He seems to be on track. We are dealing with all the forms and stuff about accoms etc.

My DDs first exam is still 31 days away...she's working very hard, but seems ok at the moment....I'm trying to encourage a revision free day over the Bank Holiday weekend...we'll see how that goes!

Need to do student finance application this weekend, haven't got round to it yet.

My daughter hasn’t got her driving license yet… I have to admit I’ll probably miss playing taxi (even though it feels like a chore at times!)

We finally did the student finance form yesterday - a relief to get it out the way.

We’re one exam down, one on Thursday and the last one next week.

Then we can forget about it until August!

No way @Itsallstressstressstress- is this A-levels? Not finished until mid-June here, with only one May exam.

@PurryGrowlsi miss being taxi driver!

@rockstuckhardplace, Advanced Highers (Scotland).

Hi all,

@rockstuckhardplace I actually don't miss being taxi driver at all 😂. My DD is pretty self sufficient with revision so I don't really know what she's doing. When she does try to tell me it all sounds very difficult so I just smile and nod.

@MyGreyBiscuit I still need to do SFE application thanks for the reminder! that is a job for today or tomorrow. Nice for you to have some time for yourself too.

wow @Itsallstressstressstress that is early to finish, great for your DD. My DD has her first exam 15 May, psych, then another the following week, then all others after half term hols so reasonably spread out.

I've just booked a week away after she finishes her exams so we can now look forward a week in the sun to hopefully destress DD.

Of course! Results day 5 August or thereabouts?

4th August this year so after next week he’ll have until the end of May to do whatever he fancies. Then in June it’s activities and leavers ball as officially finishes school end of June.
When do English results come out?

Hello. Only saw your DM yesterday. I have replied.

DD got her course work back for history, she got full marks which eases the pressure on her final exams. Which is good because it's so content heavy.

Thursday 13 August for A-levels in England (and Wales and NI). My DD has just under 2 months from final exam until results day.

Fingers crossed for them all.

Hiya,
SFE was quite straightforward. Didn’t ask for our NI and he got approved within a couple of days I think. Did the DBS thing as well. And accommodations.

We’ve booked a holiday for when school ends in July! Can’t wait!!

Just checking in, it's been a while! Hope everyone is well.

DD is fine, still in school until tomorrow, then she has Physics paper 1 in May, and the rest of the exams are all in June. She's managed to reserve her Sheffield room in an Endcliffe building that she liked when we visited (that was so tough to book, daily log in was needed!), and has also applied for Soton accommodation (they allowed those who insured to apply).

Is anyone doing the Soton open day this Saturday? DD is reluctant to go, as we've already been there twice (open day and interview) and she's attended the virtual med school offer holder day webinar. I want her to go, just to take a bit of a break, but she thinks it's a waste of time, as Soton is her insurance choice and both offers are AAA.

hi @inae ! It's last day of school tomorrow too - I can't believe it... that's it. DS didn't go to the Sheffield open day as you know... he said he'd been there twice - understands the place, and it's his insurance. If it's not predicted to rain then why not go? (twice we've been to Southampton and twice it was pouring!)...

@inae personally I wouldn't bother going to Southampton OHD as your DD has made her decisions!