Page 8 | Thread 16 - Corona Cohort Year 12, 2021 Zooming through Summer Term

EversoDelighted · 15/05/2021 21:57

We've tried the UKAS events too with a similar lack of success, I think its all a bit too much too soon TBH.

Seeline · 15/05/2021 22:13

Can I recommend a Facebook group and associated website for uni parents/students/prospective parents/students? WIWIKAU (What I wish I knew about university). A very supportive and helpful group. In the absence of open days etc, they are trying to put together fact files on campus visits and accommodation for different universities. People can answer questions about most unis.

EversoDelighted · 15/05/2021 22:16

Yes, I've been in that FB group for a few weeks, its really good.

Monkey2001 · 15/05/2021 23:01

@FoolsAssassin there are 2 different medicine entrance exams. Most use UCAT (university Clinical Aptitude Test), that runs July to September and used to be at the same places as Driving Theory, but the 2020 exams had an option to do it at home with a proctoring service or at an exam centre.

The other exam is the BMAT (BioMedical Aptitude Test) which is used by Oxbridge, UCL, Imperial, Leeds and a couple of others. Normally there is a sitting at the end of August/beginning of September and one at the end of October with all the other Oxbridge tests. The advantage of the early one is that you get the results before finalising your choices. In both 2020 and 2021 the early one was/has been cancelled, so all had to apply without knowing results, and the October 2020 one was done on line at school with mixed success - DS's school has trouble accessing it and I heard a lot of others did too.

FoolsAssassin · 16/05/2021 07:42

interesting Monkey thank you. Will be interesting to see what does happen at the end of year 1.

I have found that FB group helpful too.

EversoDelighted · 16/05/2021 07:51

We found a website called opendays.com which is useful too as it lists all the open days that are coming up and you can click through to the individual institution websites.

Piggywaspushed · 16/05/2021 08:06

That website seems to not list quite a lot of Open Days. Not sure from where or how they harvest their information. It is a good starting point but bear in mind there are more events than they show.

EversoDelighted · 16/05/2021 08:24

We found it pretty up to date last time we went through it about a month ago, but we were only looking for a few specific unis so might not have noticed it missed some. I am also looking at 6th form colleges for DD and it all seems very fluid at the moment.

Monkey2001 · 16/05/2021 08:31

I thought it was incomplete too, did not list Newcastle or Manchester although both have published dates in June (Sat 19th). Maybe they add them when open day schedule is published. Bit of a pain for us that Manchester and Newcastle are on same day, although Newcastle have said things are happening on Wednesday too, don't know yet whether subject talks will be available both days.

Original poster

orangecinnamon · 16/05/2021 08:38

Dd has cried every day for a month. She is on a new pill to try and help with bad periods (she gets terrible tummy pain and faints). Her anxiety is through the roof and self esteem rock bottom. I don't know whether it is just the pill or the effects of the last year too. She has lost a lot of confidence with her Music as performing opportunities limited. She is now so worried about her mental health spiralling that she is talking about taking a gap year so she can still be at home.

How long should I give it with this pill before I send her back to the docs? Does it all settle down? (Never been on the pill myself). I just think it all combined has made a terrible time for her. She is sensitive to hormones anyhow 😒

OP posts:

Piggywaspushed · 16/05/2021 08:49

Is it a contraceptive pill orange? It's one of those things I find GPs throw at a problem but can in itself cause problems.

Poor DD.

mummabear74 · 16/05/2021 09:22

@orangecinnamon

Dd has cried every day for a month. She is on a new pill to try and help with bad periods (she gets terrible tummy pain and faints). Her anxiety is through the roof and self esteem rock bottom. I don't know whether it is just the pill or the effects of the last year too. She has lost a lot of confidence with her Music as performing opportunities limited. She is now so worried about her mental health spiralling that she is talking about taking a gap year so she can still be at home. How long should I give it with this pill before I send her back to the docs? Does it all settle down? (Never been on the pill myself). I just think it all combined has made a terrible time for her. She is sensitive to hormones anyhow 😒

Your poor Dd. I would go back and ask for a referral. Our DD16 is in a similar position with the pain, fainting and terrible vomiting from the pain. She was originally put on Rigevidon by the GP but this didn't help at all so we went back to the GP as the pain was debilitating and she was starting to miss school and also suffering with bad headaches. She was referred and the consultant recommended Femodene (their preferred choice) or Gedarel & to take without a break. The GP chose Gedarel and she's now been on it for about 5 months. Symptoms have subsided considerably but she does continue to get some pain (but manageable). The consultant suspects endometriosis and will book her for a laparoscopy but was hoping that the pill could work for a period of time.

Monkey2001 · 16/05/2021 09:31

@orangecinnamon sorry to hear that, it sounds terrible. I think I have said before that you should not worry about a gap year, singers are often told to apply later as teachers prefer to have them after 20 as the voice settles, so try to see a gap year as a positive thing, particularly if it helps reduce anxiety.

Monkey2001 · 16/05/2021 09:33

@mummabear74 good luck, hope you get a strategy that works. Feeling grateful that I only have boys!

Original poster

orangecinnamon · 16/05/2021 09:42

Yes @Piggywaspushed progestogen-only pill (POP). She insists to me she wants to carry on and doesn't want periods anymore. @mummabear74 yes that is exactly what Dd gets like with periods she also gets D as well as the V if you know what mean. I get so annoyed as I often think if men had periods ...we would have better solutions by now . Glad your Dd pain subsiding. I need to look more into it all I think, Dd insisted on going to the docs herself and sorting it all.

OP posts:

Seeline · 16/05/2021 09:59

DD us on the mini pill for similar. She takes it continuosly on the advice if the GP and rarely has a period at all now. Haven't really noticed any side effects. Hope your DD gets it sorted - it is probably worth trying a different pill. I know some I took had different effects for me.

Piggywaspushed · 16/05/2021 10:04

Oh yes, women's health... discuss! Invisible Women is most interesting on this!

Did you know by 2035 it is projected that male and female life expectancy will be the same in the UK? There is our trump card gone!!

ProggyMat · 16/05/2021 10:10

@orangecinnamon she might be better with a combined pill taken continuously
My DD had irregular periods with awful PMS and was prescribed Gederal like mumma DD
It might be a idea to have DDs iron levels checked - particularly the stored levels- I had DDs checked and they were really low which I think was contributing to her feeling dizzy and the PMS.

EwwSprouts · 16/05/2021 10:32

@orangecinnamon If the pill doesn't agree with her, a non-hormonal medical option is Mefenamic Acid. I have a few friends who found it much better including me. If she ends up taking it the trick is to start the day before if you have a regular cycle or as soon as you think the period is imminent.

EwwSprouts · 16/05/2021 10:33

Piggy Agree Invisible Women is a fascinating read. Think it should be on 6th form science reading lists.

icanbewhatiwant · 16/05/2021 10:47

@orangecinnamon I took the mini pill for years as I had a big op. for endometriosis, the pill was recommended after. First took the combined pill, then in my 40's I took the mini pill as suggested when I got older. I preferred the combined pill, but I didn't really have any side effects from either of them. I stopped taking them mid 40's though.

BigWoollyJumpers · 16/05/2021 10:58

DD is on her forth type of pill. Started taking them a few years ago for acne, the first one made no difference other than making her very depressed, the second was really good, cleared her skin, but after two years her periods got heavy and painful again, so Dr's suggested no breaks strategy. Big mistake, she really suffered by that regimen. Then she changed again, and now seems to be settled down, it's really hard to find the right one to suit. I suspect she is one of those people who just suffers from hormone in-balance, poor thing.

Invisible Women is great. DD has lent it to her BF to read..... good on her, and him for accepting the challenge.

ProggyMat · 16/05/2021 11:00

I don’t think it would harm to have this on the list too:
web.stanford.edu/~eckert/PDF/Martin1991.pdf

ealingwestmum · 16/05/2021 11:02

So much sympathy for the struggling girls on here with cycle challenges. We are still being ignored by our GP for asking for a pill check after 18 months of escalating side effects, head aches, sickness and anaemia being the key ones now.

Just waiting for exams to pass before I kick off. But the surgery has had lovely upgrade/renovations done. Well done them.

BigWoollyJumpers · 16/05/2021 11:19

@ealingwestmum

So much sympathy for the struggling girls on here with cycle challenges. We are still being ignored by our GP for asking for a pill check after 18 months of escalating side effects, head aches, sickness and anaemia being the key ones now.

Just waiting for exams to pass before I kick off. But the surgery has had lovely upgrade/renovations done. Well done them.

Can you not do it on-line? DD researched what she wanted, we emailed the surgery, told them what she wanted, they phoned and had a discussion, and then issued the prescription. Older DD now just orders her pills via an on-line doctor too, it makes life so much easier.