Does anyone else get MCAT headaches?

[OBGYN2010]

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Well...I have been getting a lot of headaches lately (mainly due to the stress)...I work full time, and when I come home, sometimes the day is just so exhausting, and a really bad headache for the 3 - 4 hrs/night pretty much just eats away from studying time. Does anyone else experience this? How do you guys cope with stress related headaches? I take excedrin, but sometimes it doesn't work 🙁

 

[adiddas125]

I get headaches from physics. Especially fluids and electricity. Oh and cant forget the damn optics crap too. 😱

 

[TwoLegacies]

Well...I have been getting a lot of headaches lately (mainly due to the stress)...I work full time, and when I come home, sometimes the day is just so exhausting, and a really bad headache for the 3 - 4 hrs/night pretty much just eats away from studying time. Does anyone else experience this? How do you guys cope with stress related headaches? I take excedrin, but sometimes it doesn't work 🙁

yes... I feel you. I work full time as well, and my job's not too stressful, but sitting at a desk for 8 hours still takes its toll.
My body feels stressed in general. Lately my legs/tailbone have been aching just from sitting and studying so much.

Here's what's helped me:
yoga/exercise
enough water
enough healthy food

I know when I am stressed or busy, I'll forget about eating properly or drinking enough water, and it makes me feel crappy all over.

Yoga... one of those things a lot of people think is lame until they try it. Personally, it helps me calm down and forces me to stretch out stiff muscles-- including the neck, which can definitely relieve headaches.

Exercise-- probably the last thing you want to do when you have a headache, but it can at least prevent them. Try to fit it in your day before you get a headache, like in the morning, lunch, or right after work.

Good luck!

 

[maybemed2013]

I know this is an old thread but it deserves to be bump.

I don't know why but everytime I begin to study for the MCAT, I get this headaches.

 

[BB8730]

I know this is an old thread but it deserves to be bump.

I don't know why but everytime I begin to study for the MCAT, I get this headaches.

That used to happen to me. Studying for the MCAT is a daunting task, especially in the beginning. Once I started taking practice exams and getting more comfortable with the material they started to go away.

 

[MedPR]

Caffeine > stress headache.

 

[Mehd School]

I get awful headaches after full lengths. Every. Damn. Time.

 

[kimicurtis]

I have gotten tension headaches, when studying topics that I feel confused about or when I do badly on a BR passage. It is caused by stress. With time, there frequency has been decreasing.

 

[Shark7500]

I get significant eye pain from staring at a computer screen all day, and sometimes I get headaches if it gets bad enough. It's come to the point where I can't tolerate bright sunlight for too long. :/

But I agree, drinking enough water / eating healthy is key to keeping your brain in shape.

 

[doctorwannabe1]

Water is key! Also if you're prone to headaches, it may be a good idea to pop an Advil on test day.

 

[kimicurtis]

I get significant eye pain from staring at a computer screen all day, and sometimes I get headaches if it gets bad enough. It's come to the point where I can't tolerate bright sunlight for too long. :/

But I agree, drinking enough water / eating healthy is key to keeping your brain in shape.

Me too! My eyes are really strained, particularly my right. I feel horrible about it, but I can't stop studying...
Have you been to a Dr.? Do you think these problems are temporary?

 

[nisarg2010]

I dont get headaches but I have hard time sleeping at night sometimes because I alwase feel that I didnt do enough studying that day or that I am not doing as well as I need to be on practice test.

The surprizing thing is that after a full length, I don't feel tired for some reason (i dont do that writting which saves about an hour). Does that mean im not focusing hard enough during the test??

 

[Alejandro]

Probably studying too long, not fully hydrated. I found it much better to study 2 hrs, then do something, come back, study another 2 hrs, come back, and study another 2. So in essence, have a study sesh morning, afternoon, and dinner, if possible. For those of you with jobs, I'm sorry-that's just a luxury I know you guys don't have. But don't slam yourself with 4 hrs worth of studying, especially if you know you can't keep up over 4 hrs. I'd just study for 2 hrs, watch an episode of suits, then study another two for the night.

I know it's harder to get back on the horse, but your mind will be much more relaxed once you get soem momentum.

 

[Shark7500]

Me too! My eyes are really strained, particularly my right. I feel horrible about it, but I can't stop studying...
Have you been to a Dr.? Do you think these problems are temporary?

No, I haven't been to a doctor. I don't think my symptoms have been so bad as to warrant that. I hope it's temporary.

I think it may also be due to the fact that it's summer and everything is bright and sunny all the time. Maybe things will get better in the fall/winter?

Ugh, either way, I am so glad I didn't go into computer science or something.

 

[qwerty2012]

hope that headache didn't last for 7 years.

 

[Murse2DO]

I have HAs all the time. The mcat just makes them worse. 🙁

 

[imno]

I also get headaches all the time. Especially when I am using the computer for a long period of time. Coffee works sometimes, but not always. I think the best way to increase productivity is to take a power nap. If you can't sleep because of stress. Go outside for a walk. Get your mind away from the pressure of getting that high score.

I don't like taking pain medications but if it happens on test day, ya gotta pop the pill 😎

If the headache continues though even after your exam, you should see a doctor. just to be safe, in case its a tumor...

 

[gtbROX]

Studying for the MCAT is taxing, physically and mentally. I've been lucky to have most of my summer cleared out to focus on studying and I still end up feeling tired at random times.

See if you can lighten your work schedule or just not work at all; you don't want this to affect your score and end up having to retake. Do see a doctor. Anyways, I wish you the best.

 

[maybemed2013]

My headaches have became less painful either that or I am getting use to having a headache.

I also get headaches easily, due to anxiety.

And I have to work, I tutor for a private company so I have to have good clothing and I have to have my nails done.

 

[seojohn]

I feel you. I had a massive headache the other day and took advil. Then I started thinking about ibuprofen as a vasoconstrictor. Then I started thinking about the entire circulatory system and how that's affected by advil. Then I thought about vasopressin as another vasoconstrictor and then that led to thoughts about other hormones. Needless to say my headache worsened. Best thing was to just keep a day or two throughout the week without studying and not thinking at all about the MCAT. Spent an entire night after work just catching up on all the Suits episodes I haven't watched because of studying. Felt refreshed and great the next day, and started studying again.

 

[maybemed2013]

I know what you mean I try to take a day off, but I have workaholic blood in me so it so hard.