Migraines and Interviews

[JJsMom]

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So I get migraines. And not just the occasional migraine, but the recurring kind that get me prescribed strong narcotics to manage them. The medication I take makes me a little loopy and kind of puts my eyes out of focus for a good hour. I am a little nervous that if I get a migraine the day of an interview, very likely given they are more pronounced when I am more stressed out, and have to take the medicine I will look like a complete good in front of an admissions board. Has anyone had this kind of thing happen? I know it's really specific but I would rather an interviewer understand my situation than think I'm some kind of drugged out airhead.

thanks.

 

[teacherman84]

I would be more concerned about making it through 4 years of medical school and residency with these recurring, crippling migraines.

 

[greatnt249]

I would be more concerned about making it through 4 years of medical school and residency with these recurring, crippling migraines.

That "advice" didn't really help the OP at all; what was the point of this post?

My advice would be to ask (anonymously) various admissions offices to the schools you're applying to and see what they have to say about dealing with your situation.

 

[Trexate]

I don't take narcotics for mine, but I understand your situation.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about it until there is cause to worry. If you go into an interview with one and have to take the meds explain this to them then. No use potentially shooting yourself in the foot unless it becomes necessary.

 

[JJsMom]

I would be more concerned about making it through 4 years of medical school and residency with these recurring, crippling migraines.

hi, yeah, I've made it through 3 years of undergrad at a top 5 Technology (you know, Iron Man technology college) undergrad instituion, top 20% of my class, top 5 % of my major, while being pregnant my first year and taking care of my son for the next two after he was born 2 weeks before sophomore year stated. also, i simultaneously held two jobs to pay for childcare and my cost of living, volunteered at a hospital for a year and have researched for the past two pioneering two of my own projects. oh, i also produce a show on campus that raises over 6 grand for a local woman's abuse shelther.

so uh yeah, i think i'm more than equipped to handle med school and residency and the post doc i'll probably have to do considering I'm going the MD PhD route while dealing with the headaches. thanks for the encouragement. but with the cut throat attitude on these boards, I guess it's just one more out of the way, right ?

 

[Trexate]

hi, yeah, I've made it through 3 years of undergrad at a top 5 Technology (you know, Iron Man technology college) undergrad instituion, top 20% of my class, top 5 % of my major, while being pregnant my first year and taking care of my son for the next two after he was born 2 weeks before sophomore year stated. also, i simultaneously held two jobs to pay for childcare and my cost of living, volunteered at a hospital for a year and have researched for the past two pioneering two of my own projects. oh, i also produce a show on campus that raises over 6 grand for a local woman's abuse shelther.

so uh yeah, i think i'm more than equipped to handle med school and residency and the post doc i'll probably have to do considering I'm going the MD PhD route while dealing with the headaches. thanks for the encouragement. but with the cut throat attitude on these boards, I guess it's just one more out of the way, right ?

Oh, SNAP!

 

[TopSecret]

So I get migraines. And not just the occasional migraine, but the recurring kind that get me prescribed strong narcotics to manage them. The medication I take makes me a little loopy and kind of puts my eyes out of focus for a good hour. I am a little nervous that if I get a migraine the day of an interview, very likely given they are more pronounced when I am more stressed out, and have to take the medicine I will look like a complete good in front of an admissions board. Has anyone had this kind of thing happen? I know it's really specific but I would rather an interviewer understand my situation than think I'm some kind of drugged out airhead.

thanks.

I would avoid being intoxicated for interviews. Besides, narcotics are not the usual treatment for migraines. They might cause what are called rebound headaches. If the migraines are frequent enough, you might want to discuss migraine prophylactics with your physician. There are some OTC remedies for prophylaxis that you could consider, too, such as coenzyme Q10 or magnesium oxide or both. There is clinical evidence that they may be useful for migraine prevention.

 

[JJsMom]

I would avoid being intoxicated for interviews. Besides, narcotics are not the usual treatment for migraines. They might cause what are called rebound headaches. If the migraines are frequent enough, you might want to discuss migraine prophylactics with your physician. There are some OTC remedies for prophylaxis that you could consider, too, such as coenzyme Q10 or magnesium oxide or both. There is clinical evidence that they may be useful for migraine prevention.

yeah i didn't want to go too far into treatment, but i do have migraine targeted medications which work if i catch the migraine early but are no help when i wake up with them. and i have calcium channel inhibitors which have helped with prevention. the narcotics are for those "i can't be in a room that has any any light source and i vomit everything i eat" kind of migraines.

 

[URHere]

yeah i didn't want to go too far into treatment, but i do have migraine targeted medications which work if i catch the migraine early but are no help when i wake up with them. and i have calcium channel inhibitors which have helped with prevention. the narcotics are for those "i can't be in a room that has any any light source and i vomit everything i eat" kind of migraines.

I had migranes like this a while ago (thankfully, I've been migrane free for a few years now). Anyway, I would suggest not worrying about this situation until it becomes a problem. I found personally that my migranes tended to occur when I was stressed but relaxed, and that they thankfully spared any important situation where I had to be high-functioning. If yours are the same, I think you should be just fine during interview season.

If not, you'll just have to explain briefly to your interviewers - and there's no point in getting stressed about things you can't change.

Good luck!

 

[JJsMom]

- and there's no point in getting stressed about things you can't change.

Good luck!

Ah, the solution to a number of my life's issues. Thanks for the sound advice. I'm sure you can relate to the funk those meds can put you in on lack of sleep and weird schedules.

 

[greatnt249]

hi, yeah, I've made it through 3 years of undergrad at a top 5 Technology (you know, Iron Man technology college) undergrad instituion, top 20% of my class, top 5 % of my major, while being pregnant my first year and taking care of my son for the next two after he was born 2 weeks before sophomore year stated. also, i simultaneously held two jobs to pay for childcare and my cost of living, volunteered at a hospital for a year and have researched for the past two pioneering two of my own projects. oh, i also produce a show on campus that raises over 6 grand for a local woman's abuse shelther.

so uh yeah, i think i'm more than equipped to handle med school and residency and the post doc i'll probably have to do considering I'm going the MD PhD route while dealing with the headaches. thanks for the encouragement. but with the cut throat attitude on these boards, I guess it's just one more out of the way, right ?

I like your gusto, but you don't really have to prove yourself to those who give snarky responses.😉

 

[JJsMom]

I like your gusto, but you don't really have to prove yourself to those who give snarky responses.😉

agreed. and normally I would not rise to bait. but after 3 years of awkward stares and having the flattering nickname of "the pregnant freshman" that doubtful remarks seem to get to you. and unfortunately openly screaming at classmates who point and giggle is an entirely unacceptable social response.

god i need to stop posting to this thread.

 

[greatnt249]

god i need to stop posting to this thread.

If it lets you vent the frustration that society deems "inappropriate" to express outwardly toward others in person, I say go for it.

 

[JJsMom]

If it lets you vent the frustration that society deems "inappropriate" to express outwardly toward others in person, I say go for it.

It certainly distracts from the labor intensive analysis of MS QQQ data.

 

[just one]

I would think it would be easier to explain your attitude/manerisms interview day for the migraines than the drugs. So I would try to get through the interview with the migraine (easier said than done probably) than explain why you were loopy and eyes were out of focus.

 

[teacherman84]

hi, yeah, I've made it through 3 years of undergrad at a top 5 Technology (you know, Iron Man technology college) undergrad instituion, top 20% of my class, top 5 % of my major, while being pregnant my first year and taking care of my son for the next two after he was born 2 weeks before sophomore year stated. also, i simultaneously held two jobs to pay for childcare and my cost of living, volunteered at a hospital for a year and have researched for the past two pioneering two of my own projects. oh, i also produce a show on campus that raises over 6 grand for a local woman's abuse shelther.

so uh yeah, i think i'm more than equipped to handle med school and residency and the post doc i'll probably have to do considering I'm going the MD PhD route while dealing with the headaches. thanks for the encouragement. but with the cut throat attitude on these boards, I guess it's just one more out of the way, right ?

Im sorry, that was uncalled for I suppose and I did not intend to question your ability. I just read it in passing and without knowing your background that is what I thought. I didnt mean to discourage your pursuit by any means. I have worked with people in the past with similar conditions and have seen how it disrupts their school and work life. They had a hard time staying on top of school and it put a considerable strain on coworkers when work was being missed. But if youre making it work, especially while working and being a mother then keep on going.
Sorry it came off so negative...goodluck.
Again

 

[mrmilad]

hi, yeah, I've made it through 3 years of undergrad at a top 5 Technology (you know, Iron Man technology college) undergrad instituion, top 20% of my class, top 5 % of my major, while being pregnant my first year and taking care of my son for the next two after he was born 2 weeks before sophomore year stated. also, i simultaneously held two jobs to pay for childcare and my cost of living, volunteered at a hospital for a year and have researched for the past two pioneering two of my own projects. oh, i also produce a show on campus that raises over 6 grand for a local woman's abuse shelther.

so uh yeah, i think i'm more than equipped to handle med school and residency and the post doc i'll probably have to do considering I'm going the MD PhD route while dealing with the headaches. thanks for the encouragement. but with the cut throat attitude on these boards, I guess it's just one more out of the way, right ?

Jesus, no wonder you have migraines... Sounds like you are overrun by work and stress! How are you able to spend any time with your son with all of that?! In any case, you are incredible, best of wishes in terms of your interviews! PS we have same mcat score 😛!

 

[Rendar5]

I gotta agree with topsecret that it's not common for someone with chronic migraines to be taking opiates for them. I'm not being accusative in any way. He has valid concerns that the opiates may be contributing to rebound headaches which can occur more commonly with opiates, but also with NSAIDs, leading to daily headaches whenever you hit a drug level trough. Now I'm not asking for your medical history nor am I gonna diagnose you. I'm pointing out that your headaches are a bit out of the realm of ordinary. So my recommendation, which you may have already followed, is to see a doctor who specializes in headaches. This is a relatively common subspecialty of neurology and there are clinics devoted to headaches.

Short of that, I would take a prophylaxis on each of your interview days, assuming that the stress will induce a migraine, and be ready to use half of your usual opiate dose if you do need to take it without enough time for the woozy effects to wear off.

 

[willie0120]

hi, yeah, I've made it through 3 years of undergrad at a top 5 Technology (you know, Iron Man technology college) undergrad instituion, top 20% of my class, top 5 % of my major, while being pregnant my first year and taking care of my son for the next two after he was born 2 weeks before sophomore year stated. also, i simultaneously held two jobs to pay for childcare and my cost of living, volunteered at a hospital for a year and have researched for the past two pioneering two of my own projects. oh, i also produce a show on campus that raises over 6 grand for a local woman's abuse shelther.

so uh yeah, i think i'm more than equipped to handle med school and residency and the post doc i'll probably have to do considering I'm going the MD PhD route while dealing with the headaches. thanks for the encouragement. but with the cut throat attitude on these boards, I guess it's just one more out of the way, right ?

Wow! I admire you and like someone else said no wonder you get migraines, If you get it in one of those interview days just explain it to them, i doubt they'll be harsh or anything.

Good Luck! 👍

 

[WaterBird]

If worse comes to worse, you can always try and reschedule if you wake up and can't function. But other than that, I agree with the others - take the meds prophylactically, hope for the best, and keep on rocking 👍

 

[Depakote]

the following is intended to be peer-to-peer, non-medical advice.

I've had migraines since I was 12 and the bad ones can really floor me.

I try to avoid using my narcotic meds whenever possible, it's really hard to study on them. (or interview)

I'm fortunate that my neurologist and I found a good prophylactic med that works for me. On top of that, I've taken the low-threshold for using my abortive meds approach. If I think I have the slightest hint of an aura or I start to feel a twinge, I'll go ahead and take one. If you're concerned about your interview, I would suggest you pay close attention for any warning signs you might pick up on and be ready to use non-narcotic medication. (as directed by your physician, of course)

Other things I would do... get to your interview city early and de-stress. Eat a good meal. Try to avoid disruptions to your sleep/eating schedules. Jet lag can be ugly so if you're flying, try to give yourself some extra time on the front end to decompress and recoup some sleep. Avoid as many of your known triggers as possible. If you have a regular daily routine, try not to disrupt it (don't let yourself fall into caffeine withdrawal).