Sick: GRE as AskMefi: ???

November 8, 2008 3:25 PM

I'm getting sick and taking the GRE on Monday. Anything I should be doing between now and then and best medicines for the day of?

I've developed a sore throat and very light congestion. I'm taking the GRE in 36 hours. I'm about to go to sleep now (it's 1am where I am) and I'm wondering what might be anything I should do on sunday during the day, and especially the best medicine if I'm having trouble falling asleep Sunday night.

Also, if I'm feeling particularly bad on monday morning, what is the best thing to do? Any special drinks or snacks I should bring with me to the test? Thanks!

posted by andoatnp to health & fitness (14 comments total)

Sorry you're sick. Don't stress too much, my boyfriend dumped me the night before the test o, those many years ago and I did well enough on the GRE to get into every school I wanted to.

IANAD, but my Dad IS a doctor and he says the following advice is hooey (all except for the fluids): take vitamin C and drink lots and lots of orange juice/fluids. If you can't sleep, try warm milk.

Try to make sure no matter how you're feeling Monday morning that you get up several hours in advance of the test- take a shower, try for a brisk walk (or something that will get your blood pumping) and light, protein-rich meal (good for braaaaaaiiiinnnssss and the light meal will prevent a soporific effect).

Stay hydrated, even if that means having to go pee in the middle of the test.
posted by arnicae at 3:37 PM on November 8, 2008

This happened to me when I took the GRE a few years ago and it really sucked. I started getting sick the night before and then it really hit me the day of the test. Luckily you've got more time to try to heal thyself.

I brought kleenex and cough drops to the test and they wouldn't let me bring either to my testing spot so keep that in mind. Instead, I had to get up and leave the testing room each time I needed to blow my nose or get a cough drop. Because of this I almost ran out of time on the test. It's a stupid rule but I suppose I could have written all the answers on the wrapper of my cough drop or something. I could have taken some meds but I wanted to be as clear headed as possible. YMMV.

Good luck.
posted by catsoup at 3:44 PM on November 8, 2008

i always try to eat raw garlic when i feel like i'm getting sick. i feel like it really has worked for me. that, along with tons of water and tons of sleep, and i'm feeling a lot better.

one way to make raw garlic palatable is by making guacamole and putting the garlic in there.

i hope you feel better and good luck!
posted by sucre at 3:45 PM on November 8, 2008

Bring a thermos of hot tea with you.
posted by amtho at 3:45 PM on November 8, 2008

You can always retake the GRE, so my advice is - don't stress. Just get better. Take it this time if you feel up to it. Avoid medicines with antihistamines and downers if you go. Don't like your score? Study more. Take it again.
posted by uncoolcentral at 4:04 PM on November 8, 2008

You need to take a decongestant so you can breathe normally for sleep, and an analgesic like ibuprofen for the sore throat. If you feel very sneezy or have a lot of nose-running, an antihistamine can help. If you start coughing, get something with a cough suppressant as well, since coughing really disrupts sleep.

I used to get colds and pneumonia all the time, so I'm good at suppressing the symptoms enough to function, but I'm a ready pill-popper, so I don't know if you will like this solution.

Something like Tylenol Cold or a generic variant will help you. Check the ingredient labels for the active ingredients (analgesic, decongestant, cough suppressant, and antihistamine) you need. The night and daytime formulas usually just vary by the addition of the antihistamine for nighttime, because it can make you sleepy. Keep that in mind for test day.

I usually like one of these combo deals + extra ibuprofen for a cold with an inflamed throat. The acetaminophen alone doesn't always do it for me. If you have a really gnarly, productive cough on top of it, you might add on a cough syrup containing an expectorant and extra cough suppressant.

You might want to look up maximum safe doses of the active ingredients to make sure you don't overdo it. The decongestant can make you feel speedy, the antihistamine sleepy and/or speedy, and the cough suppressant can cause hallucinations at high doses (fun!)

Figure out what works best over the weekend, and then stick to that same dose for test day.

Keep drinking fluids, get lots of rest, etc. The best way to get lots of good rest is to suppress the symptoms, in my experience. Hence, my fondness for OTC mix-and-match.

Best of luck.
posted by peggynature at 4:12 PM on November 8, 2008

Reschedule the test. Don't take it sick.
posted by k8t at 5:41 PM on November 8, 2008

BTW, you can't bring liquid into the testing center and, as I recall, kleenex either. Another reason not to take it sick. The rescheduling fee isn't that much.
posted by k8t at 5:44 PM on November 8, 2008

Sleep and rest as much as possible prior. This is the strongest medicine, for real. Have cold meds on you if you symptom-up during the test itself. Tea or miso soup before you go in.

Don't be afraid to reschedule, either, as k8t suggests.
posted by Riverine at 7:01 PM on November 8, 2008

I never take medicine the day of a test because the anxiety caused by the test usually gets me going pretty good -- the adrenaline or whatever sometimes makes the symptoms go away for a short while. Adding medicine into the mix makes things worse. Of course, YMMV. I'll add that I think Riverine is spot on with the advice about sleep.
posted by puritycontrol at 9:45 PM on November 8, 2008

Rescheduling isn't an option. I'm in a foreign country and this is the last test offered with enough time for my scores to get to schools by the application date.
posted by andoatnp at 12:38 AM on November 9, 2008

Zinc. Zinc. Zinc.
posted by radioamy at 10:30 AM on November 9, 2008

I swear by Emergen-C, if you can find it. I actually brought an Emergen-C packet into the test center when I took the GRE and drank it during my ten-minute break and it definitely gave me a much-needed boost. That plus chugging a Redbull right before the test meant even after the entire test I had a ton of energy to spare.

YMMV depending on your caffeine tolerance, but Redbull before the test and E-C in the middle was just right for me. I always get sick before big tests because of anxiety, so I am a pro at using chemicals to inject energy and vim into my sick-ass body.
posted by crinklebat at 8:16 PM on November 9, 2008

Test is over, and I'm happy with my score.

Thanks for the advice.
posted by andoatnp at 6:16 AM on November 10, 2008