Headache while taking the LSAT

Comments

• Pacifico Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 8021 karma

  How's your posture? Normally and while sitting, that can make a huge difference.
• Alejandro Member Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 2424 karma

  I stand in a pretty normal, upright posture and have my head held high most of the time (to my knowledge). I think I'm a bit more curved and always look downwards as I'm taking the LSAT.
  
  What do you recommend?
• emli1000 Alum Member Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 3462 karma

  Practice taking more PTs until the headache no longer exists?
• jdawg113 Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 2654 karma

  well maybe thats the problem... you should be sitting, not standing while taking PTs :P
  
  jk but that is interesting, don't think Ive heard of something like this before. Are you a big reader at all/does the same feeling occur if you were to sit down and read a book?
• 1 Like

  brna0714 Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 1489 karma

  Have you had a recent eye exam? Could be eye strain.
• 1 Like

  Pacifico Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 8021 karma

  Although you won't be taking the LSAT standing up on test day, I would actually recommend taking one standing up since sitting is generally terrible for you. If it goes away, then it's likely a posture/back/neck issue.
  
  If it's still there then I would follow the advice of @brna0714 and get an eye exam (preferably one where they dilate your eyes) to see if there are any issues there. As I wrote in another thread I recently found out I have astigmatism and need glasses and now having an understanding of that is pointing out to me when my eyes are straining. If I didn't get it fixed I would definitely end up with worsening health effects.
• Alejandro Member Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 2424 karma

  Thanks all! While it preoccupies me that what I'm experiencing is not normal, all your advice is of great help. I do need lenses and when I took the exam I wasn't wearing them but I do remember this being a recurring issue. Every time I take a long test this happens. I do love to read but this never happens when I read a book. I think that's because I'm more relaxed and can read in different postures, hold the book in the air, read while in bed, etc.
  
  Next time I take the test I'll have my lenses for sure and let you know what happens!
• 2 Likes

  ENTJ Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 edited July 2015 3658 karma

  There maybe some correlation with how much intensity (focus) and stress you may be exerting during PT time. I've been guilty of that as well. Sounds silly, but I would try incorporating meditation into your daily routine. I had a thread on this subject before:
  
  http://7sage.com/discussion/#/discussion/1783/meditation-seriously-do-it
• Matt1234567 Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 edited July 2015 1294 karma

  Hey man, this usually happens to me once in a while. I"m really tall, so staring down at my paper with my neck can cause discomfort. Sometimes I get pulsating headaches from how my neck is positioned, with the pain starting in the lower back of my head and working its way up, and the pain won't go away until I pump some tylenol extra strength into my system lol.
• Alejandro Member Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 edited July 2015 2424 karma

  @ENTJ thanks I will try that! @Matt1234567 your description of the pain is exactly what I feel and I'm relatively tall as well. What do you mean by pumping tylenol...as you are taking the test?
• 1 Like

  ENTJ Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 3658 karma

  Try sitting at a higher desk with a lower chair to even out the imbalance. See if that helps!
• Matt1234567 Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 1294 karma

  
  

  @alejoroarios said:
  . What do you mean by pumping tylenol...as you are taking the test?
  

  During the break I usually take one extra strength tablet just to ease the pain. It usually goes away 10-20 minutes after I take a tablet.
  Better posture and not letting my neck stray off too low has helped.
• 1 Like

  visualcreed Member Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 326 karma

  I'm not the only one! I had the worst headache during my June LSAT. I'm not using it as an excuse but I'm sure it affected my performance a bit.
• Matt1234567 Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 1294 karma

  @visualcreed said:
  I'm not using it as an excuse but I'm sure it affected my performance a bit.
  

  Trying to do the LSAT is one thing, trying to do it with a pulsating headache is another ball game lol.
• Pacifico Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 8021 karma

  Also, how active are you generally? Maybe try something like yoga to kill two birds with one stone (get some meditation and physical exertion at the same time).
• 1 Like

  StandingOnTheSun180 Member

  July 2015 24 karma

  I don't know if this is too left field but many say headaches are caused by dehydration. So I would suggest getting an ample amount sleep and and drinking lot of water to stay hydrated during the exam! Ever since I found that out...I always question how much water I've had during the day when I get a headache (which is always very little lol). If anything...maybe during the timed break you can go and get slips of water from a water fountain and see if this is the reason behind it! Good luck!
• 2 Likes

  Pacifico Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 8021 karma

  Overhydrate and wear a diaper... problem solved
• LoraxMan Alum Member

  July 2015 180 karma

  @alejoroarios said:
  I always feel a strong headache in the back of my head.
  

  I get this too - I think it's from posture and it feels the weirdest for me when I stand back up after taking the test.
  
  Sometimes I stretch during my breaks, but generally havent found that trying to be intentional about posture helps much
• nicole.hopkins Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 7965 karma

  I say ... Go see a good chiropractor who does functional medicine!!!