Hi Sue,

I am very happy for you, must be a great relief that the medical tests results came back negative and that you are not seriously ill. I do not know whether you had any specific symptoms (like tiredness or pain), but if you had those, I hope these are gone too, or at least easier to manage now you know there is no serious underlying cause.

Reading your post your life seems very hectic, partially in a positive way, for example regarding the new job interview and the family issue etc. May be good idea though, to try and pace yourself a bit, also after good news one sometimes needs a bit of time to recharge the batteries.

Personally I am physically well at the moment, have already submitted the thesis some time ago and am waiting to hear whether it will be accepted and when the viva will be. At this moment in time the thesis writing is not a priority anymore and I trying to keep up to date by reading the new literature and by summarising the work which I had done to produce the thesis. In fact I have written some of that in the format of a paper and am in the process of trying to get that published. :-)

Hi Rick

Thanks for your kind words and support. You're right, I did need a breather after the good news - but didn't get one as I had a job interview the same day. And then it was madly onto the next task. I didn't have any symptoms, but the drs were concerned at a routine screening, so am feeling well. Glad you're well too, and good luck getting published!! And getting a date for your viva.

After the interview for my dream job on Fri, I'm planning on taking a whole day off! Will spend time with my partner and sweet dog, make her as happy as I can while she's still well - and while we all live together, 'cos if I get one of these jobs I'll be off to live in a new city by myself for a bit...

Brilliant news Sue!! now you can focus on just one insanely busy thing at a time eh?! Good luck for the interview, I'm sure you will be great at it, especially when it's the dream job, just let your enthusiasm shine through :)

And Rick, great news that you've handed in, I hope everything is going ok with your papers! That's you and AL all sorted, can't wait til it's me saying I'm sorted!!

And Teek, keep on trucking, and struggling thorough. We will get there. even if I have to lock the door to the room I'm now studying in to keep my mum from coming in and talking to me every five minutes, we'll get there!!

======= Date Modified 11 Sep 2010 14:07:52 =======
Hi Sue, I'm so happy and relieved for you, i've been in thinking of you and hoping all was ok! Enjoy your day of relaxation on Saturday, i'm sure you will do uber fab at your interview and can then relax and enjoy yourself with partner and doggie!

I'm ok, absolutely shattered though! Submitted on friday, viva will hopefully be on the 30th - less than 3 weeks (no revision done yet....)! but having problems with internal examiner who double booked himself, so just waiting to find out that all is ok with that!

got results yesterday, I have a low white blood cell count, which is hopefully due to infection, but got to get them repeated in two weeks. After submitting on Friday i came down with cold on sunday, so i'm hoping that's why its so low, however, i'm pretty concerned, and just hope infection caused low count and not the other way around! Anyway, have to put it to the back of my mind as I get tests week before viva and will find out around the day - think i'll try and avoid finding out until day after just in case!

It feels so weird to see thesis bound and sitting on dining table, but i'm just avoiding it, I don't want to ahve to deal with it anymore! I know its only a few weeks away, but I just don't know where to start and feel like once I get stuck in i'll feel I have so much to do, not enough time and the stress will increase further! I'm still recovering from this cold, infact, its really not much better, so I don't want to make myself more ill by pushing myself!

I'm assuming quite alot of folks feel this way after submitting, not long to prepare and body just falls apart! How do people do it? I want to do well in viva, defend the thesis and make life easier for myself with minor corrections (I don't think I could bare more!), but i'm just so tired and weary of it all!

Anyway, enough of my moan. I'm going to finish my lunch and then try and start throwing a powerpoint together for my seminar talk, which hopefully is mainly just taking things from thesis and putting it into a powerpoint....! I'll think about the big questions later!

I hope you're all well.
Sue, keep pushing on, but remember you can only do so much, and enjoy your interview, you deserve it!
AQ and Teek, your time will come soon, you're doing so well and it will be over sooner than you think, time flies! And Rick, fingers crossed for some papers! I just got sent a pdf of my second one (2nd and 3rd author), unfortunately neither of them are directly from my work, just time spent during my PhD helping others with theirs.....! very frustrating! but really, I don't want to stay in academia so papers are not my top priority (unfortunately thats not how my sups feel! :))

AL xx

Congrats AL on submitting!!! That's huge!!! Well done!!!!Yes, I bet it feels weird. Hope you've been able to have some time off, especially if you're not well. Sorry to hear about your blood test results, but fingers crossed it's only the cold causing the infection and you'll be fine. Waiting for test results is just the worst, worst thing, keep working to take your mind off it, and try not to worry too much. PM me if you like, if you start to freak out.

If your internal examiner is double booked, that could be a good thing? Could put your viva date back, and it not be your fault? ;-) But you know how to study AL, do it little by little, tomato by tomato, and you'll get there. Soon you'll be Dr AL, and that'll be fab!! Breathe, make a plan, and work steadily.

Thanks for the good wishes too. Am also taking deep breaths, and diving in doing interview prep!

======= Date Modified 12 Sep 2010 02:39:29 =======
Just popping in briefly to this thread to say congrats to Alpacalover on submitting. I do hope the white blood cell count thing is sorted out for you soon. I've recently started a new chemo drug (I'm on 3 simultaneously now!), and am having weekly blood tests for the foreseeable future to check my white blood cells don't vanish off the face of the planet :$

Preparing for the viva needn't be so tough. I've shared my tips about doing this a lot here before, but here they are briefly again in case they help you and Rick:

My viva preparation involved reading a viva preparation book (Tinkler and Jackson) to demystify the process, rereading and summarising my thesis to familiarise myself with it and spot typos (I took a list into the viva on the day and handed it out - all examiners/convenor were very grateful), and thinking about and memorising my answers to 5 key questions: originality of my thesis, contribution to knowledge, methodology, weaknesses/gaps/mistakes, and what would I do differently if starting again. I found that higher-level approach to viva questions more helpful than looking at lists of dozens of potential questions that I would never remember the answers to.

And great to hear your good news Sue. I'm so glad your medical results were good.

Hi Sue, AL, AQ, Bilbo,

thank you for the support. It seems that we are all at nearly at the finish line (obviously Bilbo already over it) and it is great we encourage each other.

Probably my viva will be end of October or even in November, as such I have plenty of time to prepare. Indeed, I find the book from Tinker and Jackson very useful and have summarised my thesis as they have recommended, also more or less made a list like Bilbo suggested regarding originality etc.

AL, must be difficult to wait for the recheck of your white blood cell count. Perhaps the thought reassures you that if the white blood cell count would have been really very abnormal, I would presume that the doctor would have done something immediately. Even so the waiting must be stressful. Perhaps throwing yourself in viva preparation may help you taking your mind of things. I know, easier said than done.

The encouraging bit seems that we are making progress. Keep on going.
:-)

Hi folks! Sorry my internet connection has decided to give up on me so it's not working very well these days! Brilliant news on the test results Sue, now you can focus on other slightly less terrible things! Surely puts the PhD in perspective eh?! and AL, I hope your results come back ok, just get whatever rest you can and plenty of vitamins ets. Maybe if your examiner has double booked himself it could be a good thing in that you'll have more time to prepare, although I can totally relate to just wanting the whole thing over with! But either way, I'm sure you will pass no problem :-)

Good luck everyone!

Hi everyone, thank you for your words of encouragement! We really have been there for eachother throughout this last year and it means so much to have all your support etc.

Bilbo, thank you, this is exactly what I need, as I think that is about all i'll have time for, and I defo think it is the best approach. I see no point in trying to have answers for a large array of questions, stressing about remembering them all, and not getting asked any!!

I'm hoping to start reading the book today, do the main chapters, and then start going through actual thesis! really need to write talk as well!

Unfortunately, if examiner can't do viva then they're going to find someone else, as that day was only one that external and convenor could do!! But at least then it will be over!:) hopefully.....

I'm sure there is nothing serious wrong with me, but its pretty difficult not to freak out, I come from medical/micro/immunology background, and low WBC just kinda stand out to me and freak me out a little! Maybe also bit of hypochondriac in there too (too much medicine!). but as you say, if it was dangerously low or highly abnormal then they'd have done something more, so just have to hope it is just this infection. I think what's worrying is that iv'e had symptoms since the end of May, and only had a cold last few weeks!

It really does feel like since handing in my body has gone into meltdown - does anyone ever wish for hibernation? I think that would be just perfect! i am completely fatigued and worn out, and I WANT to be working, but I physically can't get my body and mind into it. Like you say Sue, maybe I just try one tom a day and build it up, but I only have a few days really.....!

Sorry for moan, i'm off to finish my coffee and try and get stuck into Tinkler! Thank you for your support, don't work too hard this Sunday!

AL Xxx

AARRGGHHH!!!!!

My supervisor isn't going to be able to look at my work for another month. She's given me 4 chapters back, which I haven't been able to rewrite because of job hunting, and now she wants me to do these first and then she'll read the whole thesis. She wants a complete draft - I gave her a complete draft in July and now she wants another one. I was hoping she'd read the rest of the thesis while I was rewriting the 4 chapters, but no, she's waiting for me to give them to her.

So that puts me behind by weeks. Was hoping to submit in 6 weeks, but this just drags on and on and on and on...and if I don't get it in soon, I won't be able to graduate till November next year.

It's all torturous and a %$$@**(& pain. Over it!!

oh Sue, that sucks, i'm so sorry! Have you tried to explain this to her? I think sometimes tehy like to infuriate us just cos they know they can! Although yours has always been lovely! but I'm sure mine just enjoys the powertrip!

Just keep swimming, swimming swimming.....you will get there, and even if can't graduate this November, it won't matter, as long as the thing is out of your life! I can't graduate til June next year, but I just want it finished, I don't care about graduation - infact, by June I should have just about recovered from the ordeal and be able to appreciate and enjoy it! heehee! :)

you'll get there Sue, just take deep breaths, tell yourself this isnt' forever, and work tomato by tomato!

hugs xxx

Hi AL

Yes, I explained this to her, but she was adamant that she wants to see the whole thing - a new version of the whole thing - again. She also wants me to cut 5000 words from the thesis, which means sitting down and reading and editing it all again - last time I did this, it took me a solid week, and that was when I didn't have paid employment to do.

I can't bear the thought of not graduating till Nov next year - 14 months away - so somehow am going to have to get all this work done in the next 6 weeks. Gosh, am so tired, have only had one day off since May, and that was when I was sick.

Sorry for the whinge. Right, I'd better get to it - she's also given me some additional non-thesis work to do, so had better do it.

Hi folks, sorry I've not been on this much, found out last night that I have to submit on Friday instead of Wednesday next week so it's been insane. Sue, what is the deal with your sup?! that's ridiculous that she wants to see a whole redraft again before even finishing the one she's got!! I seriously wonder what is wrong with these people at times. My sup has told me that he won't even be reading my final discussion chapter as he's too busy, and my other sup hasn't sent my any feedback on the last 3 chapters I sent him. It's either a famine or a feast, just nonsense. And I'm meant to submit 5 days earlier than I was told originally, me and another girl are in the same position, same sup. Pfff.

Have you started to recuperate yet AL?! How is the viva prep going, any word on your examiner yet? I hope it all gets sorted ok for you, at this stage I don't think we can take much more.

Sue, I agree, she is ridiculous! It sounds to me like she's working you like a horse, and just keeps piling it on. Have you ever said no to her? Giving you non-phd work to do at this stage is not fair. Maybe if you just turned round and said sorry, but I can't, this is too much then she might back off? I know with my sup he would just keep going and going and one day I turned round and said I physically couldn't do it - he backed off and said fair enough! I think they just like to see how far they can push you like a child pushing at their parents....?? Just a theory and an idea but maybe you need to just say 'I can't'! we all have our limits and I really don't want to see you pushed to the ground, one day off Sue is just not fair, does she know this?
I know my sup just doesn't take my full time job into account, and don't see just how much work you do. Either way, just be strong and if nothing else you can do then just think 6 weeks and then I can sleep! :-)

AQ, wow, submission on Friday - very cruel of your sup, but also awesome! Like you say, then you can sleep! That is all I did this weekend, my body just collapsed on Friday night and I couldn't move on saturday and most of sunday! Unfortunately the weekend of my submission I had family and work commitments both days so just couldn't flop out! so after another week at work and then weekend hitting, my body went Oh Yes Thankyou!!!
So just plough in and then think about resting youself.

I've not heard yet about examiner :( Been working elsewhere this week, and again tomorrow, so have a bit of a commute - took opportunity to take my thesis with me and start doing a read through, filling it up with minipost-its and stuff! Great to do some phD work in normal work time for a change, normally its just my other job eating into the rest of my life!!! Had a freak out last night at home much I have to do, but realised there is nothing I can do, I just have to do what I can and that will have to be good enough!

Starting to get over my multitude of cold infections, and feeling little better, still very tired, but hopefully infections will be gone for next blood test and it will give a truer picture. I was starting to worry they were going to go on for ever! but think alot of it is just how tired I was!

Right, i'm off to bed, so tired.....! Keep smiling girls, we'll be there soon! Shame we can't celebrate together afterwards...maybe AQ and I should take some beach time in Oz!! :) if only I had the money eh, a 6month trip to some far off countries would be pure luxury right now! :)

(gift)(gift)

Would you be likely to be completed in time for November anyway Sue? I know you don't have vivas like we do, but isn't there still time needed for examiners to read the thesis, write a report, and possibly you have to do corrections to satisfy them? And university authorities need a bit of leeway to organise graduations.

Sorry if that sounds like a downer, but I'm just wondering if you're pushing yourself needlessly, and it might not work out time-wise anyway. In which case you would be better taking off some of the pressure.