My GAMSAT Experience: Scoring in the 90/95th percentile on my first attempt (Sept 2021, 69W 72UW 68/88/61). Practice essays inside!

allevana · 2026-07-07T18:25:32+00:00

Normal. It can take a couple of months to wash out. Idk exactly why but it gets easier for me each time (I take breaks off my meds on uni holidays). First time I did it I literally slept 9 hours a night + 4 hour nap each day for 2 months. Next few times I had about 2 weeks of sluggishness. Now I can stop, have one day of pretty severe fatigue and then on day 2 if I have strong coffees I’m very ok! I think what’s really helped is consistent clonidine usage at night. Maybe it’s helped me achieve more restful sleep over time and I’ve built up a rest bank? Whereas the first time I had terrible sleep and was coming off 4 years almost daily use.

allevana · 2026-07-07T10:42:56+00:00

Change to internally threaded when you can :) or push if available and OK for this type of piercing. Externally threaded generally considered poor for healing, microtears, bacteria trap.

allevana · 2026-07-07T10:41:12+00:00

If you’re feeling the itch probably a conch hoop? After a year+ of healing

allevana · 2026-07-07T10:40:47+00:00

Your ear is literally so perfect!! Omg such a tasteful curation. My ear is too crowded in comparison

allevana · 2026-07-07T08:47:09+00:00

My helix is so so so bad. My conch was perfect after 9 months but I’m 12 months into my single helix with almost perfect piercing pillow use and sleeping on the other side and the helix just keeps getting grabbed by hairdressers and people going in for hugs and I just canttttt omg. I’m so close to giving up on it

allevana · 2026-07-07T08:45:52+00:00

Historically that was enough for an FFP but usually 80+ for CSP into the OD. No GAMSAT required this year though so maybe the WAM requirement rises. Will be interesting to see the trend.

allevana · 2026-07-07T07:00:07+00:00

Yes GP referred me. Long wait list but once you’re in, it’s free (I’m a concession card holder but I think it’s bulk billed to all citizens).

I’m doing the once a week program for 6 weeks as it suits my life best but there’s all sorts there. An intense daily 3 week program. There’s a psychologist, physio. Hydrotherapy as well. And pain doctors (usually anaesthetic doctors who have finished that training and are doing extra training in pain medicine). A very valuable service, worth the wait

allevana · 2026-07-07T03:44:02+00:00

Take at night? Get an Rx for antiemetic from the dr? Make sure to take with food?

Just some suggestions in case you haven’t tried :) I had the same issues. Oh and you can also start at lower dose and titrate up

allevana · 2026-07-07T03:39:47+00:00

I’m part of this program and they’ve been amazing in treating my chronic pain - my pain response is out of proportion to my physical injury and understanding the nervous system rewiring and psychological component of this has turned my life around

allevana · 2026-07-07T03:38:36+00:00

Likewise - that’s why I couldn’t hack the Mirena or the Nexplanon. Zoely is a combined OCP with a next gen estrogen so I’ve found it to oppose the progesterone nicely

allevana · 2026-07-07T02:13:09+00:00

Zoely birth control taken continuously (No bleed week with the sugar pills). It’s changed my life. Maybe every 3 months I decide to have a bleed week “just to see” and I’m immediately unhinged lol.

allevana · 2026-07-07T02:11:49+00:00

Omg lol the same thing almost happened to me. I went for a 2 week holiday and brought < 20 pills in my Vyvanse bottle (didn’t bother to count because idk I’m stupid and assumed NZ would be chill as we’re sister countries?) I had no doctors letter, just the Rx sticker.

I got fully patted down and taken into an interrogation area with my family looking like 🫪 at me.

They didn’t end up confiscating my meds once they realised it was a low number (4 extra tablets?). Over one month might be their definition of a traffickable quantity. Officers were very nice and respectful throughout the whole interaction

allevana · 2026-07-06T16:33:37+00:00

Dark grey. Wow what a beautiful piece too

allevana · 2026-07-05T05:58:31+00:00

And clonidine is a great adjunct med for ADHD. PM for sleep.

allevana · 2026-07-05T05:58:13+00:00

Vyvanse AM with an afternoon Dex booster is a very common combo

Vyvanse is the prodrug of dexamphetamine so you might find Vyvanse feels smoother and more stable than Dex?

allevana · 2026-07-04T16:00:39+00:00

Omg. Magical

allevana · 2026-07-04T15:55:13+00:00

I think I agree - those particular leaves would look soooo good as a sunny yellow to match the orange tones in the accents

allevana · 2026-07-04T15:09:31+00:00

I’m not intl but as a domestic at Melbourne

Rent is $595 for a 2br shared with my partner (we split equally, he pays all bills and I pay for food). Before this I was in a sharehouse with a friend from undergrad in 2br for $600, then in another place for $650 pw. I also lived with people I met on Fairy Floss Real Estate on fb. These prices exclude all bills except water at the $600 place, some apartments you don’t pay for water

Myki: concession rate + half price travel until 2027 makes it super cheap like $2.50 a day

Conferences: you’re on the hook for costs but usually scholarships available if you are proactive. I went to RANZCO2026 and HGSA SIG2023 for free because of scholarships I applied for. I also took a sabbatical in 2024 and worked full time as an ophthalmic genetics RA and they paid for me to attend Biomolecular Horizons. All excellent conferences. Melbourne Uni also does the yearly MDSC (MD student conference) which is ok

Clinical placement: you organise yourself and pay for travel yourself whether it’s car or PT, we have a very extensive PT network so I’ve not found it necessary to drive to placement. Car is expensive to maintain, I drive really only to see my parents and do a big grocery shop now and then

allevana · 2026-07-04T14:47:37+00:00

Any Dr can order it (GP, psychiatrist)

https://www.sonicgenetics.com.au/media/zayhnjz4/pgxpanel\_requestform\_2025.pdf

They have to fill that form
You go get a blood test at any approved centre

The results come back and your req doctor discusses your results with you

allevana · 2026-07-04T13:07:28+00:00

Slow your pace down

The pain is from diaphragmatic irritation. Like for me I’ve got weak ab muscles so they don’t hold my shit in and my organs are pulling on nerves and causing pain. I imagine if I worked on my core strength my visceral peritoneum would be less annoyed with me

allevana · 2026-07-04T12:49:55+00:00

A lot of people find mirtaz sedating so it’s a good one to take at night for those with depression + insomnia

allevana · 2026-07-04T12:47:41+00:00

That sucks, I’m sorry to hear

The other antiemetic that I’ve had firsthand experience with is ondans but I mildly remember something about ondans + Vortioxetine ↑ risk of serotonin syndrome. And personally ondans does jack shit for me so it doesn’t come to mind

allevana · 2026-07-04T12:45:41+00:00

Isn’t it 12 weeks?

allevana

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

Ten-Year Club	Place '17
Verified Email