I have terrible trouble sleeping, at times of stress its even worse. I was awake for 2 days after my mock viva, I think I took such a kicking I was in shock. Or just afraid if I let my gaurd down someone would start asking akward questions again.

I suppose I'm lucky, my girlfriend has only ever known me while I was doing the PhD. As far as she's concerned stressed to the point of cracking up is normal!

Tiggs

My dyslexia isn't normally a problem, or at least not a major one. The majority of the time the errors are underlined in word and I can correct them. The problem is that if they are not hilighted I have difficulty in spotting them.

I submitted the thesis in August and have read though the thesis countless times since in the latest read though I've identified a few more minor errors most of them are of the 1 letter incorrect variety which I struggle to spot.

My supervisory team knows I'm dyslexic as do the University, my supervisor isn't dyslexic and was part of the extensive revisions my thesis went though during the 15 months I spent refining it.

My concern is that the examiner will take the same view descirbed by blueberry and just think, he's not even read though this. When actually each section as well as the whole were poured over for weeks.

Tiggs

Should I inform my examiners in the viva that I'm dyslexic. I'm a little worried, as going by though the thesis there are a lot of errors and typos in the text which are a result of it. I'm thinking it might look like the thesis was not prepared with enough care?

Tiggs

I don't know if a short viva would be any good for me, I think the longer I'm there the more chance I'll relax and the better my chance of saying something coherent. Or perhaps the longer I'm in there the more I'll go to pieces?

Tiggs

I'm normally one for comfort eating, hence though the other trials I've had this year - started job, had mock viva (was in shock for 2 days), bought house. I've gained weight slowly though comfort eating and not having time to go to the gym. However the last month or so I've had no appertite and have been working flat out to keep up with everythign.

Tiggs

I was thinking suit.

Hi

I'm having my viva in a few days and I don't know what I should wear. I lecture at possibly the most laid back Uni in the world and normally wear jeans and a t-shirt to work. Should I wear a suit for the viva? In a strange twist of fate the stress of the viva has caused me to loose enough weight to get back into the suit I wore to my PhD interview.

Tiggs

I'm going to finish my outstanding bits and bobs this afternoon (prep notes) then read the thesis tomorrow. Possibly dipping back into my research diary where nessessary.

I'm being examined by a top guy in the feild, which is a little daunting and I have the greatest respect for the internal. I get very nervous in exams anyway, at the moment will all the prep I have done I'm hoping to be composed enough to come across as human. Passing will be a bonus.

Tiggs

Hi

I'm in the same boat as the first poster, I work full time (lecturer) and I'm doing my PhD viva in a few days. I submitted in August 2007 and had a mock from hell a week before which demonstrated while I was brilliant at finding typos and reconstructing sentances I'd forgotton most of the details of my PhD.

I've spent since then doing thesis read thoughs and writing crib sheets, checking for any holes and looking for things I've misunderstood or misinterperated. I've made alot of progress since the mock and probably understand significantly more about some of the background material than I did when I subimitted the thesis. I only work on the PhD one day a week, normally I use the weekends to sleep (I do a 2 hour commute to work).

My viva is in a few days, I'm really dreading it. I've been preparing over the last few weeks I'm praying it all goes ok.

I can relate to the crying fits, chrionic insomnia and hours spend doing prep.

Tiggs

I knew I had it all to do (started a lecturing job full time) and I really pushed myself to get though it. Perhaps we all go though this because its 'training' for our future lives as academics? The mental equvelent of SAS/Navy Seals training perhaps?

Hope you manage to keep going with it, recently I've sort of looked back and seen how far I've come its been quite a journey but if I can get though the viva it'll have been worth it.

Tiggs

Sorry to hear your having such a rotten time. I think most PhD students go though periods of hardship. After submitting my thesis I'm getting ready to viva and still the stress keeps comming (will they acutally ask me for viva or reject on a single read though!)

For the last 2 years I've been flat out too, in the early years of my PhD I exercised and socialised like a normal human. But these last 2 years

cont ..

I used to work in university all the time, but since I left and my equipment was reallocated. I've worked from home alot, its difficult if your workspace and bed are in the same place. But I've just got myself a new house and have made and office of my own to work in.

Tiggs

cont ..

I don't known anyone who's finished a PhD and gone on to do badly. Once you have a phd you have a passport to research. Don't like your feild, do some reading and write in another area target a sector of industry and look for a job.

Tiggs

cont ..

I don't know wether I'll get my PhD yet, but I'm already bathing in that rosy glow of knowing I am more capable that I was before and I've come along way, alot like I felt after my BSc. I did my PhD because I though being a lecturer would be a rewarding job, having worked as one for a year its a brilliant job. Hard, but more satisfying, interesting and rewarding than I could have imagined.