BATTLING sleep deprivation is part and parcel of studying for exams but for an A-level student at Stroud High School exhaustion never left her.

Jessica Bragg, who studied psychology, music and English literature, was over the moon with her grades, an A* and two As.

She will go on take a degree in psychology in Cardiff as a result.

But the sweet taste of success for Jess was even sweeter because she battles a condition where she is constantly tired all day, every day.

The 18-year-old has a syndrome called chronic fatigue, otherwise known as ME or myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes persistent exhaustion that affects everyday life and doesn't go away with sleep or rest.

“It feels like going to bed and waking up with the same energy levels as you had before you went to sleep,” said Jess, who has had ME for about a year now.

Asked how she managed to juggle revising for her exams and allowing herself enough time to sleep she said she does not have a secret coping mechanism.

“I think if you feel passionately about a career or a subject then you naturally put all of your effort into it and do everything in your power to make your dreams a reality,” she said.

“I would tell others in my situation not to give up but not to push themselves too hard.

“You have to balance between rest and study in order to ensure your health doesn't suffer for your studies.

“And you can’t allow yourself to get disheartened when others say they have been studying for hours and hours at a time when it just isn't a reality for you.”

Jess' mum, Lou is incredibly proud of her daughter for doing so well.

“She was been falling asleep revising for the last month before her exams,” Lou said, “and she kept going to sleep at lunch time as well so her friends had to wake her up in time for lessons.”

But although today has been a real highlight for Jess the run up to her A-levels was an uphill struggle.

She admitted that her lowest point was right before she was due to take her exams.

“I was trying to cram information into my head,” she told the SNJ.

“I felt like I didn't know enough for my exams but I was too tired to carry on.

“I was stuck in a sleepy rut so there was lots of crying and stress.”

But Jess philosophically added: “I just had to keep the balance and trust that I had probably done more work than I thought.”

And although she loved taking English, revising for the literature exam was actually the perfect way of sending her to the land of nod.

“English definitely made me fall asleep the most even though I love it,” Jess said.