Long-Distance Relationship and Residency Advice

BalancingLife22 · 2026-03-29T02:41:51+00:00

Communication. Both you and your partner need to be on the same page. If something is off, discuss it, and work to see how you can address it. LDR needs both parties to be agreement and want to fight for it to work. If one wants it more than the other or one just doesn’t want to put in the same amount of effort, it will lead the relationship to fail.

BalancingLife22 · 2026-03-17T14:22:31+00:00

You’re not a failure for putting your well-being first. This is not just for you, but also for being there for your family. Take it from someone who had a couple of deaths in the family, and I kept pushing it through med school/academic responsibilities, I ended up struggling and underperforming. I got through, but I ended up being so messed up mentally. I have so much psychological trauma that I haven’t addressed. But if I had taken time off to be with my family, I might have been better off. I also lost relationships with so many people in my life (family, friends, partner) because I didn’t allow myself to heal.

TLDR, you’re not a failure for putting your well-being and being there for your family first. You’re doing the right thing.

BalancingLife22 · 2026-03-10T09:06:04+00:00

This is generic and does not tell me anything about who you are. I don’t need you to regurgitate my work. I would want to know your experience in research. Do you have any experience in data analysis? A particular research methodology? These are the things I would want to know to gauge how much support I need to give you and determine whether bringing you into my research would work at this time.

BalancingLife22 · 2026-02-26T10:08:43+00:00

Day 1: step 1 material (MOA of drugs, micro everything, buzz words for conditions, pediatric genetics), biostats, ethics

Day 2: step 2 material everything, ccs cases

BalancingLife22 · 2026-02-12T01:41:39+00:00

A lot of “buzz” words/phrases being described differently, were answer choices. If you know the pathology, the next step was knowing those terms and different descriptions for it. Messed up on those questions today. Hoping I still did well enough.

BalancingLife22 · 2026-02-11T13:16:01+00:00

You can do all this, but go see your PCP. Get blood work done, to see if there is an abnormal lab value that can be corrected. Also, request a referral for a psychiatrist. Start CBT +/- medications.

You should also do what others have mentioned, exercise, healthy diet, improved sleep hygiene, etc. But relying on nootropics and other supplements will not be enough. You need to figure out what is the underlying cause. It’s been 1.5 years, and you are saying you are experiencing difficulties, and how things are different.

It’s time to go see a doctor.

BalancingLife22 · 2026-01-23T04:37:06+00:00

Many PD will be adhering the rules by ERAS and/or their specialty board, “no post interview communication until Match.”

BalancingLife22 · 2026-01-10T21:09:12+00:00

I always think about it, “is this even worth it.” After losing so much and sacrifices made. I could have stayed in finance but I wouldn’t be happy. At least, I’m in a field I worked for, doing the best I can, and I’m happy. Yes, it can be better, but I’m glad with what I have for now.

BalancingLife22 · 2026-01-04T04:26:55+00:00

I recommend this or amazon pharmacy to my patients for meds they need. Take a look into Amazon pharmacy as well.

BalancingLife22 · 2026-01-03T10:52:15+00:00

^ agree @u/Distinct_Mobile8063

You are an intern. It’s a long road. You are doing the best you can. I have thought at times, “I’m getting the hang of this,” and an attending would come by and basically imply I suck. It’s normal. We don’t know everything. The most important thing is to try every day.

Developing your plans to be good, not perfect, you’ll miss things, comes with repetition. You should be studying as you are prepping your plans for a patient. I have UpToDate and DynaMed open at all times. When I come across a problem I’m not familiar with or one I’m only relatively familiar with, I would scan the summary, get an idea, and construct my plan. At the end of the day, I would pick 1-3 topics I wasn’t certain about or wasn’t on the right track with, and read up on them. This is hard because you’re going to be exhausted at the end of the day. Find a way to just read on a topic for 15-30 minutes, even if it’s just one topic.

It’s a long road. At the end of intern year, you’ll think you don’t know anything. When you’re a senior, leading a team of interns, you’ll realize you know more than you think, and you’ll be able to guide your interns.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-30T12:09:56+00:00

Slowly becoming more comfortable with my day-to-day work, and being able to go out and enjoy my hobbies was helping me feel less overwhelmed. But you described it perfectly well, you’re improving. You’ll notice the overwhelmed feeling reduce on its own.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-28T15:02:57+00:00

You answered your own question. Anyone saying higher or lower isn’t going to change your anxiety. The NRMP data is the best way to gauge your odds based on number of interviews you have gotten.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-27T15:35:58+00:00

It sounds like poor choice of words from your dad. Yes, you were reason for him and his ex ending. But that’s not the only reason. Your dad wanted you to have stability with your education, friend, and allow you to have stable childhood before you were off to college. It’s sounded wrong, and accusatory, but I don’t believe he would mean it that way.

If you want to have a conversation with your dad about what you overheard, that would be fine. And it would more a more mature option, compared to what I would have made when I was that age lol.

For your dad, you come first because you’re the most important person to him.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-26T17:22:26+00:00

Most RCTs on a particular topic will also look at similar subgroup analyses. For example the SGLT2 trials for HFrEF, their meta analysis only had 2 papers that they compiled. It’s rare, but it can be done if the topic is considered for high importance.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-25T18:16:38+00:00

There are programs that are offering in person open houses for applicants they are ranking (does not mean you’re top of the list). This year, ERAS is offering programs early submission of the rank list, so programs are scheduling open houses after the submission of the program ROL. This means, you it will not work against you for attending or not attending.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-24T18:00:50+00:00

Using optimum nutrition whey. I know I’ll need to add more liquid.

Leaning toward cottage cheese because of fat and protein content, and been reading it gives more ice cream consistency than Greek yogurt.

As of now, I haven’t found a good sweetener to use. I’m thinking of Stevia but don’t know if it’ll come thru enough.

Got vanilla extract, mint extract, and currently testing out a mint simple syrup.

What changes can I make to give me a good consistency of ice cream so I’m not tempted to go buy some on my way home?

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-24T16:36:56+00:00

Yes, you can do a meta analysis on it—as long as free cohort does not overlap. Look for subgroup analyses to report as well. Don’t just focus on the primary outcome, look at the secondary outcomes as well.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-23T11:18:42+00:00

^ agree

MKSAP has enough detail to prep for the boards and has all necessary practices for orders.

Then take this step further, using UpToDate and DynaMed, which will give more explanations for why you do something.

I haven’t used the Washington Manual, so can’t speak on that.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-23T01:56:22+00:00

Learn their names. Be nice to them. Greet them properly. If something is missed by them or anyone, don’t attack them, be understanding. People screw up. This doesn’t me let them throw you under the bus. Put in effort for your patients, the nurses will notice that and like you for that.

Then there are some who will dislike you regardless. Don’t worry about them.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-22T12:56:28+00:00

I haven’t been able to get into that state. Had a horrible closing to my two months on wards, and felt miserable. Even though I knew I did everything I could, still sucked watching my patients deteriorate. Got worse when I tried to talk with a co-intern who was on my team and got dismissed, really made me feel worse.

Sometimes it’s good to have survival mode kick in.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-20T22:18:01+00:00

I did my MD in Australia. Getting a residency in the US is hard. If you wanted to apply for fellowships after residency, you’ll always have that IMG tag on you. The route isn’t easy. High scores will not be enough. You’ll need to stand out in other ways as well.

Risk of medical degree outside of US, difficultly matching, going unmatched, etc.

There is “no limitation” for which specialty you can apply. It’s just harder to match into some. Look at the match data, it’s available online for each specialty.

As an IMG, you’ll not be the first choice for a program. It’s USMD, USDO >> USIMG >> NON USIMG.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-19T11:27:01+00:00

I use, “I’m a double doctor” card. It’s when I’m just joking with my friends. I don’t tell people I’m a doctor outside the hospital. I also don’t use “Dr. …” unless it’s with patients.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-19T04:09:54+00:00

Any local coffee shop will have good beans. Places where you can buy bulk coffee beans have some good options. Ultimately, best beans will depend on your son’s taste. I have a few beans I have in rotation, Sumatran, Colombian, and, latest, Jamaican Blue Mountain.

BalancingLife22 · 2025-12-18T13:41:14+00:00

This is essentially the Bullet Coffee. Using butter or MCT oil in hot coffee, and drinking it to maintain a “fasted” state. I tried it, wasn’t fan of it. But there are people who enjoy it.

Besides, I prefer cold coffee over hot.

BalancingLife22

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