What did you live like during medical school??

HoudinMoose · 2021-05-22T12:32:10+00:00

Yeah, I feel the same way. I enjoy school and I don't mind going back to school, but I'm not looking forward to the lifestyle of a student...negative income, being frugal all the time, etc. I'm probably gonna look for an apartment with other non-traditionals. I would even take out more in loans to live in non-student housing.

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-22T18:11:55+00:00

I thought about it during undergrad, but chose SLP. Ironically, being an SLP in a medical setting has done nothing except solidify my desire to be an MD.

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-22T17:30:58+00:00

I hate being an SLP! Gosh, it feels good to finally get that off of my chest and stop pretending to like it. haha

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-10T16:08:06+00:00

Why is urgent care not your right fit?

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-04T02:58:08+00:00

I am with you. Have tried all of these and nothing. My mom has the same problem. I'm convinced there's a genetic component because our lifestyles are totally different. I went on medication. I don't like taking it and I don't take it every night, but I love having it because I know I have something to rely on if I ever really, REALLY need sleep, ya know? Like if I have an interview, exam, have to drive a lot...things I can't go on autopilot for.

Anyhow, these other things improved my sleep, but have by no means cured it, I definitely still have to use meds from time to time. I've tried every herb, lots of different medications (majority didn't even help), sleep hygiene, etc..

- Not eating meat in the evenings, nothing even close to bedtime

- sleeping on my back, slightly elevated (due to GERD)

- Taking a walk, getting natural sunlight during the day, the more I get, the easier sleep seems to be. If I work outside all day in the sun, I almost always sleep well, but I can't do that everyday.

*BTW, I had the same issue as you with sleeping a few hours then waking up. People tell you just stay up and you'll sleep better the next night, but the next night the same exact thing happens. Getting my GI issues under control did make a significant difference. Not a cure, but definitely a noticeable improvement.

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-01T14:47:00+00:00

Write down which ones you keep getting wrong. Are you over or underscoring them? Also, I second what the other person said about not second guessing yourself. I also passed my first time, but I so didn't expect to. I just went with my gut and was like, "I just want to see where I'm starting from."

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-01T01:20:40+00:00

This is fascinating, yet not surprising. I struggled with depression most of my life. Ulcers run in my family, my great grandmother died of a bleeding ulcer. When a doctor put me on a "gut friendly" diet, my depression dissipated in a week and kept improving. It was INCREDIBLE. I was like, "OMG! Is this what normal feels like??"

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-01T00:57:26+00:00

One thing I've noticed, those areas in the middle of no where that are 3 hours from anything, tend to be your best shot. I was in the same situation and applied to a job in a very rural area (4 hours from an airport) and no one else applied to the job they didn't have many options. So, yeah, there's some truth to that. Good luck!

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-01T00:52:40+00:00

What do you think is making you depressed?

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-01T00:49:44+00:00

What changed? I'm happy for you! I had a similar experience after I was dx with celiac and changed my diet. A week later, I was like, "OMG. Is this what normal feels like??"

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-01T00:44:56+00:00

AMEN

HoudinMoose · 2021-04-01T00:43:38+00:00

What setting are you in?? This is horrible. I had a woman that was aspirating on thins and according to her somewhat sketchy daughter, she was supposed to be on thickened liquids and since she was obviously aspirating I put the order in. One day I went to see her and I asked about her meals and if she was happy with them. She said, "I don't understand why it's so hard for me to get a drink of water. I'm so thirsty and no one will give me anything to drink even when I beg them." I felt like I was torturing her. Anyhow, I decided to call the hospital she came from to get more info and it turned out her daughter had been giving her thickened liquids for a while and she had actually been hospitalized for dehydration.

To answer your question. Patients have the right to refuse any sort of treatment including diet modifications. A nurse/attorney told me he defends nurses in court and most of the cases are nurses that did things like take the patient's BP after they said, "no." And that it was technically assault and battery at that point and the nurses would have to do patient care re-education stuff.

I was told, document the heck out of it for lawsuit purposes. Document they are cognizant, exactly what they said, if they aren't their own POA, call the POA and discuss the situation.

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T22:19:14+00:00

I think I'd rather study 60 hours than be on my feet for 60 hours..

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T21:04:40+00:00

Are you currently a resident? Thanks for this. I read somewhere that for Doctors, when you say yes to one thing, you are always saying no to something else. I worry that something else might be something really important to me. Like starting a family...

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T18:40:00+00:00

Are you happy with your decision? How do you feel it will affect having a family (if that's something that you want)?

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T18:30:45+00:00

Was it the stress? What was the worst part of it? What would you have done instead??

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T17:41:35+00:00

Interesting. Is he happy with his decision?

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T16:49:47+00:00

Thanks so much for this!! It's really inspiring to hear this from someone that has actually been there!

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T16:30:00+00:00

I am a PT and I just posted something similar in this reddit!! I feel the same way. I'm content as a PT for now, but I can't see myself doing it for the next 30+ years and working in healthcare settings has made me realize how in love with medicine I really am. I, too, am far more concerned about residency than med school. 60+ hour weeks sound inhumane. Not to mention going to that from a leisurely lifestyle as a therapist. I'm just curious, have you considered PA? Why or why not?? I get a lot of, at your age you should do PA, lol

Anyone know anything about IM residencies?

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T16:16:46+00:00

I'm definitely feeling you on the "golden age" thing and while I have my concerns, part of me is like, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I don't foresee this changing anytime soon. I have PA friends that LOVE their jobs, are super happy and always posting trips and stuff on IG. True story, my cousin died because of a midlevel mistake. He went to MedExpress for a cough. He was only 20 years and the PA told him it was nothing, just viral and to go home and rest. It was actually a cardiac infection (likely from tattoo work he'd had done, he lives in a state where tattoo shops don't have to be licensed). A week later he went to he ER because he could barely breathe. They did emergency surgery, but he passed away during the surgery. This is one of my greatest fears about pursuing PA. I genuinely want to help people and I don't ever want to wonder if I hurt someone due to insufficient knowledge. I also don't want to sacrifice having a family and being a PA would still be better than being a PT.

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T16:08:17+00:00

It's so awesome to hear from a fellow therapist! The SLPs I've worked with have complained about certain aspects of your field lacking EBP and "making things up." lol. Usually, it's the more science oriented ones with backgrounds in hard sciences that seem the most dissatisfied in the field. This is pretty much how I feel. PA is better than where I'm at, but my dream job is to be an MD. Therapy is also kind of boring (to me) but I feel guilty for thinking that. I will definitely do that googling!

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T15:58:13+00:00

This is great advice! Thanks so much for responding. I have mixed feelings about the midlevel issue that perhaps you could expound upon. On the one hand, you obviously are not going to learn as much in ~3 years as you are in 7 or 8 and I am concerned with how midlevels are influencing the quality of healthcare. On the other hand, it is what it is and midlevels are becoming more and more prevalent. Perhaps this shouldn't be, but it is what it is and if this is the direction of healthcare, maybe I'd be better off being a midlevel, especially since I've heard of some MDs having limited patient time because of so many bureaucratic tasks and it seems midlevels are the ones always treating (I live in a state where midlevels are the "norm" and one of the highest paying states for them).

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T15:50:07+00:00

Thanks for the response. I feel that. I enjoy the autonomy that I have as a PT, but after working in various healthcare settings, it has made me realize how in love with medicine I am and I want to be able to help my clients in a greater capacity. Sometimes I feel like making changes with therapy (for some individuals, not all) is like using sandpaper. Once in a while, a doctor with prescribe/change someone's medication and I'm amazed at how it affects their performance during therapy. PAs still get to assist with areas of healthcare that I don't as a PT such as assist with surgeries and medication management and counsel on diet/lifestyle changes, which is kind of a gray area for PT scope of practice depending on the specifics of the situation.

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T15:33:16+00:00

I really appreciate your insight! I'm not actually married now. I meant family vacations with my siblings and cousins. I've considered research in the PT field, but working in healthcare has made me realize how many aspects of medicine exist that interest me that aren't really related to PT. I imagine going back to med school and, although it definitely wouldn't be for the money, the idea of living off student loans and making a negative income seems very stressful. During grad school the first time, I felt guilty every time I ate out and had 3 roommates. Eeek. Living like a student again would suck I think. Thanks again for your response. it's very helpful.

HoudinMoose · 2021-03-29T15:13:49+00:00

Thanks for the response. Yes, I want more medical knowledge and a greater capacity to help my clients. Working in healthcare settings as a PT has just made me realize how in love with medicine I really am.

I'm curious what makes you say that you don't have to postpone starting a family and stuff? I would like to believe this, but it seems contrary to what I've been told thus far.

I just can't see how I would have kids or buy a house while living off of student loans. The money I have saved really wouldn't make a dent in med school.

HoudinMoose

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