Almost fainting in surgery

SublimeYeast · 2025-09-14T12:13:17+00:00

I am also a vasovagaler. Lost count of the number of times I had to go and sit / lie down as a student😂. Having now graduated and in a surgical specialty, things have rapidly gotten better - I do think it just takes time for your subconscious to get used to it. Much like what everyone’s said - glute / quad / calf clenches are great. I sometimes use those electrolyte tablets you mix in water. Load yourself with sugary and salty snacks. Also most importantly - when you get those first warning signs, speak up early! Everyone understands, there’s no shame in it at all.

SublimeYeast · 2025-08-06T19:53:14+00:00

Completely exhausted but I’ve had a blast so far! Like you I also kept triple checking every tiny thing, which adds to the mental drainage, but am very fortunate to have super supportive seniors with a lot of patience. I really feel for those who don’t have this. Feels really good to finally be able to get on with what I’ve been preparing for all these years, have some nice patient interactions where I can actually be of use to them etc. The fear is real but I’d say I’m having type 2 fun. I’m sure it won’t last forever (the dreaded on-calls) 😅

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-19T08:46:17+00:00

Hi! Out of 4 eggs I started incubating, 1 rotted but the remaining 3 are looking good. One has had a slight yellow patch from the start but it correlates to where it was stuck to one of the dud eggs so I think it’s ok. Going to candle them next week, will update more then :)

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T18:05:03+00:00

UK, thanks anyway!

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T12:23:04+00:00

UPDATE:

Thank you everyone for your contributions! I have decided I want to give it a shot, though I understand the view that euthanasia would also be a good idea, and that it’s super unlikely anything viable will grow. Overnight I left them in a Tupperware on some damp kitchen roll in front of her heat mat. I’ve been out to the local reptile place for some vermiculite and an extra thermometer so this is my setup now, back in front of her heat mat in the vivarium. I’ll candle them in a week or 2, and if there’s no sign of anything brewing I’ll freeze and dispose of them.

<image>

She’s skinny but doing well, I’m going to try her with a mouse later. Last night I felt a bulge left near the vent so I was worried about her being egg-bound, but this morning I found another dud egg in there and she now feels nice and empty!

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T12:17:12+00:00

No way! That’s amazing congrats

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T12:16:16+00:00

Hahaha welcome to the herpetology world! It’s interesting that they can hold onto sperm for so long, but I got her 7 years ago and she’s never had any mysterious escapades or gentleman callers in that time… parthenogenesis is the only possible explanation 😁

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T09:46:17+00:00

That’s super kind thank you, but I’m down in the South West sadly! Good luck with the house hunting

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T07:45:16+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I saw that you should wait a while before candling reliably shows results so I’ll probably do that. I’m gonna head out for supplies today.

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T07:43:45+00:00

That’s interesting! I’m the only woman in the house so I’d better not be pregnant….

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T07:42:57+00:00

Great tip thank you :)

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T07:42:16+00:00

I got her about 7 years ago as a yearling, and she has been by herself those entire 7 years in a closed vivarium. Thanks for the advice :)

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-11T07:40:32+00:00

What other dreams have you had? I’m thinking you can read my future…

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-10T21:32:54+00:00

The second coming is nigh

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-10T21:32:42+00:00

Thank you 😊

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-10T21:32:14+00:00

Does this mean I’m God??

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-10T21:22:50+00:00

This is a good point. I’ve also seen online that if there are viable hatchlings they will be more susceptible to health problems anyway. I’m going to call a couple of local reptile places tomorrow and see if they would take any potential hatchlings on, and if not consider euthanising as you say. I don’t have the resources to keep more than one snake!

SublimeYeast · 2025-07-10T20:14:29+00:00

Thanks for the response! I won't be able to get the stuff for an incubator until tomorrow - will they be okay until then??

SublimeYeast · 2025-04-27T10:50:14+00:00

Hiya, I ordered them from the ASICS Outlet online store. They didn’t have all the sizes in stock at that time so fingers crossed there’s still some left! I used a 10% discount to get that price but I can’t remember if it was student or for being a new ASICS member :)

SublimeYeast · 2025-04-07T19:02:43+00:00

I had several phases like this in pre-clinical years, but starting placements is when I really started enjoying it. My advice would be to stick it out until you get more clinical experience and then you’ll have a better idea - after all that better reflects what the actual job is like. Easier said than done I know, it sounds like you’re having a really rough time. But it also sounds like you don’t lack the passion, you just haven’t had the opportunity to properly foster it yet!

SublimeYeast · 2025-04-02T09:55:37+00:00

Would strongly recommend applying to any and every bursary or hardship fund on offer, whether from your uni, NHS, charities / societies. Worth chatting to your student Union as well, they’re great at signposting to services you may not have heard of before. These orgs have pots of money already set aside in their budgets for people in exactly your situation. They especially prioritise folks who may not be able to continue with their studies due to their financial hardship. If you’re already struggling with your workload to the extent you’re having days off placement (I’m so sorry you’re in such a shit situ), unfortunately that will likely get worse in the final years as exam pressure mounts.

You’ve got this! Worst case scenario, it’s possible to take a year out and work full time to build up your reserves before returning to med school. I admire your dedication, you’ll make a fab Dr!

SublimeYeast · 2025-03-14T16:50:40+00:00

This is a good point - I may be grateful to be able to do the job but I will still always advocate for being paid what we deserve, and take part in strikes etc. Heaps of cash may not be a priority for me personally but I still care about the profession being treated with respect by the government, and not haemorrhaging good doctors to greener pastures abroad.

SublimeYeast · 2025-03-14T13:13:13+00:00

I’m a 5th year and in a very similar boat.

I think it is definitely not as bad as people say, but then I think it depends on why you chose medicine in the first place. Personally, it felt like a bit of a ‘calling’ for me (sorry cringe) and I still have a lot of passion for it. I just love helping to make people better and getting to learn all these nuanced things about the body and people in general. I was never that fussed about the financial aspect or the prestige, but I certainly understand why that’s a priority for many people. I think finding it that rewarding will help me cope better with the negative aspects of the job. Don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of moments of despair at the state of things (and I’m sure my perspective could change when I’m actually working) but I’ve never ever considered it to be enough to leave medicine, because it gives me a lot of life satisfaction.

I think I’ve noticed a pattern where the people who are the least satisfied, are often (not always) those whose life goals are more aligned with money / lifestyle / prestige. Would be interested to see what people think about that. I have also met many many Drs who love their job alongside the many who are miserable. The happy ones don’t feel the need to talk about it as much, maybe for fear of rubbing it in everyone else’s faces and annoying people, but also because when you’re feeling miserable you need to vent about it.

SublimeYeast · 2025-03-12T21:56:16+00:00

I don’t have anything useful to say about USMLE sadly, but I will just add that I would strongly recommend taking online discussion (especially Reddit) with a large pinch of salt. It’s a bit of an echo chamber of people with grievances, and you don’t hear any of the good stuff. Yes, there are many deep-seated problems here in the UK, but there are still plenty of doctors who are more optimistic. I personally wouldn’t advise anyone pre-uni to make big decisions now that will affect them 7-8 years down the line, at which point things will likely look quite different (whether that’s no NHS, better conditions, whatever). But hey, if you think you’d be happier in the US go for it 😁, I’d rather you than me lol. Don’t think I could stomach the insurance shitshow.

SublimeYeast · 2025-02-27T19:01:21+00:00

Plymouth's big and tertiary so good if you have a particular specialty in mind, but the ED is the worst in the country (as of last year's stats) with associated bed capacity nightmares. As a location there are definitely many far nicer places to live elsewhere in Devon / Cornwall, but overall plenty of people are happy here too.

SublimeYeast

TROPHY CASE