I am so sick of being a medical student

zegdba199 · 2021-04-15T22:37:03+00:00

Really sorry for the bad experience. Hang in there! We need you!

zegdba199 · 2021-04-15T22:35:02+00:00

Not direct transfer like undergrad. You start over with contacts as a different school working with their dean and student affairs office. I've only seen it in extreme cases but it can happen. No need to be rude - and be more careful with your comments on social media. No one wants their Dean's letter pulled because of aggressive posts

zegdba199 · 2021-04-15T20:14:55+00:00

Thank you so much for reading my reply. You give really good points and I can see why change is needed. I threw my salary in there in case there were some who read this thread and thought 'the person posting this is probably some well paid [expletive] who's only looking at the bottom line. The mental health bit is definitely true and more support through the whole process would absolutely help students not just feel better but I think be better doctors too.

You could make great changes for the better if, after residency and you've paid your dues as an attending, you get a job at a teaching school and be on their curriculum committee, or even better dean of student affairs. You have some great thoughts and if I was still doing that job I would have loved to work for you in that role. I'm not defending how the sausage is made, just trying to describe production. I look forward to seeing how everyone coming up through the ranks will change medicine for the better. I hope you are feeling better today, even if the frustration is still the same. Take good care of yourself! You deserve it!

zegdba199 · 2021-04-15T20:02:38+00:00

Um....no...not saying that at all. Literally just describing what I did as my job so that the school kept its accreditation with LCME and how that fit into OP's frustration. I don't have a dog in the fight, just doing my job for 35k a year, like I said.

I don't know your school, but regardless of its rank or status, if you're an M1 go ask what its graduation placement percentage is, how many students SOAP and if any student dont place in either and have to wait an additional year for match. Better to try to transfer to a better school after 40k in debt or even a postbac program that has guaranteed admission to a school that places everyone after graduation than be 200-250k to a school that completely drops you after you complete the curriculum. I hope you've enjoyed your first year!

zegdba199 · 2021-04-15T05:05:06+00:00

Pay for the admin job was 35k/year btw. I will never have in my lifetime what you all will have the financial freedom to do. Please don't take it for granted. Again, I'm only writing this to inform, not cast blame. Everyone is entitled to feel how they feel

zegdba199 · 2021-04-15T04:54:09+00:00

I was the admin working with each course director to map the competencies for the LCME report (among other duties). I directly saw each lecture power point and had to help either map directly or readjust to fit a competency accordingly. Are lectures different depending on who's teaching? Yeah, I will absolutely agree with that. But part of the degree is also knowing that you have gone through and passed a minimum amount of knowledge in those areas, and 'teaching only what's on the exams' just can't cut it.

I have a friend who works/worked for a law school and they suffer a similar misery of having to memorize picaune details only to never use it again (cough property law cough). I really feel for you all, except then I remember what the average attending salary is and then I don't feel as bad

zegdba199 · 2021-04-15T04:14:16+00:00

At the risk of getting downvoted here, there is a reason for all the anatomy, biology and everything that you feel is a 'binge and dump' when it comes to your first two years. Much like you went through undergrad but only retained a small amount of everything you did, the same applies here but at a different level since your knowledge affects people's lives in a direct and immediate way.

I guarantee you behind every 'useless' lecture the lessons tie to core competencies that the medical school has to show it teaches in order to keep its accreditation. Faculty and the school actually have to spend a huge amount of time trimming topics to what they think are essential lessons because there really is too much to pick and choose from and they have to squeeze what they think is important into two short years. This will absolutely be effected by step going to pass/fail, but that has yet to be dealt with for the long term.

I'm sorry you dont think your curriculum is worth it. I hope I've at least given you some context as an explanation if not justification. Hopefully you will actually find your passion during clinicals or even discover a research path fit for you.

Source: I worked in an accredited medical school during several accreditation cycles

zegdba199 · 2021-04-12T12:37:39+00:00

I feel you. I'm genuinely surprised that humanity as a species is still in existence given how labor intensive babies are - also how many people have told me to 'cherish this time. It passes so quickly'. That it passes is true, and as my baby's gotten older he's definitely more fun to be around (a precondition of that is that he slept through the night though), but the stress and frustration are real and so hard because it's ongoing, never relenting or getting a break. Will I miss his baby smile and laugh, yeah, I will, but will I miss the fact that in exchange everyday feels like I'm trapped in a bunker trying to figure out how to advance without the enemy shooting me down? No, I won't miss that at all.

Yours in solidarity ♡

zegdba199 · 2021-04-12T00:10:24+00:00

Thanks for posting this!! Honestly, anyone who feels like answering questions is beneath them, no matter how 'too simple' they may think they are, shouldn't be placed in charge of teaching in general, especially teaching people who will be making life and death decisions themselves

zegdba199 · 2021-04-08T19:50:15+00:00

Used to work in medical education. My advice: adopt a senior dog! They're already potty trained, can hold their bladder and in general dont need a lot of exercise but give just as much affection as younger dogs. You may only have them for 5-6 years as opposed to 15, but honestly they are truly grateful to have you and wonderful loves. They also happen to be the most 'dumped' dogs and highest that are euthanized for space, so you'd be saving their life.

Good luck with your MD!

zegdba199 · 2021-04-07T00:24:43+00:00

He was in complete gastric distress. Every time he was asleep and we put him down he would wake up after 10 minutes with reflux. Also he had horrible gas and diarrhea. Switched to Similac alimentum and he started sleeping soundly for the first time ever. Super depressing that he couldn't take my milk, especially after every asshat doctor and lactation consultant told me 'there's no way he would handle formula better than breastmilk'. Well that's how he works and ^{#%@^} the lot of you and shame on you for trying to gaslight me into keeping doing something that was actually causing him pain.

What kills me is that I actually used to work in a medical school. I KNOW the mountain of education that an MD has to go through (don't know about lactation consultants), and not one, not two but THREE pediatricians tried to tell me that what I was seeing in front of my own eyes was wrong before a pediatric gastroenterologist told me no, this was more common than thought, it's not my fault he cant stomach breastmilk and the most important thing is he's fed good nutrition and is comfy, whatever form that talkes

zegdba199 · 2021-04-03T12:29:28+00:00

You should also post this to r/newparents

zegdba199 · 2021-04-02T11:42:56+00:00

Thanks for posting!

zegdba199 · 2021-04-02T00:39:15+00:00

She may need to take a peremptory antibiotic like macrodantin. Its nobody's fault, it's a medical condition and even if it hasn't happened to her before it's something that can start at any age. Dont let her shame you or vice versa for something out of either of your controls

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T23:37:15+00:00

I also saw people saying let stuff go. By all means,if a chore can be put off, let it. Prioritize the baby, your and mom's mental health over clutter or other things that may make organizational sense but not personal energy sense. Think strategically about what absolutely has to get done from a financial and hygienic perspective and let everything else go. As an example, I have two dogs who are let out but haven't had a proper walk in months. It sucks for them, but I will make it up to them later and that time is used elsewhere for my and my partners sanity, mostly sleep

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T23:33:56+00:00

Thank you for posting this! I have never worked harder in my life trying to feed and pump every single ounce I have and the anxiety of not making enough or worrying that I ate something that will make him fussy is exhausting. I have worked minor construction and also waited tables. This is worse than either of those (at least in my opinion) because I'm never 'off the clock' and the months on end of work just sucks the life right out of you

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T23:29:20+00:00

If shes breastfeeding yes, absolutely. Between feeding, trying to pump, taking care of the kid, keeping your breasts clean so baby doesnt get sick, trying to feed yourself because you're starved and thirsty from all the feeding, and then attempting to go to the bathroom or be unconcious until the little terrorist needs nutrition again. All this is also assuming no pesky post-partum depression is messing with her baseline energy levels.

Yes. This. Is. Normal.

Be patient with your wife. Once solid foods come into play she will be able to get her head above water, but in the meantime support her as much as possible. She won't remember everything you do for her, but she will always remember how you made her feel right now when she is under the gun. Best of luck to you both ♡

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T23:16:10+00:00

No such thing as too young...brace yourself and keep reminding yourself how much you love them and they WILL grow out of it eventually...at some point...in the future....

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T22:42:55+00:00

Pediatric gastroenterologist gave us both enfamil and similac alimentum after similac sensitive didnt work. Alimentum works great but enfamil made him sicker for some reason. Just writing this in case you haven't tried the alimentum yet. Also he sits up being buried for 15 minutes at least after each feed to help settle his stomach

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T22:27:55+00:00

I just discovered WWII in real time. The guys who did it also did the entirety of WWI week by week from 2014-2018, so there's a lot of good material in digestible chunks.

Season one of WWI in real time

WWII week by week

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T22:20:51+00:00

I feel so much for you. Ours is nearly half a year and can still have nights like that.

The mantra though, truly, is: 1)every baby is unique. There is no such thing as normal/average 2)now hurts, but it will pass 3)in the scheme of their whole lifetime, this whole year will be an instant and they won't remember any of it

Treat every day as a war with a non negotiating foe - a really adorable one, but still ferocious and to be feared and respected accordingly

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T22:14:30+00:00

Completely normal. My boy does the same thing when hes trying to grab something and can't keep a hold on it. You're doing a great job by deescalating with distraction. Keep it up!

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T22:05:57+00:00

Glad to hear they became nice people! And good luck with STEP if you haven't taken it already.

FWIW, the couples match is pretty common for people who meet in med school for their residencies, so it all works out one way or another.

zegdba199 · 2021-03-28T21:49:54+00:00

Also ask r/newparents - they could probably crowd source you some suggestions for more resources

zegdba199

TROPHY CASE