I did the medical equivalent of flipping tables

Alis
The Casual Gamer

Posts: 106

I did the medical equivalent of flipping tables Jul 21, 2017 15:21:57 GMT -5

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Post by Alis on Jul 21, 2017 15:21:57 GMT -5

I quit my residency in internal medicine.

No one thought I would actually do it, but I did it. Apparently in the medical world NO.ONE.LEAVES.THEIR.RESIDENCY.PROGRAM.EVER.YOU.UNGRATEFUL.BASTARD.

The residency program was ridiculously demanding. I would work from 7:30am to 11:00pm, and that's when I didn't do the nighshift. Nightshifts implied working 36hs STRAIGHT, eight times per month. EIGHT.

I thought about quitting everyday. Everyday I would come up with a ridiculous plan or a lame excuse to get the hell out and never come back, and even though it was taking an awful toll on my physical health I never went through. I spent a whole month second guessing myself until I finally did it. I haven't told a lot of people about this, I'm pretty embarrassed of myself and I'm not sure why.

And it put such a strain on me mentally that I'm not quite sure what I want to do with my life next. I think I realized I never liked internal medicine in the first place (My plan was doing internal medicine and then clincal oncology), and I might want to pursue different, calmer residency like psychiatry. But I don't know if that's me or just the mental exhaustion talking. What if I do like internal medicine? what if oncology is truly what I want to do with the rest of my life but I'm giving up on it because I just had a very sh*tty experience?

What's for sure is that I have wasted a whole year and I'm not sure I won't mess up the next one as well with an even crapier career choice. In the meantime I'll be taking up crappy jobs for MDs with no specialty (Gotta make that medical license worth something) and of course loathing myself to sleep.

I sound smarter in Spanish

Anon Mous
Administrator

The Creative Collector

Posts: 1,517

I did the medical equivalent of flipping tables Jul 23, 2017 16:16:45 GMT -5

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Post by Anon Mous on Jul 23, 2017 16:16:45 GMT -5

I understand the frustration, but wow that's not an easy decision to make. I had a hard enough decision leaving Gamestop when and how I did, and I didn't have to go to school for that. I can't imagine doing that after the time and effort you put in. I hope that everything works out for you. More than that, I hope the mental strain goes down for you.

Life's too short not to laugh your way through it. -Me

Maxwell Smart: At the moment, seven Coast Guard cutters are converging on us. Would you believe it?
Mr Big: I find that hard to believe.
Maxwell Smart: Hmmm . . . Would you believe six?
Mr Big: I don't think so.
Maxwell Smart: How about two cops in a rowboat?

Rune Lai
Hardcore

Posts: 1,623

I did the medical equivalent of flipping tables Jul 24, 2017 11:46:55 GMT -5

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Post by Rune Lai on Jul 24, 2017 11:46:55 GMT -5

Wow... That takes a lot of guts. Is there any chance there's a different specialization you can still go into? One that you might be more interested in? I'm not sure what it takes to change programs.

In any case, good luck to you. It's better to realize you don't like your work now and quit, than force yourself through something you hate.

"You can't just look at things from only one point of view. That's why I hate common sense." - Yuzuki Murakumo, 7'scarlet

"The law doesn't protect people. People protect the law. People have always detested evil and sought out a righteous way of living. Their feelings... The accumulation of those peoples' feelings are the law." - Akane Tsunemori, Psycho-Pass

Solana
Administrator

Posts: 2,248

I did the medical equivalent of flipping tables Jul 25, 2017 19:29:09 GMT -5

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Post by Solana on Jul 25, 2017 19:29:09 GMT -5

(Hug) Nothing wrong with taking a step back and taking some time to breathe. Those are some... intense hours, mon amie. Hell, I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I want to do. (Science isn't the easiest subject to break into.) You don't have to figure out everything right this moment. Get some downtime, get some spoiling, (maybe some swimming with dolphins), and good luck on your next step. (More Jedi hugs.) Even Luke took a break from his Jedi training when he needed to do something else.

Carry me on the waves
To the land I've never been
Carry me on the waves
To the lands I've never seen- 'Orinico Flow' by Enya

He po’i na kai uli, kai ko’o,‘a‘ohe hina pūko‘a. (Though the sea be deep and rough, the coral rock remains standing.)

Advice from the Ocean
Be Shore of Yourself. Come Out of Your Shell. Take Time to Coast. Avoid Pier Pressure. Sea Life's Beauty. Don't get Tide Down. Make Waves.

Alis
The Casual Gamer

Posts: 106

I did the medical equivalent of flipping tables Sept 10, 2017 21:46:01 GMT -5

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Post by Alis on Sept 10, 2017 21:46:01 GMT -5

Thanks for the support guys !!

After a month and a half I have finally come out (at least a little bit) of my cocoon of regret and self loathing.

I'll have to wait till next year to start a new residency program, but I figured that's great since I don't really know what I want to do just yet and I need some time to figure it out.

Fortunately, I got a job on corporate medicine... which is kinda lame if you ask any other doctor, but it pays the rent so I can't complain.

Jul 25, 2017 19:29:09 GMT -5 Solana said:

(Hug) Nothing wrong with taking a step back and taking some time to breathe. Those are some... intense hours, mon amie. Hell, I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I want to do. (Science isn't the easiest subject to break into.) You don't have to figure out everything right this moment. Get some downtime, get some spoiling, (maybe some swimming with dolphins), and good luck on your next step. (More Jedi hugs.) Even Luke took a break from his Jedi training when he needed to do something else.

I agree with any argument that compares me to Luke Skywalker.

And I was thinking about taking a long vacation in northern Brazil (they have dolphins. WILD DOLPHINS) as a matter of fact, but I'll be hitting the states on December so I'm on a limited budget ^^U

Last Edit: Sept 10, 2017 21:46:29 GMT -5 by Alis

I sound smarter in Spanish

northlander Player 3 Posts: 806	I did the medical equivalent of flipping tables Sept 10, 2017 22:27:47 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by northlander on Sept 10, 2017 22:27:47 GMT -5 Eesh, that's the kind of working hours even a Japanese person would go "Daaaamn!" at.
	"Weaponizing demons... for a brighter tomorrow." - Doom (2016) Northy's MyAnimeList profile page.

Rune Lai Hardcore Posts: 1,623	I did the medical equivalent of flipping tables Sept 11, 2017 10:44:49 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Rune Lai on Sept 11, 2017 10:44:49 GMT -5 Glad to hear you're managing, and that you're coming out of the cocoon a bit! Hope you get the time you need to figure things out.
	"You can't just look at things from only one point of view. That's why I hate common sense." - Yuzuki Murakumo, 7'scarlet "The law doesn't protect people. People protect the law. People have always detested evil and sought out a righteous way of living. Their feelings... The accumulation of those peoples' feelings are the law." - Akane Tsunemori, Psycho-Pass

I did the medical equivalent of flipping tables

Post by Alis on Jul 21, 2017 15:21:57 GMT -5

Post by Anon Mous on Jul 23, 2017 16:16:45 GMT -5

Post by Rune Lai on Jul 24, 2017 11:46:55 GMT -5

Post by Solana on Jul 25, 2017 19:29:09 GMT -5

Post by Alis on Sept 10, 2017 21:46:01 GMT -5

Post by northlander on Sept 10, 2017 22:27:47 GMT -5

Post by Rune Lai on Sept 11, 2017 10:44:49 GMT -5