addisondav
Member
Is anyone in here a doctor or in med school? If so, I'm very interested in becoming a doctor, and I was wondering if I could ask you some questions.
Becoming an M.D.?
- Thread starter addisondav
- Start date
elfdoctors
Active Member
Ask away!
I graduated from medical school in 1988. Some things regarding the admission process have changed since then but I can do my best.
I graduated from medical school in 1988. Some things regarding the admission process have changed since then but I can do my best.
addisondav
Member
I just wanna know if it is really worth the 10-12 years of your life. I really wanna help people and the money seems good. Is it extremely hard or what? I just want your opinion. I either wanna be a pharmacist or a doctor. thanks
elfdoctors
Active Member
It depends on which doctor you ask. You may get many different answers. Medicine continues to change rapidly. There are some bitter doctors because they are not making as much money as they hoped, or they don't like the paperwork, or they got burnt out, or they do not like the malpractice situation, etc. Do not go into medicine if money is your primary goal.
However, if you are interested in helping people and you can get true contentment by helping make a difference in people's lives, medicine is a VERY satisfying career. I have no regrets about my decision. I also think that practicing family practice in a rural area limits my exposures to some of the nuisances which plague medicine. I may only be a big fish in a small pond, but I do feel that I am improving my community (and that feeling is worth more than a higher salary).
BTW, many of the same difficulties with medicine will also apply to
[hr]
. Since people expect to receive premium care but do not want to pay for it, there will always be some conflicts as the bean counters try to squeeze everything they can out of the system. However, you will have reasonably good job security in both professions. As the population ages, there will be an increased need for both.
I hope that helps.
However, if you are interested in helping people and you can get true contentment by helping make a difference in people's lives, medicine is a VERY satisfying career. I have no regrets about my decision. I also think that practicing family practice in a rural area limits my exposures to some of the nuisances which plague medicine. I may only be a big fish in a small pond, but I do feel that I am improving my community (and that feeling is worth more than a higher salary).
BTW, many of the same difficulties with medicine will also apply to
[hr]
. Since people expect to receive premium care but do not want to pay for it, there will always be some conflicts as the bean counters try to squeeze everything they can out of the system. However, you will have reasonably good job security in both professions. As the population ages, there will be an increased need for both.
I hope that helps.
T
tizzo
Guest
I am not a doctor, nor do I wish to be but I gotta say and I hope the word will spread... If you have good troubleshooting skills, then by all means become a Doc!! Seems we have to many doctors in the system that are book smart and can memorize all that they read, and there is nothing wrong with that, but if you want to be better, smarter, and more sure of yourself, be able to troubleshoot!!
I have absolutely no info on anything medical, but when my hubby took antibiotics for a surgery, he had an allergic reaction that appeared as blisters in his mouth. The doc or nurse had absolutely no clue!! I have kids and it "looked" like the thrush they got as infants, I mentioned that to the doc and he prescribed the thrush medicine and it worked. Now if he had his own troubleshooting skills, he would have appeared good at his job. But he didn't and I wish I coulda billed him!!
But in conclusion, if you can troubleshoot, become a doctor!!
GOOD LUCK!!!
I have absolutely no info on anything medical, but when my hubby took antibiotics for a surgery, he had an allergic reaction that appeared as blisters in his mouth. The doc or nurse had absolutely no clue!! I have kids and it "looked" like the thrush they got as infants, I mentioned that to the doc and he prescribed the thrush medicine and it worked. Now if he had his own troubleshooting skills, he would have appeared good at his job. But he didn't and I wish I coulda billed him!!
But in conclusion, if you can troubleshoot, become a doctor!!
GOOD LUCK!!!
addisondav
Member
Thanks alot. I am leaning towards the m.d. career. I really love helping people. Can you tell me anything about the pre med school and during med school? Is it extremely tough or what? not that i'm scared or anything I just like to hear what people have to say. I've never made below an A in my life but i'm sure i would have to get used to it in med school. The information you posted though was extremely helpful.
elfdoctors
Active Member
Premed was the hard part. There are a lot of people with very good GPAs these days (because of grade inflation) so it is still difficult to get accepted. Make sure you take the required sciences. However, do not shirk away from the liberal arts, these can be valuable because you have to deal with people all day. And remember to still have fun! I would love to do college over again if I knew that I was going to get accepted to medical school.
Medical school itself was not particularly difficult. At least the pressure to get in was much reduced. I believe that only one student had to repeat a year so you really didn't have to worry about flunking out. There was a lot to learn but it was not overwhelming. Be prepared to take on a lot of debt (unless you have rich parents). I was able to get my dept paid off as I am working in a National Health Service Corps underserved area.
Residency was also difficult because of the long hours required (which have been toned down over the last several years). You still have to be able to function in the middle of the night.
@Tizzo - I do not believe that your husband had thrush or an allergic reaction. This infection is uncommon in adults (unless they have an immune deficiency). It also does not usually present as blisters but rather cottage-cheese appearing lesions which do not scrape off easily. Most likely, he had a reactivation of the cold sore virus. This would be likely to be triggered by the stress from the recent surgery, would appear to be a cluster of small blisters, and would get better on its own (but may have been treated faster with some antiviral medications). As a family doctor, I know that I see lots of things that I may not be able to completely identify. However, most illnesses will get better on their own anyway. My biggest responsibility is to not miss the 10-15% of illness that truly does need intervention. Missing a disease that would get better on its own is not crucial.
Medical school itself was not particularly difficult. At least the pressure to get in was much reduced. I believe that only one student had to repeat a year so you really didn't have to worry about flunking out. There was a lot to learn but it was not overwhelming. Be prepared to take on a lot of debt (unless you have rich parents). I was able to get my dept paid off as I am working in a National Health Service Corps underserved area.
Residency was also difficult because of the long hours required (which have been toned down over the last several years). You still have to be able to function in the middle of the night.
@Tizzo - I do not believe that your husband had thrush or an allergic reaction. This infection is uncommon in adults (unless they have an immune deficiency). It also does not usually present as blisters but rather cottage-cheese appearing lesions which do not scrape off easily. Most likely, he had a reactivation of the cold sore virus. This would be likely to be triggered by the stress from the recent surgery, would appear to be a cluster of small blisters, and would get better on its own (but may have been treated faster with some antiviral medications). As a family doctor, I know that I see lots of things that I may not be able to completely identify. However, most illnesses will get better on their own anyway. My biggest responsibility is to not miss the 10-15% of illness that truly does need intervention. Missing a disease that would get better on its own is not crucial.
T
tizzo
Guest
I say blisters because that's what first comes to mind. His throat was full of them, but his tongue an cheeks were the cottage cheeze stuff you mentioned. The only difference between (from what I have learned) was that whatever he had was extrememly painful. It was strange, however it did not clear up on it's own. It got progressively worse and after about a week or so it was to the point of unbearable. He was actually admitted for it! They gave him the same swishing medication that they had given my kids, he was unable to swallow.
Don't know what it was or where it came from but it was nasty!! The nurse actually had the audacity to "inform" my hubby that he needed to brush his tongue when he brushed his teeth, she thought it was mouth scum. I say audacity because my husband is the cleanest man I have ever met!! Mouth, hands, everything!! (He was at the time respiratory therapist who anal about hygene. Now he's not an RRT, but still anal about the hygene!! Definately NOT complaining!!
But it's nice to see that you are a troubleshooter too!!
Sorry addisondav, didn't mean to get off topic!
Don't know what it was or where it came from but it was nasty!! The nurse actually had the audacity to "inform" my hubby that he needed to brush his tongue when he brushed his teeth, she thought it was mouth scum. I say audacity because my husband is the cleanest man I have ever met!! Mouth, hands, everything!! (He was at the time respiratory therapist who anal about hygene. Now he's not an RRT, but still anal about the hygene!! Definately NOT complaining!!
But it's nice to see that you are a troubleshooter too!!
Sorry addisondav, didn't mean to get off topic!
addisondav
Member
What kind of liberal arts are you talking about?
Heres what I plan on doing my first 2 years of college.... please tell me if i'm going in the right direction....
Comp I and II
Chem I and II
College Algebra
General Biology
Trigonometry
Am. Fed Gov't??
Humanities
Organic Chem I and II
Physics I and II
Intro to Psyc.
Compartive Vertebrate anatomy
post civil war history
I plan on doing these at a smaller college like a community college. Then transfering the credits to a larger college (oklahoma university), and finishing my bachelors degree there, and continuing on to their med school. I appreciate any input on this. Thanks for all the previous help. If you could refer a book to me on this I would be grateful. I don't know what book their is because I have been looking. Thanks
Heres what I plan on doing my first 2 years of college.... please tell me if i'm going in the right direction....
Comp I and II
Chem I and II
College Algebra
General Biology
Trigonometry
Am. Fed Gov't??
Humanities
Organic Chem I and II
Physics I and II
Intro to Psyc.
Compartive Vertebrate anatomy
post civil war history
I plan on doing these at a smaller college like a community college. Then transfering the credits to a larger college (oklahoma university), and finishing my bachelors degree there, and continuing on to their med school. I appreciate any input on this. Thanks for all the previous help. If you could refer a book to me on this I would be grateful. I don't know what book their is because I have been looking. Thanks
addisondav
Member
???
elfdoctors
Active Member
Your classes seem fine. You have the required sciences but you have some liberal arts in there also. The biggest thing is to always take the required science courses designed for people who are majoring in the fields (e.g. don't take physics for poets
). Your college will be able to tell if you took only easy classes and they will usually be required to write a letter of recommendation for you.
I do not recall any specific books. Anything written that long ago would be practically worthless anyway. There probably is a Dummies book which would have practical information. In this era of grade inflation, your MCAT scores will mean a lot. I used a Stanley Kaplan review course which I recall was very helpful. I also volunteered several hundred hours at my community hospital to get some first hand experience in a medical setting.
). Your college will be able to tell if you took only easy classes and they will usually be required to write a letter of recommendation for you. I do not recall any specific books. Anything written that long ago would be practically worthless anyway. There probably is a Dummies book which would have practical information. In this era of grade inflation, your MCAT scores will mean a lot. I used a Stanley Kaplan review course which I recall was very helpful. I also volunteered several hundred hours at my community hospital to get some first hand experience in a medical setting.
addisondav
Member
Thanks alot for the information. If i have any more questions ill be sure to find you on here. Thank you
F
fairyfishy
Guest
Sounds like what's commonly known as "trenchmouth". My friend had it- it was very very painful, in fact, she lost a lot of weight because it got to the point where she couldn't eat solid food. Hers started out like a bunch of ulcers and spread everywhere in her mouth.