I think Emergency medicine is so cool, because its so broad and includes all aspects of medicine. but unfortunately, i dont know how strong my stomach would prove to be. any tips on how to inure myself to these things? i have no prob watching them, but sometimes i start to feel lightheaded/dizzy, what should i do to immune myself from this? i'm only a junior in HS btw. thanks everyone!
2007-01-25 14:42:17 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
I am an ER Doctor. I have always had a strong stomach. But I have to say that the person who finished #1 academically in my med school class passed out on the first day of gross anatomy.
The more you study, the more you are exposed, the more it becomes clinical and scientific. The "shock and awe" starts to fade away, and so does the affect that it might have on you.
You are right. There are few fields that are as broad and exciting as emergency medicine. But also remember in the ER you take all that walks in the doors. Most of the ugly underbelly of society ends up in the ER at some time or another -- and with much more frequency than the general population. Much of your effort is spent helping those that have not bothered to take care of themselves... that's not bad. Just the way it is. But you should recognize it before you enter into the field.
2007-01-25 14:54:30 · answer #1 · answered by dustoff 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Someone suggested this already but I would also suggest that you try to schedule a ride along with your local ambulance service. I work on an ambulance and see all sorts of things in the field amputations, brain matter you name it I have seen it. I also thought that my stomach might not be up to it when I first started however I learned quikly that once you are in that emergent situation your addrinaline is pumping and your brain is going one hundred miles an hour and you dont have time to think about what you are seeing or what you have on your uniform. Its after the fact that still gets me I have been known to get sick once the patient is out of my care. It happens and no one can control or train thier body to react differntly just trust me you will not have time to think about your self when you have someones life in your hand.
2007-01-25 23:05:58 · answer #2 · answered by Amy T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the more you learn about the human body through your studies, the more you'll find those things interesting instead of upsetting. Most medical students start out feeling much the same way you describe -- you get used to it over time. I wouldn't worry too much about this! If you're interested in this kind of stuff, though, try watching some of the nonfiction surgery shows on Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel. They may help you get a little more used to the sight of real blood and bodies.
2007-01-25 22:49:28 · answer #3 · answered by Meg 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
After you get your training, you will automatically jump into the middle of stuff and not even realize that it could bother you.
If you would like to find out how you would react, contact your local ambulance service and see if they have a teens ride along program. A lot of them do. It gets your foot in the door and you will be seeing the same types of patients an ER doc would.
2007-01-25 22:47:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to an autopsy, again and again and again until you get over queasy feelings. Clean a chicken or turkey (dead people remind me of dead animals).
Get desensitized that way. The smell is what makes me sick though, not the blood, guts, etc. Or go deer hunting and gut and clean a deer. Not much different than a human as far as grossness is concerned.
Hope you don't retch at the smell of infected pus-filled open sores and stuff.
2007-01-25 23:12:14 · answer #5 · answered by ANSWER MY QUESTION!! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One thing I would recommend is to become a member of your local fire and rescue department first. It will expose you to all sorts of things and it would help you build a tolerance for it so that by the time you go into medicine you will just do your job without thinking about the disgusting things.
2007-01-25 22:49:31 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to remember that the trauma is happening to your patient, not to you. My instructors would say, "Give them empathy, not sympathy." If it is smells that bother you, sometimes chewing mint gum helps. You just get used to all the gore after a while, and it becomes par.
2007-01-25 22:56:39 · answer #7 · answered by Tanyaqt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get some smakk rodents, and cut their abdomens open with a sharp knife. Examine the viscera. This will desensitize you.
2007-01-25 22:57:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can do some volunteer work in a hospital setting this may help you.
2007-01-25 22:53:54 · answer #9 · answered by ♨ Wisper ► 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
watch alot of real life ER shows. Watch Discovery channel, when they have shows on medical miracles, and such.
You should be use to it in no time.
2007-01-25 22:53:44 · answer #10 · answered by Dawn H 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋