1st day of 3rd year rotations and I have the stomach flu. Help!

[han14tra]

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So, today was my first day of OB and third year. I woke up this morning with some nausea but no V/D. I didn't feel well, but I didn't know what to do so I went to the hospital to ask the clerkship coordinator. I wasn't able to reach her this morning by phone and so I thought I'd better go in rather than just not showing up. I was also thinking it was just nervousness. I had to go home early. I went directly to the University Health Center. I had a fever, and they said it's probably gastroenteritis that hasn't gone full blown yet🙁 Well, it's now full blown with dry heaving, diarrhea, and I'm so weak I can barely stand. I have a doctor's note for today. Praying that it lasts less than 12 hours.

Did I just throw away my chances for honors on the first day? Please help.

 

[GoodmanBrown]

So, today was my first day of OB and third year. I woke up this morning with some nausea but no N/V/D. I didn't feel well, but I didn't know what to do so I went to the hospital to ask the clerkship coordinator. I wasn't able to reach her this morning by phone and so I thought I'd better go in rather than just not showing up. Anyways, she told me to try to tough out orientation and then if I still felt sick I could go home before seeing any patients. I made it about 40 minutes and was like "I need to leave. I feel like I'm going to throw up." I went directly to the University Health Center. I had a fever, and they said it's probably gastroenteritis that hasn't gone full blown yet🙁 They also ordered a complete metabolic panel, CBC, liver enzymes, pancreas enzymes, gallbladder tests, etc. And, prescribed Previcid. This is because I didn't have N/V/D so they weren't sure of the dx. That has since changed :cry: I'm pretty sure it's the stomach flu and I feel like crap.

Did I just throw away my chances for honors on the first day? Please help. I don't even know anything about 3rd year yet.

Not to be a d-bag here, but you keep saying you have no N/V/D, but then say you were nauseous. Is that not what the 'N' stands for in N/V/D? I guess you're saying you don't have nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea? Do you really need all three to be diagnosed with gastroenteritis?

Sounds like you have either first day jitters, a case of gastroenteritis, or a combination of the two. It's kinda insane that they ran all those tests for a case of stomach flu.

Regarding honors, yes, of course you did. Anyone who gets the stomach flu on a rotation immediately gets rejected for honors consideration. If you were interested in rad onc or derm, that's probably no longer a possibility as well.

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You're sick, and I should be less of an ass. Seriously, no, of course not. Take a day or two to recover, go back, and do well. You've done no more to mess up your chance at honors than anyone else.

 

[han14tra]

I meant to say I was nauseous but no vomiting or diarrhea. But, that has since changed.

I was excused from OB today, but I have a required clinical skills session this evening to practice pelvic and PAPs on SPs. I was told I would get an incomplete for the course if I didn't go, and that I should try my hardest to be there. I'm going but I can't guarantee I won't puke on someone.

 

[ArcGurren]

It's better to take off a day for sickness and recuperate than take a week off. Don't worry, relax. They're doctors, I'm sure they don't want you getting their patients sick either... or losing your bowels all over the OR floor.

 

[han14tra]

How many days do you think is acceptable to miss for the stomach flu. I'm still feeling pretty ill and I'm suppose to be there tomorrow morning. I still have a fever and I'm running to the bathroom every 10 min. They are letting me make up the time on weekends, which I would normally have off😍

 

[Bartelby]

I meant to say I was nauseous but no vomiting or diarrhea. But, that has since changed.

I was excused from OB today, but I have a required clinical skills session this evening to practice pelvic and PAPs on SPs. I was told I would get an incomplete for the course if I didn't go, and that I should try my hardest to be there. I'm going but I can't guarantee I won't puke on someone.

We were told *not* to come in to the hospital if we were febrile because we would just expose a lot of fragile people to yet another bug. Don't worry, people are understanding about the occasional missed days.

For the SP exercise I am guessing if you let the coordinator know how bad things are they will let you do it with the next month's students.

 

[expendible]

Doctors get sick too... you should be fine.

 

[sleepy425]

I meant to say I was nauseous but no vomiting or diarrhea. But, that has since changed.

I was excused from OB today, but I have a required clinical skills session this evening to practice pelvic and PAPs on SPs. I was told I would get an incomplete for the course if I didn't go, and that I should try my hardest to be there. I'm going but I can't guarantee I won't puke on someone.

how are you feeling now?

 

[han14tra]

how are you feeling now?

I'm still sick. The fever's gone, but I'm still running to the bathroom every 10 min. At least I don't have to go back to OB until Monday. The doctor excused me from yesterday and today's rotations.

 

[ussdfiant]

Doctors get sick too... you should be fine.

Says who?

 

[werd]

in my experience you'll be judged on what you do while you're actually working on your rotation. staying home a couple days is probably the lesser of two evils vs. showing up really sick. take care of yourself and go back when you're feeling better. if you show up all N/V, everyone would probably be afraid you'd get them sick too.

 

[Fleur de Me]

I'm still sick. The fever's gone, but I'm still running to the bathroom every 10 min. At least I don't have to go back to OB until Monday. The doctor excused me from yesterday and today's rotations.

Try not to be selfish- think about the other people you're potentially exposing if you go to the hospital when you're not well. Everyone gets sick, but missing a 3rd year med student is a lot better than having 2 attendings and 3 residents sick and also a bunch of patients who are already vulnerable.

It could be food poisoning- but stuff like norovirus is EXTREMELY contagious, especially in places like hospitals.

Do yourself and everyone a service and stay home until you are well.

 

[Law2Doc]

So, today was my first day of OB and third year. I woke up this morning with some nausea ...

Just tell them it's morning sickness.

Whether this impacts your grades depends on the program. If you are amazing on all the other days, you are probably fine. If not, you weren't getting honors anyhow. Just realize that you now have fewer days now to show how capable you are so you may need to go the extra mile.

 

[han14tra]

I actually asked if I could make up the sick days on a weekend (which I would normally have off). I really like OB, and I was seriously depressed about missing 2 L&D days.

 

[ArcGurren]

Just tell them it's morning sickness.

Whether this impacts your grades depends on the program. If you are amazing on all the other days, you are probably fine. If not, you weren't getting honors anyhow. Just realize that you now have fewer days now to show how capable you are so you may need to go the extra mile.

In all fairness I doubt he can show how capable he/she is by vomiting all over the floor while doing rounds.

 

[Depakote]

My rule of thumb (as a med student)... was to show up and wait for them to send me home. I realize you're ill and you don't want to get your patient's sick, but there's plenty of orientation stuff you are missing too on the first days. I definitely would have taken that approach for the mandatory clinical skills lab. You don't want an incomplete chasing you into the match, even if you resolve it, it could be something you have to explain in interviews.

Will this particular event cost you honors? I doubt it. Should you make a habit of missing clinical days? No.

 

[CptCrunch]

I actually asked if I could make up the sick days on a weekend (which I would normally have off). I really like OB, and I was seriously depressed about missing 2 L&D days.

My days on L&D were the most torturous of my life.