Anyone out there ever consider leaving gas?

[gasping81]

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As the days go by, I realize that I like working hands-on, but I'm not a big fan of the stress that comes with anesthesia. For those who think anesthesia is easy, you're pretty ignorant. I can guarantee anesthesia is much more balls to the walls than I don't know FP. Not saying FP is bad, but I don't like to hear how primary care has it so rough compared to everyone else. You don't make lightening fast decisions that could put you in a courtroom. You get time to look stuff up relatively.

Anyway, enough banter. I was looking to switch out of gas, but stick with a hands-on specialty. I'm never going into surgery because the work is terribly long, and I don't have the stamina for that. Any suggestions out there on how to go about this? Also, looking for some place near Chicago. Thanks to all. Please PM me.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

With your personality maybe you should consider a non-clinical field like pathology.

 

[Blade28]

So you're looking for a hands-on field - meaning a procedural field? But one with a nicer lifestyle?

How about Ophtho? IR?

 

[CambieMD]

As the days go by, I realize that I like working hands-on, but I'm not a big fan of the stress that comes with anesthesia. For those who think anesthesia is easy, you're pretty ignorant. I can guarantee anesthesia is much more balls to the walls than I don't know FP. Not saying FP is bad, but I don't like to hear how primary care has it so rough compared to everyone else. You don't make lightening fast decisions that could put you in a courtroom. You get time to look stuff up relatively.

Anyway, enough banter. I was looking to switch out of gas, but stick with a hands-on specialty. I'm never going into surgery because the work is terribly long, and I don't have the stamina for that. Any suggestions out there on how to go about this? Also, looking for some place near Chicago. Thanks to all. Please PM me.

I always smile to myself when I read about people thinking about leaving gas for something else. I was a practicing fp and left that to do gas. I have been very happy with my decision to leave fp. I am in my last year of residency and I am looking forward to practicing gas. The fast pace of anesthesia may be stressful @ times but I love the fact that most issues are resolved quickly and I can play a mayor role in a patients care at a very critical period, when the pt is in extremis. Anesthesia is a varied specialty. If you can hold out you can practice pain management and avoid the stress of the OR and wards. .
Pain management has a lot of fun procedures.

How far along are you in gas. Is your program malignant.
Think over your decision because if you leave your program it may be difficult to ever get back into a gas residency.

All the best,

Cambie

 

[2ndyear]

The stress of being an anesthesia resident gets much much better as you go along, trust me. I used to go through possible scenarios the night before, what if they crash on induction, what if they start to move in pins, what if what if what if. It will drive you nuts. It takes a while to be comfortable in the OR with sick patients, or even healthy ones. Now in my CA 3 year, I've seen most complications short of MH. CPR after induction, been there. Laryngospasm..multiple. Bleeding out unexpectedly? Yup. There are still things that scare the crap out of me, like a crash c section in a bad airway patient, but once you have all of the tools and skills to treat the complications you'll be happy.

 

[CambieMD]

The stress of being an anesthesia resident gets much much better as you go along, trust me. I used to go through possible scenarios the night before, what if they crash on induction, what if they start to move in pins, what if what if what if. It will drive you nuts. It takes a while to be comfortable in the OR with sick patients, or even healthy ones. Now in my CA 3 year, I've seen most complications short of MH. CPR after induction, been there. Laryngospasm..multiple. Bleeding out unexpectedly? Yup. There are still things that scare the crap out of me, like a crash c section in a bad airway patient, but once you have all of the tools and skills to treat the complications you'll be happy.

Nicely stated.

Cambie

 

[WakeDoc]

EM resident here, but just bored so browsing the board. Anyway, I would not suggest you leave in the midst of self doubt and fear. At least conquer your personal / emotional hurdles before making a big professional decision. EM is the same way, there is always somebody sick as stink that needs a line or a tube or some intervention before they die in front of you. It is still very intimidating to me, but I look up at the seniors and realize that somehow they all figured it out, so I will too. You'll be a better doctor, whatever you do for knowing how to handle urgent situations under stress. If you still don't like it once you are convinced you can handle it, then do something else.