Big dissapointment...have you lived it too?

[drivesmecraazee]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am in my 2nd year of med school and thinking about going for a surgical subspeciality or gen surg. Right now Im taking Anatomy II, here in Costa Rica we take anatomy for an entire year and I am currently in the second half of it, something like advanced anatomy. The thing is I started to do my dissection, I got the head, something very complicated and on my first day dissecting I had to take the skin off, just the skin, without cutting any fat or subcutaneous tissue, I was doing it pretty well for a first-timer, not perfect but still acceptable and when I got to the ECM muscle the skin was simply too thin, there wasn't much fat and my scalpel just went down, I cuted some of the muscle and I felt like I had screwed up, this was my first contact with a scalpel and an activity that certainly demands hand skills and I felt like I didn't have them and that I didn't have the patience and perseverance that takes to be a surgeon. I don't know if this was part of my lack of experience or if I don't have the natural talent that surgeons have.
Did this ever happened to anyone here? How do you think I should take it?

 

[smq123]

I am in my 2nd year of med school and thinking about going for a surgical subspeciality or gen surg. Right now Im taking Anatomy II, here in Costa Rica we take anatomy for an entire year and I am currently in the second half of it, something like advanced anatomy. The thing is I started to do my dissection, I got the head, something very complicated and on my first day dissecting I had to take the skin off, just the skin, without cutting any fat or subcutaneous tissue, I was doing it pretty well for a first-timer, not perfect but still acceptable and when I got to the ECM muscle the skin was simply too thin, there wasn't much fat and my scalpel just went down, I cuted some of the muscle and I felt like I had screwed up, this was my first contact with a scalpel and an activity that certainly demands hand skills and I felt like I didn't have them and that I didn't have the patience and perseverance that takes to be a surgeon. I don't know if this was part of my lack of experience or if I don't have the natural talent that surgeons have.
Did this ever happened to anyone here? How do you think I should take it?

Things are looking pretty hopeless for you. Stay inside tonight. Practice with your scalpel on anything you can - your arm, your neighbor's leg, your sister's hamster, your grandmother's cat. If anyone gets upset, f* them. You're going to be a SURGEON!!!

***
[I'm just kidding. Don't do this.]

How is this a big disappointment? Geez, calm down. It's just anatomy lab. This doesn't mean that you're doomed to fail as a surgeon.

Go out and see a movie with some friends or something. You'll be fine.

 

[dynx]

I am in my 2nd year of med school and thinking about going for a surgical subspeciality or gen surg. Right now Im taking Anatomy II, here in Costa Rica we take anatomy for an entire year and I am currently in the second half of it, something like advanced anatomy. The thing is I started to do my dissection, I got the head, something very complicated and on my first day dissecting I had to take the skin off, just the skin, without cutting any fat or subcutaneous tissue, I was doing it pretty well for a first-timer, not perfect but still acceptable and when I got to the ECM muscle the skin was simply too thin, there wasn't much fat and my scalpel just went down, I cuted some of the muscle and I felt like I had screwed up, this was my first contact with a scalpel and an activity that certainly demands hand skills and I felt like I didn't have them and that I didn't have the patience and perseverance that takes to be a surgeon. I don't know if this was part of my lack of experience or if I don't have the natural talent that surgeons have.
Did this ever happened to anyone here? How do you think I should take it?

First off, this -> . is a period. It comes after you type a complete sentence. If you can't master the use of a period then it's going to be hard for you to grasp the subtleties of surgical practice. Second, my grammar sucks...but yours is god-awful, work on this. Is English not a pre-req for anatomy at your school? Third, one of the important traits of a good surgical resident is learning where you can cut corners. Did you need the skin in one piece afterwards? Were you going to save it for something? No. Then save time by throwing caution to the wind and hack through that **** at light speed. F*ck some nicks in the skin, you're a surgeon, you got other **** to do than worry about getting some holes in a piece of trash.

So in summary: Yes, you should be seriously worried. But not because you cut some holes in the skin (although, that is kinda sad now that I think about it). But because you can't speek da english and because you're too damn sensitive.

 

[Meatwad]

Is English not a pre-req for anatomy at your school?

Right now Im taking Anatomy II, here in Costa Rica

This would be more scathing if the sarcasm was actually warranted. Was reading comprehension not a pre-req for at your residency program?

 

[smq123]

Is English not a pre-req for anatomy at your school?

So in summary: Yes, you should be seriously worried. But not because you cut some holes in the skin (although, that is kinda sad now that I think about it). But because you can't speek da english and because you're too damn sensitive.

Eeek.... (Psst. drivesmecraazee is from Costa Rica - he mentioned this in another thread. So, actually - no, English is not a pre-req for anatomy at his school. It's not a pre-req for anything.)

But yes - it's too early to worry about your surgical skills. Don't worry so much about it.

 

[dynx]

This would be more scathing if the sarcasm was actually warranted. Was reading comprehension not a pre-req for at your residency program?

No periods in spanish either? Don't I feel ashamed. And no, not a pre-req for at my residency program.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Very few surgeons have any significant "natural talent" which makes them better surgeons. Similarly, very few people are so incoordinated that they cannot learn the basics of surgical technique.

As the old saying goes, "you can teach a monkey to operate, but not when not to operate". In essence, it doesn't take talent to learn the mechanics but rather the mental discipline of surgery.

At this point in time your exposure to surgery has undoubtedly been minimal. If you were to see senior medical students and junior residents operate, you would likely not be as worried that you are too untalented to become a surgeon. Nearly without exception, EVERYONE slips when they are first using a surgical instrument...they cut too fast, or too slow, too deep or too shallow. I've seen interns who were so nervous that it took them 3 or more passes with the knife simply to get through the epidermis. Others shake and sputter with the Bovie that the tissues have stop and start cuts.

Please do not worry that this means the end of your burgeoning surgical career. Its a long training period...for a reason.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

I recall struggling with Head and Neck anatomy during the first year course. I lamented this one day with one of the faculty whom I trusted and respected, he said "ahh no big deal, you just won't be a head and neck surgeon"


Oh well, I'm an ENT resident now. Persistence is the key amigo. Buena suerte!

 

[Blade28]

Please do not worry that this means the end of your burgeoning surgical career. Its a long training period...for a reason.

As we always say whenever any resident makes a silly mistake in the OR or on rounds...

"That's why it's a 5-year program."

🙂

 

[Winged Scapula]

As we always say whenever any resident makes a silly mistake in the OR or on rounds...

"That's why it's a 5-year program."

🙂

I didn't want to resort to cliches...then again, its probably only a cliche to those of us in surgical residencies!

But yes, "that's why its a 5 year (or more) program."

 

[Winged Scapula]

And this is where I stopped reading.

Why? Is it anatomy, MS-2, or Costa Rica that turned you off?

 

[drivesmecraazee]

Why? Is it anatomy, MS-2, or Costa Rica that turned you off?

ANATOMY: He had to take it too before brcoming the world's greatest doctor.

MS-2: He had to go through it too.

Costa Rica: I AM costarrican, I can't afford a medical school in the States, but I could still do the residency there if I wanted, we have the Kaplan program.

Now that these three reason have been proven to be not worthy for turning the guy's off my last and only choice it's IGNORANCE.

Hey dynx, periods are actually part of almost any language's rules, so why the hell did you say I don't know specifically "da english"? Knowing that I was costarrican!!!
Sorry you got kinda busted there dude, anyways, I did learned english in elementary and high school, It's just that Im not using it frequently right now, so excuse my grammar.

 

[drivesmecraazee]

Thanks to all of you for your replies, I really wanted to talk to people who are more advanced in the process than I am.

 

[Blade28]

But yes, "that's why its a 5 year (or more) program."

7 years for me. 🙁

 

[Winged Scapula]

7 years for me. 🙁

Look at it this way: it gives you two more years for more CT jobs to become available!

 

[Blade28]

Look at it this way: it gives you two more years for more CT jobs to become available!

If there were a "crying" emoticon, I'd be using it now. 🙁

 

[Winged Scapula]

If there were a "crying" emoticon, I'd be using it now. 🙁

There is (although is perhaps not teary enough): :cry:

 

[Blade28]

There is (although is perhaps not teary enough): :cry:

Ah that's a great one! 👍