Can't be a surgeon because of health problem?

[Sophie]

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I'm just applying to medical school now, so I obviously have a long time before choosing a specialty. However, I'm fairly certain I want to be a surgeon, and it's really depressing me that this might not be an option because of health reasons.

The problem is I sometimes start feeling faint when I stand in one place for too long. I get really hot all over, then lightheaded, and after that my field of vision progressively decreases until everything's black. Unfortunately I can't predict when it will happen, since it doesn't seem to matter whether I've eaten or not. I've been to countless doctors who all essentially say "don't worry, you'll grow out of it". That was fine when I was 16, but I'm 25 now and it still happens.

Possible relevant info: I have frequent premature atrial contractions, fairly poor circulation, am tall and thin (5'8", 125lbs, but this is my healthy weight and I eat tons), rarely exercise, and am a vegetarian. If I knew it'd make me able to stand without problems for hours on end I'd be willing to exercise, try to gain weight, or eat meat (although I'd really rather not), but I can't see how any of these would get rid of the problem to the point where I could be trusted to operate.

I'd really appreciate any advice, comments, or ideas.

 

[galactica2001]

I had something similar in the OP (and elsewhere too)...If I stand in one place too long the blood goes to legs and the brain doesn't get enough. So I usually contract leg muscles to increase venous return to the heart.
Maybe that helps?

good luck 🙂

 

[robotsonic]

I had something similar in the OP (and elsewhere too)...If I stand in one place too long the blood goes to legs and the brain doesn't get enough. So I usually contract leg muscles to increase venous return to the heart.
Maybe that helps?

good luck 🙂

Maybe you can put the compression stockings on yourself instead of the patient.

Ok, but seriously... we could start asking a bunch of questions about your medical history, but it's probably best to go back to a doctor about this.

 

[toxic-megacolon]

Maybe you can put the compression stockings on yourself instead of the patient.

Ok, but seriously... we could start asking a bunch of questions about your medical history, but it's probably best to go back to a doctor about this.

Have you seen a doctor recently? There are medications like midodrine that could help with these symptoms

 

[Sophie]

Thanks for the replies. I realize it's impossible to diagnose someone over the internet, I guess I was just looking for ideas or hoping someone had dealt with something like this before. And I did try contracting my leg muscles once, but I didn't start until after I already had the symptoms, and by that point it couldn't reverse it. Maybe if I started earlier.

It's been a year and a half since I saw a doctor about this.. I got tired of nobody being able to give me a solution. I'll go see a doctor again soon - maybe it'll help to have a specific suggestion (midodrine).

Thanks again. 🙂

 

[njbmd]

I'm just applying to medical school now, so I obviously have a long time before choosing a specialty. However, I'm fairly certain I want to be a surgeon, and it's really depressing me that this might not be an option because of health reasons.

The problem is I sometimes start feeling faint when I stand in one place for too long. I get really hot all over, then lightheaded, and after that my field of vision progressively decreases until everything's black. Unfortunately I can't predict when it will happen, since it doesn't seem to matter whether I've eaten or not. I've been to countless doctors who all essentially say "don't worry, you'll grow out of it". That was fine when I was 16, but I'm 25 now and it still happens.

Possible relevant info: I have frequent premature atrial contractions, fairly poor circulation, am tall and thin (5'8", 125lbs, but this is my healthy weight and I eat tons), rarely exercise, and am a vegetarian. If I knew it'd make me able to stand without problems for hours on end I'd be willing to exercise, try to gain weight, or eat meat (although I'd really rather not), but I can't see how any of these would get rid of the problem to the point where I could be trusted to operate.

I'd really appreciate any advice, comments, or ideas.

Hi there,
Even on the long cases, I rarely stand in one spot. I always wear TED hose(compression stockings) and I am constantly shifting my weight back and forth. The other thing I do is rest one hip on the side of the OR table for a bit of rest.

Once I get underway, I become so lost in the case and what I am doing, that I have no concept of the passage of time. I am so busy identifying the anatomy and making the decisions that lead to the next step in the case that I actually forget that I might have been standing (or leaning) for many hours. When I operate under the microscope, my concentration is even greater.

I wouldn't try to decide on a specialty before you have gone through third year of medical school. You may find that you hate surgical patients and surgery even though the idea is somewhat attractive now. Do not waste your depression on something that may become a non-issue for you in the long run. When I started medical school, I was sure that I was going to be a pediatrician. Now I am a PGY-4 General Surgery resident headed for fellowship in Vascular Surgery. Things and situations do change. See how you feel after you have completed your General Surgery clerkship.

njbmd 🙂

 

[pwrpfgrl]

on a similar note, does anyone have any trouble with hand tremors? i have a slight intention tremor that gets really bad when i'm a little nervous. then, the more i try to relax, the worse it gets. does this mean that surgery is not an option for me? 🙁

 

[toxic-megacolon]

on a similar note, does anyone have any trouble with hand tremors? i have a slight intention tremor that gets really bad when i'm a little nervous. then, the more i try to relax, the worse it gets. does this mean that surgery is not an option for me? 🙁

In some people, avoidance of ALL caffeine can make a huge difference with this.

 

[robotsonic]

on a similar note, does anyone have any trouble with hand tremors? i have a slight intention tremor that gets really bad when i'm a little nervous. then, the more i try to relax, the worse it gets. does this mean that surgery is not an option for me? 🙁

This shouldn't stop you. It's frightening how many surgeons have tremors. And your tremor probably isn't as bad as you think. Watch the surgeon's hand carefully when you are scrubbed in - most of them do have slight tremors. Your own tremor is probably the same, but you are more worried about it so it seems worse.

 

[Sophie]

Thanks for the reply, njb. I really appreciate all of the information. 🙂

 

[galactica2001]

on a similar note, does anyone have any trouble with hand tremors? i have a slight intention tremor that gets really bad when i'm a little nervous. then, the more i try to relax, the worse it gets. does this mean that surgery is not an option for me? 🙁

I noticed that my hands shake like crazy when I'm sewing sth after a long time of not doing anything - like weeks of being in op voluntarily and not having the opportunity to practice 🙂
I think with me it's just the fact that I'm doing something serious to someone...and I'm a softy

 

[galactica2001]

oh, and I wouldn't give up surgery just because my hands shake

 

[pwrpfgrl]

oh, and I wouldn't give up surgery just because my hands shake

thanks for the replies! this makes me feel alot better!
🙂