Doctor with Asperger's

[urbanclassic]

Hi,

I'm a young woman who might have asperger's and wants to become a doctor.

I know it's kind of weird at my age to think I have Asperger's because Asperger's is usually diagnosed at a younger age, but since Asperger's manifest itself a little differently in females than in males, it's not uncommon for it to go undiagnosed for a long time, if at all, in females. It's harder to diagnose girls because girls tend to be more socialized by society than boys so girls tend to know social cues, how not be rude, etc.

Anyway, I just wanted get some opinions on what people here thought about someone with asperger's going to medical school and becoming a doctor?

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[xBODOMx]

Hi,

I'm a young woman who might have asperger's and wants to become a doctor.

I know it's kind of weird at my age to think I have Asperger's because Asperger's is usually diagnosed at a younger age, but since Asperger's manifest itself a little differently in females than in males, it's not uncommon for it to go undiagnosed for a long time, if at all, in females. It's harder to diagnose girls because girls tend to be more socialized by society than boys so girls tend to know social cues, how not be rude, etc.

Anyway, I just wanted get some opinions on what people here thought about someone with asperger's going to medical school and becoming a doctor?

Too hard to tell over the internet, depends on the severity of your case. But from asperger's patients I've seen, I don't see it being possible to become a doctor, maybe I've only encountered more severe cases, including a relative, but I don't think that it could happen, unfortunately.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Hi,

I'm a young woman who might have asperger's and wants to become a doctor.

I know it's kind of weird at my age to think I have Asperger's because Asperger's is usually diagnosed at a younger age, but since Asperger's manifest itself a little differently in females than in males, it's not uncommon for it to go undiagnosed for a long time, if at all, in females. It's harder to diagnose girls because girls tend to be more socialized by society than boys so girls tend to know social cues, how not be rude, etc.

Anyway, I just wanted get some opinions on what people here thought about someone with asperger's going to medical school and becoming a doctor?

You don't have aspergers.

 

[Isoprop]

Go see a doctor. Get a diagnosis. Then plan from there.

 

[urbanclassic]

Too hard to tell over the internet, depends on the severity of your case. But from asperger's patients I've seen, I don't see it being possible to become a doctor, maybe I've only encountered more severe cases, including a relative, but I don't think that it could happen, unfortunately.

If I did have aspergers it would be mild.

 

[urbanclassic]

You don't have aspergers.

How would you know?

And, regardless, do you think a person with asperger's could be a good doctor.

 

[urbanclassic]

Go see a doctor. Get a diagnosis. Then plan from there.

I am.... but you didn't answer my question.

 

[dmf2682]

this is a stupid thread.

 

[Isoprop]

As long as you can feign empathy, then yes I don't see why not.

 

[LifeTake2]

You don't have aspergers.

Funny, you appear to be a medical school student, making a medical diagnosis of a patient you have never met or evaluated.....I'm impressed 🙄

OP, if you think you have aspergers, go see a psychologist, preferably with experience with autism spectrum disorders.

Only after being professionally evaluated can anyone help you determine the feasibility of entering medicine.

 

[urbanclassic]

this is a stupid thread.

Okay then move on, really no need for you to post.

 

[dmf2682]

Okay then move on, really no need for you to post.

haha. Gotcha. No one with aspergers would say that.

Now you move on, really no need for you to post.

 

[kpcrew]

hey guys i might have some undiagnosed illness, can i be a physician? but it might not be a hypothetical, there's a chance that i do have it srsly!

 

[dmf2682]

lol crew I love your avatar. I'm on a boat, muthaflocka!

 

[urbanclassic]

Okay, I'm actually be extremely serious. I don't need you to make fun of me.

 

[jdok]

Guys,

I'm currently male but might be a female, not sure. Can I still be a good doctor (and use the Ladies room)?

 

[dmf2682]

seriously. you should become a vet.

 

[urbanclassic]

WTF is wrong with you? My question is genuine and if you don't want to be helpful just leave.

 

[urbanclassic]

LOL, wow, you guys are a bunch of jackasses.

 

[kpcrew]

lol crew I love your avatar. I'm on a boat, muthaflocka!

😀 thanks

 

[jdok]

LOL, wow, you guys are a bunch of jackasses.

 

[RookTookIt]

If your Asperger's is so mild that it might not even be Asperger's, you're fine.

 

[BurntFlower]

I have a good friend who has been officially diagnosed by a psychiatrist, and he is extremely high-functioning (to the point people who don't know him well are surprised he has it). I think people with mild cases would not have significant problems in becoming physicians.

However, many people in this thread have already told you to go see a doctor and take it from there. We don't know you, so it's really between your physician and you to talk about, rather than SDN.

 

[urbanclassic]

Thanks to those who have answered my question!
I am going to get a diagnosis for a specialist next week, but in the mean time I'm just wanting to know other peoples opinions.
Thanks again. 🙂

 

[xBODOMx]

Thanks to those who have answered my question!
I am going to get a diagnosis for a specialist next week, but in the mean time I'm just wanting to know other peoples opinions.
Thanks again. 🙂

You make it sound like you're trying to be Dxd with aspergers.

 

[dmf2682]

you're welcome.

 

[jdok]

become a nurse.

 

[urbanclassic]

You make it sound like you're trying to be Dxd with aspergers.

I don't want to be dxd with Asperger's, but if I do have it I want to know.

I guess I would have said "I'm being evaluated next week with a specialist" rather than being "diagnosed". Sorry, my bad. 🙄

 

[mmmcdowe]

Funny, you appear to be a medical school student, making a medical diagnosis of a patient you have never met or evaluated.....I'm impressed 🙄

OP, if you think you have aspergers, go see a psychologist, preferably with experience with autism spectrum disorders.

Only after being professionally evaluated can anyone help you determine the feasibility of entering medicine.

Yes, I am a medical student dismissing a diagnosis of asperger's without having met or evaluated the patient for two reasons. First, it's an obvious trolling. Second, the OP has done the asperger's equivalent of walking in and saying "My HA1C is 5.1 and my last 20 fasting finger sticks have been under 100. Do I have DMII?" I'm well aware of the taboo and ethical implications of diagnosing online or as a medical student in general. I assure you it is not a habit of mine.

To the OP, being socially awkward and aloof doesn't mean you have genuine asperger's, though many awkward adults toy with the notion. However, a very mild case of Asperger's could certainly become a good doctor. Even someone with severe Asperger's could potentially have a very successful career in certain specialties. A psychologist's evaluation is not going to determine one's feasibility in medicine.

 

[ADolefulDream]

Aspergers, being a spectrum disorder, varies greatly person to person. For example, within my own experince I know an Aspie (Term that many Aspergers suffers use to refer to themselves) who is an EMT (shooting for Medic) who TA's and teaches CPR. On the other hand, I have another Aspie family member who cannot complete many life skills and would not be able to live on her own.

Depending on what traits you exhibit strongly you will have some obsticles--but also advantages. For example, the EMT "fixated" on emergency medicine. He ate it up--would talk to anybody and everybody about it, and thus learned very quickly and does not forget a thing.

However, empathy can be very difficult and is an essential trait for a good doctor. I say difficult though NOT impossible. It may not come naturally, but you can step back and imagine for a min you were in that exact situation.

Problem is, I only gave two examples of a widely varying syndrome. It is my firm belief regardless that a person with a disablity needs to look at what they can do to turn it into an ABILITY.

Good luck OP.

 

[alexandertg6]

As I understand it, the big problem with asperger's is that it inhibits your ability to empathize and socialize... That COULD be problematic if you want to be a clinician if it is severe, but I think no one on this thread could give you anything more specific than that since none of us know anything about the severity of your possible problems.

 

[jdok]

... It is my firm belief regardless that a person with a disablity needs to look at what they can do to turn it into an ABILITY.

Good luck OP.

 

[urbanclassic]

Thanks everyone (again).

And yes I understand that no one here can tell me personally if I can become a doctor (regardless if I have Asperger's or not). My question was more general to anyone with Asperger's (which most of you guys have answered for me 🙂)

 

[kpcrew]

LOL, wow, you guys are a bunch of jackasses.

 

[MT Headed]

Why not post in the Allopathic forum and simply ask them how many of their fellow students have Asperger's? If they start saying "one", "ten", "half my damn class and most of the faculty", etc then you are golden.

No need to disclose your own condition either.

 

[urbanclassic]

Why not post in the Allopathic forum and simply ask them how many of their fellow students have Asperger's? If they start saying "one", "ten", "half my damn class and most of the faculty", etc then you are golden.

No need to disclose your own condition either.

Hmm, good idea! Thanks!

 

[ADolefulDream]

And he could have started a sport team for wheelchair bound teenagers--thus turning his disablity (being wheelchair bound) into an ability (being a communtiy leader that aims to proved fun and sense of belonging to peers.) Never let a disablity hold you back!

 

[gloeotrichia]

If your Asperger's is so mild that it might not even be Asperger's, you're fine.

Agreed. If it was severe enough to keep you from being a doctor, you would most likely not just now be wondering if you have it.

 

[aSagacious]

Agreed. If it was severe enough to keep you from being a doctor, you would most likely not just now be wondering if you have it.

Way off here. Folks with Asperger's are well aware of the fact that they are a little different.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=865917

Edit: I misread your post, sorry. I initially thought you said that they would not be aware that they had it.

 

[StoicJosher]

I literally laughed out loud in the middle of the library while studying for finals after seeing that!! :laugh :

 

[Mooglies]

Hi,

I'm a young woman who might have asperger's and wants to become a doctor.

I know it's kind of weird at my age to think I have Asperger's because Asperger's is usually diagnosed at a younger age, but since Asperger's manifest itself a little differently in females than in males, it's not uncommon for it to go undiagnosed for a long time, if at all, in females. It's harder to diagnose girls because girls tend to be more socialized by society than boys so girls tend to know social cues, how not be rude, etc.

Anyway, I just wanted get some opinions on what people here thought about someone with asperger's going to medical school and becoming a doctor?

Just out of curiousty why do you think you have it? Do you completely mis social cues, or recognize them and aren't sure what that person is getting at?

Go see a doctor. Get a diagnosis. Then plan from there.

like a boss

haha. Gotcha. No one with aspergers would say that.

Now you move on, really no need for you to post.

Too funny

Aspergers, being a spectrum disorder, varies greatly person to person. For example, within my own experince I know an Aspie (Term that many Aspergers suffers use to refer to themselves) who is an EMT (shooting for Medic) who TA's and teaches CPR. On the other hand, I have another Aspie family member who cannot complete many life skills and would not be able to live on her own.

Depending on what traits you exhibit strongly you will have some obsticles--but also advantages. For example, the EMT "fixated" on emergency medicine. He ate it up--would talk to anybody and everybody about it, and thus learned very quickly and does not forget a thing.

However, empathy can be very difficult and is an essential trait for a good doctor. I say difficult though NOT impossible. It may not come naturally, but you can step back and imagine for a min you were in that exact situation.

Problem is, I only gave two examples of a widely varying syndrome. It is my firm belief regardless that a person with a disablity needs to look at what they can do to turn it into an ABILITY.

Good luck OP.

nice 👍👍

Way off here. Folks with Asperger's are well aware of the fact that they are a little different.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=865917

Edit: I misread your post, sorry. I initially thought you said that they would not be aware that they had it.

Why cant I get at that post? and agree that people with Asp know there different.

 

[aSagacious]

Why cant I get at that post? and agree that people with Asp know there different.

This thread is in the lounge, where there is a minimum # of posts required to access (50?).

 

[ADolefulDream]

This thread is in the lounge, where there is a minimum # of posts required to access (50?).

That kinda stinks, 🙁 why is there a post minimum? Keep out trolls?

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

The problem is can you keep up with the coursework throughout the 8 years including med school? Can your mental process handle intense pressure at residency, fellowship and attending?

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

People are so mean behind their computers lmao 😀

 

[235788]

Ofcourse people with aspergers can become doctors, but would you honestly be ok if your doctor had it? I'm sure you would be able to tell with time. They would make good pathologists.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Ofcourse people with aspergers can become doctors, but would you honestly be ok if your doctor had it? I'm sure you would be able to tell with time. They would make good pathologists.

Not sure if.....

 

[scarshapedstar]

Self-diagnosed Asperger's: the not-so-silent epidemic. 🙄

Just kidding. I feel the same way about myself at times, but it's just the media hype. It is, unfortunately, possible to be socially inept without a syndrome to blame it on.

 

[synthmonsterjax]

i guess i know guys like this. one such kid sits next to me in chem. rocks back and forth constantly. completes tests like 2x faster than me. writes down no work, seems to do a lot of calculations in his head. he'll probably completely destroy the mcat.

i feel pretty stupid next to people like him. i often wish we could trade, because he can work on interview skills, but i can't turn myself into a genius. academically, he'll get there, and that's a big percent of the battle. people like me try hard but struggle. 🙁

 

[scarshapedstar]

he can work on interview skills, but i can't turn myself into a genius

If he's a savant then no amount of interviewing will hide it. I knew a kid like that in high school, he's getting a math Ph. D at Caltech now. Staggeringly brilliant at math...

...couldn't write a complete sentence. I know because I proofread -- well, okay, wrote -- his papers. And Zelda puzzles... jesus, he'd come get me every 5 minutes. His mind was like a bullet train, and if you tried to turn it 90 degrees, it would jump off the rails.