Embarassing but serious question?

[medstudent87]

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I take ritalin everyday and it def. helps me keep my focus, but it has the unfortunate side-effect of upset stomach/diarrhea. The urge/need to "go" comes on rather suddenly about every hour for a total of 3-4 bathroom trips each morning. I pretty much only take it when I need to study hardcore or when I have exams.

I'm currently taking it everyday since I'm in the middle of my "dedicated" 5 week study block for Step 1, but I'm trying to decide if I should take it on test day. Feeling/hearing my bowels churning will def. disrupt me and the other test takers...plus having to "go" makes it extremely hard to concentrate.

Lowering my dose isn't an option because I'm not in the same city as my doc right now. OTC anti-diarrheals have no effect.

If I don't take it, though, I'm afraid I'll start zoning out during the later question sets.

Thoughts?

 

[Ovariantesticle]

Don't apply for surgery residency. For that matter, rounding of any type might be difficult so I'd aim for radiology.

 

[ArcGurren]

I take ritalin everyday and it def. helps me keep my focus, but it has the unfortunate side-effect of upset stomach/diarrhea. The urge/need to "go" comes on rather suddenly about every hour for a total of 3-4 bathroom trips each morning. I pretty much only take it when I need to study hardcore or when I have exams.

I'm currently taking it everyday since I'm in the middle of my "dedicated" 5 week study block for Step 1, but I'm trying to decide if I should take it on test day. Feeling/hearing my bowels churning will def. disrupt me and the other test takers...plus having to "go" makes it extremely hard to concentrate.

Lowering my dose isn't an option because I'm not in the same city as my doc right now. OTC anti-diarrheals have no effect.

If I don't take it, though, I'm afraid I'll start zoning out during the later question sets.

Thoughts?

It sounds like you have IBS?

You'll be glad to know I found there to be sufficient break time during the exam. I didn't eat lunch so I had something like 50 minutes left over by the end.

 

[sosarah]

Hey, just thought you'd like to know you're not alone. I take it for narcolepsy (which I definitely can't risk on exam day), and it gives my bowel troubles too. Have you been using it during your timed practice tests? I would say do that just so you're prepared for how it may affect your timing/pacing on exam day.

 

[medstudent87]

Well, I usually take a quick bathroom break once or twice between sections when I'm taking a timed NBME practice exam. A few minutes at most.

 

[MrAgreeable]

Well, I usually take a quick bathroom break once or twice between sections when I'm taking a timed NBME practice exam. A few minutes at most.

This should be fine, if you skip the tutorial you have plenty of break time. Good luck to you though, I don't know of anyone who would envy that situation.

Just make sure you can go like 35-60 minutes without having to use the bathroom.

 

[MrAgreeable]

This should be fine, if you skip the tutorial you have plenty of break time. Good luck to you though, I don't know of anyone who would envy that situation.

Just make sure you can go like 35-60 minutes without having to use the bathroom.

sorry for the double post, but for goodness sake do not forgo taking your meds on test day.

 

[reedman]

have you tried loperamide? i know you said otcs have no effect, but loperamide is pretty potent stuff. why not try taking a double dose the night before? since it is basically an opiate, i think it needs several hours to slow down your gut.