Has anyone switched out of anesthesia into MEdicine

[mmtst18]

Have you ever heard of going from anesthesia to Int Medicine. You always hears other specialties switching into anesthesia. I am seriously not satisfied with anesthesia. I love working with my hands. I love doing procedures and comforting patients at a difficult time in their lives. However, I wish I had more continuity. I did my prelim in Medicine--it was hell working more than the 60 hours a week I currently have (more like 80-90hrs) Although I was satisfied professionally in medicine--I haven't felt that same way for the past year and a half.
I keep trying to convince myself--I can always do medicine later, and that when I have a family I will want the lifestyle anesthesia will afford me. It makes practical sense to finsh the next year and a half and then do IM, however at times I am so disheartened with the profession that I want to leave now--and I am sure that brings up many questions and to LORS, PD, and which programs would even take me.

Please help me

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[Orchard]

--and I am sure that brings up many questions and to LORS, PD, and which programs would even take me.

Please help me

Dude, chill. As long as you have a pulse you can get accepted into a medicine residency.

 

[lvspro]

Have you ever heard of going from anesthesia to Int Medicine. You always hears other specialties switching into anesthesia. I am seriously not satisfied with anesthesia. I love working with my hands. I love doing procedures and comforting patients at a difficult time in their lives. However, I wish I had more continuity. I did my prelim in Medicine--it was hell working more than the 60 hours a week I currently have (more like 80-90hrs) Although I was satisfied professionally in medicine--I haven't felt that same way for the past year and a half.
I keep trying to convince myself--I can always do medicine later, and that when I have a family I will want the lifestyle anesthesia will afford me. It makes practical sense to finsh the next year and a half and then do IM, however at times I am so disheartened with the profession that I want to leave now--and I am sure that brings up many questions and to LORS, PD, and which programs would even take me.

Please help me

Have you considered pain mgmt? I know it's tough to deal w/seekers, but at least you get the continuity.

 

[Milhouse Van Houten]

one of my im attendings on the wards completed one year of anesthesia before switching to im. he said he wanted a more significant relationship with his patients and his colleagues. he's happy, but still wonders about how happy he would be if finished anesthesia. he's considering going back to complete his anesthesiology residency, but it's still up in the air.

 

[mmtst18]

Can I ask why he wants to go back into anesthesia--is it because he is not satisfied or is it just to finish something he started.

I am just not sure switching when I have only a year and a half to go is wise--but I would like to know more about how others have dealt with their dissatisfaction and learned to cope

Re: pain managemnet --yes I love it --I also love OB anesthesia . I am very sure PAIN is hard to get into when I know half my class wants to go into it and their only 2-3 spots for fellows each year.

one of my im attendings on the wards completed one year of anesthesia before switching to im. he said he wanted a more significant relationship with his patients and his colleagues. he's happy, but still wonders about how happy he would be if finished anesthesia. he's considering going back to complete his anesthesiology residency, but it's still up in the air.

 

[Tenesma]

first of all... internship is the best part of internal medicine - you learn the basics of taking care of patients... nothing much else happens during the next 2 years - you just languish on the floors doing another diabetic cellulitis admission... in fact the sub-specialties know that and that is why you start applying for medical sub-specialties after your intern year!

Finish anesthesia... do pain management. You will get continuity of care but you also will make 4-5 more than the IM people, and you still get to do procedures! and you can always go hide in the OR for cash and no patient headaches every once in a while...

 

[CambieMD]

first of all... internship is the best part of internal medicine - you learn the basics of taking care of patients... nothing much else happens during the next 2 years - you just languish on the floors doing another diabetic cellulitis admission... in fact the sub-specialties know that and that is why you start applying for medical sub-specialties after your intern year!

Finish anesthesia... do pain management. You will get continuity of care but you also will make 4-5 more than the IM people, and you still get to do procedures! and you can always go hide in the OR for cash and no patient headaches every once in a while...

I worked as an FP for four years prior to switching to anesthesia. Dude, please complete your gas residency before going off to do IM if you so decide.
Anesthesia provides you with the opportunity to sub-specialize if you want to.
Your medicine intership may have look romantic but practicing in the real world is nothing like internship. The crap that I had to put up with was amazing. Everyone dumped on me. I do not want to go into everything now . You can send me a pm. I have heard of guys who left anesthesia for medicine, they all regretted it. Nothing in healthcare is pie in the sky but some things definitely suck more than others.

Gas isn't perfect. Dealing with providers in other specialties can be a pain but nothing compares to the "issues" that I faced in primary care.

Every day as I learn to do more things and become more comfortable with being in the OR I realize that I made the right decision for me and my family.
(That looks like a run-on sentance, doesn't it).

CambieMD

 

[MDEntropy]

Quit anesthesia.

Do IM.

Do a cardiology fellowship.

It will be a long haul but you may get everything you want. Continuity of care, opportunity to do procedures, excellent lifestyle, intellectual rigor.

It makes practical sense to finish anesthesia if you will take and pass your written and oral boards.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

I don't think cardiology is all that lifestyle friendly. Have a few family friends that do interventional and they generally work surgeonesque hours. Really makes little sense these days to just do cards and not do the extra year for interventional. Thoughts?

 

[MD Dreams]

Doesn't critical care medicine also provide some degree of continuity of care? This is another fellowship anesthesia has to offer. Although I am in no way interested in medicine (I must be in the OR to be happy) and thus my opinion may be biased, I believe medicine is a very hard road with little reward at the end, but I'm sure there are few out there who really enjoy it. Good luck with your decision.

 

[MDEntropy]

Methinks lots of anesthesiologists work surgeons hours too. Have to. Just don't have to round. But the more you work, the more earn. And on an hourly basis interventional cardiologists make a great deal of money as far as physicians go.

Don't really think that critical care gives you that same type of continuity of care that primary care docs get. You can get that with cards tho.

 

[powermd]

Doesn't critical care medicine also provide some degree of continuity of care?

Continuity of care in critical care medicine has got to be one of the most depressing experiences a human can go through. Watching people languish.. going through the same sequence of steps as they inch closer toward death.. having to follow the absurd orders of a family that "wants everything done" for their trainwrecked relative is enough to kill anyone's enthusiasm for medicine. I honestly don't understand people who love critical care. I think I'll stick to the OR. If you want continuity of care, you really ought to seek the outpatient experience. Much more uplifting, and sustainable, IMHO.

 

[Milhouse Van Houten]

Can I ask why he wants to go back into anesthesia--is it because he is not satisfied or is it just to finish something he started.

I think he watches the anesthesiologists come in at six at leave at noon. he then starts to wonder about going back. it's pretty simple. he really enjoys IM but works hard and misses his life.

 

[Idiopathic]

Can I ask why he wants to go back into anesthesia--is it because he is not satisfied or is it just to finish something he started.

Honestly? Its because he has to wake up and do internal medicine every day. Guarantee.