How do you do it?

[Spodermin]

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I'm 24 years old and I recently noticed that I can't pull off all-nighters like I did when I was in pre-clinical years. I used to be able to function normally on 5 hours of sleep. I'm trying to get 7-8 hours of sleep now but that doesn't work out all the time, and when it doesn't it's not pretty. It takes me a good 1-2 hours to be able to function normally and I just feel groggy the entire day. I sleep through countless alarms, turn them off without remembering that I did, and a few weeks ago I woke up to find my alarm clock smashed and I don't recall doing it (I live alone btw)
Has anyone else gone through something similar?

I know that I'm not getting any younger but if I can't pull it off now I'm just worried that it will affect me throughout residency and, depending on my career choice, later as an attending.

Oh I dunno how relevant this is, but I have a history of sleep walking. It was pretty bad when I was a teenager but it happens very infrequently now.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

I can't pull off all-nighters like I used to before residency. I attribute that to the fact that medical school and residency are a lot more work than I was accustomed to earlier. I could still manage off 5 hours of sleep regularly in medical school, but by intern year, I needed to get a minimum of 6 hours of sleep or I'd struggle throughout the day.

More work, more sleep. I don't know how some surgical residents manage to stay up for 24+ hours in the OR STRAIGHT. Maybe that's why one orthopod resident I knew transferred to radiology after that.

 

[Entadus]

sdn is not for medical advice

what's your BMI? Sleep apnea is one idea

I'd also ask yourself screening questions for hypothyroidism and depression

How is your exercise and nutrition?

Also if you are a brand new M3, part of the answer is simply that you will adjust.

 

[LyMed]

Look up sleep hygiene.

 

[ChemEngMD]

 

[Spodermin]

sdn is not for medical advice

what's your BMI? Sleep apnea is one idea

I'd also ask yourself screening questions for hypothyroidism and depression

How is your exercise and nutrition?

Also if you are a brand new M3, part of the answer is simply that you will adjust.

Im not looking for medical advise. Just asking how do people cope with lack of sleep thats part ofnour job.

 

[TypeADissection]

You just kind of do because you have to. Not a very fulfilling answer but it's true. I wasn't one to pull all-nighters when I was in med school, but residency is a whole different ball of wax. If you find that you're really struggling when taking call on surgery and/or you don't like the kind of person you become when you're sleep deprived, then at least you have the self-awareness to choose a field that won't push you in that direction. Sick people don't abide by day time working hours.

 

[Tsunnami]

I'm just worried that it will affect me throughout residency and, depending on my career choice, later as an attending.

If that would be the case, would you quit and reconsider your decision in the Medical field ?

 

[jm192]

I'm 30 and find it's all mental. 2-4 AM are hard to get through. When 5 AM hits, it's a new day and it doesn't bother me. I try to keep myself distracted during the night. Residency/medical school have a funny way of doing that for you.

 

[Spodermin]

If that would be the case, would you quit and reconsider your decision in the Medical field ?

Go away troll.

 

[justabanana]

Honestly this has become a concern of mine relatively recently too. I'm 23 and I've noticed this last year that when my sleep hygiene gets sloppy, I get moody. It sucks because I was really thinking emergency medicine and now I'm debating if that's even an option given all the circadian nonsense they go through. I could work all nights no problem, I just need to get up and go to sleep around the same time most days. If I don't get that, I get insomnia and then those days with only 4-5 hours of sleep turn me into a diva...

I also have a history of sleep walking.