Is this normal...

[medicine!]

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I recently shadowed a Gynecologic Oncology surgeon and was in the OR for a day. It was my first ever exposure to surgery so I kind of knew I would not feel most comfortable. I tried telling myself that I was here learning so there was no reason to be scared or anything. I was just fine during that time. However, at the end of the day, I came out of the OR with a big headache. It's been a few days but the two laparoscopic surgery cases are still in my head, like I would imagine myself being on that surgical table one day and get freaked out a bit... Is this a red flag that medicine is not for me as if I can't handle seeing surgery? And how much of surgery do you partake in as a med student?

 

[freedoctor17]

I recently shadowed a Gynecologic Oncology surgeon and was in the OR for a day. It was my first ever exposure to surgery so I kind of knew I would not feel most comfortable. I tried telling myself that I was here learning so there was no reason to be scared or anything. I was just fine during that time. However, at the end of the day, I came out of the OR with a big headache. It's been a few days but the two laparoscopic surgery cases are still in my head, like I would imagine myself being on that surgical table one day and get freaked out a bit... Is this a red flag that medicine is not for me as if I can't handle seeing surgery? And how much of surgery do you partake in as a med student?

There are a ton of other areas you could work in. You don't need to be a surgeon. As long as you can get through the rotations for it you can just aim for a non invasive speciality.

 

[Oso]

It's not uncommon for people to feel uncomfortable after their first time in the OR. I think you should try to get more exposure to see if you feel more comfortable. I would in no way say this one instance now means you should never be a doctor. I've heard of several medical students passing out in the OR, sometimes repeatedly, and now they are all graduated or about to graduate. One thing you could try is watching some surgery videos on youtube. You can watch small clips at a time for little bits of exposure in a comfortable setting. I've heard that helps sometimes. Best of luck to you.

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

Reasons you could've had a headache: dehydration, stress, concentrating very hard on trying to not look stupid, staring at a monitor with an image without proper orientation or bearing on up vs down, etc.
Your thought process is concerning. You're letting one day of a generally positive experience where you ended up having a headache make you question your entire career path.

 

[Latteandaprayer]

I honestly can’t imagine anyone would leave their first surgery and be absolutely fine, unless they were meant for surgery or something 😉

Obviosuly it isn’t the same as opening a living human, but I felt the same when we dissected fetal pigs in high school. The first time, it was terrible for me. I made it through but I felt lightheaded. By the third day, I was completely fine and I felt nothing. I can only assume that med students who spend many weeks in a surgical rotation wouldn’t be as affected by the end as they would at the beginning.

 

[HomeSkool]

I got lightheaded my first time watching a knee arthrocentesis as an MS1, now I can look at necrotic guts without getting sick. These days, the only thing that still grosses me out is when the patient craps on the OR table. OP, don't get discouraged. Having a strong reaction the first time seeing surgery is normal.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

For me it's not the visual (that you can become used to), it's the smell (which causes the vomit reflex) and makes one question how the human body can produce something so unpleasant...

 

[Med Ed]

For me it's not the visual (that you can become used to), it's the smell (which causes the vomit reflex) and makes one question how the human body can produce something so unpleasant...

 

[crazyasian]

I've known students that have fainted in the OR (really just 1) then have gone on to go into surgery. Its a new experience and just takes time to get used to. There are so many great specialities though that don't require surgery though so don't let this experience change your mind

 

[Oso]

How freakin' dare u