Normal for docs to have "weak stomach"

[lahaiesi]

Hey guys!
So I'm about to start med school this year...woohoo! But today something happened that has me slightly concerned for my future as a doctor. I currently work in a veterinary clinic and we had to lance an abscess. During the procedure, I broke up in cold sweats and had to excuse myself before passing out. I don't have the true "weak stomach" with vomiting; I have a larger tendency to get lightheaded/pass out. I'm hoping this can be a normal thing when watching first-time procedures and can become desensitized over time. Has anyone ever had this issue and overcame it? Thanks!

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[memory tcells]

Hey guys!
So I'm about to start med school this year...woohoo! But today something happened that has me slightly concerned for my future as a doctor. I currently work in a veterinary clinic and we had to lance an abscess. During the procedure, I broke up in cold sweats and had to excuse myself before passing out. I don't have the true "weak stomach" with vomiting; I have a larger tendency to get lightheaded/pass out. I'm hoping this can be a normal thing when watching first-time procedures and can become desensitized over time. Has anyone ever had this issue and overcame it? Thanks!

I was shadowing a urologist that was performing surgery on a man who had an infected abscess. Watching him remove the absess in conjunction with the smell of cauterizing flesh made me feel lightheaded and so I had to lie down so as to avoid fainting. After this incident, I had the same concern as you but after doing some research the general consensus among SDN was that this can be overcome in medical school due to more frequent exposure to these things. I think there were also some external factors that lead to me fainting such as dehydration, low-sodium diet (barely ate at all that day and it was a late surgery, 6pm), and standing for long periods.

 

[exacto]

I always thought it was funny that a doctor or any health care provider would have a weak stomach, kinda like a bank teller who is disgusted by money....haha. With enough time and exposure to death/injury/disease/etc. , everything will seem normal to you.

I personally think opening someone up and looking inside is freaking amazing, and death doesn't faze me at all, but the thing that makes me gag is the smell of fresh churned diarrhea.... Holy ****, it's god awful.

 

[lahaiesi]

I was shadowing a urologist that was performing surgery on a man who had an infected abscess. Watching him remove the absess in conjunction with the smell of cauterizing flesh made me feel lightheaded and so I had to lie down so as to avoid fainting. After this incident, I had the same concern as you but after doing some research the general consensus among SDN was that this can be overcome in medical school due to more frequent exposure to these things. I think there were also some external factors that lead to me fainting such as dehydration, low-sodium diet (barely ate at all that day and it was a late surgery, 6pm), and standing for long periods.

Thanks for this! 🙂 it's always good to hear others stories so you don't feel alone! I definitely noticed my queasiness always happens when I don't eat breakfast, which happened today so I think that's my biggest factor in everything! I'm glad to know its a common thing!

 

[lahaiesi]

I always thought it was funny that a doctor or any health care provider would have a weak stomach, kinda like a bank teller who is disgusted by money....haha. With enough time and exposure to death/injury/disease/etc. , everything will seem normal to you.

I personally think opening someone up and looking inside is freaking amazing, and death doesn't faze me at all, but the thing that makes me gag is the smell of fresh churned diarrhea.... Holy ****, it's god awful.

yea I think the dog crap I smell all the time is awful, I can't even imagine fresh human...I don't think I'll ever be prepared for that!

 

[DocVapor]

Fournier's Gangrene; C. Diff colitis; Retained tampons; etc.

These are all wonderful benefits to working in healthcare, and you will become desensitized. In fact, you might even get to the point where you appreciate the odors, because they can oftentimes give the the diagnosis as you walk in the door.

 

[memory tcells]

yea I think the dog crap I smell all the time is awful, I can't even imagine fresh human...I don't think I'll ever be prepared for that!

Fournier's Gangrene; C. Diff colitis; Retained tampons; etc.

These are all wonderful benefits to working in healthcare, and you will become desensitized. In fact, you might even get to the point where you appreciate the odors, because they can oftentimes give the the diagnosis as you walk in the door.

Oh geez, I remember C. Diff from my nursing assistant days. Always fun to arrive to work 6am with that smell in the halls.

 

[lahaiesi]

Fournier's Gangrene; C. Diff colitis; Retained tampons; etc.

These are all wonderful benefits to working in healthcare, and you will become desensitized. In fact, you might even get to the point where you appreciate the odors, because they can oftentimes give the the diagnosis as you walk in the door.

It all just sounds so wonderful!! I'm sure one day I'll be wishing I could go back to the abscessed paw!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You get used to it. When we did a hemisection of a pelvis I got light headed when my professor sawed and then pulled the leg off. Then when I did it I was mostly just like ok.

 

[Mbeas]

totally normal.

most people get used to it, but I do know of a few 4th year students who still don't handle it well. obviously, they are going into non-surgical fields so it isn't as big of a deal.

 

[lahaiesi]

totally normal.

most people get used to it, but I do know of a few 4th year students who still don't handle it well. obviously, they are going into non-surgical fields so it isn't as big of a deal.

Yea I'm wanting to do neonatology so I just have to push through surgical/ER rotations haha. Glad to hear it's not uncommon though 🙂

 

[Mbeas]

Yea I'm wanting to do neonatology so I just have to push through surgical/ER rotations haha. Glad to hear it's not uncommon though 🙂

exactly. just a tip as you proceed into your surgery rotation 3rd year: if you are feeling lightheaded, make it known and remove yourself from the sterile field. go sit down. don't try to be a tough guy because you'll pass out and make a lot more problems.

good luck.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

Interestingly, most doctors I know have 1 thing that really just grosses them out. I'm a family doctor and hate hate hate the sound of suctioning respiratory secretions. My internist wife can't stand anything to do with eyes. Her OB/GYN father has a really hard time with abscesses. My FM uncle passes out with blood draws.

When you find your one thing, just find a field that doesn't deal with it all that often.

 

[lahaiesi]

Interestingly, most doctors I know have 1 thing that really just grosses them out. I'm a family doctor and hate hate hate the sound of suctioning respiratory secretions. My internist wife can't stand anything to do with eyes. Her OB/GYN father has a really hard time with abscesses. My FM uncle passes out with blood draws.

When you find your one thing, just find a field that doesn't deal with it all that often.

It's great to hear it's normal! 🙂 thank you!

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

We had a trauma the other day at my work and the patient was in a MVA and needed some face work done so the OMFS guy and Occular plastic guy were working together and the Occular asked the OMFS doc to hold something and then proceeded to stick a needle straight on the patients eye, the OMF doc passed out cold and fell straight back 🤣the other doc looked around like, "what the f just happened?"

 

[lahaiesi]

We had a trauma the other day at my work and the patient was in a MVA and needed some face work done so the OMFS guy and Occular plastic guy were working together and the Occular asked the OMFS doc to hold something and then proceeded to stick a needle straight on the patients eye, the OMF doc passed out cold and fell straight back 🤣the other doc looked around like, "what the f just happened?"

That's funny! I would probably do the same! Eyes are probably the worst for me!

 

[More_Medz]

Just wanted to throw in my two cents..

I have worked in a wound care clinic for the past two years dealing mostly with non healing diabetic ulcers. At first, I had to look away from some of the debridements especially when it was exposed bone. But now, two years later, it is actually very soothing, oddly enough and I enjoying seeing all the cool stuff!

 

[Psai]

Anatomy class desensitizes you to nearly everything
Once you've been inside someone's body for a few months, pretty nothing fazes you

 

[D4C]

First time smelling the bovie was funky as hell to me. Like everyone says, you get used to it.

 

[sylvanthus]

Bahh its fine, I used to pass out at the sight of blood.

 

[DrMcCoyDO]

Interestingly, most doctors I know have 1 thing that really just grosses them out. I'm a family doctor and hate hate hate the sound of suctioning respiratory secretions. My internist wife can't stand anything to do with eyes. Her OB/GYN father has a really hard time with abscesses. My FM uncle passes out with blood draws.

When you find your one thing, just find a field that doesn't deal with it all that often.

It's avulsions for me. I've had patient vomit, feces, urine, and blood on me before, and I was pretty much unfazed, but seeing skin peeled back from a trauma makes me want to vomit. I'm getting past that though, since I'll have to deal with them if I stick with my plan of going into emergency medicine.

 

[hallowmann]

Then why do so many M3s faint on their surgery clerkship???

Long periods of standing, not eating, dehydration, etc. all make you more sensitive to things that normally wouldn't faze you. For me the heat is what made me feel light-headed the two times I felt like I might faint. Gowning up with a heavy lead apron, a tight thyroid guard, mask tightly fixed over my nose and mouth, then proceeding through a 6 hr surgery where you're mostly lifting up an appendage or retracting a pannus of a 400lb patient in a room that's for some reason way too hot. In a nice cool room without the lead, no issues at all.

 

[lahaiesi]

Long periods of standing, not eating, dehydration, etc. all make you more sensitive to things that normally wouldn't faze you. For me the heat is what made me feel light-headed the two times I felt like I might faint. Gowning up with a heavy lead apron, a tight thyroid guard, mask tightly fixed over my nose and mouth, then proceeding through a 6 hr surgery where you're mostly lifting up an appendage or retracting a pannus of a 400lb patient in a room that's for some reason way too hot. In a nice cool room without the lead, no issues at all.

Yea I can imagine that being a difficult work environment. I definitely notice I'm way more sensitive if I haven't eaten.

 

[Psai]

Then why do so many M3s faint on their surgery clerkship???

I dunno, I shadowed as a college student and was fine

 

[hallowmann]

Wuss

Good form young surgeon

 

[sharpstickie]

I've had the Figure1 app on my phone and I mainly use it to desensitize for the meanwhile. There's some juicy stuff on there.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Long periods of standing, not eating, dehydration, etc. all make you more sensitive to things that normally wouldn't faze you. For me the heat is what made me feel light-headed the two times I felt like I might faint. Gowning up with a heavy lead apron, a tight thyroid guard, mask tightly fixed over my nose and mouth, then proceeding through a 6 hr surgery where you're mostly lifting up an appendage or retracting a pannus of a 400lb patient in a room that's for some reason way too hot. In a nice cool room without the lead, no issues at all.

Dear god yes. Never fainted on a surgery rotation but I can see why people did - put on multiple layers of stuff (lead is the worst) so you can go stand under hot lights for hours in a room where the temperature seems to be 80 degrees ambient, all while doing some isometrics (retracting/holding up limbs/etc)...I can remember a number of procedures were myself and other student colleagues would be completely soaked with sweat after scrubbing out.

 

[SnowDoggy44]

Dear god yes. Never fainted on a surgery rotation but I can see why people did - put on multiple layers of stuff (lead is the worst) so you can go stand under hot lights for hours in a room where the temperature seems to be 80 degrees ambient, all while doing some isometrics (retracting/holding up limbs/etc)...I can remember a number of procedures were myself and other student colleagues would be completely soaked with sweat after scrubbing out.

I think in some institutions, the OR room temperature is kept higher for neonate and infant cases which amplifies the discomfort for the operating team. A case of hernia repair on an infant where I felt particularly overheated was the only time I nearly passed out and had to leave the OR. The important thing is to recognize what you are feeling/experiencing so you can get to where you won't potentially harm yourself or the ongoing procedure.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

Hey guys!
So I'm about to start med school this year...woohoo! But today something happened that has me slightly concerned for my future as a doctor. I currently work in a veterinary clinic and we had to lance an abscess. During the procedure, I broke up in cold sweats and had to excuse myself before passing out. I don't have the true "weak stomach" with vomiting; I have a larger tendency to get lightheaded/pass out. I'm hoping this can be a normal thing when watching first-time procedures and can become desensitized over time. Has anyone ever had this issue and overcame it? Thanks!

Eh you'll be desensitized by it soon enough.

 

[GUH]

I know a lot of people in medical school who can get lightheaded at the sight of blood and guts, including myself. I have yet to see someone have to drop out because of it. Follow the others' advice and be sure to excuse yourself before passing out. Even if your issue does not go away completely there are ways to mitigate it.

 

[GUH]

I think in some institutions, the OR room temperature is kept higher for neonate and infant cases which amplifies the discomfort for the operating team. A case of hernia repair on an infant where I felt particularly overheated was the only time I nearly passed out and had to leave the OR. The important thing is to recognize what you are feeling/experiencing so you can get to where you won't potentially harm yourself or the ongoing procedure.

I didn't know this.
Is that why the OB ORs I've been in are warmer too?

 

[lahaiesi]

I know a lot of people in medical school who can get lightheaded at the sight of blood and guts, including myself. I have yet to see someone have to drop out because of it. Follow the others' advice and be sure to excuse yourself before passing out. Even if your issue does not go away completely there are ways to mitigate it.

Thank you for the advice 🙂

 

[SnowDoggy44]

I didn't know this.
Is that why the OB ORs I've been in are warmer too?

Perhaps, but I see less of it mentioned in the OB or OB anesthesia textbooks compared to pediatric anesthesiology.

 

[JustPlainBill]

The fall before medical school on my interview -- they take us to the anatomy lab -- this is my first med school interview and I'm nervous as heck about seeing, much less working on a dead body. We go into the lab and I'm at the back of the crowd trying to look interested/act like I'm able to see without really seeing anything. Figured passing out/getting weirded out on an interview was a definite no-no --- I think I saw all of a bisected vertebral segment.....

Fall of med school, having just survived the Biochem/Cell Biology course, we're now in musculoskeletal -- the course director used to make us watch this video produced by UTMB about people who donated their bodies to science. The department would also have family members of the cadaveric specimens come in and tell us a little about their family members that we were about to dissect in an effort to emphasize the incredible experience we were about to have and not to take it lightly.

That first dissection was over the upper back -- my tank mates went out to get our gloves and I opened the tank and raised the specimen up. I had my gloves so I put my hand on the specimen's back and breathed a quick prayer, asking them to forgive me for what I was about to do to them.....Did I know they had gone on to their just rewards? Yes, but this was more for me than anything else. Didn't pass out on that day or any other.

By thanksgiving of my first year of medical school, while taking Neuro, I'm standing at the head of the tank with a tree saw in my hand, holding the left side of the head, 2 of my tankmates are holding the shoulders and the other tankmate is reading the procedure --- and I'm bisecting the skull with a tree saw down to the sternal notch to get an appreciation of the medial aspect of the head/neck anatomy. Once we had the head/neck bisected and found the structures we needed for that day, we all washed our hands, booked down for lunch and got ready for an afternoon class.

You get used to it. They train/expose you in stages, you'll be fine --- soon you'll look at a kid who's arm was torn up by Dad's circular saw in a construction accident and it won't be any big deal, you just move quickly with what has to be done to keep the patient hemodynamically stable until the cavalry arrives.

By my PGY2 year, I wasn't phased by things like rectal abscesses being lanced in the exam space in the ER, draining a peritonsillar abscess in the trauma bay, suturing up an attempted suicide who slashed bilateral wrists, cutting the clothing off an attempted suicide who tried to burn themselves to death, the patient who was stabbed in the head at church, the AKA we did for tertiary hypoparathyroidism, the toe amputation for DM, etc.

You get used to it.

HOWEVER -- DO NOT discuss that stuff around the dinner table with your family or with extended family during the holidays --- don't ask me how I know....to this day, my wife will not eat green beans if I'm talking anything medical and sometimes I think my children will ask how my day was just to see if any stories will happen that will gross Mom out....word to the wise....