POTS 3rd year rotations

[moisne]

So I have a medical issue where I can't stand too long or I faint. I attempted to stand in once for surgery and I became their second patient. This happens when I go on tours (where they stop and stare at things for a long time) or at church - basically anywhere I need to stand for prolonged period of time.

I'm going into 3rd year soon - is this a valid reason to request I have all my surgical rotations towards the end to allow me some more time to get this issue worked up (and hope it gets better)? I'm being referred to cardio/neuro - but I don't know when I'll get "fixed".

Also - what happens if I never get "fixed"? Will I just end up failing all my surgical rotations? (OB and Surg?)

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[DokterMom]

Sounds like a pretty good reason to me -- better than most anyway! And good luck getting a diagnosis and remedy.

 

[Donald Juan]

Yes, it sounds like a decent reason to request that. Most places you should be able to get through surgery and OB without being in the OR if there is an issue; there is always wards, consults, and clinics to support, and if you are going into a non-surgical field you have more to learn in those places than standing at the foot of the bed in the OR.

 

[Psai]

What's it called?

 

[WedgeDawg]

What's it called?

Pretty sure it's POTS as stated in the thread title

 

[Hangry]

Also - what happens if I never get "fixed"? Will I just end up failing all my surgical rotations? (OB and Surg?)

Only your school can answer the above, but they will almost certainly not fail you. Maybe you just never scrub, maybe you do ortho hand or some other type of surgery where the cases are done sitting, maybe you do a rotation with really short cases? Maybe you scrub like any other student but always have a chair behind you if you need it? I know there are some people at my school who will never be able to scrub for a surgery in the traditional way, and they got accepted regardless, so there must be a way.

 

[mbeus]

I had POTS; there's not really a cure for it. For me, it just went away on its own. But I have a friend who graduated med school with POTS. She was fine. Just got permission to sit down whenever she needed to.

 

[Snoopy2006]

Any decent school and clerkship director will work with you. Depending on how long you can stand for, you should still be able to get in the OR. They'd probably just have you observe so you can break when needed, rather than holding retractors and things. Definitely be up front about it so it doesn't affect your evaluations (let your surgery attending know that you might have to break after a certain period of time for medical reasons, so you're not mistaken as being disinterested). I wouldn't worry too much about it - the school should work with you.

 

[chillaxbro]

Cool profile pic OP. What is it?

 

[futureoncdoc06]

I know this is an old thread but I too have POTS. Did you ever find relief?

 

[PrettyLadyDoc24]

I know this is an old thread but I too have POTS. Did you ever find relief?

POTS-er here! I just carried snacks with me and requested to sit when needed. No one will fault you for needing to sit down because if you fall and get hurt, that could mean monstrous consequences for all involved.