RANT HERE thread

Started by flyhi
Veterinary School Application Advising Ad
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
genny said:
tj.news

Supplies truck bound for Canadian island denied entry at U.S. border

Bonded vehicle faced delays making Campobello deliveries
tj.news tj.news
it's getting pretty bad. Campobello Island has a park dedicated to cooperation between the US and Canada, and this is how we're cooperating now.
Click to expand...
I feel like trying to bring a bunch of inhalers back wouldn't go well. I may or may not have made some interesting choices about what I had in the subfloor of my trunk coming back over to the US when I was 19/20, but these days my drive for self-preservation is a little higher :laugh:
 
pp9 said:
I feel like trying to bring a bunch of inhalers back wouldn't go well. I may or may not have made some interesting choices about what I had in the subfloor of my trunk coming back over to the US when I was 19/20, but these days my drive for self-preservation is a little higher :laugh:
Click to expand...
Just go for a concert or event or something and stay overnight and then get all your inhalers. Less suspicious if you’re not there for only two hours 😂😂😂😂😂
 
pp9 said:
I feel like trying to bring a bunch of inhalers back wouldn't go well. I may or may not have made some interesting choices about what I had in the subfloor of my trunk coming back over to the US when I was 19/20, but these days my drive for self-preservation is a little higher :laugh:
Click to expand...
I accidentally brought throwing stars that I bought in Europe across the border when I went on a high school trip. I was shaking in my boots because they had dogs on the bus but it was 1 am and the agents were exhausted and by the time I got to them they asked “do you have anything to declare other than pasta and olive oil?”
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Had a horrendous 48 hours on call that featured me being in the hospital for about 40?-42? of those hours and had a star hitter of euthanizing a case on the table. Was topped off today by the ER student who had that case before I took it to surgery asking me if "you're going to kill any of my other patients today".

I'm sure it was a poorly thought out attempt at a joke, but it felt really awful.
 
supershorty said:
Had a horrendous 48 hours on call that featured me being in the hospital for about 40?-42? of those hours and had a star hitter of euthanizing a case on the table. Was topped off today by the ER student who had that case before I took it to surgery asking me if "you're going to kill any of my other patients today".

I'm sure it was a poorly thought out attempt at a joke, but it felt really awful.
Click to expand...
First of all, I'm really sorry.
Second of all, why would anyone ever say that?
 
_rae_ said:
I accidentally brought throwing stars that I bought in Europe across the border when I went on a high school trip. I was shaking in my boots because they had dogs on the bus but it was 1 am and the agents were exhausted and by the time I got to them they asked “do you have anything to declare other than pasta and olive oil?”
Click to expand...
When hubs and I flew to Paris during my first year of vet school, my carry on was my school backpack. I forgot that I had an entire box of surgical blades, scissors, and other potentially dangerous tools in one of my pouches for anatomy. I didn't realize they were in there until we flew back home and I was unpacking, but did I get stopped at any point? Nope. Which is actually kinda scary...we went through at least two checkpoints each way, too.

katiemcat said:
I’ve had this illness 4 days and I’m not feeling any better? wtf is this plague?
Click to expand...
Still struggling here too. Endless congestion and coughing.

supershorty said:
asking me if "you're going to kill any of my other patients today".

I'm sure it was a poorly thought out attempt at a joke, but it felt really awful.
Click to expand...
Worth talking to their rotation supervisor over this comment
 
pp9 said:
Which is actually kinda scary...we went through at least two checkpoints each way, too.
Click to expand...
Yikes they didn’t even see it on the x-ray???

I at least checked that throwing stars are legal in Canada and the state I was in (they are). I did not check if they were legally to import by land or by air (they are NOT).
 
katiemcat said:
I have Covid, bronchitis, and sinusitis
Click to expand...
again

smoke room GIF


What are they putting you on? I'm not sure that I/hubs feel bad enough to warrant urgent care but I do wonder about this congestion that's been lingering this long being a sinus infection...
 
pp9 said:
again

smoke room GIF


What are they putting you on? I'm not sure that I/hubs feel bad enough to warrant urgent care but I do wonder about this congestion that's been lingering this long being a sinus infection...
Click to expand...
Clavamox and pred. They assured me it’s safe to continue bfing which was my main concern. I would prob go be seen if you still feel like death cause I don’t think I’m kicking this any time soon without meds.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Not an airplane, but there was a Walgreens I would stop at all the time when I was in college. The woman who worked there never, ever smiled. Nary a joke or cute baby could crack her. One day, the little plastic flashcard holder I bought at Dollar Tree fell out of my purse in the checkout line when I was reaching for my wallet and broke. Quite literally 650 flashcards fell out and got all over the floor. She laughed and said, “So much stuff for such a little person!”. At least I was the one person who made the cross checkout lady laugh.
 
Last edited:
407 anatomy structures across the entire body, GI phys along with pharmacokinetics and acid-base balancing, plus pathology which is all over the place...i am starting not to feel hopeful i will pass on friday. i took my pathology practice exam and could not name tissue type + type of cancer/growth or how each species will react to a certain -oma or -carcinoma. i'm starting to feel like i'm not meant to do this and that there was some sort of error with me being let in here. no matter how many late nights i spend at school, or how many hours i study, i just feel like im constantly behind and that i'm supposed to know more than i know. is this a right of passage? did everyone feel this way? no clue because there's people scoring high A's on every exam and im over here celebrating that i've passed one of of two so far. ugh
 
vampyrica said:
407 anatomy structures across the entire body, GI phys along with pharmacokinetics and acid-base balancing, plus pathology which is all over the place...i am starting not to feel hopeful i will pass on friday. i took my pathology practice exam and could not name tissue type + type of cancer/growth or how each species will react to a certain -oma or -carcinoma.
Click to expand...
ofc i only have my own school to compare to but this seems like a lot of only semi-related topics at once, which probably makes things much harder. pharmacokinetics was basically a completely separate block for us (immune block) and we still have not done cancer path as of now in second year. i imagine with a new curriculum they’re probably still finding their footing on organization but it must be hard to be in the middle of it. also life gets so much better once ur out of anatomy lab
 
vampyrica said:
407 anatomy structures across the entire body, GI phys along with pharmacokinetics and acid-base balancing, plus pathology which is all over the place...i am starting not to feel hopeful i will pass on friday. i took my pathology practice exam and could not name tissue type + type of cancer/growth or how each species will react to a certain -oma or -carcinoma. i'm starting to feel like i'm not meant to do this and that there was some sort of error with me being let in here. no matter how many late nights i spend at school, or how many hours i study, i just feel like im constantly behind and that i'm supposed to know more than i know. is this a right of passage? did everyone feel this way? no clue because there's people scoring high A's on every exam and im over here celebrating that i've passed one of of two so far. ugh
Click to expand...
Dude your curriculum sounds SUPER hard. everything we’re doing is connected— we do anatomy by body region, and then we do histology, embryology, imaging, and physical exam of each region as we go. I literally have no idea how you’re handling things ON TOP of anatomy.
 
vampyrica said:
407 anatomy structures across the entire body, GI phys along with pharmacokinetics and acid-base balancing, plus pathology which is all over the place...i am starting not to feel hopeful i will pass on friday. i took my pathology practice exam and could not name tissue type + type of cancer/growth or how each species will react to a certain -oma or -carcinoma. i'm starting to feel like i'm not meant to do this and that there was some sort of error with me being let in here. no matter how many late nights i spend at school, or how many hours i study, i just feel like im constantly behind and that i'm supposed to know more than i know. is this a right of passage? did everyone feel this way? no clue because there's people scoring high A's on every exam and im over here celebrating that i've passed one of of two so far. ugh
Click to expand...
Definitely a right of passage, it's not just you!

I feel like part of the vet school experience is figuring out study methods that are most efficient for you so you're using the least time possible for maximum results. So it might be worth trying to approach things differently if your current methods aren't working for you. And at the end of the day you're just never ever ever going to be able to learn it all.
 
I dont think I want to be a vet anymore. I am about halfway through term 3 (first semester of 2nd year). I love animals obviously. But vet med? I cant say the same. I truly dont know if I could see myself in this field longterm. Im scared that if my heart is not 100% set on vet med and I continue schooling and accumulating loans I will just be ruining my life. But with the state of the economy right now, I’m also scared if I do choose to drop out (with the disgusting predatory loans I already have and no clear backup plan) that would be ruining my life.


First, I hate my school. I go to SGU. The quality of education is poor due to major changes in curriculum and in staffing and a new dean who is clearly prioritizing profit over education (I know all colleges are a business but at least try to hide it and act like they care about students lol). It’s been deteriorating my mental health insanely, and I’m so far away from my support system at home, which I also just feel like all of that is ruining me. Mental health care here is also very, very, very subpar. I went to the psychiatrist and he broke confidentiality directly in front of me (I am bipolar, he answered a phone call and stated my name, school and that I’m bipolar WITHOUT MY CONSENT TO!!!). HIPAA doesnt exist here and I cannot report him due to him not practing on US soil. Luckily I was able to get refills from a GP doctor but there are no other psychiatrists I know of on the island (I’ve asked the GP and she said she doesn’t know of any that students can go to) and to increase my dose for my antidepressant and/or mood stabilizer I would need to go to a psychiatrist, but I cannot bring myself to go back to the one I had seen due to the disrespect and the overall principle of it (two of my friends also have had poor encounters with him) the psychological services is also subpar, I’ve tried one on one psychotherapy and group psychotherapy and neither of them have been beneficial for me.

Second, I dont have any experience in the field where I feel like I have a mentor or anybody to look towards. I worked at 2 animal hospitals, one where the doctors didnt even know my name because I was working in the back as a kennel worker/glorified janitor. 2nd hospital the doctor was a raging dingus, about as unsupportive as they come. Summer between year 1 and year 2 I was recovering from breaking my ankle and having surgery for it at the end of my first year (SGU had a lot of promises of accessibility they'd provide me which at least half of them I didnt even get lol), so I could not work, shadow or do anything (vet med or not vet med, basically a big fat waste of a summer). Not having those good memories or good guidance feels very heavy to me, especially for a field as stressful as vet med. Also having little clinical experience compared to a lot of people in my class also makes it feel impossible to not compare myself to other classmates and feel even worse about myself being in this field.

I just go day to day, trying to bring myself any enjoyment or any motivation to care but unfortunately I am not. I dont know if its just my mental health, if its my school, my lack of experience, a mix of all the above. Im not sure. Sitting through lecture, going to clinical skills lab, all of it just feels like such a chore. Last year whenever I had doubts I always told myself to just make it through didactics then for clinical year I will be off this island and I’ll feel like I’m where I should be, but now I cant even try to tell myself that because I dont believe it anymore. I dont believe I’m adding anything to this field, and I dont believe this field is adding anything to me. But I feel stuck mainly financially but also with the time and effort I have put into this so far turning back now feels wrong, but continuing doesnt feel right. I dont know what to think or do anymore.
 
spicycookie33 said:
I dont think I want to be a vet anymore. I am about halfway through term 3 (first semester of 2nd year). I love animals obviously. But vet med? I cant say the same. I truly dont know if I could see myself in this field longterm. Im scared that if my heart is not 100% set on vet med and I continue schooling and accumulating loans I will just be ruining my life. But with the state of the economy right now, I’m also scared if I do choose to drop out (with the disgusting predatory loans I already have and no clear backup plan) that would be ruining my life.


First, I hate my school. I go to SGU. The quality of education is poor due to major changes in curriculum and in staffing and a new dean who is clearly prioritizing profit over education (I know all colleges are a business but at least try to hide it and act like they care about students lol). It’s been deteriorating my mental health insanely, and I’m so far away from my support system at home, which I also just feel like all of that is ruining me. Mental health care here is also very, very, very subpar. I went to the psychiatrist and he broke confidentiality directly in front of me (I am bipolar, he answered a phone call and stated my name, school and that I’m bipolar WITHOUT MY CONSENT TO!!!). HIPAA doesnt exist here and I cannot report him due to him not practing on US soil. Luckily I was able to get refills from a GP doctor but there are no other psychiatrists I know of on the island (I’ve asked the GP and she said she doesn’t know of any that students can go to) and to increase my dose for my antidepressant and/or mood stabilizer I would need to go to a psychiatrist, but I cannot bring myself to go back to the one I had seen due to the disrespect and the overall principle of it (two of my friends also have had poor encounters with him) the psychological services is also subpar, I’ve tried one on one psychotherapy and group psychotherapy and neither of them have been beneficial for me.

Second, I dont have any experience in the field where I feel like I have a mentor or anybody to look towards. I worked at 2 animal hospitals, one where the doctors didnt even know my name because I was working in the back as a kennel worker/glorified janitor. 2nd hospital the doctor was a raging dingus, about as unsupportive as they come. Summer between year 1 and year 2 I was recovering from breaking my ankle and having surgery for it at the end of my first year (SGU had a lot of promises of accessibility they'd provide me which at least half of them I didnt even get lol), so I could not work, shadow or do anything (vet med or not vet med, basically a big fat waste of a summer). Not having those good memories or good guidance feels very heavy to me, especially for a field as stressful as vet med. Also having little clinical experience compared to a lot of people in my class also makes it feel impossible to not compare myself to other classmates and feel even worse about myself being in this field.

I just go day to day, trying to bring myself any enjoyment or any motivation to care but unfortunately I am not. I dont know if its just my mental health, if its my school, my lack of experience, a mix of all the above. Im not sure. Sitting through lecture, going to clinical skills lab, all of it just feels like such a chore. Last year whenever I had doubts I always told myself to just make it through didactics then for clinical year I will be off this island and I’ll feel like I’m where I should be, but now I cant even try to tell myself that because I dont believe it anymore. I dont believe I’m adding anything to this field, and I dont believe this field is adding anything to me. But I feel stuck mainly financially but also with the time and effort I have put into this so far turning back now feels wrong, but continuing doesnt feel right. I dont know what to think or do anymore.
Click to expand...
Can you take a leave of absence and go home for a bit to get yourself sorted? 🙁 I'm sorry.
 
vampyrica said:
407 anatomy structures across the entire body, GI phys along with pharmacokinetics and acid-base balancing, plus pathology which is all over the place...i am starting not to feel hopeful i will pass on friday. i took my pathology practice exam and could not name tissue type + type of cancer/growth or how each species will react to a certain -oma or -carcinoma. i'm starting to feel like i'm not meant to do this and that there was some sort of error with me being let in here. no matter how many late nights i spend at school, or how many hours i study, i just feel like im constantly behind and that i'm supposed to know more than i know. is this a right of passage? did everyone feel this way? no clue because there's people scoring high A's on every exam and im over here celebrating that i've passed one of of two so far. ugh
Click to expand...
Are there office hours? YouTube? Tutors? No shame In YouTube to help give another perspective/context
 
spicycookie33 said:
I dont think I want to be a vet anymore. I am about halfway through term 3 (first semester of 2nd year). I love animals obviously. But vet med? I cant say the same. I truly dont know if I could see myself in this field longterm. Im scared that if my heart is not 100% set on vet med and I continue schooling and accumulating loans I will just be ruining my life. But with the state of the economy right now, I’m also scared if I do choose to drop out (with the disgusting predatory loans I already have and no clear backup plan) that would be ruining my life.


First, I hate my school. I go to SGU. The quality of education is poor due to major changes in curriculum and in staffing and a new dean who is clearly prioritizing profit over education (I know all colleges are a business but at least try to hide it and act like they care about students lol). It’s been deteriorating my mental health insanely, and I’m so far away from my support system at home, which I also just feel like all of that is ruining me. Mental health care here is also very, very, very subpar. I went to the psychiatrist and he broke confidentiality directly in front of me (I am bipolar, he answered a phone call and stated my name, school and that I’m bipolar WITHOUT MY CONSENT TO!!!). HIPAA doesnt exist here and I cannot report him due to him not practing on US soil. Luckily I was able to get refills from a GP doctor but there are no other psychiatrists I know of on the island (I’ve asked the GP and she said she doesn’t know of any that students can go to) and to increase my dose for my antidepressant and/or mood stabilizer I would need to go to a psychiatrist, but I cannot bring myself to go back to the one I had seen due to the disrespect and the overall principle of it (two of my friends also have had poor encounters with him) the psychological services is also subpar, I’ve tried one on one psychotherapy and group psychotherapy and neither of them have been beneficial for me.

Second, I dont have any experience in the field where I feel like I have a mentor or anybody to look towards. I worked at 2 animal hospitals, one where the doctors didnt even know my name because I was working in the back as a kennel worker/glorified janitor. 2nd hospital the doctor was a raging dingus, about as unsupportive as they come. Summer between year 1 and year 2 I was recovering from breaking my ankle and having surgery for it at the end of my first year (SGU had a lot of promises of accessibility they'd provide me which at least half of them I didnt even get lol), so I could not work, shadow or do anything (vet med or not vet med, basically a big fat waste of a summer). Not having those good memories or good guidance feels very heavy to me, especially for a field as stressful as vet med. Also having little clinical experience compared to a lot of people in my class also makes it feel impossible to not compare myself to other classmates and feel even worse about myself being in this field.

I just go day to day, trying to bring myself any enjoyment or any motivation to care but unfortunately I am not. I dont know if its just my mental health, if its my school, my lack of experience, a mix of all the above. Im not sure. Sitting through lecture, going to clinical skills lab, all of it just feels like such a chore. Last year whenever I had doubts I always told myself to just make it through didactics then for clinical year I will be off this island and I’ll feel like I’m where I should be, but now I cant even try to tell myself that because I dont believe it anymore. I dont believe I’m adding anything to this field, and I dont believe this field is adding anything to me. But I feel stuck mainly financially but also with the time and effort I have put into this so far turning back now feels wrong, but continuing doesnt feel right. I dont know what to think or do anymore.
Click to expand...
Can you transfer to a different program (US side) I know it’s rare… but it could be a possibility!
 
spicycookie33 said:
I dont think I want to be a vet anymore. I am about halfway through term 3 (first semester of 2nd year). I love animals obviously. But vet med? I cant say the same. I truly dont know if I could see myself in this field longterm. Im scared that if my heart is not 100% set on vet med and I continue schooling and accumulating loans I will just be ruining my life. But with the state of the economy right now, I’m also scared if I do choose to drop out (with the disgusting predatory loans I already have and no clear backup plan) that would be ruining my life.


First, I hate my school. I go to SGU. The quality of education is poor due to major changes in curriculum and in staffing and a new dean who is clearly prioritizing profit over education (I know all colleges are a business but at least try to hide it and act like they care about students lol). It’s been deteriorating my mental health insanely, and I’m so far away from my support system at home, which I also just feel like all of that is ruining me. Mental health care here is also very, very, very subpar. I went to the psychiatrist and he broke confidentiality directly in front of me (I am bipolar, he answered a phone call and stated my name, school and that I’m bipolar WITHOUT MY CONSENT TO!!!). HIPAA doesnt exist here and I cannot report him due to him not practing on US soil. Luckily I was able to get refills from a GP doctor but there are no other psychiatrists I know of on the island (I’ve asked the GP and she said she doesn’t know of any that students can go to) and to increase my dose for my antidepressant and/or mood stabilizer I would need to go to a psychiatrist, but I cannot bring myself to go back to the one I had seen due to the disrespect and the overall principle of it (two of my friends also have had poor encounters with him) the psychological services is also subpar, I’ve tried one on one psychotherapy and group psychotherapy and neither of them have been beneficial for me.

Second, I dont have any experience in the field where I feel like I have a mentor or anybody to look towards. I worked at 2 animal hospitals, one where the doctors didnt even know my name because I was working in the back as a kennel worker/glorified janitor. 2nd hospital the doctor was a raging dingus, about as unsupportive as they come. Summer between year 1 and year 2 I was recovering from breaking my ankle and having surgery for it at the end of my first year (SGU had a lot of promises of accessibility they'd provide me which at least half of them I didnt even get lol), so I could not work, shadow or do anything (vet med or not vet med, basically a big fat waste of a summer). Not having those good memories or good guidance feels very heavy to me, especially for a field as stressful as vet med. Also having little clinical experience compared to a lot of people in my class also makes it feel impossible to not compare myself to other classmates and feel even worse about myself being in this field.

I just go day to day, trying to bring myself any enjoyment or any motivation to care but unfortunately I am not. I dont know if its just my mental health, if its my school, my lack of experience, a mix of all the above. Im not sure. Sitting through lecture, going to clinical skills lab, all of it just feels like such a chore. Last year whenever I had doubts I always told myself to just make it through didactics then for clinical year I will be off this island and I’ll feel like I’m where I should be, but now I cant even try to tell myself that because I dont believe it anymore. I dont believe I’m adding anything to this field, and I dont believe this field is adding anything to me. But I feel stuck mainly financially but also with the time and effort I have put into this so far turning back now feels wrong, but continuing doesnt feel right. I dont know what to think or do anymore.
Click to expand...
I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'm bipolar too, and I can't imagine how scared I'd be not having proper healthcare (I used to have a terrible psych PA and would absolutely break down over the way they treated me).
It sounds like resources are tough to come by. The only thing I can think of— do you remember your answer to the "why do you want to be a vet" question during interviews? Is there a memory you can use to ground you, to drive you? And can you make sure you have a psychiatrist appointment when you go home for winter?
Wishing you the very best.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
@spicycookie33 Can you talk to your school about taking a medical leave of absence for a year? That might give you a break to return to the states, address your health concerns appropriately, and figure out if you want to continue or not rather than just completely burning the bridge and dropping out. If you are sure quitting is the right choice then there’s no shame in that either, but just throwing out that it may be worth asking for a pause to give yourself even more time to think it over and leave the option to return next year open a bit.
 
Failed my gloving, and scrubbing part of my gloving, gowning, draping skills assessment. No biggie, practice at home, easy fixes.

Redo scrubbing, pass.

Go to my surgical skills check in, let them know I need my gloving reassessed. They say they have to reassess me on everything from the first check in. Again, no biggie, fixed my deficiencies from the first time. Not worried.

Surgical skills? Pass with flying colors. Some snarky comments from the surgeon watching me, docked me for "getting lucky" on my line alba suturing because I wasn't independently biting each side and I "wasn't checking" (tell me how I get lucky on every single bite I took and how every suture stayed in place if I wasn't checking where I was or that I was in the rectus sheath each time) but overall got an exceeds expectations.

Gowning, gloving, draping? Had a different assessor than the first time: passed my gloving. Failed me on draping for doing it the exact same way as the first time when the surgeon passed me, wants me to do the whole thing over again.

I cannot succeed if you keep changing the goal posts. There is always some subjectivity, but I fixed the problems you brought to my attention with no issue. There should not be this much discrepancy between assessors.

Got so angry about it that I cried in front of the surgeon and the tech because I am an angry crier and it feels like it takes any credibility right out from under me. I like the actual surgery a lot but if this is what surgical training is, I do not want to be a surgeon.
 
_rae_ said:
Failed my gloving, and scrubbing part of my gloving, gowning, draping skills assessment. No biggie, practice at home, easy fixes.

Redo scrubbing, pass.

Go to my surgical skills check in, let them know I need my gloving reassessed. They say they have to reassess me on everything from the first check in. Again, no biggie, fixed my deficiencies from the first time. Not worried.

Surgical skills? Pass with flying colors. Some snarky comments from the surgeon watching me, docked me for "getting lucky" on my line alba suturing because I wasn't independently biting each side and I "wasn't checking" (tell me how I get lucky on every single bite I took and how every suture stayed in place if I wasn't checking where I was or that I was in the rectus sheath each time) but overall got an exceeds expectations.

Gowning, gloving, draping? Had a different assessor than the first time: passed my gloving. Failed me on draping for doing it the exact same way as the first time when the surgeon passed me, wants me to do the whole thing over again.

I cannot succeed if you keep changing the goal posts. There is always some subjectivity, but I fixed the problems you brought to my attention with no issue. There should not be this much discrepancy between assessors.

Got so angry about it that I cried in front of the surgeon and the tech because I am an angry crier and it feels like it takes any credibility right out from under me. I like the actual surgery a lot but if this is what surgical training is, I do not want to be a surgeon.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, that's really frustrating. I've found several times for our OSCEs that what constituted a pass/fail varied widely by evaluator, which makes it especially hard to improve.
 
_rae_ said:
Failed my gloving, and scrubbing part of my gloving, gowning, draping skills assessment. No biggie, practice at home, easy fixes.

Redo scrubbing, pass.

Go to my surgical skills check in, let them know I need my gloving reassessed. They say they have to reassess me on everything from the first check in. Again, no biggie, fixed my deficiencies from the first time. Not worried.

Surgical skills? Pass with flying colors. Some snarky comments from the surgeon watching me, docked me for "getting lucky" on my line alba suturing because I wasn't independently biting each side and I "wasn't checking" (tell me how I get lucky on every single bite I took and how every suture stayed in place if I wasn't checking where I was or that I was in the rectus sheath each time) but overall got an exceeds expectations.

Gowning, gloving, draping? Had a different assessor than the first time: passed my gloving. Failed me on draping for doing it the exact same way as the first time when the surgeon passed me, wants me to do the whole thing over again.

I cannot succeed if you keep changing the goal posts. There is always some subjectivity, but I fixed the problems you brought to my attention with no issue. There should not be this much discrepancy between assessors.

Got so angry about it that I cried in front of the surgeon and the tech because I am an angry crier and it feels like it takes any credibility right out from under me. I like the actual surgery a lot but if this is what surgical training is, I do not want to be a surgeon.
Click to expand...
that sounds so frustrating. I’m sorry you had to experience that. Reminds me of my husbands experience as an airline pilot! Everyday is soooo different depending on captain preference. Regarding his simulator training where he was actually tested and graded, His advice would be to just bring up your interpretation with how it should be done with the new examiner, and then if they aren’t willing to work with you, then bring it up to your management. If they’re just being a jerk that isn’t cool! The management needs to know their evaluators aren’t being consistent.
 
pp9 said:
I feel like trying to bring a bunch of inhalers back wouldn't go well. I may or may not have made some interesting choices about what I had in the subfloor of my trunk coming back over to the US when I was 19/20, but these days my drive for self-preservation is a little higher :laugh:
Click to expand...
I officially have asthma lol
(S/o to @katiemcat for giving me the motivation to discuss with a doctor.)
BUT I got my new pulmonologist to prescribe a brand name corticosteroid inhaler and then found a coupon so it’s only $35/mo 🥳 now my cat and I have matching inhalers and spacers 🥲
 
_rae_ said:
I cannot succeed if you keep changing the goal posts. There is always some subjectivity, but I fixed the problems you brought to my attention with no issue. There should not be this much discrepancy between assessors.
Click to expand...

I always found this difficult with surgery labs! Thankfully for the actual surgeries I found everything much more manageable and the vets who come in to supervise the surgeries were amazing. You can do this!!!
 
honeypot999 said:
Another externship done. Another week of being talked down to by a vet for asking questions. Another week of feeling like a nuisance while externing.

Time to start spiraling about if I’m even cut out for this.
Click to expand...

You are cut out for this. People who talk down to others aren't cut out to teach though
 
Mildly infuriating that LIU sent out multiple emails to remind applicants that, to be considered, their VMCAS must be verified by 9/15. But then it took them almost one entire month to send out an email just to say they've received the applications? The power imbalance is insane (not that I haven't expected this; which makes this a rant indeed, I suppose).
 
falafella said:
Mildly infuriating that LIU sent out multiple emails to remind applicants that, to be considered, their VMCAS must be verified by 9/15. But then it took them almost one entire month to send out an email just to say they've received the applications? The power imbalance is insane (not that I haven't expected this; which makes this a rant indeed, I suppose).
Click to expand...
I can understand why the timing feels frustrating! One distinction that might help is that VMCAS verification and a school’s acknowledgment of receipt are separate steps. The 9/15 verification deadline is about having your application ready for the school to review. A receipt email arriving weeks later doesn’t necessarily mean they only just received it. It may simply be when they sent the acknowledgment...That said, earlier communication would definitely make the waiting less stressful.
 
Has anyone else severely struggled to make anti-anxiety / anti-depressant meds work for themself? I did a few months on Lexapro and felt the physically lowest and mentally dumbest I've ever been, now I tried a few months on Wellbutrin and developed an insomniac disorder and feel mentally garbage all the time. I think I want to give up on medications after this, as they just keep progressively reducing my quality of life while not helping my anxiety. My doctor just wants to keep trying other meds but I think I'm not willing to go through another few months of suffering for something that isn't going to work.
 
overcastkidjuno said:
Has anyone else severely struggled to make anti-anxiety / anti-depressant meds work for themself? I did a few months on Lexapro and felt the physically lowest and mentally dumbest I've ever been, now I tried a few months on Wellbutrin and developed an insomniac disorder and feel mentally garbage all the time. I think I want to give up on medications after this, as they just keep progressively reducing my quality of life while not helping my anxiety. My doctor just wants to keep trying other meds but I think I'm not willing to go through another few months of suffering for something that isn't going to work.
Click to expand...
I am not a doctor (yet, lol but def not a human doctor) but I had a PsychNP who recommended trying the GeneSight test. I don’t know if it’s available in Canada. I’m very sensitive to medication and I’ve been on Zoloft, lexapro, mirtazapine, hydroxyzine, and a few other meds for anxiety, depression, and difficulty sleeping all at subtherapeutic doses due to side effects. I did an at home cheek swab and sent it in. I got back a list of medications that are unlikely to work for me, ones that might or might not, and ones that should based on their testing.

Pros: the antidepressant that I’m on works most of the time and I’m up to the standard dosing. It’s the first time I’ve been on the same med for more than 1-2 years. The test did show that meds I had tried previously were in my “probably not” list. It was very easy.

Cons: the test was very expensive. It’s not covered by insurance but I was told I should qualify for financial aid if I applied. I ended up not paying a cent but it can be between $200-$3000 depending. One of the people I worked with in a research lab also thought it was a lot of medical mumbo jumbo. I had a positive experience so of course I’m going to think it “worked” even if we just got lucky with the meds we tried.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Update on the WSU shenanigans:
TLDR the LA sx course is nixed. Very unfortunate as it was super valuable especially for us in LA and mixed animal but ultimately not surprised 😒


[td]
​
​
Dear DVM alumni,

I would like to share an update regarding the DVM program at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

This spring, I convened a task force to evaluate the future of the elective large animal surgery course, which included terminal procedures as part of its instruction. The review followed threats received last spring through an animal rights campaign. The task force included college leadership, faculty, staff, WSU ethicists, animal care specialists, and government relations professionals. They were to consider this elective course with particular attention to its educational value, ethical considerations, operational requirements, and institutional risk.

The task force recognized the complex ethical issues that result in “reasonable disagreement” in opinions about this course, as well as the historical and ongoing excellent mentored training opportunity the course provides, using animals otherwise headed to slaughter. The task force recommended continuing the large animal elective surgery course, contingent upon implementation of targeted modifications to address identified risks. Modifications would include 24/7 police security for people and animals and movement of the course to a more secure location with associated staffing and equipment costs. And unfortunately, any new location would be disruptive to client-owned animal care and teaching hospital operations.

After careful consideration, University leadership determined that the course could not be offered safely in light of the prior threats directed at students, faculty, and staff, as well as the potential for future threats. As such, WSU will discontinue the elective large animal surgery course previously offered within our veterinary training program. While the course provided valuable educational experiences for some of our students, the safety and well-being of our entire community must remain our highest priority.

The elective was widely regarded by students and alumni as a valuable component of our comprehensive veterinary education. Many faculty and staff dedicated significant time, expertise, and care to developing and delivering the course, and those responsible for its oversight maintained rigorous standards for animal welfare.

I recognize the feelings of deep loss and anger this decision will inspire. This is a no-win situation. Good, thoughtful, and deeply caring people are on both sides of this conflict. We have real societal divides on issues of animal welfare, feral/wild horses, and wildlife-human-livestock conflicts. This issue is no different. But what is different is that we have created and will continue to create viable alternative solutions.

WSU remains committed to preparing large animal veterinarians with the knowledge, judgment, and clinical skills needed to provide exceptional animal care. The college is expanding its partnership with regional dairies and other livestock operations, adding new large animal preceptor opportunities, and expanding ambulatory regional large animal clinical services. We have successfully recruited 2 additional agricultural animal veterinarians who will provide clinical service, deliver coursework, and contribute to our field disease investigation unit (FDIU). And we are very grateful to our amazing alumni who have offered up their time, their practices, and even their homes to help train rural, mixed, and large animal veterinarians in their communities.

Our college was among the first in the nation more than 30 years ago to discontinue live-terminal surgeries in its core curriculum and offer the large animal junior surgery course only as an elective. Today, students receive extensive surgical and anesthesia training through live-recovery procedures in junior surgery, required shelter and community medicine rotations, and clinically relevant large animal preceptorships and externships".


[/td]​
 
Hi all thanks everyone for responding! I have been toying with the idea of a medical LOA, the only thing holding me back being that I'd still have to pay rent in my apartment as my lease is until August, and I want to also ensure that nothing would impact my loans with the BBB implemented, I would have to discuss with the financial office.
I've been sticking through as much as I could, I did take the weekend and yesterday off of studying so I am hoping that going back into it this week will help my motivation after having a bit of a break. Im trying to find a job to hopefully be around a caring, and good mentor, doctor for when I am off the island for the summer, but thats something unfortunately something I wont have cleared up until likely march/april time. I appreciate all your responses and support!
 
MixedAnimals77 said:
Modifications would include 24/7 police security for people and animals and movement of the course to a more secure location with associated staffing and equipment costs. And unfortunately, any new location would be disruptive to client-owned animal care and teaching hospital operations.
Click to expand...

That is ****ing nuts and any person who was reasonably suspected of being involved should be investigated and charged if appropriate.
 
Yikes. I’ll be curious to hear how hands on surgical skills are developed. I understand there is minimal to No hands on with live animals in 1Y. In second year, the DC seems to be done with models.

These kinds of procedures seem to happen in clinical settings. One time, I witnessed a patient was to be euthanized for a different issue, had an educational colic surgery performed to teach students and staff.

But I do not know much else about the whole Situation other than this one experience. 😟
 
overcastkidjuno said:
Has anyone else severely struggled to make anti-anxiety / anti-depressant meds work for themself? I did a few months on Lexapro and felt the physically lowest and mentally dumbest I've ever been, now I tried a few months on Wellbutrin and developed an insomniac disorder and feel mentally garbage all the time. I think I want to give up on medications after this, as they just keep progressively reducing my quality of life while not helping my anxiety. My doctor just wants to keep trying other meds but I think I'm not willing to go through another few months of suffering for something that isn't going to work.
Click to expand...
I’m also on Lexapro and Wellbutrin. My psych added Abilify and holy moly that changed everything. It made me actually feel like myself again, less tired, and less garbage. But also if you’re awake all the time, the issue might be the Wellbutrin.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.