Reactions to Anatomy Lab

[WaltzingMatilda]

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We just started Anatomy Lab at my med school, and I seem to be having a reaction to it. I know that nobody likes the smell of Anatomy Lab to begin with. But now when I step in the lab, I have a non-stop cough that will stay around for a day or a couple of days even after I leave lab. But then I would have to go into lab again, and it would start all over again. Student Health Services concluded that I had Bronchitis, triggered by Allergy. No other symptoms except for the cough. Oh, and I also have asthma, and I have had to go to Student Health for the Nebulizer treatment after lab. I have also had to leave lab in the middle because I can't stop coughing. The gas mask is incredibly uncomfortable, and for some reasons, I can't breath well through it. (As you can probably tell, with asthma and everything, I have a hard enough time breathing as is!)

I was actually looking forward to Anatomy Lab. But now this is causing me great distress. Not to mention I think I am learning just as much from the 3D stimulations and real cadaver pictures and good paper or online atlases. So I am not really sure that the cadaver is helping me that much more, and I am so miserable every time I go to lab.

I don't want to complain, because I know it's a privilege that we get to work with the human body, and that it's an experience, etc, and I don't want to undermine that. But we all have different learning styles, and I really do think I learn just as well from other methods, without being so miserable when I am near a cadaver. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much.

 

[meister]

If you're not learning in lab for whatever reason, then don't go. Simple as that. There were a handful of people in my lab that never showed up except maybe the day before a practical to review.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I'd tend to agree with that, but I know that here at UAMS you run the risk of getting some sort of negative letter placed in your file if you're regularly absent from lab. I'm not sure if other schools have similar policies or not.

Personlly, I get next to nothing out of our dissections. It's a monumental waste of my time. We'll spend a good 20 hours tearing out fascia and looking for structures during a unit, but it take me 3 hours at the absolute most to review everything in-depth. In other words, I'm throwing away a good 80% of the time I spend in lab. That does not make me particularly happy.

 

[DoctorDreamer]

The first time I went to anatomy lab I bawled hysterically for like half an hour.

I also get really sick to my stomach every time I go in. I can generally stave off a bad reaction if I adjust very lowly before entering the lab, but on bad days, I just don't go.

Today I went in (lab is right now), and we were dissecting the face, and I started crying again. I knew I would be to weirded out and emotional to learn anything, so I left.

You have to do what's right for you.

 

[WaltzingMatilda]

Like Milkman said, I wouldn't go either, but the school has repeated several times about the importance of going to lab, or there will be consequences, blah blah blah.

I think I may have to talk to the Anatomy Professor. It's literally a nonstop cough, which actually prompted one of the TAs to ask me if I needed to leave last time. Before I talk to him, I just want to hear what your opinions are, because 1. I don't want to sound like I don't appreciate Anatomy, because I do, just not the adverse reactions that come with the lab; 2. I want to think about what my other options may be; and 3. I want to know if anybody had been through similar things and how you dealt with it.

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions and support.

 

[alphaholic06]

How are you going to handle lab practicals?

 

[astrocreep96]

I would be cautious that you don't get too comfortable with the anatomy in the book and end up becoming unfamiliar with it in the practical. Our practicals were setup on different bodies throughout the lab that would vary anatomically, have varying levels of dissection, and may be in different positions.

Seeing something in Rohen's is quite different than seeing it in person where it may be upside down and surrounded by undissected fascia.

 

[TMP-SMX]

You should talk to your physician about treatment for your asthma. You shouldn't have to be using a rescue nebulizer after every lab. You should be on regular drugs to keep it under control. What you are experiencing sounds like intrinsic asthma as the formalin is a respiratory irritant. I would get slightly short of breath after a really long time in the lab but it was never bad. You probably do have extrinsic allergy asthma too. I don't want to give any advice because I don't know what you are on now and this is something you should discuss with your doctor as the asthma could progress and get worse if you aren't being properly treated.

 

[Jolie South]

I would be cautious that you don't get too comfortable with the anatomy in the book and end up becoming unfamiliar with it in the practical. Our practicals were setup on different bodies throughout the lab that would vary anatomically, have varying levels of dissection, and may be in different positions.

Seeing something in Rohen's is quite different than seeing it in person where it may be upside down and surrounded by undissected fascia.

agreed. 3 dimensional learning is much better. I can't really get a good feel for the structures without seeing them in situ and poking around.

 

[baily34]

I would talk with you doctor to try to get better control your astma. Cromoyln might work.

 

[facetguy]

Have you tried other masks? (Please avoid the temptation to show up in full SCUBA gear.)

 

[cpants]

I really don't see how anyone could consider dissection a waste of time.

Have you considered some sort of respirator? Maybe one of those ones that painters wear could keep out the fumes?

 

[meister]

Dissecting was a waste of time for me, but reviewing the structures once revealed was 100x better than any book or syllabus. I would let my lab partners do most of the grunt work. 🙂

 

[MilkmanAl]

Dissecting was a waste of time for me, but reviewing the structures once revealed was 100x better than any book or syllabus.

Same here. The actual dissection is no good at all.

 

[HappyG0Lucky]

I'm an asthmatic too and while formalin bothers me a bit my reaction has been nowhere near as severe as yours. I just make sure to sneak in a couple of puffs off of my inhaler before going into lab and that seems to have solved the problem. Have you tried using the inhaler before putting on your mask? That way your airways would hopefully be open enough that you can breathe with the mask on, and the mask will prevent the formalin from getting in there and irritating your lungs. That is the best advice I have, sorry if it doesnt help. I know others have said that it sounds like you need to get your asthma under control, but honestly as someone who has asthma - sometimes no matter how under control you are when you breathe in one of your "triggers" there is just always going to be a reaction. I think you should talk to your anatomy teacher or the dean to see if some sort of accommodation can be made because no one should have to suffer this bad in lab.

 

[TMP-SMX]

Yeah preventive albuterol would probably help before lab. It is similar to what many asthmatics need before exercise.

 

[olemissbabydoc]

I'm slightly nervous about anatomt lab going in as an asthmatic... but I'm pretty controlled usually. Crossing fingers that it all comes out alright.... Gross at my med school will only be 4 months-ish... so if I do have to alter my asthma meds, its not that long.

 

[Queenofspades]

Pre-Med Post Bacc here. I have pretty violent reactions to fumes of most chemicals, so I'm glad I'm reading this. I was worried about formaldehyde from my previous (limited to date) experience with it. If I have to wear a hazmat suit I will! o sense in becoming ill out of pride or arrogance!

Thanks to everyone for your posts. They have been enormously helpful.