Sick in med school?

[MEG@COOL]

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How would one deal with being sick in med school? I am just wondering this as I have been sick for almost a week in undergrad and it may hurt my grades as it has made me miss class and impeded my studying. With the heavy workload of med school I think that Id likely be completely ****ed if a similar situation were to occure.

 

[Law2Doc]

How would one deal with being sick in med school? I am just wondering this as I have been sick for almost a week in undergrad and it may hurt my grades as it has made me miss class and impeded my studying. With the heavy workload of med school I think that Id likely be completely ****ed if a similar situation were to occure.

In med school basic science years, if you aren't at a mandatory attendance place, you just watch the taped lectures and study in bed. I actually asked an ED resident I know about after that. He estimated he came to work sick better than 100 days out of the year, and didn't recall ever taking a sick day in the later years of med school. You get good meds and just force yourself through it unless it is truly an impossibility.

 

[psipsina]

Yeah, I've actually been sick for the last week, hubby caught a flu at work and passed it on (the sign of a great marriag: always sick together 🙂 ). I went home early one day because the lab we were doing was on the computer and available via the internet so I did it at home in bed. I also missed an hour lecture today for a doctor's appointment but have a note taking service at my school so will just study that. Other than that I've just taken meds and kept myself hydrated thru it, worked as hard as possible and let my body rest when its screaming for it, and I really haven't fallen behind my classmates. I think the key is that I was working consistently from the beginning so I'm not as behind as some others, . . . and will just sacrifice some fun time this weekend to make up for the naps this week.

 

[cyclohexanol]

How would one deal with being sick in med school? I am just wondering this as I have been sick for almost a week in undergrad and it may hurt my grades as it has made me miss class and impeded my studying. With the heavy workload of med school I think that Id likely be completely ****ed if a similar situation were to occure.

I was sick during the 3rd week of school this year, right before our first gross anatomy exam. I ended up having to miss the exam, but the administration was really helpful and documented it all (so that it was legitimate). They also arranged to have me make up the exam later on so that I don't have to try and learn the current material in addition to the material I missed.

I have to say though that while you are sick, missing class during medical school seems much more dire than when you're sick during undergrad. If you have decent administration and faculty though, it's all good.

 

[71263]

So what happens if we get sick during clinical years? Just suck it up and deal with it?

 

[undertow]

Thats right suck it up u whiney $#%, you're gonna be a doctor

 

[samenewme]

I happen to be sick right now in med school. I spent the weekend (including Friday) down south with my sick father, and then early this week realized I have developed pneumonia. I saw the assistand dean of students in the cafeteria yesterday and she told me to go home.

"You'll learn," she said. "The body always wins."

I'm dragging in for one lecture a day (whatever would suck the most to listen to as an mp3) and that's IT. I'm reading notes at home when I feel like I have brains. My anatomy group is handling the dissections just fine without me. Since we're taking out the brain this week, there's no way I'm taking my congested lungs into the lab with all those bone saws going. I'll catch up a little on my body guy this weekend and I'm listening to lectures at home and I'll put in extra time on the weekend.

This is not to say that it doesn't suck. It sucks the biggest, hairiest rocks in the world. And I'm only a LITTLE sick (like being at very high altitude). What I'd do with a serious flu bug, where all you can do is lie on the couch, stare at the ceiling, and watch the pretty lights, doesn't bear thinking about.

 

[StarboardMD]

If you have decent administration and faculty though, it's all good.

Our dean specifically requested that we not attend school if we were sick because bugs spread through the MS1's like wildfire since we're together so much. We have an absence hotline and everything. I hate the thought of having to miss that much class time, though...

 

[71263]

Thats right suck it up u whiney $#%, you're gonna be a doctor

Heh.

I wonder though, doesnt seeing patients while sick pose a risk to them? You would have to go home. So how could you be penalized for something which you have no say over?

 

[crazy_cavalier]

If you wash your hands regularly, you won't get sick. The primary route of transmission is through hand-to-hand contact. You pick up microbes on your hands and then pick your nose, or rub your eyes, or eat with your hands, you get sick. You rub gel-based cleaning agents (Purell, for ex.) on your hands, you dont get sick.

If you're sick and you have to see patients, don't sneeze on them, and clean your hands before touching them (which is what you should do anyway). They'll be fine.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

I'm just getting over a sickness. It really borked my studying over the past week, and we have our first exam on Monday, so I'm praying it doesn't hurt me too much. I had zippo attention span.

 

[Law2Doc]

Heh.

I wonder though, doesnt seeing patients while sick pose a risk to them? You would have to go home. So how could you be penalized for something which you have no say over?

Once you "feel" sick, your immune system has already kicked into full force. That means you've already been spreading the bugs to patients for quite a few days-weeks, so almost no point staying home now. And if you work in the ED or peds or something where you are constantly exposed, you pretty regularly have some sort of cough or sniffle -- you simply cannot take sick days whenever you feel sick -- it has to be truly debilitating or you are expected to be there. It's an occupational hazzard, get used to it.

 

[Law2Doc]

If you wash your hands regularly, you won't get sick.

You might not get sick as often, but working anywhere in a hospital with high patient contact, you are going to catch colds, flus and other very easilly spread things. All you can do is minimize risks.

 

[snapdad]

Once you "feel" sick, your immune system has already kicked into full force. That means you've already been spreading the bugs to patients for quite a few days-weeks, so almost no point staying home now. And if you work in the ED or peds or something where you are constantly exposed, you pretty regularly have some sort of cough or sniffle -- you simply cannot take sick days whenever you feel sick -- it has to be truly debilitating or you are expected to be there. It's an occupational hazzard, get used to it.

True to a point, but not always. Last rotation I was working in a children's hospital, and at different times, both the attending and the fellow developed a respiratory infection of some sort. Each stayed home for a day, and when I asked what the protocol was, they replied that with the types of illnesses you see on the wards (e.g., cystic fibrosis), you don't want to risk making them worse. While it's true that you've probably been shedding virus for a few days before you feel sick, you're spreading a lot more around when you're in the coughing/sneezing phase of the illness. It'd be bad form to cough in a cystic fibrosis patient's room and inoculate a large part of their surroundings. 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

True to a point, but not always. Last rotation I was working in a children's hospital, and at different times, both the attending and the fellow developed a respiratory infection of some sort. Each stayed home for a day, and when I asked what the protocol was, they replied that with the types of illnesses you see on the wards (e.g., cystic fibrosis), you don't want to risk making them worse. While it's true that you've probably been shedding virus for a few days before you feel sick, you're spreading a lot more around when you're in the coughing/sneezing phase of the illness. It'd be bad form to cough in a cystic fibrosis patient's room and inoculate a large part of their surroundings. 🙂

Maybe so for peds (and bear in mind that life is much more cushy and flexible for an attending or fellow than for a med student or resident), but certainly the ED docs I know just pop pills and regularly share the wealth of bugs they've picked up with their unlucky patients on a pretty regular basis during cold and flu season.

 

[PowderHound]

It is my understanding that these are the last times in your life you ever get to "be sick." There are no "sick days" in residency. You drag youself in, get some IV fluids if needed, and work. I was just on a rotation where the intern had a horrible sinus infection and "called in sick" and they crucified her. It seems unfair and nasty, but in this case, they had to call in another intern whose DAY OFF it was to cover the sick one! Imagine how pissed that intern was! My impression is that you have to be intubated or on the operating table to "call in sick" during residency, cruel as it is, that is how I have seen it work. If you get sick during medical school, talk to your professors and Dean of Student Affairs if it's looking bad and skip out on anything not mandatory...and enjoy the luxury of being able to do so. In my opinion, it's better to skip class and stay home and study in bed with your Robitussin and kleenex, taking naps as needed, than to expend energy dragging yourself to school where you will likely fall asleep or not pay attention anyway because you're so miserable.

 

[MEG@COOL]

If you wash your hands regularly, you won't get sick. The primary route of transmission is through hand-to-hand contact. You pick up microbes on your hands and then pick your nose, or rub your eyes, or eat with your hands, you get sick. You rub gel-based cleaning agents (Purell, for ex.) on your hands, you dont get sick.

If you're sick and you have to see patients, don't sneeze on them, and clean your hands before touching them (which is what you should do anyway). They'll be fine.

thats why i dont get sick often

 

[MEG@COOL]

Also when one is sick getting things done is not a function of fortitude. If your body and mind are not available then one can not use them even if they have the desire.

 

[Law2Doc]

Also when one is sick getting things done is not a function of fortitude. If your body and mind are not available then one can not use them even if they have the desire.

It's amazing what your body is able to do if you are simply not "allowed" to be sick. Your mind too.

 

[cyclohexanol]

Our dean specifically requested that we not attend school if we were sick because bugs spread through the MS1's like wildfire since we're together so much. We have an absence hotline and everything. I hate the thought of having to miss that much class time, though...

This is also very true, I asked the dean of student affairs if I could tough it out and come in anyway, but she said no because it would expose the rest of the class. So basically until my fever went away a week later, I was barred from going to class. Again, its not a dire situation, you'll be able to work things out if you get sick and can't come to class. During clinicals however... that might be a different situation? 😱

 

[SoCuteMD]

My impression is that you have to be intubated or on the operating table to "call in sick" during residency, cruel as it is, that is how I have seen it work.

I think you are right. The expression I have heard is "You better either bet AT the hospital, or IN the hospital."

 

[snapdad]

Maybe so for peds (and bear in mind that life is much more cushy and flexible for an attending or fellow than for a med student or resident), but certainly the ED docs I know just pop pills and regularly share the wealth of bugs they've picked up with their unlucky patients on a pretty regular basis during cold and flu season.

As I said, it depends. You're right; the culture of many subspecialties is such that you'd better be at work unless you're dead. ED docs are a good example of this. My point was that it's not always like that, and the fellow and attending made it VERY clear that, even as a third-year med student, if I coughed a respiratory virus into a CF kid's environment I'd be in a lot more trouble than if I'd called in sick. There are other instances where this is also the case (e.g., a heme/onc ward where patients are heavily immunosuppressed), but I think the point's been made. The "be there or else" policy isn't universal.

 

[Law2Doc]

As I said, it depends. You're right; the culture of many subspecialties is such that you'd better be at work unless you're dead. ED docs are a good example of this. My point was that it's not always like that, and the fellow and attending made it VERY clear that, even as a third-year med student, if I coughed a respiratory virus into a CF kid's environment I'd be in a lot more trouble than if I'd called in sick. There are other instances where this is also the case (e.g., a heme/onc ward where patients are heavily immunosuppressed), but I think the point's been made. The "be there or else" policy isn't universal.

Fair point, but unless you are working in one of these kinds of germ-phobic subspecialties you described, or have been expressly told that being sick is "allowed", you probably don't want to take the initiative and just call in sick.

 

[snapdad]

Fair point, but unless you are working in one of these kinds of germ-phobic subspecialties you described, or have been expressly told that being sick is "allowed", you probably don't want to take the initiative and just call in sick.

Seems we're saying essentially the same thing. Glad we agree.

 

[Law2Doc]

Seems we're saying essentially the same thing. Glad we agree.

I think we might disagree which is the exception and which is the rule, but I suppose that's close enough.😀 Best just to not get sick for a few years.

 

[snapdad]

I think we might disagree which is the exception and which is the rule, but I suppose that's close enough.😀 Best just to not get sick for a few years.

Aha! There's the problem -- I apparently wasn't clear enough. I think we're in accordance on the rules and exceptions, actually. I do think that the overriding culture in hospitals is "be there or else." No argument there, and I also agree that med students or residents tempt that rule at their peril. My point was just that there are exceptions sometimes, and that it's probably a good idea for students rotating on a service to be aware and ask what the expectations for that service are if or when the issue comes up. Attendings usually like it when students are forthright about asking about such things in a professional way rather than making assumptions. Also, this info can often come from the intern or resident, rather than needing to bother the attending with it at all. 🙂

 

[Izabelle]

Vitamins!!!!

 

[njbmd]

You might not get sick as often, but working anywhere in a hospital with high patient contact, you are going to catch colds, flus and other very easilly spread things. All you can do is minimize risks.

Actually crazy_cavalier is quite correct. You WON'T get sick if you wash your hands regularly and use Universal precautions. My other suggestion is to not touch your face and keep your writing instruments out our your mouth.

Rather than being sicker with exposure to high patient contact, your immune system, if you are healthy, gets stronger and you are more resistant. Besides, good handwashing prevents YOU from spreading disease-causing microorganisms from patient to patient.

Most of us who are in the hospital on a daily basis are quite healthy and resist colds and flu. Those of us who strictly adhere to universal precautions DO NOT spread microorganisms.

The other thing that I recommend is keeping your lab jacket seperate from your other wardrobe. Mine only comes out of my car to go to the dry cleaners for washing. I do not allow my hospital wear to come in contact with my "civilian" clothing. That way, I do not inadvertantly spread something to my family who doesn't get the exposure that I have.

To the OP: If you are sick, most medical schools have taped lectures and note service. This would be a good time to utilize those resources. It you are contageous (influenza), you NEED to stay home so that you do not infect your classmates and so that you can get some rest.

When the stress is high (first few weeks of medical school) it's good to make sure that you eat well, get some exercise and destress. Stress can weaken your immune system and make you tired and suceptable to illness. Another reason to keep you hands and writing instrument out of your mouth.

 

[Law2Doc]

Actually crazy_cavalier is quite correct. You WON'T get sick if you wash your hands regularly and use Universal precautions. My other suggestion is to not touch your face and keep your writing instrum.

You can absolutely minimize risks, with hand washing and precautions, but saying you "won't get sick" is a bit of an exaggeration. I know no one who works in high bug traffic specialties (eg. ED) in major metropolitan areas who doesn't get sick pretty regularly. I agree that the more things you get exposed to, the better your immune system will subsequently protect you, but there really are an infinite number of things you can get exposed to. And as a 3d-4th yr med student, junior resident, etc you are going to not yet have the well prepped immune system you describe yet. Maybe a decade out you will have seen a substantial percentage of bugs. But by then you will have the tenure that allows you to take a sick day anyhow.

 

[swpm]

It's amazing what your body is able to do if you are simply not "allowed" to be sick. Your mind too.

Very true. Normal people (ie, well adjusted non-doctors) usually don't believe or understand this, but doctors quickly learn that they can still function at a very high level while sick ... if they have the will to do so.

 

[tupac_don]

It is my understanding that these are the last times in your life you ever get to "be sick." There are no "sick days" in residency. You drag youself in, get some IV fluids if needed, and work. I was just on a rotation where the intern had a horrible sinus infection and "called in sick" and they crucified her. It seems unfair and nasty, but in this case, they had to call in another intern whose DAY OFF it was to cover the sick one! Imagine how pissed that intern was! My impression is that you have to be intubated or on the operating table to "call in sick" during residency, cruel as it is, that is how I have seen it work. If you get sick during medical school, talk to your professors and Dean of Student Affairs if it's looking bad and skip out on anything not mandatory...and enjoy the luxury of being able to do so. In my opinion, it's better to skip class and stay home and study in bed with your Robitussin and kleenex, taking naps as needed, than to expend energy dragging yourself to school where you will likely fall asleep or not pay attention anyway because you're so miserable.

You may be right. One of the worst things to get as a resident would be mono, cuz that sucker can flatten you, and you are out of commision if it gets you bad for a couple of weeks maybe more.

I just think a lot of the times, b/c the work falls on another intern/resident, it's highly shun, b/c now they have double the work, and if you have something, but can still stand, they'll give you hell.

 

[45408]

It is my understanding that these are the last times in your life you ever get to "be sick." There are no "sick days" in residency. You drag youself in, get some IV fluids if needed, and work. I was just on a rotation where the intern had a horrible sinus infection and "called in sick" and they crucified her. It seems unfair and nasty, but in this case, they had to call in another intern whose DAY OFF it was to cover the sick one! Imagine how pissed that intern was! My impression is that you have to be intubated or on the operating table to "call in sick" during residency, cruel as it is, that is how I have seen it work. If you get sick during medical school, talk to your professors and Dean of Student Affairs if it's looking bad and skip out on anything not mandatory...and enjoy the luxury of being able to do so. In my opinion, it's better to skip class and stay home and study in bed with your Robitussin and kleenex, taking naps as needed, than to expend energy dragging yourself to school where you will likely fall asleep or not pay attention anyway because you're so miserable.

whoa, does workman's comp cover crucifixions?

 

[deleted109597]

I actually asked an ED resident I know about after that. He estimated he came to work sick better than 100 days out of the year, and didn't recall ever taking a sick day in the later years of med school.

This guy needs to have his complement factor deficiency fixed. Seriously. Being sick1 out of 3 days means he isn't doing something right.

You can be sick during third year, but you had better be really sick, ie, projectile vomiting, diarrhea, fevers over 102, bloody sputum, etc. Otherwise, the people in the program aren't going to like you very much. And while you get to miss days if you truly are sick, you get to make them up when you are truly well.

Or you could just take care of yourself and not get sick. Wash your hands. Take your vitamins. Eat a normal diet, not junk food all the time. Exercise. Don't live in mold infested houses.

 

[psipsina]

Don't live in mold infested houses.

Easy to say when you don't live in New Orleans, I live in a mold infested city! 😱 lol . . . there is alot you can do to reduce your risk but every now and again u will get sick (like in my case where I made out with my husband too much before he realized he was a carrier of the flu! 😳 ) and then my rule is pretty much if I can walk and can stay out of the bathroom for an hour at a time then I can work/go to school, if not I stay home. I have gone to work while vomitting and it really really really sucks but it can be done.

 

[Law2Doc]

This guy needs to have his complement factor deficiency fixed. Seriously. Being sick1 out of 3 days means he isn't doing something right.

I'm just going by what he said, and the fact that he was popping decongestants every time I saw the guy in the 3+ months I was working there.

 

[mac61]

I missed the first week of Path and Micro because I was inpatient with post-vasectomy epididymitis (The grapefruit magnatude). I laid in bed with a bag of ice, 1500 of cipro/day, Robbin's Pathological Basis of Disease, and docs that I pimped for knowledge every time they entered the room. Not to mention my MSIII buddies who wanted to see how large a scrotum can really get.

Got a B on the first Micro test, Path is not here yet.

On a similar note: I missed at least one whole day a week for most of the MSI year for my son's chemotherapy appt. 2 hours away. Worked with the faculty and administration, here I am an MSII.

Bottom line: You'll either sink or swim. If you made it this far, you'll probably swim. I am definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed; if I can do it, you can do it.

Keep you eye on the ball.

 

[Law2Doc]

Keep you eye on the ball.

LOL -- Nothing like good vasectomy complications humor.

 

[Law2Doc]

Ha! How true!!!!! I was watching a video on this very matter for online immunology today.

You wouldn't believe how much a small pill of Vitamin A really saved a ton of lives in places like Nepal, Indonesia, and India. From curing their visual problems to helping build up their defense systems again.

People in the US eating nonvegetarian diets who arent alcoholics, anorexics, etc. tend to have to really work at it to get into vitamin deficiency situations. Our diet isn't the healthiest, but it is generally vitamin filled.

 

[Swimming]

I missed the first week of Path and Micro because I was inpatient with post-vasectomy epididymitis (The grapefruit magnatude). I laid in bed with a bag of ice, 1500 of cipro/day, Robbin's Pathological Basis of Disease, and docs that I pimped for knowledge every time they entered the room. Not to mention my MSIII buddies who wanted to see how large a scrotum can really get.

Got a B on the first Micro test, Path is not here yet.

On a similar note: I missed at least one whole day a week for most of the MSI year for my son's chemotherapy appt. 2 hours away. Worked with the faculty and administration, here I am an MSII.

Bottom line: You'll either sink or swim. If you made it this far, you'll probably swim. I am definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed; if I can do it, you can do it.

Keep you eye on the ball.

very encouraging. How is your son, if that's not too personal a question?

 

[ForceSensitive]

I originally ignored my signs and symptoms, pushed through classes for about a week (this was the third week of the semester) until I couldn't concentrate anymore.

On visiting the doctor, I had typhoid and was bedridden for 2 full weeks because for some reason, I was "irresponsive" to the first antibiotics prescribed.

Unfortunately, a week later we had continous assessment tests. I didnt bother writing to the dean because they dont give special exams and I ended up failing 2/6 course units

Long story short

Now im being made to repeat the semester in Anatomy and Bchem(metabolisms)

So it entirely depends on the degree of illness and duration.

 

[mbeus]

Even with major illness, it can be done. I missed a total of 7 weeks for various hospitalizations during M1 and still did well, and didn't have to repeat anything. Have also missed a few weeks so far this year, too. Just have to have self discipline

 

[Slytheryn]

"You'll learn," she said. "The body always wins."

This.

 

[Keona]

I've called in only once during residency. I was actively vomiting, no way I was making it through the day. Universal response was for me to stay far away from them. If I'd had a serious cold or Uri I would wear a mask around patients, if I'm working with immunocompromisedk I'm not going to risk exposing them. At my program we a person with a lighter schedule who can be called in to cover if need be. During 3rd and 4th year I never missed. As a resident I have made the decision to send home students that were obviously too sick to be there, they went to the doctor and got the appropriate treatment and didn't get the rest of us sick. Now if they were routinely calling in sick I would have been suspicious, this wasn't the case any of these times.