Stamina as a med student

[georgearms]

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So I'm wondering if I'll have enough stamina to endure the long days/nights of studying and rotations in med school. Where do you guys get your energy from? Also, I work well when I know I have a lot of time to study/get things done, but I do get stressed out when unpredictable things come up a day or two before a big exam. I'm also a bit worried that I won't be able to handle the fast-paced type of learning that goes on in a clinical setting, since I'm so used to books. I'm definitely not one of those people who is told one thing and remembers it instantaneously. Does anyone have the same worries?

 

[funkymunkytoes]

I think everyone is. Everyone.

 

[Evergrey]

In med school they teach you to run on electricity. This is the only Power Bar you'll ever need:

 

[Brent8927]

In med school they teach you to run on electricity. This is the only Power Bar you'll ever need:

I'm pretty sure if you try and use that in the US you'll end up getting electrocuted...

Or it just won't work...

 

[Klemptor]

I have the same worries.

I get my energy from No-Doz, tea, and lots of neurotic worrying about not measuring up. 🙄

 

[BlueElmo]

When I saw the thread title, I kept thinking of Viagra.

 

[WashMe]

you have no idea how concerned I am about this issue. I'm sure many others are freaking out too. Despite having a solid GPA and MCAT, I never really did hardly any work in UG. Most days, I would skip class and honestly not even think about school. Of course, I buckled down and studied for 8 hour stints when the situation called for it. I don't think I have ADD per se, but I also don't think I can read/study/attend lecture for 6-8 hours a day. I think the root of the problem is that human beings just didn't evolve to be able to accomplish such feats. Sitting down and staring at words/pictures for hours on end doesn't suit the mind, let alone the body. I think it is something, albeit unnatural, that will come to feel "normal" and we'll adapt.

Or we'll flunk out.

But I think we'll all be fine 👍 🙂

 

[Blesbok]

speed, man...speed...

 

[drizzt3117]

Eh, you'll figure out how much you need to study to do well in your classes once you get in. I wouldn't stress it too much.

 

[vickpick]

i think they use E for stamina, and caffeine to keep it going..lol

 

[crixx]

Well I'm sure that the love we have for our patients will carry us through those sleepless nights!

(sarcasm)

My guess? 5hour energy and lots of coffee.

 

[coffeebythelake]

the fear of failing is a good motivator, and with the prospect of being $250,000 in debt and nothing to show for it, i think the med schools have u locked in.

 

[sevenmints]

i have great stamina.... ;D

 

[BlueElmo]

i have great stamina.... ;D

I'm jealous.😉

 

[DrMattOglesby]

didnt you guys get the memo??? you have to be able to finish an IronMan before you start med school; it's the unofficial prerequisite!

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTn1v5TGK_w[/YOUTUBE]

okay...i admit-- i just said that to dust off my bragging rights 😎

 

[kingofthehill]

oh my gosh that is crazy! Can't those women take a carb shot like the ones Powerbar makes? I've seen people in long-dist runs have those things hanging around their waists.

As far as the studying goes, I think once we're in and we all start a routine of getting up at the same time everyday, studying everyday, eating at the same time, etc. it will be easier than we think. I don't know about everyone else, but some mornings I get up at 7 and others I get up closer to 11 b/c of class schedule. So of course some nights I got to bed at 11 while others it's closer to 2 or 3. I don't eat at the same time everyday for sure either. This is normal for college, I think, but this won't be going on in med school, so the stamina will come from normal eating and sleeping schedules. And yeah, the fear of failing will help out too.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

oh my gosh that is crazy! Can't those women take a carb shot like the ones Powerbar makes? I've seen people in long-dist runs have those things hanging around their waists.

at that point in the race, carb shots will do nothing. absorption rate and distribution of nutrients to muscles is just too little for what the body really needs to be able to continue.
There is an OVERWHELMING desire screaming from the body to simply stop, and lie down...the more it's ignored, the louder it has to become...untill you see something like this at the end of a race. Nothing but respect from me. Many people wonder why anyone would do that to themself, but I think you can kinda see why as soon as they cross that finish line.

 

[fahimaz7]

oh my gosh that is crazy! Can't those women take a carb shot like the ones Powerbar makes? I've seen people in long-dist runs have those things hanging around their waists.

Lol.. 130 miles later.....

You should look at the Blackwater race. From what they said, after 75 miles you have depleted your glycogen storage and you are basically running on empty.

 

[nlax30]

at that point in the race, carb shots will do nothing. absorption rate and distribution of nutrients to muscles is just too little for what the body really needs to be able to continue.
There is an OVERWHELMING desire screaming from the body to simply stop, and lie down...the more it's ignored, the louder it has to become...untill you see something like this at the end of a race. Nothing but respect from me. Many people wonder why anyone would do that to themself, but I think you can kinda see why as soon as they cross that finish line.

Exactly. 👍

I hadn't seen that footage in a while, it is incredible. Would be interesting to hear about their recovery time post-race.

Past few years we've had a group of students help out some local physicians as part of the medical team at the annual Sarasota Marathon and it's interesting to see what sort of stresses that puts on the body. Even more so how some of these people can "will" their body into hanging on just 'till the end when they come in and collapse.

 

[CCLCMer]

So I'm wondering if I'll have enough stamina to endure the long days/nights of studying and rotations in med school. Where do you guys get your energy from? Also, I work well when I know I have a lot of time to study/get things done, but I do get stressed out when unpredictable things come up a day or two before a big exam. I'm also a bit worried that I won't be able to handle the fast-paced type of learning that goes on in a clinical setting, since I'm so used to books. I'm definitely not one of those people who is told one thing and remembers it instantaneously. Does anyone have the same worries?

Yes, you will have enough stamina. It's amazing what you can do when your feet are held to the fire. I'm not saying you are going to love the experience though!

I think the best way to avoid getting overwhelmed is to study every day rather than try to cram at the end. My program lends itself to that kind of schedule anyway. But even if you have tests and grades (we don't), there's no reason why you must only study for a few days before the exam. If you study for a few hours every day (assuming you are also attending classes), you will retain more info and probably be much less stressed when exam time rolls around. Also, if you go to a school where attendance is not required, then you have even more free time to study, so take full advantage of that.

 

[littlealex]

You'll figure it out when you get there. It's not difficult to learn in a clinical setting provided that you do plenty of studying outside of that setting on your own.
The only stamina I'd worry about is how being deprived of sleep will affect your sex life.