Trouble with vasovagal syncope

[NYR30Fan]

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Hi Everyone,

I am a physical therapist, only have been practicing for 8 months. I am not enjoying my field too much and I am considering attempting to apply for MD/DO or Podiatry Schools. My main issue however is that I suffer from vasovagal syncope. For some reason as I got older i developed this and I am afraid it will interfere with my attempt to become a physician.

It first started when i was having blood drawn at 16 and I just passed out. As i got deeper into the medical field I discovered that I am easily affected by it, just being around needles in a hospital or observing any procedure involving needles Ill get lightheaded and Ill pass out if I don't step out of the room.

The strange thing is I have observed a couple surgeries in the OR before including an patellar-tendon ACL repair without incident (i had to step out at the start of the operation when the Femoral Block was being done).

How do i get rid of this so that If follow the physician career path I can observe and eventually give injections?

Thanks in advance

 

[vtche02]

You just get used to it and then you won't react as strongly. Anatomy lab helps a lot. Also, make sure you eat and drink (something a little salty) before seeing something. Don't let it stop you from going to school. In school you will have plenty of opportunities to observe things like this so you can become desensitized. I used to have this problem - I even passed out when my son got stitches. But, now it doesn't affect me at all.

 

[tiedyeddog]

You'll be amazed what you do for a grade. For example:

1. Action: Face near a dead person's dissected rectum, with fecal matter in it, pre-medical school.
Reaction: Get me the f*** away from this thing.

2. 1. Action: Face near a dead person's dissected rectum, with fecal matter in it with a middle rectal artery tagged during a practical you studied 15 hours a day for a week for.
Reaction: HOW DO I GET CLOSER TO THIS THING. IS IT TOUCHING MY NOSE? NO? GET CLOSER. I MUST GET A BETTER VIEW ON IT IN UNDER A MINUTE, OMG.

This is all in jest😀(except the getting closer thing during a practical. That is real.), maybe work with a psychologist on it? I would imagine repeated exposure in a safe, non-threatening atmosphere would help.

 

[Dr Optimistic]

You'll be amazed what you do for a grade. For example:

1. Action: Face near a dead person's dissected rectum, with fecal matter in it, pre-medical school.
Reaction: Get me the f*** away from this thing.

2. 1. Action: Face near a dead person's dissected rectum, with fecal matter in it with a middle rectal artery tagged during a practical you studied 15 hours a day for a week for.
Reaction: HOW DO I GET CLOSER TO THIS THING. IS IT TOUCHING MY NOSE? NO? GET CLOSER. I MUST GET A BETTER VIEW ON IT IN UNDER A MINUTE, OMG.

Solid gold! 🙂👍

 

[isoquin]

That was a bad visual. 🙁

Anyway, this is borderline asking for medical advice. Some people do become immune over time with exposure, but I also know of a few people who will feel light headed when viewing random procedures with no discernible trigger.

I recommend you talk to your doctor about this, and see if you can get linked into something to help you work through it, if possible. Also remember there are a lot of fields in medicine that have little to do with blood.