What is it really like?

[Nicky87549]

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Hi All,

New to this site/forum. I'm married, 33, 2 kids (ages 6 & 3). I have always wanted to (and planned on) applying to medical school. Already a non-traditional student during my undergrad, I had to put plans on hold b/c we were barely keeping our heads above water financially. Now I'm looking to apply for Fall 08.

I want/need to know what it's really like. What kind of hours do you put in during medical school? Is the internship really 80+ hours with 36 hr shifts? What's is like to raise kids & go through this process? Will I see them? Will I be at their special events? Help with homework? 😕

I want this so badly, but I need to get a handle on what's really required and what my family and I will have to sacrifice.

Is anyone going through this?

Can't wait to hear about other experiences.

Thx.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi All,

New to this site/forum. I'm married, 33, 2 kids (ages 6 & 3). I have always wanted to (and planned on) applying to medical school. Already a non-traditional student during my undergrad, I had to put plans on hold b/c we were barely keeping our heads above water financially. Now I'm looking to apply for Fall 08.

I want/need to know what it's really like. What kind of hours do you put in during medical school? Is the internship really 80+ hours with 36 hr shifts? What's is like to raise kids & go through this process? Will I see them? Will I be at their special events? Help with homework? 😕

I want this so badly, but I need to get a handle on what's really required and what my family and I will have to sacrifice.

Is anyone going through this?

Can't wait to hear about other experiences.

Thx.

The first two years of med school hours are best handled if treated similar to a full time job with variably long hours (more hours on exam weeks and less when exams are more remote). You will be able to see your family about as much as the typical professional working full time, maybe more if you study at home and don't attend lectures. You will be studying a good part of every day all 7 days a week, but have a decent amount of control as to when that studying will be. Third year rotations are when you lose all control of your schedule, and may involve working well into the evening, and so that will be a harder year in terms of family. Fourth year is lighter. Residencies are varied, with surgery being the most demanding and 80 hour weeks not uncommon, while most other specialties would be in the 60-70 hour max range. However your schedule is not your own, and a lot of those hours will be at night. (for residency hour info the AMA's Frieda website is pretty helpful http://www.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/spcindx/0,,TR,00.html)

 

[ShyRem]

I am an MSI with two children (8 and 11), two dogs, and a husband that is currently out of town during my entire head & neck part of anatomy. (Yes, that truly sucks moldy rocks.) Is it doable? Yes. I go to lectures... every darn one of them unless I'm ill beyond belief or my kids are sick and my husband can't stay home with them (that won't be too much of a problem in a few months - he'll be doing graveyard shifts).

I do notice that I study *different* than my childless or younger counterparts. When I go home after classes, I'm HOME. I cook, I clean, I help with homework. I listen to them read, I listen about their day. We go grocery shopping. I do almost all my studying after everyone goes to bed at night. This does mean that I study from 9pm-midnight during the week, and I get up at 5:30 or 6am (unless my hubby is home, then I get up at 6:30 and he makes me coffee.. he's fabulous). On the weekends, I try to spend time with my family as a family, but invariably I end up going in to anatomy lab for a few hours, or stealing 10 or 15 minutes here and there to study. I also use my palm a LOT -- you can get Netter's for Palm, I download powerpoints and documents to my Palm so I can study while my husband is driving when we go somewhere on the weekend. As weird as it sounds, I even study in the bathroom (hey, it's a few minutes of peace and quiet). I download audio to my MP3 and use it as bedtime music to my ears.

Bottom line: it's TOTALLY doable. Learn to not waste a second. I've actually found it good to listen to lectures at 2-2.5x speed. Sounds a little sick. But it seems to work so far. I'm holding my own.. not honoring everything, but certainly not struggling either. And my family gives me balance. Will you resent some of your single counterparts when they reschedule something last minute for a time where you can't go 'cuz you can't get a sitter last minute? sure. Will they be jealous of your life at home that's NOT medical school all the time? Yeah, a lot of them will. Some of your fellow students will give you a hard time about having kids and not "participating" as much. Many of your fellow students will help you out on those rare occassions you can't be there because they couldn't imagine going to school AND have a family to take care of.

Good luck. Balance. Breathe. And when you wonder what the f*ck you've gotten yourself into and whether it's worth it -- look at your kids. It's worth it.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Hey Nicky,

I am a mom of 2, was 32 and newly divorced when I was accepted to medical school with a 2 yr old and a 5yr old. I know all about struggling financially and wondering if it's worth it. If your spouse really pulls their weight it is totally doable. Like the other poster I went to every class an many times I was ok with getting a C since I just didn't have anymore time to put into studying. I cooked dinner every night and listened to my kids about their day. I arranged my study group after dinner, my husband did the bedtime rituals and took them to school in the morning. He worked a full time job but was able to arrange his schedule around school and daycare. I made it through passing the boards on the first try and ending up in the middle of the class rank. During third and fourth years most of my rotations were fairly benign and only on medicine and surgery did I break a 40 hour week. I also chose my rotations wisely so I didn't have to work too hard on stuff I really wasn't interested in. The big thing on rotations is you just ask the attending what is expected so you can organize care for your kids and they usually give you a schedule ahead of time. It works out.

Now that I am in residency the hours are longer depending on the rotation you are on. We change rotations every 4 weeks. For medicine and ER it's guaranteed 12 hour shifts 7a-7p. We don't have night float so we have call approximately every 15 days. That means a 30 hour shift if you are on during the week day, 12 + 12 + 6 the following day for rounding/lecture. For a weekend call its a 24 hour shift. I usually get to sleep from midnight to 5-6am. Personally I think being on call is easier than being up every night with a newborn so you being through that stage is a piece of cake. So I guess what I am saying is that being a mom in residency is not that bad since I am home every evening except for those rare call days. My kids are in elementary school now and my husband doesn't work at all so he is home all the time for after school activities. If I have to be at their school for something I usually get to go unless it's my clinic day but I can get that covered for the time I need to be gone. Bottom line: it all works out and as long as you have a spouse who helps you (I don't do laundry or clean house anymore) it's fine. Feel free to PM me if you have other specific questions. If you really want to be a doctor, it works out, don't worry about the money either, the loans cover expenses and if you work out where your residency is so the rent doesn't eat all your paycheck.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

...Is anyone going through this?...

So many more than you'd think.

I'd venture to say I probably have the youngest one!

 

[skypilot]

http://mommd.com/

Here's a good website for ya. Consider carefully before taking the plunge. You will definitely making sacrifices for your career. Medicine can be a consuming lifestyle, not just a job.

 

[RxnMan]

Besides those who've already responded, private message Panda Bear - he's an emergency medicine intern right now, and he's got four kids. He's also got a blog that's good reading as well at Panda Bear, M.D.