Worried about making it through 3rd year

[closertofine]

This is kinda personal, so I apologize for being a little vague...but I'm starting 3rd year rotations this summer, and I'm getting a little worried about it. Not just the usual nervousness about not knowing what to do or say (I'm worried about that, of course, but no more than the average neurotic med student probably!). I'm mostly concerned about keeping up physically.

I'm wondering how I'll be able to run around the hospital and be on my feet all day, especially without being able to take the following few days off to recuperate. Has anyone dealt with physical limitations while on rotations, and does anyone have any tips on handling them? I do have a few months to figure things out.

And I know that after 3rd year, there's fourth year, and then residency, etc...so the problem may never end (especially since one of my interests is in emergency medicine! though maybe not my primary interest) . But I guess taking it one step at a time would be a good place to start.

Thanks,

CTF

(Edited significantly to try to limit personal info...thanks, shelley).

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[Ypo.]

I wish I could give you advice, but I'm a first year. Maybe you should try asking around in the Clinical forums about how people have worked around physical limitations?

PS-haven't you learned by now that its probably better to talk about your medical problems with your doctor, and not on an online forum? I don't mean to be rude. There isn't much advice we can give you not knowing your medical problems, anyway.

 

[closertofine]

I wish I could give you advice, but I'm a first year. Maybe you should try asking around in the Clinical forums about how people have worked around physical limitations?

PS-haven't you learned by now that its probably better to talk about your medical problems with your doctor, and not on an online forum? I don't mean to be rude. There isn't much advice we can give you not knowing your medical problems, anyway.

thanks...yes, I know...I was just hoping for advice on dealing with rotations and thought I had to give some context, but I think I'll edit some out...

 

[closertofine]

Oh, I also didn't realize (or forgot!) that there was a clinical forum. Would a mod be able to move this thread there for me? (or delete if it can't be moved?). Thanks.

 

[tkim]

Oh, I also didn't realize (or forgot!) that there was a clinical forum. Would a mod be able to move this thread there for me? (or delete if it can't be moved?). Thanks.

Your wish is my command.

 

[McGillGrad]

Why would walking around be a burden? Do you have some sort of disability?

 

[closertofine]

Why would walking around be a burden? Do you have some sort of disability?

That was what I edited out to try to avoid too much personal info, but it may be necessary for context. Not a disability in the traditional sense, so nothing that I think I could apply for disability help with...but just a set of symptoms that do make it hard and painful and tiring to be on my feet or walking for long periods of time. Sorry, this is hard to explain without getting into too many medical details, which I guess I should avoid! But maybe that will give a little more context...

 

[closertofine]

Your wish is my command.

thanks, tkim.

 

[McGillGrad]

That was what I edited out to try to avoid too much personal info, but it may be necessary for context. Not a disability in the traditional sense, so nothing that I think I could apply for disability help with...but just a set of symptoms that do make it hard and painful and tiring to be on my feet or walking for long periods of time. Sorry, this is hard to explain without getting into too many medical details, which I guess I should avoid! But maybe that will give a little more context...

That's what I figured when I first read through the post and you had edited some info out.

Well, I am sure that you have spoken to some specialists about the upcoming stress on your feet. Have they offered any advice besides rest?

 

[closertofine]

That's what I figured when I first read through the post and you had edited some info out.

Well, I am sure that you have spoken to some specialists about the upcoming stress on your feet. Have they offered any advice besides rest?

I've just seen my regular doctor, and she gave me a new medication to try...but like the others that have helped a little in the past, it seems like it will make me too drowsy to function well. I guess I could go in that direction and then have my major problem be the sleepiness...not sure if that would be much better, though. Other than that, there don't seem to be many options.

 

[McGillGrad]

I've just seen my regular doctor, and she gave me a new medication to try...but like the others that have helped a little in the past, it seems like it will make me too drowsy to function well. I guess I could go in that direction and then have my major problem be the sleepiness...not sure if that would be much better, though. Other than that, there don't seem to be many options.

As much as I respect primary care physicians, the scope of their knowledge usually does not extend beyond conventional therapies and medication (i.e. no breakthrough or new treatments). You should really consider seeing a specialist and asking for specific advice.

About the sleepiness, you could always do what pharmaceutical companies do when they want to market a daytime formula of their drug. Add a stimulant such as caffeine to your daily routine.

 

[Pox in a box]

This is kinda personal, so I apologize for being a little vague...but I'm starting 3rd year rotations this summer, and I'm getting a little worried about it. Not just the usual nervousness about not knowing what to do or say (I'm worried about that, of course, but no more than the average neurotic med student probably!). I'm mostly concerned about keeping up physically.

I'm wondering how I'll be able to run around the hospital and be on my feet all day, especially without being able to take the following few days off to recuperate. Has anyone dealt with physical limitations while on rotations, and does anyone have any tips on handling them? I do have a few months to figure things out.

And I know that after 3rd year, there's fourth year, and then residency, etc...so the problem may never end (especially since one of my interests is in emergency medicine! though maybe not my primary interest) . But I guess taking it one step at a time would be a good place to start.

Thanks,

CTF

(Edited significantly to try to limit personal info...thanks, shelley).

My alarm went off at 5 AM today and I was so dumbfounded...why in the world did I set my alarm for so early? Oh yeah, it's day 2 of my clerkship.

 

[closertofine]

As much as I respect primary care physicians, the scope of their knowledge usually does not extend beyond conventional therapies and medication (i.e. no breakthrough or new treatments). You should really consider seeing a specialist and asking for specific advice.

About the sleepiness, you could always do what pharmaceutical companies do when they want to market a daytime formula of their drug. Add a stimulant such as caffeine to your daily routine.

Thanks...I think I may look into seeing a specialist.

I do drink caffeine already, but it didn't cut it when I was taking those meds...and we even tried adding another prescription to counter the side effect of sleepiness (oh, the evils of polypharmacy!), but that didn't work all that well...I was just over-medicated and drugged-feeling.

 

[closertofine]

My alarm went off at 5 AM today and I was so dumbfounded...why in the world did I set my alarm for so early? Oh yeah, it's day 2 of my clerkship.

Yeah, I may be in some trouble...

 

[4424]

Yeah, I may be in some trouble...

not every rotation entails that you run around a hospital on your feet all day. i dont disagree on medicine and surgery you are pretty exhausted by the end of the day but i would suggest making sure you sit down as much as possible and wear comfortable shoes (shoes make a huge difference). i think there is ample opportunity to sit down during the day if you need, perhaps with the exception of surgery. the beginning of third year is exhausting for everyone, but you get used to it. i understand with your limitations that it may be harder on you but be more conscious of it and try and sit whenever you can.

 

[mysophobe]

My alarm went off at 5 AM today and I was so dumbfounded...why in the world did I set my alarm for so early? Oh yeah, it's day 2 of my clerkship.

Welcome to clinical medicine.

 

[wook]

Thanks...I think I may look into seeing a specialist.

I do drink caffeine already, but it didn't cut it when I was taking those meds...and we even tried adding another prescription to counter the side effect of sleepiness (oh, the evils of polypharmacy!), but that didn't work all that well...I was just over-medicated and drugged-feeling.

closertofine:

Seeing aspecialist and/or getting a 2nd opinion would reasonable. You WILL be on your feet with some rotations. As you are doing a rotation, you may have some autonomy that will allow you to sit (e.g. looking up info on medical records, writing SOAP notes, looking at ordered imaging, examining EKGs). You may be able to reduce some of the time on your feet with activities like that. On other rotations you may not be able to do this as much.

Good luck and keep exploring your options.


Wook

 

[fang]

rollerblades?

 

[Smurfette]

sounds like a future anesthesiologist to me. or radiologist. But you'd have to find a pretty cush transitional year site for your intern year...and you'll still have to find a way to cope in med school.

 

[Hard24Get]

Closertofine,

I think you should be upfront with residency directors as you start each clerkship, or at least run it by your med school ombudsman (a neutral faculty member appointed to deal discreetly with personal issues). You say you can't "claim" disability, but if it is a medical problem, no one knows medicine like Doctors . Though talking it over with the ombudsman will probably provide more ideas, I think it is better for people to know what you are dealing with and having to overcome during the rotation as they evaluate you rather than them assuming you are "lazy" or whatnot because they do not have all the facts. Of course, make sure you are getting the best treatment for your disease that you can, but honesty will also help - often the only attributes med students are thought to have is youth and energy, so you don't want this to count against you.

 

[(nicedream)]

I might be concerend about residency directors being aware of a disability, as it would be a big negative against you come match-time. Just a thought?

 

[TheCat]

I am really sorry if this sounds harsh but the next thing we will see is somebody who is blind asking why they should not be allowed to practice medicine. I mean I am a firm believer that if you cannot hack the training/career in any one thing in life then you should not be in it. I mean sure I would rather be playing golf for a living-but I cannot hit the ball 330 so you do not see me playing. If you remember back there was a case about a pga guy having to use a cart on the pga tour-I think he had like 9 rulings against him saying that he should have to walk like everyone else and if he was unable to because of his walking disabliity then he should not be allowed to play-cause it simply was not fair! He finally won a judgment but only after about 20 appeals.
What I am saying is how are you going to run to a code and run it? or stand in surgery for 6 straight hours and hold retractors, or never sit down all day and have sore ass feet and legs during rotations cause its never really "right" to sit down in front of your residents/attendings whom your always arround! I just think if you need some special consideration as advanced as not being able to move around a hospital than you should not be in medicine training. Part of getting to the "cush" lifestyle choices such as rads, anesth, are goign through the grueling years of medschool, intern year-I Just hate when poeple get special exceptions. Similar to the people taking mcat who got unlimited time cause they couldnt read-if you cant read please dont go into medicine! I dont know-I believe u are already in medicine so i am not saying drop out but come on-how would you feel listening to someone else telt his story.

 

[SLPI]

I am really sorry if this sounds harsh but the next thing we will see is somebody who is blind asking why they should not be allowed to practice medicine. I mean I am a firm believer that if you cannot hack the training/career in any one thing in life then you should not be in it. I mean sure I would rather be playing golf for a living-but I cannot hit the ball 330 so you do not see me playing. If you remember back there was a case about a pga guy having to use a cart on the pga tour-I think he had like 9 rulings against him saying that he should have to walk like everyone else and if he was unable to because of his walking disabliity then he should not be allowed to play-cause it simply was not fair! He finally won a judgment but only after about 20 appeals.
What I am saying is how are you going to run to a code and run it? or stand in surgery for 6 straight hours and hold retractors, or never sit down all day and have sore ass feet and legs during rotations cause its never really "right" to sit down in front of your residents/attendings whom your always arround! I just think if you need some special consideration as advanced as not being able to move around a hospital than you should not be in medicine training. Part of getting to the "cush" lifestyle choices such as rads, anesth, are goign through the grueling years of medschool, intern year-I Just hate when poeple get special exceptions. Similar to the people taking mcat who got unlimited time cause they couldnt read-if you cant read please dont go into medicine! I dont know-I believe u are already in medicine so i am not saying drop out but come on-how would you feel listening to someone else telt his story.

lighten up. Even if the person has this disability then they can still find a specialty which allows them to work without being on their feet all the time. come on you don't think that they should be allowed a little leeway in medical school if they have a disability?? if they put in the effort and learn like everyone else they should have some accomodations made for them. it's not like you are asking a blind man to perform surgery. this problem can be overcome and this person will be able to match into a specialty that better fits their unique needs.

PS closertofine i hope everything works out.

 

[(nicedream)]

There actually was a blind guy that graduated from medschool recently, there was an article about him. I forget what specialty he was going into...

 

[beary]

There actually was a blind guy that graduated from medschool recently, there was an article about him. I forget what specialty he was going into...

Psych. A good fit!

I agree that there has to be a line somewhere - if you can't do it, you can't do it. But at the same time, people end up choosing specialties based on their strengths and weaknesses. I don't have a lot of physical stamina either so was not interested in surgical subspecialties that require a lot of "feet time." But I think I will be a good pathologist. I could tolerate surgical rotations for a month or two at a time, but probably couldn't handle it for my whole life.

 

[TheCat]

There actually was a blind guy that graduated from medschool recently, there was an article about him. I forget what specialty he was going into...

Oh for gods sakes! That is kind of ridiculous, pyschiatrist or not.

 

[Va-Jay-Jay]

I went to medical school with this 'ridiculous' blind student, and he is amazing. Obviously he was given special accomodations on many of his rotations, but he compensated for limitations by being academically superior and maintaining a great attitude. He was even better at putting in IVs than I was! With subspecialty medicine options, we don't need to have skills and abilities in every field.

Rotation directors are typically very understanding and accomodating -- they have to be. Not to say you might not run into a@#@holes attendings or medical students who are annoyed that you seem to get off 'more easily' than them. I've known a med student with joint problems who had to spend limited time on his feet, a med stuent with UC who needed the flexibility to run to the bathroom when need be and get off frequently for doctor's visits, and an internal medicine attending who is paraplegic. Additionally, think of all the unfortunate med students who break their arm or leg. They don't take a year off of the clinical wards just because they can't run to codes or retract in the OR with both hands.

You'll be just fine during your third and fourth year. You may need to spend more time in bed on your days off, at the expense of having fun with friends, but you'll make these sacrifices because... well... its just what we do as med students. We find a way to get through tough times, whether its emotionally or physically. And there are many directions you can take in medicine that won't require you to physically destroy yourself on a daily basis.

Good luck. You'll do just fine.

 

[closertofine]

Thanks, all. To clarify, I thought I had this problem largely under control when I started med school...and maybe I will be able to get it under control again with medication, if I talk to my doctor and do try to get in to see a specialist. Then again, maybe that's just wishful thinking, but one can hope!

And I came in to medicine thinking I'd like to do something like neuro or psych...so no one ever really sat down with me and asked how I do with being on my feet for 8 or more hours a day. I'm not sure what I want to go into now, but my main interests are still neuro, psych, and maybe pathology, fortunately not the most physically strenuous things (well, ER medicine looks cool too, but I don't know that I'd like the stress long-term anyway).

So maybe if I can just make it through these training years, I'll be better off. And thanks for all the advice about maybe talking to rotation directors beforehand...I'll have to think about it, since I'm the type to try to push through problems without telling anyone until it becomes absolutely impossible...but as someone said, having people view me as lazy would be a worse way to go.

And to answer to TheCat, not only do I not take advantage of special exceptions, I've actually never even asked for a special exception before. I think I tend to be equally hard on myself and feel that I should be able to do what everyone else can, and what is expected of me, regardless of circumstances. But when things come up that get in the way, and you need something as simple as the chance to sit down once in a while, is that such a horrible thing? And who knows, maybe one day someone will need a psychiatrist who understands what it feels like to deal with something like this.

 

[Nightengale]

I have a disability that includes limitations on how much I can be on my feet all day, among other things. I needed some formal accommodations for it, and also figured some things out on my own. I'm nearly done with 3rd year, including my OB and surgery rotations and remain reasonably unscathed, physicallly.

I had to get a really detailed letter from my doctor saying what I could and couldn't do. Then I met with all the course directors and some other people. For surgery, I was put on services where the operations were 1-2 hours long at maximum, and had permission to sit down and observe after that. (no one actually needs the third year med student there. . . ) I ended up doing compartively more floor work and scrubbing in to compartively fewer operations than most of my classmates, while still observing and assisting in enough surgerys to get a complete experience. On OB, I did deliveries sitting down, not standard practice at my hospital (although it is elsewhere) so I needed special permission for this from the course director and then had to talk the residents into it.

On rounds, I take the elevator rather than the stairs most of the time, and got someone on my team to tell me where to meet them on the next floor. Mostly this hasn't been a problem, and once it got the attending to realize that the other people on the team didn't really want to walk up 4 flights themselves, even if they could. It can be hard to find a place to sit down on rounds, although when I'm desperate I usually manage for a few minutes here and there. There will be plenty of your day when you're on your own and can sit for awhile.

In outpatient exam rooms, ER treatment rooms and inpatient rooms, there is generally a chair to be found. For babies and toddlers, I often do much of the exam sitting down with the kid on the mother's lap. If all the chairs in the room are taken, I've been known to sit on the pull-out step of the exam table.

Let me know here or via PM if there is anything else I can answer for you.

P.S. I would have absolutely no hesitation being treated by a doctor who is blind, or who has any other given disability or medical condition. Disability and being a doctor are not mutually exclusive - there are doctors now who are blind, deaf/Deaf or who use wheelchairs/canes/crutches, etc, and there have been for many years - not everyone may be suited to every specialty, but that's already true for myriad other reasons for all of us.

 

[doctordoctor]

Some people have disabilities. It's not their fault, and it shouldn't stop them from being a doc. If anything, having a disability or a chronic disease, etc is bound to make someone a better physician. And to "The Cat": I'm glad you're able to stand up for 6 hours straight or run to a code really really fast. Congrats on that. Now you should focus on not being an ass.


"I am really sorry if this sounds harsh but the next thing we will see is somebody who is blind asking why they should not be allowed to practice medicine. I mean I am a firm believer that if you cannot hack the training/career in any one thing in life then you should not be in it. I mean sure I would rather be playing golf for a living-but I cannot hit the ball 330 so you do not see me playing. If you remember back there was a case about a pga guy having to use a cart on the pga tour-I think he had like 9 rulings against him saying that he should have to walk like everyone else and if he was unable to because of his walking disabliity then he should not be allowed to play-cause it simply was not fair! He finally won a judgment but only after about 20 appeals.
What I am saying is how are you going to run to a code and run it? or stand in surgery for 6 straight hours and hold retractors, or never sit down all day and have sore ass feet and legs during rotations cause its never really "right" to sit down in front of your residents/attendings whom your always arround! I just think if you need some special consideration as advanced as not being able to move around a hospital than you should not be in medicine training. Part of getting to the "cush" lifestyle choices such as rads, anesth, are goign through the grueling years of medschool, intern year-I Just hate when poeple get special exceptions. Similar to the people taking mcat who got unlimited time cause they couldnt read-if you cant read please dont go into medicine! I dont know-I believe u are already in medicine so i am not saying drop out but come on-how would you feel listening to someone else telt his story.[/QUOTE]"

 

[GonnaBeAnMD]

I stutter when I talk and am absolutely terrified... although I can play it off to seem like nervousness when I talk to patients right now in 1st year, the thought of presenting to a physician and being asked follow up questions in front of a group makes me want to vomit. I'm glad I chose medicine though

 

[angel80]

I'm not sure exactly what your medical problem is, so it's hard to give you specific advice. For the regular aches and pains in the feet/knees/hips/back that come with being on your feet all day for 12 hour days, the shoes you wear can make all the difference in the world. I'm a big fan of Dansko's. Usually, people either absolutely love them or absolutely hate them. I've had jobs prior to med school that required me to be on my feet all day for 8-10 hours, and even with gym shoes, my feet would ache at the end of the day. I never have that problem with the Dansko's. I know of residents who have been in car accidents, or who have had sports injuries and have bad knees and hips, who can only make it through the day if they wear the Dansko's. I recently got my mom to try them at work after she would complain everyday of knee pain from arthritis, and now she won't wear anything else to work. As far as the muscle pain in the legs from walking (I've actually taken a pedometer with me on some of my rotations, and you'd be surprised that you can walk 2-3 miles in one day in a large hospital), that usually goes away after about a week on a service that requires a ton of walking. You build muscle in the leg, and you don't feel the pain anymore.

 

[mdphd2b]

There actually was a blind guy that graduated from medschool recently, there was an article about him. I forget what specialty he was going into...

In my original MD class we had a student who was legally blind. She graduated in 5 yr. Also, we currently have a paraplegic MD/PhD student, who is wheel-chair bound. Over the years, other students have had hearing aids, speech disablities, etc.

Either way, we will be working with people with disabilities, as colleagues or our patients, so it's important to be sensitive to these issues.

 

[mustangsally65]

Some people have disabilities. It's not their fault, and it shouldn't stop them from being a doc. If anything, having a disability or a chronic disease, etc is bound to make someone a better physician.

That's a great post. It's funny how obvious that seems when you come right out and say it. One of the main things that attracted me to medicine was my own health problems. I was fascinated by the medical environment as a patient and can't wait to start med school and be on the other side.

But it is daunting when you know you're not completely healthy like most other people your age. This thread has been very positive for the most part, and I'm really liking the posts of those of you who have dealt with problems or know someone who has. It's good to know it can be done.

 

[TypeA]

The MD who delivered me was deaf. I'm here... I think that is awesome.

 

[njbmd]

This is kinda personal, so I apologize for being a little vague...but I'm starting 3rd year rotations this summer, and I'm getting a little worried about it. Not just the usual nervousness about not knowing what to do or say (I'm worried about that, of course, but no more than the average neurotic med student probably!). I'm mostly concerned about keeping up physically.

I'm wondering how I'll be able to run around the hospital and be on my feet all day, especially without being able to take the following few days off to recuperate. Has anyone dealt with physical limitations while on rotations, and does anyone have any tips on handling them? I do have a few months to figure things out.

And I know that after 3rd year, there's fourth year, and then residency, etc...so the problem may never end (especially since one of my interests is in emergency medicine! though maybe not my primary interest) . But I guess taking it one step at a time would be a good place to start.

Thanks,

CTF

(Edited significantly to try to limit personal info...thanks, shelley).

Hi there,
I have a friend who had multiple sclerosis before she was accepted into medical school. She wisely alerted her professors and attendings to her physical limitations and made it through medical school (all classes and all rotations) without difficulty. She took good care of herself and knew her physical limitations well. She is now a chief resident in her chosen specialty and keeping up without difficulty.

Let your professors and attendings know of your limitations. This also goes for your chief residents so that they understand when you are not running the steps etc.

Take each rotation as it comes and see how well you do. There are plenty of things that you can sit to do and plenty of times that you can conserve your energy (especially on call).

Your professors, chief residents and attendings understand that some students will have physical limitations. Let them know up front and keep a positive attitude. You will be surprised at how much you will be able to accomplish as you go along.

nbjmd

 

[closertofine]

Hi there,
I have a friend who had multiple sclerosis before she was accepted into medical school. She wisely alerted her professors and attendings to her physical limitations and made it through medical school (all classes and all rotations) without difficulty. She took good care of herself and knew her physical limitations well. She is now a chief resident in her chosen specialty and keeping up without difficulty.

Let your professors and attendings know of your limitations. This also goes for your chief residents so that they understand when you are not running the steps etc.

Take each rotation as it comes and see how well you do. There are plenty of things that you can sit to do and plenty of times that you can conserve your energy (especially on call).

Your professors, chief residents and attendings understand that some students will have physical limitations. Let them know up front and keep a positive attitude. You will be surprised at how much you will be able to accomplish as you go along.

nbjmd

Thanks (and sorry for bumping the thread!).

One issue, though, is that the cause of my problems is not exactly clear, at least not yet. So I have limitations, but no good explanation to give to professors, which is one reason I'm hesitant to talk to them about it. If you were me, would you still just try to explain that to them very briefly?

(I am trying to figure out what's going on...some new, somewhat odd things have popped up recently too that my primary care doctor says she has no explanation for. But she wants to wait and see how/if things progress before getting too concerned. I, on the other hand, am getting worried about the start of rotations and trying to deal with this then).

 

[mustangsally65]

One issue, though, is that the cause of my problems is not exactly clear, at least not yet. So I have limitations, but no good explanation to give to professors, which is one reason I'm hesitant to talk to them about it. If you were me, would you still just try to explain that to them very briefly?

(I am trying to figure out what's going on...some new, somewhat odd things have popped up recently too that my primary care doctor says she has no explanation for. But she wants to wait and see how/if things progress before getting too concerned. I, on the other hand, am getting worried about the start of rotations and trying to deal with this then).

I think that what you said here is perfectly valid. It can take a long time to get a diagnosis and I'm sure a lot of symptoms go unexplained when there's no obvioius cause. It's frustrating too when your primary care doc sends you to a specialist and you have to wait six weeks for your appointment and then you probably have some kind of test done and then another few weeks go by and you finally get the results and get back to see the specialist and figure out what (if anything) to do about it. By then two or three months have gone by, and that's annoying as crap. At least to me.

I don't think you have to go into a lot of detail. Just tell them what is relevant and what you can and can't do. it might be good to mention that you have good and bad days, to allow for variation. I'm assuming some days are better than others, at least. I know they are for me.

I have a bad habit of not telling people about my limitations too, and so when I'm feeling bad I just have to pretend that nothing is wrong and that's not healthy or helpful for your learning experience or evaluation/grade. So I definitely think honesty is best. Lots of luck with it!

 

[njbmd]

Thanks (and sorry for bumping the thread!).

One issue, though, is that the cause of my problems is not exactly clear, at least not yet. So I have limitations, but no good explanation to give to professors, which is one reason I'm hesitant to talk to them about it. If you were me, would you still just try to explain that to them very briefly?

(I am trying to figure out what's going on...some new, somewhat odd things have popped up recently too that my primary care doctor says she has no explanation for. But she wants to wait and see how/if things progress before getting too concerned. I, on the other hand, am getting worried about the start of rotations and trying to deal with this then).

Hi there,
It is still a good idea to be up front with your attendings, chief residents and interns. You do not have to go into intricate detail but it is good to let them know that you have physical limitations that may interfere with your stamina. This lets them know that on your good days, you will be fine and on your bad days, you cut back a bit.

There are loads of medical students who need accomodations during third year. As with my friend, accomodations are made and you can still get the education that you need. Do not try to "gut" this out. Be up front, professional and things will go fine.

njbmd