Thread: weak stomach

okay, so I have shadowed a few doctors. Ive seen a couple of minor non invasive surgeries and have even seen an amputation of the leg. Never once got sick or felt like passing out. Im preparing to enter medical school in may 07. My questions to all the doctors, residents, and med students in clinical rotation; how do you know you can hack all the stuff you see in surgery during residency. I mean, I cant STAND to see a woman giving childbirth on the discovery channel. I get sick and feel like im going to faint witin minutes. How do I expect to get through residency with a sort of a weak stomach? Do you just get used to it? Has anyone ever fainted? I have a strong stomach for somethings but when it comes to some things like childbirth, I just cant seem to stomach it. I guess my main question is, not many people get that much exposure before med school, so how do you know if you can stomach some of the nasty things you'll see during training? Thanks

Different stuff bothers different people. I once just about hit the floor when someone was draining the blood out of a mouse. You figure? According to my uncle's yea you get use to it. It does help to not have a sensitive sense of smell. Some take longer than others.

Originally Posted by octvela

... when it comes to some things like childbirth, I just cant seem to stomach it. ...

childbirth sucks - I have been there with both of my children being born. One was in the operating room for the c-section. I don't think ob/gyn is pleasant for any involved. I know several posters here who are headed to ob/gyn. I also know some medical students in ob/gyn rotations do just about anything to avoid the delivery room. You do want to do several so you know the skills. There is no telling where or when you will need them.

In Med one you have to deal with cadav....and disect everything from large interstines to the fingers, sooner or later you have to get use to it.

Originally Posted by sheikh1

In Med one you have to deal with cadav....and disect everything from large intestines to the fingers, sooner or later you have to get use to it.

Sheikh has it right - nothing better than the smell of formaldehyde to kill your sense of smell...