The reality of medicine

[shinny]

I wanna become an anesthetist, does anyone have any views on that?

Anaesthetists seem pretty good. The ones I've met are very interesting - all of them seem like they know everything about everything. They're probably one of the few specialists who still fully understand the biomedical sciences. Most of them did away with them long ago. Their job more or less seems to be walk in to theatre, jab a needle, then just sit there waiting for some beeps to come from the monitors whilst talking to other staff, or reading a magazine etc. Seems quite relaxed to be honest. Haven't seen an anaesthetic issue before, but once those come in, then obviously the anaesthetist needs to step in, so you do have an important and respected role though of course. Then on top of that, it's just the usual consults (relatively high risk patients will often see an anaesthetist prior to the surgery), and running around the hospital putting drips in for people because anaesthetists are like sharp-shooters at that stuff after having done them multiple times a day for many years. I swear a patient I tried to put a drip in once practically didn't have any veins (I tried once, my intern tried after, then the resident tried), and then the anaesthetist walks over and boom, headshot first try. But yeh, generally very relaxed people from what I can see. Could just be the fumes from the sedatives they use though

I wanna become an anesthetist, does anyone have any views on that?

Don't think they earn the highest salary amongst all specialties.

That doesn't mean they don't still earn a crap load. Honestly, almost any speciality earns way more than enough money. At that stage of your life, I don't think money is going to be an issue any more really.

[dc302]

Anaesthesiology seem like a good lifestyle choice (although maybe I'm wrong since they have to be there whenever surgery happens..) but I wouldn't do it because I'd probably be bored to death.. And I probably wouldn't have as much job satisfaction, personally.

[paulsterio]

Anaesthetists seem pretty good. The ones I've met are very interesting - all of them seem like they know everything about everything. They're probably one of the few specialists who still fully understand the biomedical sciences. Most of them did away with them long ago. Their job more or less seems to be walk in to theatre, jab a needle, then just sit there waiting for some beeps to come from the monitors whilst talking to other staff, or reading a magazine etc. Seems quite relaxed to be honest. Haven't seen an anaesthetic issue before, but once those come in, then obviously the anaesthetist needs to step in, so you do have an important and respected role though of course. Then on top of that, it's just the usual consults (relatively high risk patients will often see an anaesthetist prior to the surgery), and running around the hospital putting drips in for people because anaesthetists are like sharp-shooters at that stuff after having done them multiple times a day for many years. I swear a patient I tried to put a drip in once practically didn't have any veins (I tried once, my intern tried after, then the resident tried), and then the anaesthetist walks over and boom, headshot first try. But yeh, generally very relaxed people from what I can see. Could just be the fumes from the sedatives they use though

Yeah, that's basically similar to what I've heard, just from reading around on the internet and stuff, it actually sounds like a good career. I like how it's relaxed, which is always good, it also doesn't seem too confronting, in that you won't have to cut open people and that But that sounds good, I guess I'll decide when I actually get to that stage, but anaesthesiology seems appealing

Anaesthesiology seem like a good lifestyle choice (although maybe I'm wrong since they have to be there whenever surgery happens..) but I wouldn't do it because I'd probably be bored to death.. And I probably wouldn't have as much job satisfaction, personally.

Yeah, that's true as well, but I guess I'd personally be quite satisfied, because anaesthetists are needed, they're pretty much needed for surgery but I've also heard that in terms of "fame", they tend to get the least out of a team of doctors who have performed a "miracle" or "landmark" type surgery.

[happycat]

Guys, please don't beat me up with a stick for this but in my brutally honest opinion I reckon medicine is so so overrated. There are various other things that could be so much more rewarding than just sitting in an office all day like those GP at those local medical centres.

[dc302]

I don't think anyone is specifically referring to being a GP when they say they want to do medicine. I at least would not want to be a GP.

[ninwa]

@ Eva, ninwa, Nirbaan, mind saying what kind of doctors your parent(s) are, and maybe how they feel about their specialty?

mum was a paediatrician, she never really liked kids though so I have nfi why she did it

[paulsterio]

I don't think anyone is specifically referring to being a GP when they say they want to do medicine. I at least would not want to be a GP.

I wouldn't mind being a GP, it's a reasonable job that's well-rounded and the hours are great, plus, I think I've said it before, but I really don't like cutting people open, I just can't stand that sort of stuff, so no surgery for me

[Aurelian]

@ Eva, ninwa, Nirbaan, mind saying what kind of doctors your parent(s) are, and maybe how they feel about their specialty?

mum was a paediatrician, she never really liked kids though so I have nfi why she did it

Reminds me of a lot of teachers...

[Truck]

I don't think anyone is specifically referring to being a GP when they say they want to do medicine. I at least would not want to be a GP.

I wouldn't mind being a GP, it's a reasonable job that's well-rounded and the hours are great, plus, I think I've said it before, but I really don't like cutting people open, I just can't stand that sort of stuff, so no surgery for me

Still have to do dissections in Anatomy while getting your Med degree... also while you hate cutting people open, what about just seeing blood/vomit/warts/nasty shit on people in general, cause I'm pretty sure while you're an intern/registrar or something you'll have to work in hospitals and see that kind of thing.

[Hamdog17]

Yeah I think they call it "clinical skills" it involves injecting, drawing blood, suturing and other minor procedures. Everyone has to learn it if you do med. However, I think gps are generally doing less and less technical/manual stuff these days due to fear of being sued/high medical indemnity costs. For example, my dad said the local gp in his suburb growing up used to deliver babies and surgically remove things like skin growths on a regular basis but my gp won't even give me an injection and instead calls in the practice nurse to administer it.

If I end up doing med eventually I might like to become an ENT or OMF surgeon. Orthopaedic surgery is apparently one of the best paying specialities according to the American Medical Assoc. with an average annual salary of US $720,000.

[shinny]

If I end up doing med eventually I might like to become an ENT or OMF surgeon.

OMF? o_o Maxfax involves getting a Dent degree on top of your Medical one. Then you have to study to specialise as a maxfax afterwards. Be prepared for a very long journey.

[iffets12345]

@ shinny, dentists make more than doctors, really? What's a dentist's salary like then? Also, you also start earning as soon as you graduate from med school.

Wow...you have no clue. In a nice way.

If I end up doing med eventually I might like to become an ENT or OMF surgeon.

OMF? o_o Maxfax involves getting a Dent degree on top of your Medical one. Then you have to study to specialise as a maxfax afterwards. Be prepared for a very long journey.

My family friend is 30 and just in the training stage of becoming a MaxFax, like, not even a fully qualified one.
Also, a bit of advice, don't start to churn out what specialities you'd like to do and all in front of everyone, particularly the neurosurgeon high-flying type of speciality. In the first week or so of dent/med its kind of cute in a  first year to gush about it, then it becomes slightly...exasperating. Everyone was gushing about becoming a max fax in dent and honestly... I don't take many of them seriously. Not saying you personally, but some peolpe who talk about becoming Ents, Neuros, maxfaxes.... they can come across as ignorant or arrogant.

[Hamdog17]

If I end up doing med eventually I might like to become an ENT or OMF surgeon.

OMF? o_o Maxfax involves getting a Dent degree on top of your Medical one. Then you have to study to specialise as a maxfax afterwards. Be prepared for a very long journey.

Yeah sorry not trying to come across at arrogant I know if I choose to follow either of these paths I'll be studying at uni for 10 years if I do OMFS and then the training program on top of that so like 16 or 17 years in total (to become just a junior one!) but I think that it would be an amazing speciality and incredibly satisfying. Getting into the training program for any speciality is insanely hard from what I've heard from family friends doing med, let alone the most desirable ones with the smallest number of places available. Definitely a hard road ahead... But during med I'll probably change my mind hundreds of times as well so there's that to consider also

[iffets12345]

Oh well I really didn't think you applied to that stereotype so don't worry .I think usually if u do Med and Dent, perhaps do a fellowship in oral surgery and get some good experience in a hospital somewhere.. you'll be fine for max fax...honestly HOW MANY people have the two degrees to apply for the program anyway you know? Don't take my word for it but I think entry into the program is pretty okay once u get those two degrees. It's getting through those 15 years that is the killer... And yes, you're right, along the way everything will change your mind . All the best!

[dc302]

@ shinny, dentists make more than doctors, really? What's a dentist's salary like then? Also, you also start earning as soon as you graduate from med school.

Wow...you have no clue. In a nice way.

If I end up doing med eventually I might like to become an ENT or OMF surgeon.

OMF? o_o Maxfax involves getting a Dent degree on top of your Medical one. Then you have to study to specialise as a maxfax afterwards. Be prepared for a very long journey.

My family friend is 30 and just in the training stage of becoming a MaxFax, like, not even a fully qualified one.
Also, a bit of advice, don't start to churn out what specialities you'd like to do and all in front of everyone, particularly the neurosurgeon high-flying type of speciality. In the first week or so of dent/med its kind of cute in a  first year to gush about it, then it becomes slightly...exasperating. Everyone was gushing about becoming a max fax in dent and honestly... I don't take many of them seriously. Not saying you personally, but some peolpe who talk about becoming Ents, Neuros, maxfaxes.... they can come across as ignorant or arrogant.

Sure dentists make more when they first come out, but you're trying to tell me that on average, a dentist say 15 years into his career is going to make more than a doctor? Let's say both in private practice. Interventional radiology? Cardiology?