Question about becoming a doctor

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I've been thinking of what I want to do with my life lately, and currently this is my plan (or idea). I take the 2 year diploma in computer information systems, then work at that making pretty decent money. Then I spend the next several years studying biology/medicine of my own accord (like a hobby), as I'm doing now but in a much more vigilant manor. Then When I start taking the sciences and such to become a doctor I'll have a major headstart and hopefully be able to achieve my highest aspiration.



Now, here's the problem. My spine/back/neck are completely gibbled and there's no way I could do surgeries or walking around hospitals for hours, it would just be waaaaayyy to painful. I want to be a doc, but be able to work in an environment where I'm always, or almsot always, sitting. I really don't have any choice in the matter.

I was thinking of going into Rhuematology (maybe figure out my own problem), the rhuematologist I saw seemed to have a nice comfy office, but do they do hospital duty later? And if Rheumatologists do have to do work on their feet for hours, is there some other other possition as a doctor I could take that would involve staying off my feet?

Gandalf_The_Grey Reviewed by Gandalf_The_Grey on 06-20-2007. Question about becoming a doctor I've been thinking of what I want to do with my life lately, and currently this is my plan (or idea). I take the 2 year diploma in computer information systems, then work at that making pretty decent money. Then I spend the next several years studying biology/medicine of my own accord (like a hobby), as I'm doing now but in a much more vigilant manor. Then When I start taking the sciences and such to become a doctor I'll have a major headstart and hopefully be able to achieve my highest Rating: 5

[NothingMoreThenTruth]

I'm going to become a doctor as well.

I don't really know the answer to your question, but wanted to wish you good luck man.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I'm going to become a doctor as well.

I don't really know the answer to your question, but wanted to wish you good luck man.

Thanks man, always appreciated.

So, do I see another biology nut here?:smokin: I'm relatively new to the field myself, just picking up bits and pieces all over the place for the past couple years (along with computers). Is there anything you want to specialize in yet? I've also considered Neurology myself, but it seems that's one of the hardest and longest paths to achieve.

[NothingMoreThenTruth]

Haha yeah i love biology and chemistry. Those are my favorite classes in school.
You know, i honestly don't know yet, I've been looking into surgery, but being a doctor interest me as well. I've had pharmacy as my fallback though, being a pharmacist wouldn't be too bad.

[Staurm]

Gandalf have you ever read any holistic models of life, autopoiesis, dissipative structures, that sort of thing? I'd love to get into bioinformatics myself, but at the moment its not looking likely.

[birdgirl73]

Hey Gandalf/D,
You know, there are med students and doctors all over the place with disabilities. Don't know if y'all have an equivalent law in Canada to the American's With Disabilities Act, but you likely do. It basically says you can't be discriminated against on the basis of a physical disability if you're able to perform the essential functions of a job. Schools and hospitals have to help accommodate you.

Sure, you might not be able to be a surgeon or an interventional cardilologist and stand at a table all day, but you can definitely do other things, from rheumatology to general practice to internal medicine to obstetrics. They key is worrying about getting the requisite courses and getting into school in the first place. Back trouble isn't likely to hold you back once you're in.

I'm in a class of 220 at my med school, and of those, we have one person on crutches. He has some mild cerebral palsy. And two are in wheelchair.s I'm not sure why, but I've heard one of them say she had severe scoliosis, among other things. The good thing about medical facilities is they're designed with people with unique physical needs in mind. So you could get around a hospital or a medical school, and you could make rounds once you became an intern or resident. People do that all the time with disabilities and in wheelchairs. For labwork, my student colleagues who have to be seated in wheelchairs use a special, lower table and work there. It can definitely be done!

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Haha yeah i love biology and chemistry. Those are my favorite classes in school.
You know, i honestly don't know yet, I've been looking into surgery, but being a doctor interest me as well. I've had pharmacy as my fallback though, being a pharmacist wouldn't be too bad.

I've considered pharmacology too. The pay is still kick-ass and it's only 6 years of school. But that's a plan-B, part of the reason I'm doing this is to study my own medical issues.

Gandalf have you ever read any holistic models of life, autopoiesis, dissipative structures, that sort of thing?

Actually I've never even heard of "autopdiesis" and "dissipative structures", though I'm certainly curious! Do you have any interesting links/knowledge on the subject? As for holistic medicine, I know very little but I'm definately into learning nutrition if that counts.

Hey Gandalf/D

Hey Birdgirl!

You know, there are med students and doctors all over the place with disabilities. Don't know if y'all have an equivalent law in Canada to the American's With Disabilities Act, but you likely do. It basically says you can't be discriminated against on the basis of a physical disability if you're able to perform the essential functions of a job. Schools and hospitals have to help accommodate you.

Yep, we have exactly the same rights in Canada. Mind you it works great for school, not for applying to a company. I learned over the years that they'll NEVER call you back if you tell them about a disability regardless of law, ugh

Sure, you might not be able to be a surgeon or an interventional cardilologist and stand at a table all day, but you can definitely do other things, from rheumatology to general practice to internal medicine to obstetrics.

Ooh, I'm glad I can stay with the Rheumatology! Then I suppose I could upgrade to Neurology later, maybe even do research. I would love it if I could actually research chronic rheumatic and nerve-pain, it would be amazing to actually have the tools at my hands to study my own problem and help other people in the same boat.

I'm in a class of 220 at my med school, and of those, we have one person on crutches. He has some mild cerebral palsy. And two are in wheelchair.s I'm not sure why, but I've heard one of them say she had severe scoliosis, among other things. The good thing about medical facilities is they're designed with people with unique physical needs in mind. So you could get around a hospital or a medical school, and you could make rounds once you became an intern or resident. People do that all the time with disabilities and in wheelchairs. For labwork, my student colleagues who have to be seated in wheelchairs use a special, lower table and work there. It can definitely be done!

Well, I'm sure the system works great for people with conventional disabilities, but this is simply a matter of pain for me. I'm not in a wheelchair, I just can't walk for more than 30 minutes before every muscle in my body hurts and my neck and back start pinching nerves. The sciatic pain and burning in the front of my legs (whatever that is) is especially fun.

I know it sounds weired, but I kind of wish I just had a clearly-defined disability with a nice label like "MS" attached to it. Instead the docs can't figure out what's wrong with me, and why soft-tissue injuries from 5 years ago just keep getting worse and spreading to new areas. Actually if you or anybody has any theories on that I'll listen attentively and research it thoroughly. I've spent enough late nights researching it as is, but there's little information out there it seems.

Ah well, you're comments are appreciated as always.

[beachguy in thongs]

Hey, radic-al. My pain stems from a motor vehicle accident, in my late teens, but, it comes from an accident that occurred eight-years after. The first one caused Brain Trauma, and then the subsequent accident developed permanent pain, which I think of as "inverse" pain because it hurts differently with my actions (stepping hurts, lifting it off the ground hurts, resting hurts, but, in different areas and ways). I came off of an eyepatch the first time I smoked weed after a coma. My eyeball is knocked off-line, yet, somehow Pot sharpens my focus.

The difference between our injuries is the healing time. Amazingly, within seconds after my first hit of the day, all my pain is erased. Doctors that told me they could do no more, agreed that cannabis is good for "a lot of things". The doctor, who experimented on me, told me "just to keep it on the down-low" and my primary-care physician told me to "hang in, there".

[RyanTheCaveman]

Yes, i want to become a doctor...
though i was thinking i would have to quit smoking bud because you cant as a doctor(be smoking bud)

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Yes, i want to become a doctor...
though i was thinking i would have to quit smoking bud because you cant as a doctor(be smoking bud)

Meh, I don't think they drug test here in Canada. I could be wrong of course, but man I was talking to a doctor a few months back, asking about pain meds and all that, and he seemed REALLY stoned! LOL He kept going "huh? what? oh, yeah...", he wouldn't hear me talking to him sometimes, kept spacing out during our converstation, and was bumping into things. Whatever he was dipping into, it got him wrecked.


Beachguy, that really sucks about your pain, sorry to hear that man. I know what you mean how different actions can cause different pain in different areas of the body, but it sounds like you possibly have it even worse than me. I'm glad the cannabis helps you though, hang in there dude. Maybe ask your doctor about tramadol, it's the only opiate painkiller that has almost no potential for addiction.