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  1. #1
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    I know this is really looking into the future, but I have always wanted to become a doctor. Ever since I can remember I've been interested in the human body and I know I would love a career in the medical field. Right now, I am a high school junior and I am having major difficulties because I don't know how I could be a doctor and avoid v****. I volunteer at a hospital now and have already had some v**** experiences. So what should I do? I really don't want to give up my dream and let my phobia conquer me, but at the same time, I don't think I could handle any v**** experiences as a doctor. I can just picture myself sprinting away from the operating room when the anethesia makes the patient sick!


    Also, I was wondering about all those emet moms out there. Kids are known to v**** a lot - how do you handle that? I really really love children and I want to have some of my own, but what do you do when your child is sick? I've got a few years to figure this out, but some advice and your own experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
    No life is wasted; the only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.

  2. #2
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    Yeah, I sometimes wonder that too. I used to want to be an ER doctor for
    a long time, and I've already made up my mind that I'm never having kids.
    I just don't think I could handle it. But I would love to hear how emet
    moms do handle it. And doctors too. If there's someone really sick, it's
    your job to find out what's wrong with them, which means you're
    probably gonna have some bad v* experiences. And you might get
    something from the sick person. So... how DO you do it?
    <font face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\"><font size=\"2\">Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.</font>
    —Seneca</font>

  3. #3
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    [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]Hey there [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]


    Well I ended up volunteering at the hospital as a hospice worker so I had to deal with a lot of cancer patients. I found that it made me a stronger person that way. As a caregiver or someone you are looking after you can often forget about what is happening. You can get use to it like a surgeon gets use to blood or mortitians and autopsies,


    I know easier said than done. It is something that can be doneand done in stages. I grew really close to one of my patients that I was with and at his late stages he tended to be ill a lot and I was able to overcome it for him because he needed me. It took me a while the first time I walked right past his room and said on my sheet that I wasn't able to go in that day.


    I regressed when I moved into the city and everything came back in a flood. My Emet got worse again the agoraphobia was HORRID and I developed claustrophobia. Fortunatly I am not in the city anymore.


    I am a fairly new mom. Somethigng I never thought I would say. In my heart (ESPECIALLY once I met my husband) I wanted kids. I denyed it always saying I didn't because I was soooo afraid of the morning sickness and kids being ill.


    I survived the nausea from the pregnancy and when my little guy was little so were his spit ups. It is just a little warm milk really no big deal at all. And he is gradually graduating me up in stages. Lucky me though he isn't a sicky.


    I am not "better" but since I came out and started to talk about it it is gettingeasier to accept my condition and it is getting easier to take the steps I need to get better.


    Don't give up on your dreams. Keep your heart open to dreams. For as longasthere's a dream, there is hope, and as longas there is hope, there is joy in living.


    Someone tell me if I blab too much. [img]smileys/smilies_32.gif[/img]


    Here is one of my dreams below.


    [img]uploads/images/Melikasa/E53_0417_005.jpg[/img]Edited by: Melikasa
    Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you\'ve never been hurt and live like it\'s heaven on Earth.

  4. #4
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    I'm a mom to two girls ages 7 and 3. Before becoming a mom I was a teacher and believe me teachers see their fair share of V too. I always made sure that *I* wasn't the one that had to deal with it if it happened in my classroom. I did loose it twice infront of children (screaming, plugging my ears and running) which wasn't good so I made sure to share with a staff memeber that I couldn't handle it. I was lucky to always have someone understanding.
    As a mom it was easy at first. My dd didn't get sick until she was nearly 2. The first tummy sickness she had was not a big deal she only V twice and it wasn't much. But after that time I caught it the next and since then my Emet has gotten WORSE!
    Last year my oldest was hospitalized for dehydration from V for 5 days! It was AWFUL! My worse experience and the one that threw me into anxiety attacks. Not only was she sick but there was a waiting room of people all around sick!
    This year was spent with me being a freak! I worry that my girls will pick up on my phobia and they will become as bad as I.
    My oldest was V again last week (first time since last year) and I went into full panic. I am able to be near her and hold her while its happening. BUT as soon as she is finished I start shaking and freaking out. I try to hide it from her but its hard! I then turn into the queen of handwashing and bleaching EVERYTHING!
    The next day when she was feeling better she said to me that I don't need to worry so much because i"ts only one day mom...if you do get it you'll only be sick ONE DAY." So I guess she knows I have an issue! I also panic about my youngest catching it and spread towels all over her bed before she goes to sleep. I didn't know she understood why I was doing this...but tonight as I started to do it she said (she's 3) "mom I don't need towels...I'm not going to be sick...its okay mom"
    I'm rambling...
    If you truely want kids DON"T let it stop you! Your kids will not be sick very much. When they are its hard! But really I can handle it better then my dh being sick or someone else. Its truely worth it!

  5. #5
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    HI there - I'm mum to a 12 year old daughter who now knows all about my fear and read with great interest the 'behaviours' section on the old website, with comments of 'You do that Mum' as she read the list!


    I have to say that my emet is not too bad - I get very anxious at the possibility of someone (or me) being sick - I getshaky and have to control my breathing -but if it actually happens I can cope (just!). If it happens to someone I care about, I do what has tobe done - if it happens to a stranger, I just get away! I think that when you see you own child in distress (and v******* is not pleasant, even if you are not an emet!) your instinct to care takes over everything else and you do what you can give comfort. It's afterwards that any panic sets in, when you think about what just happened.


    Doctors tend to try to prevent people throwing up - unless they have something in their stomach that needs to be got rid of, it's not usually advisable (especially after surgery - think about the strain on stitches!), so medics do all they can to prevent it happening (drugs and even tubes into the stomach to make sure it is empty until everything is working properly again). If you find that, even after training, you still really can't handle ANY v**** (as a doctor you won't have to clean it up!), avoid working in the ER or in cancer care and you probably won't experience any more than a non-medic would. And being a mum is the best thing in the world and nothing else matters once you get to hold your own baby - you would walk over burning coals to protect that child, trust me!


    Best wishes, and keep following your dreams


    Jill xxx

  6. #6
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    I am not a Mum but i wanted to share my experiance. My Friend had a little Baby girl, Lauren (6months old). She was very depressed and lived very near me. so most days i would be with them all day and some of the night too. I got very close to them both and spent a lot of time looking after Lauren, Which meant i spent some time near V* too. At first i was freaked, but Lauren and her Mummy needed me and so i couldnt give up, and eventually the V* just stopped bothering me and i became very desensitized to it. And since she V* just a lil bit nearly every day there was no real choice! As she got older and moved onto more solid foods it became less of a problem. Intil her first birthday when she V* A Lot, more than we had ever seen and we knew something was wrong. Yutns out it was medicine she was taking for something else that made her ill. I wont lie and say i was fine with it, but i did deal with it because it was Lauren and i love her and her mummy with all my heart and so i stayed and dealt with it.


    People feel very guilty if they cant stay with their kids, but you know thats ok too most of the time. But i do think the more you see it, the more used to it you become.


    Donna from this site is one of my inspirations. Her kids get sick so much and she continues to handle it with strength and courage and if i could be a Mum to my kids like that one day then i will be very lucky.


    Louise


    x
    Be courageous, believe in yourself, and be the best woman you can be. I'm with you all the way.

  7. #7
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    Hi there


    I wanted to be a doctor too, it has been my dream. However, I decided against the idea, as I didn't think I could be a doctor and have people getting sick around me. I've decided to go into medical research instead. However, it could be possible to be a doctor who specialises in areas where you don't get a lot of sick people. You may have to encouter people who v*** in your training years, but once you qualify you could just not be a GP or surgeon. You could specialise in something like psychiatry. where the patients are not going to get sick.


    I'm quite devastated that emet has stopped me following my dreams, so if you think you could cope, and its something that you really want, then go for it!


    Abi xxxxx


    \"You are beautiful, no matter what they say \"
    \"Too many Years, fighting back tears, why can\'t the past just die? Try to forgive, teach me to live, give me the strength to try\"

  8. #8
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    I just joined this forum and this is my first post! I realise this thread was from a long long time ago. Anyway I just searched 'doctor' because I was interested in seeing if there were any emets out there who are doctors or going to be doctors..


    I am a 5th year medical student from London and I am wondering how I'm going to get through this! Only just decided to look up emet online, what a discovery. It is something that I have never told anyone about.


    Anyway, siafi... I hope that you haven't let the fear hold you back. The way I look at it, this is the best way of combatting it. I have enjoyed every minute of med school. Yes I have had some bad experiences but I think they've only made me stronger and made me rationalise things!


    I am terrified of the day I qualify, and have to actually be responsible for patients and can't just run away. I don't know how I shall deal with that. Hopefully I will just do it because I have to. And then my fear will be cured! That's what I hope for!


    Anyway just contact me if you want to talk!


    Future Dr xx

  9. #9
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    hiya, i dont have kids, but i want to be a doctor too! Im currently studying biomedical science but i want to go on to med school if i can. Biomedical science would be a good area for you that want to work in medicine but afraid of v* because its all laboratory based and you can become a doctor in it also. It covers areas such a haematology (blood), tissue typing for blood transfusions and transplants to name just a few, it is very interesting.I have the option to leave my uni next year and get direct acess to the second year of med school if i get a first this year, i dont know if i have what it takes but if i dont go to med school, i can continue with my degree and become a biomedical scientist.


    how are you finding med school futuredr? Does emet affect your studies very much?

  10. #10
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    I have to admit that it hasn't affected my studies too much at all. I mean, whether that's because I was getting better already when I started, I don't know. The pre-clinical years are obviously fine. Once you're on the wards of course it's a different kettle of fish, but I've only had to deal with v*g patients occasionally. Let's face it, not everyone in hospital is constantly v*g! I think having to deal with those patients has helped me a lot. Although if you are in a situation which you're uncomfortable with, it is quite easy to escape! Seeing other people just getting on with it also helps. I have got anxious in the past, but it is getting better. Am terrified of having to be a Dr for real but I just have to deal with it when it comes.


    If you want to do medicine I would recommend it as a good way of dealing with the fear! I agree with you that biomed is a good way of having the medical side of thing and avoiding patients. But for me personally, I really enjoy the patient contact.


    I suppose if you did do medicine and then at the end weren't happy, you could always go back into a lab based thing.


    I say go for med! x

  11. #11
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    I am a RN and I have been around v* quite a bit. Only one occasion was due to a stomach virus (which went through the WHOLE facility!)


    People v* for SO many reasons. As long as its NOT contagious I am ok. I just where gloves and wash my hands of course. I have never had to clean anyone up so thats good to. My CNA's usually do that. (Thank God for them...they are wonderful!)


    I say go for it. As a doctor, depending on what type, you really are not around v* that much. That is such a small price (to be around v*) to pay for the rewards of being a doctor!


    Oh...I am a mom of 3, with one on the way![img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]Edited by: madisonsmom

  12. #12
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    have you guys realized how intelligent alot of us are!! holy cow, doctors, nurses, biomed...


    and I've heard beinga mom is the hardest job on the planet, and yet most of us STILL do it regardless of our phobia!


    my point is, that, you can do anything if you really want to. Maybe you should try to get some help before you have to encounter these potential vomit situations. Talk to your own doctor and maybe they can put you in cognitive behaviorial therapy.


    us emets are strong ones, we can do anything we want!


    ~*Jill*~ Teacher, Advanced BSc in Psychology

    "You can unlock any door as long as you have the right key". Mrs. Brisby, Secret of Nimh

  13. #13
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    It is true we are an intelligent bunch, but you have to be pretty intelligent to reason things the way us emets do! Maybe we wouldnt have so much anxiety if we wernt so intelligent :P


    futuredr, do you want to specialise in a certain area of medicine? I think i would learn to cope with v* patients if i knew it was not contagious. My freinds dad (she is on my course also) is a consultant ob gyn. That must be an amazing area to work in, yes it would involve v*, but its unlikely it would be the contagious kind.I haved not met her dad but will be soon hopefully, it would be really cool to find out more about this area of medicine.

  14. #14
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    Yeah I also wanted to go to med school but I don't know if I could get through it with all the V*ing expereinces and all. I actually want to be a psychiatrist but to become one of those you have to go through med school My dad said "Why not just be a psychologist?" But I really want to be a psychiatrist and help people...also I want to be called "Doctor" LoL weird huh? You guys who get through it I commend you totally. I don't know if I would be able to deal with it on a day to day basis!


    ~Monica
    David Duchovny I want you to love me
    To kiss and to hug me, debrief and debug me
    David Duchovny I know you could love me
    I\'m sweet and I\'m cuddly-I\'m gonna kill Scully!

  15. #15
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    hollyjean


    I don't know what I want to specialise in yet. Definitely not A+E! I guess the only contagious kind would occur in Gastro Medicine. I was actually considering Obs &amp; Gynae because I loved it. I mean every aspect will involve v*g I guess, so I am trying not to let that influence me. In some respects General Practice is at times less acute, therefore less v*g? But I guess it is unavoidable. We'll see what happens.


    Monica, Psychiatry is fascinating. I had actually one of my worst v*g experiences in it though. Lord I don't want to put you off though!! Please don't let this put you off because I was just damn unlucky to be in this situation, it is really really REALLY rare. I was in the outpatients clinic when a patient came in with 'psychogenic v*g' (repeated v*g with no organic cause, deemed psychological)!! Oh my god it was awful. Impossible to escape. She wasn't eating anything except the occasional high calorie drink. She kept on burping and like, seemingly trying to stop herself heaving during the consultation. She then actually began to heave, oh it was awful, we had to pass her a bowl, andthe Consultant asked someone to go get her some water so I jumped outta there. When I came back she was a bit better. Horrific experience -- I felt so sorry for her.


    Anyway sorry for that story! I just remembered it. It hasn't put me off Psych though!

  16. #16
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    When I was in high school, I was going to be a doctor or a lawyer. I chose law, because I thought there would be lesschance of clients v'ing. My work hasn't been v* free, but less than you would see at a hospital. I ended up in the juvenile courtroom, and there are always a couple kids who are so scared that they got arrested that they v*! I also had one client who v'd just to get attention (she needed lots of psychological/psychiatric care. Anyway, I'm glad I chose law....I love it!
    Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear is a freedom. - Marilyn Ferguson

    Habituation always defeats fear. - Edmund Bourne


 

 

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