By A troubled ex med school student - 06/02/2013 03:08 - United States - Dublin

Today, I attended my first surgery as part of my program at med school. I found out that when I see someone's intestines, I vomit. Even if I'm still wearing a surgical mask. There goes the thousands of dollars I spent on college. FML
I agree, your life sucks 33 221
You deserved it 6 703

Same thing different taste

Top comments

I have a fear of that happening when I train to be a vet. I can't stand blood but apparently I'll get used of it...

You could always try different medical fields if you have trouble operating on people. I could never do it, that's for sure, so good job on the effort

Comments

How'd it take you so long to notice it makes you sick? You've never watched videos of operations?

Epikouros 31

A video is not the same as the real thing. I know a horror movie fan who will faint when he sees one drop of blood.

OhDearBetrayal 25

It's true. I absolutely hate watching horror movies and seeing those guts all over the place but in real life I've seen huge gashes and bones breaking skin. Not to mention one time I saw an old woman with diabetes whose foot looked like it's skin was melting off. Though not once did I get squeamish or pass out.

I'm the opposite to you, #25. I love gorey movies and watching surgeries on tv, yet I fainted every time I watched a surgery while I worked as a vet assistance. It took me weeks to get over it. Actually being in a surgery room while a surgery is happening is different than watching a surgery on video as a passive audience.

JJ_Rokk 10

Don't feel too bad. I'm willing to bet that everyone in that room got a little nauseous when they saw THEIR first intestines ;p or just tell em you ate something bad beforehand... Worked on my first date ;)

CharresBarkrey 15

Why did you throw up on a date, 14?

19, you're going to get thumbed down. Most likely, I will too. . . but that's one of my pet peeves also. :P

Lizzy500 16

You sure nauseous/nauseated isn't a regional thing? I've always used "nauseus" and I'm a bit of a grammar nazi.

If something makes you sick it (the thing) is nauseous and you're nauseated. Nothing regional about it.

CharresBarkrey 15

JanisEvans is grammatically correct. I've never actually seen someone use the terms correctly, though.

Lizzy500 16

You learn something new every day I suppose, but everyone I know says they feel "nauseous" and the offending item is "nauseating".... doesn't mean it's correct, I know, just the common usage hereabouts.

JJ_Rokk 10

Interesting how all the comments are SO relevant to the FML... ;)

I've been in the same situation. (kind of, not as severe as a surgeon though) Work you're way up. look at pictures. Stare at the picture until it means nothing to you. Then watch YouTube videos of surgeries until those don't bother you. Work your way up! I believe in the OP. :)

CharresBarkrey 15

That's not the same. If OP was in medical school, they've seen countless pictures and videos of surgeries. It's VERY different in real life, which OP found out the hard way.

Pictures and videos are different than seeing surgeries in real life. I used to work as a vet assistant and for the first few weeks would always faint when helping out with surgery...yet I love watching real-life surgery shows and gorey movies. It doesn't prepare you for the real thing though. :(

gingerbby119 5

I'm sure a fair share of doctors had similar experiences during their first year of medical school too. Hang in there, OP! Stick it out for a while and you'll get used to it. Good luck!

23Z9TZO 18

What the **** did you think it would be like? Flowers & ponies? YDI

Absolutely agree. Obviously went to medical school for the wrong reasons.

SystemofaBlink41 27

The wrong things are money and status. Doctors are very important health care providers, and genuine hardworking people who are passionate about their work should be doctors, not people who want to be a doctor for the sake of being a doctor.

doodoo10 10

I'm so sorry OP! Im a teen right now and I'm super nervous about something like that happening to me :| I made the choice of not becoming a doctor and going into something that doesn't involve having to see gross things, because I'm queasy.

lilpanda4 5

That's kind of impossible.... dermatology would be the safest but you still have that chance to see some pretty gross things

Satoaoi 13

if you really love being a doctor you'll grow to be ok with blood and looking at people s insides

mimiminx 23

Don't worry! Most people feel nauseous or faint when they first go into surgery! Doesn't mean you should quit! You'll just learn to deal with it; I still feel nauseous when I smell cauterised flesh in surgery but you eventually just learn to deal with it, I promise!

Why does that mean you have to give up? I've met paramedics who can't stand the smell of vomit and I've come close on a couple of occasions to throwing up in 'sympathy' with a patient. Doesn't mean I stop volunteering, I just take a step back and compose myself. You could take a different path to surgery or you could just learn to get used to it.