How being a Doctor Became the Most Miserable Profession

Forget all the money, prestige and tests, after freshman year of college I realized there is no way I would be good at managing the health of another human being. I already have a dysfunctional way or life lol.

I'm just trying to get an engineering degree and do something interesting with it. Save enough money to go traveling and do a few hobbies. I just don't think I really liked medicine that much to want to do it.
 
Stopped reading after the part about disappointment with the $, and early retirement. If you're not in it for the public service/just to help people and mankind...then just go be a lawyer. Don't let family, or the title pressure you in. If you wouldn't do it for free, or little money then it's just not your passion.
 
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trying to get my nursing degree. i know it will be long and hard work, but im willing to make that sacrifice. any advice some of you guys can give me? also what other health care fields are good without taking 8+ years?
 
girlslovewaffles said:
Lots of good knowledge being dropped in here. Glad this thread was created given my current timeline.

That being said, any of you residents/attendings have med friends who went the "business of medicine" route? Been reading about it a lot lately, and after reading OPs article, read about it even more.
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i dont but after i heard about it, it did sound intriguing.
i just couldnt see myself not doing a residency after everything i had done to get that point.

what type of job were you thinking about doing? i have heard of insurance companies looking to hire docs who do not pursue a residency.

just from your posts on NT, i know you have a waffle truck so i can see how the business aspect of it would interest you. what do you plan on doing with the truck if you dont mind me asking?
 
the ANTIhype said:
Stopped reading after the part about disappointment with the $, and early retirement. If you're not in it for the public service/just to help people and mankind...then just go be a lawyer. Don't let family, or the title pressure you in. If you wouldn't do it for free, or little money then it's just not your passion.
Click to expand...

I was with you until your last sentence.

Yeah I'm not going to work for a meager salary after busting my butt for years and racking up debt. Doesn't make me a bad person and doesn't mean I'm in it for the money - if I was I would have chosen something like neurosurgery
 
the ANTIhype said:
Stopped reading after the part about disappointment with the $, and early retirement. If you're not in it for the public service/just to help people and mankind...then just go be a lawyer. Don't let family, or the title pressure you in. If you wouldn't do it for free, or little money then it's just not your passion.
Click to expand...

easy to say, hard to do.
imo i would say only a minority of the population actually have a job they are passionate about.
 
Another question for you docs, are the courses in medical school more information based similar to bio 101, 102 etc, or is it intensive with formula heavy subjects like college physics, chem etc? I just want to get a grasp of how the courses in med school will be content wise
 
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SoleKing said:
trying to get my nursing degree. i know it will be long and hard work, but im willing to make that sacrifice. any advice some of you guys can give me? also what other health care fields are good without taking 8+ years?
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do not become a nurse unless you are okay with taking orders from doctors all the time. there are a lot of doctors who are jerks and treat their nurses poorly. i think its a shame because i learned a lot from my nurses during residency and know i couldnt do my job without them.
its because of this i have met several nurses who have gone on to become nurse practioners and now have some autonomy.
 
Depression and burnout among physicians is a very real problem ... Suicide rate is higher than dentists. I would say depression is a problem especially for internal medicine,family practice and perhaps surgery.

I for one am very happy with my job. But us pediatricians tend to be happier group of people when compared to the other specialties.

So am I happy being a doctor? Yes.
 
youngdoc said:
I was with you until your last sentence.

Yeah I'm not going to work for a meager salary after busting my butt for years and racking up debt. Doesn't make me a bad person and doesn't mean I'm in it for the money - if I was I would have chosen something like neurosurgery
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I hear you. I knew that last sentence might have been a little extreme. A good piece of advice for anyone just starting is don't count out the military route...it's a mutha, but the best way to get your school paid for.
 
skimmed through the article.. I want to be in the medical field but as I'm growing older I feel less certain about which path to take exactly.. Radiologicist, therapist, Doc..nothing with too much blood
 
Man I totally feel for these doctors. It's a hard profession to go into. While I'm not in the medical field per say, I get a sense of the crap they have to go through to get where they are. Definitely a stressful field. IMHO I'd rather be making 40k with no stress than100k with it
 
GrimlocK said:
Man I totally feel for these doctors. It's a hard profession to go into. While I'm not in the medical field per say, I get a sense of the crap they have to go through to get where they are. Definitely a stressful field. IMHO I'd rather be making 40k with no stress than100k with it
Click to expand...
Is it even possible to live off 40k with no stress? Not in CA. 
 
ICE CITY FC said:
GrimlocK said:
Man I totally feel for these doctors. It's a hard profession to go into. While I'm not in the medical field per say, I get a sense of the crap they have to go through to get where they are. Definitely a stressful field. IMHO I'd rather be making 40k with no stress than100k with it
Click to expand...

Is it even possible to live off 40k with no stress? Not in CA. 
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its possible in California. . But u prlly b living in Fresno or Stockton or something like that. .. but hey at least u get to be a 9ers fan
 
What a depressing article, totally disagree with almost everything in it.  Doctor here, out of residency 4 years now, in Dermatology and loving my life now more than at any other time in my life.  Can't imagine being in any other profession.  My story, graduated undergrad with zero debt thanks to in state public university scholarships, went to a private medical school and raked up the equivalent of two 2014 GTR track pack's in loans.  Set a goal of paying it off within 5 years of graduation and finally paid everything off last August.

In my journey through medical school and residency I found medicine is filled with a lot of type A personalities who were either pushed into medicine by overbearing families or went into it for the power or prestige of being a doctor.  Both are horrible ways to enter a profession that demands so much of your soul at a time in your life when many are out having fun and enjoying their 20s.  There is a certain stability to having a medical degree that goes beyond money or status.  To me, I could go broke tomorrow and lose everything but nobody can take away the knowledge that I gained and my ability to heal and treat another human and make them feel better.  The feeling of seeing somebody in your office who is suffering and then listening, educating, and ultimately alleviating that pain and discomfort is a feeling that can't be measured in income or status.

Go into medicine for the joy it will bring to others, not the status in life you hope to achieve or the money, cars, and houses it may provide.  If you are seeking the latter you are never going to be happy no matter what field of medicine you decide to go into.  Best job in the world and I wouldn't do anything else!
 
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metsn13 said:
What a depressing article, totally disagree with almost everything in it.  Doctor here, out of residency 4 years now, in Dermatology and loving my life now more than at any other time in my life.  Can't imagine being in any other profession.  My story, graduated undergrad with zero debt thanks to in state public university scholarships, went to a private medical school and raked up the equivalent of two 2014 GTR track pack's in loans.  Set a goal of paying it off within 5 years of graduation and finally paid everything off last August.

In my journey through medical school and residency I found medicine is filled with a lot of type A personalities who were either pushed into medicine by overbearing families or went into it for the power or prestige of being a doctor.  Both are horrible ways to enter a profession that demands so much of your soul at a time in your life when many are out having fun and enjoying their 20s.  There is a certain stability to having a medical degree that goes beyond money or status.  To me, I could go broke tomorrow and lose everything but nobody can take away the knowledge that I gained and my ability to heal and treat another human and make them feel better.  The feeling of seeing somebody in your office who is suffering and then listening, educating, and ultimately alleviating that pain and discomfort is a feeling that can't be measured in income or status.

Go into medicine for the joy it will bring to others, not the status in life you hope to achieve or the money, cars, and houses it may provide.  If you are seeking the latter you are never going to be happy no matter what field of medicine you decide to go into.  Best job in the world and I wouldn't do anything else!
Click to expand...

You wrote about alleviating pain and suffering, which is great to hear, but you went into derm?

Don't get me wrong, if I were ever fortunate enough to get derm, I'd take it in a heartbeat as the res spots are so coveted due to the compensation and nice lifestyle/hours, but there are SO many other specialties out there that allow a physician to alleviate pain and suffering on a much greater scale than a dermatologist.
 
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girlslovewaffles said:
 
metsn13 said:
What a depressing article, totally disagree with almost everything in it.  Doctor here, out of residency 4 years now, in Dermatology and loving my life now more than at any other time in my life.  Can't imagine being in any other profession.  My story, graduated undergrad with zero debt thanks to in state public university scholarships, went to a private medical school and raked up the equivalent of two 2014 GTR track pack's in loans.  Set a goal of paying it off within 5 years of graduation and finally paid everything off last August.

In my journey through medical school and residency I found medicine is filled with a lot of type A personalities who were either pushed into medicine by overbearing families or went into it for the power or prestige of being a doctor.  Both are horrible ways to enter a profession that demands so much of your soul at a time in your life when many are out having fun and enjoying their 20s.  There is a certain stability to having a medical degree that goes beyond money or status.  To me, I could go broke tomorrow and lose everything but nobody can take away the knowledge that I gained and my ability to heal and treat another human and make them feel better.  The feeling of seeing somebody in your office who is suffering and then listening, educating, and ultimately alleviating that pain and discomfort is a feeling that can't be measured in income or status.

Go into medicine for the joy it will bring to others, not the status in life you hope to achieve or the money, cars, and houses it may provide.  If you are seeking the latter you are never going to be happy no matter what field of medicine you decide to go into.  Best job in the world and I wouldn't do anything else!
Click to expand...
You wrote about alleviating pain and suffering, which is great to hear, but you went into derm?

Don't get me wrong, if I were ever fortunate enough to get derm, I'd take it in a heartbeat as the res spots are so coveted due to the compensation and nice lifestyle/hours, but there are SO many other specialties out there that allow a physician to alleviate pain and suffering on a much greater scale than a dermatologist.
Click to expand...
Board certified in internal medicine as well.  Make house calls though my secondary practice.  Also please do a rotation in dermatology before you discount the difficulties that many psoriatic patients as well as those suffering from autoimmune disorders experience on a daily basis.  Many who are not intimate with dermatology have no idea the difficulties that many patients experience with skin and associated internal disorders.  Remember the skin is the largest organ of the body and often paints a picture of internal health.  Next time you are seeing a patient pay close attention to the skin and nail exam on a patient, it often reveals subtle details to the disorders within.
 
metsn13 said:
What a depressing article, totally disagree with almost everything in it.  Doctor here, out of residency 4 years now, in Dermatology and loving my life now more than at any other time in my life.  Can't imagine being in any other profession.  My story, graduated undergrad with zero debt thanks to in state public university scholarships, went to a private medical school and raked up the equivalent of two 2014 GTR track pack's in loans.  Set a goal of paying it off within 5 years of graduation and finally paid everything off last August.

In my journey through medical school and residency I found medicine is filled with a lot of type A personalities who were either pushed into medicine by overbearing families or went into it for the power or prestige of being a doctor.  Both are horrible ways to enter a profession that demands so much of your soul at a time in your life when many are out having fun and enjoying their 20s.  There is a certain stability to having a medical degree that goes beyond money or status.  To me, I could go broke tomorrow and lose everything but nobody can take away the knowledge that I gained and my ability to heal and treat another human and make them feel better.  The feeling of seeing somebody in your office who is suffering and then listening, educating, and ultimately alleviating that pain and discomfort is a feeling that can't be measured in income or status.

Go into medicine for the joy it will bring to others, not the status in life you hope to achieve or the money, cars, and houses it may provide.  If you are seeking the latter you are never going to be happy no matter what field of medicine you decide to go into.  Best job in the world and I wouldn't do anything else!
Click to expand...
girlslovewaffles said:
You wrote about alleviating pain and suffering, which is great to hear, but you went into derm?

Don't get me wrong, if I were ever fortunate enough to get derm, I'd take it in a heartbeat as the res spots are so coveted due to the compensation and nice lifestyle/hours, but there are SO many other specialties out there that allow a physician to alleviate pain and suffering on a much greater scale than a dermatologist.
Click to expand...

"It must take a really really big zit, to kill a man! You call yourself a lifesaver. I call you Pimple Popper MD!"

:lol: sorry that seinfeld episode came to mind right away.

but thats great man. i hope to be in your position in a few years as i have a 3.5-4 yr plan to pay these loans off... im sure ill be much happier then as well.
 
metsn13 said:
girlslovewaffles said:
 
metsn13 said:
What a depressing article, totally disagree with almost everything in it.  Doctor here, out of residency 4 years now, in Dermatology and loving my life now more than at any other time in my life.  Can't imagine being in any other profession.  My story, graduated undergrad with zero debt thanks to in state public university scholarships, went to a private medical school and raked up the equivalent of two 2014 GTR track pack's in loans.  Set a goal of paying it off within 5 years of graduation and finally paid everything off last August.


In my journey through medical school and residency I found medicine is filled with a lot of type A personalities who were either pushed into medicine by overbearing families or went into it for the power or prestige of being a doctor.  Both are horrible ways to enter a profession that demands so much of your soul at a time in your life when many are out having fun and enjoying their 20s.  There is a certain stability to having a medical degree that goes beyond money or status.  To me, I could go broke tomorrow and lose everything but nobody can take away the knowledge that I gained and my ability to heal and treat another human and make them feel better.  The feeling of seeing somebody in your office who is suffering and then listening, educating, and ultimately alleviating that pain and discomfort is a feeling that can't be measured in income or status.


Go into medicine for the joy it will bring to others, not the status in life you hope to achieve or the money, cars, and houses it may provide.  If you are seeking the latter you are never going to be happy no matter what field of medicine you decide to go into.  Best job in the world and I wouldn't do anything else!
Click to expand...


You wrote about alleviating pain and suffering, which is great to hear, but you went into derm?


Don't get me wrong, if I were ever fortunate enough to get derm, I'd take it in a heartbeat as the res spots are so coveted due to the compensation and nice lifestyle/hours, but there are SO many other specialties out there that allow a physician to alleviate pain and suffering on a much greater scale than a dermatologist.
Click to expand...


Board certified in internal medicine as well.  Make house calls though my secondary practice.  Also please do a rotation in dermatology before you discount the difficulties that many psoriatic patients as well as those suffering from autoimmune disorders experience on a daily basis.  Many who are not intimate with dermatology have no idea the difficulties that many patients experience with skin and associated internal disorders.  Remember the skin is the largest organ of the body and often paints a picture of internal health.  Next time you are seeing a patient pay close attention to the skin and nail exam on a patient, it often reveals subtle details to the disorders within.
Click to expand...

:pimp:
 
SunDOOBIE said:
My primary physician is worthless. I wait in the lobby for an hour, see him for 5 minutes, he pretends to care, writes down all the prescriptions I need to take and gives me referrals to specialists. Unbelievable my company pays so much in medical insurance for this crap.
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And this is why I have a bad impression of doctors. I'm aware a lot of folks go to the ER for no solid reason, but at least act like you give a ****. I hurt my shin in HS and went to an ER and the doctor told me to put ice on it and stretch 
indifferent.gif
 Went to another doctor a week later due to pain and I had to put a cast on it. Nowadays my policy is I dont go to the doctors unless I'm about to die 
laugh.gif
, havent been to a doctors office in 4-5 years
 
AZwildcats said:
SunDOOBIE said:
My primary physician is worthless. I wait in the lobby for an hour, see him for 5 minutes, he pretends to care, writes down all the prescriptions I need to take and gives me referrals to specialists. Unbelievable my company pays so much in medical insurance for this crap.
Click to expand...
And this is why I have a bad impression of doctors. I'm aware a lot of folks go to the ER for no solid reason, but at least act like you give a ****. I hurt my shin in HS and went to an ER and the doctor told me to put ice on it and stretch :stoneface:  Went to another doctor a week later due to pain and I had to put a cast on it. Nowadays my policy is I dont go to the doctors unless I'm about to die :lol: , havent been to a doctors office in 4-5 years
Click to expand...

This cycle is one of the many reasons healthcare in this country is messed up
 
as someone who just graduated from med school this yr, i would recommend anyone with interest in medicine to think long and hard about going into the field. EVERYTHING in the article is true, I've seen it first hand in physicians I have worked with during my clerkships. Only if you absolutely love it would i say go for it, otherwise there are many other careers paths that pay well without the downsides of medicine (and i think the problem is people don't know if they love it or not until they are already in too deep, with debt piling up, years invested into the field, and no other career options available).

on a side note, I know plenty of people that started medicine because they wanted to help people and do something noble, not for the money. Let me just say i know many colleagues who have become so jaded and no longer feel that way, months shy of starting residency! i would say at least 40-50% of my friends in med school wouldn't do it again if given the opportunity.
 
Milestailsprowe said:
I can see this professions sucking for the fact you see death day to day and you worked for 12 years of college to get there makes it abit sad but still. Your making 100-200k a year then I just stop caring. Most people in America only make $30-$40k and work much worse things. The doctors never have to worry about their personal bills and more. Just stress.

Try being a Walmart Janitor were you can barely afford rent food and on public assitance.
Click to expand...

You can make 100 200 with no schooling. Trust me.
 
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