I regularly find myself answering the question "so how long have you been a doctor?" from a patient or their relatives. I'm never quite sure whether it's polite conversation or trying to suss out my experience level compared to my age (given I was a mature graduate to medicine).
The answer usually startles me when the words leave my mouth: nearly six years....
I find it really hard to believe that I've been qualified since 2011, and that I started this blog while I was still studying for a BSc and trying to get into medical school.
What pains me more, is the amount of stress, angst, discomfort and tears that working as a doctor has caused me. If I genuinely knew at aged 18 what I know know aged 30 (something), I would want to reconsider my choices.
I don't know what I would do instead though. Medicine has entirely taken over my life. My spare time is spent at work, completing eLearning, listening to podcasts for work, attending courses that I have to pay for out of my own pocket (as the study budget is terrible), completing exams, working on presentations and posters.
Medicine gives you a purpose, but swallows your soul.
Do I sound jaded at all?
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