Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

A medical student as a patient. She thanks her support systems.

Natasha Abadilla
Education
November 26, 2018
Share
Tweet
Share

Two weeks ago, while I was helping with an emergency medicine course that I’m a teaching assistant for, I started feeling extremely light-headed, and the chest tightness that I had dismissed as heartburn earlier that morning got worse. I was tended to by the emergency medicine doctor who I was teaching with, admitted to the ED with a resting pulse rate of 130 beats per minute, later admitted to the cardiology unit at the hospital after some tests came back abnormal, then discharged with a two-week heart monitor and no diagnosis.

As a medical student, being a patient – especially one whose case was “truly a mystery” (my cardiologist’s words) – was frustrating, overwhelming, and scary. I had never felt more vulnerable in my entire life. Being able to experience the health care system from “the other side of the bed rail” was incredibly eye-opening, but I’ll save my sentiments on that for another blog post.

For now, I’d like to use this platform to thank the strong support system that showed up for me while I was a patient, and encourage readers to take some time to thank their support systems too.

To the emergency medicine physician who used the EKG machine we were teaching students in class to make sure I was OK and calmed me down as he walked me to the emergency room and made sure I was well taken care of.

To the emergency room doctors, nurses, techs, and staff who called me “one of our own” when they saw my medical student badge and made sure they taught me at the same time they cared for me…

To the cardiology unit team at the hospital who, once they overcame their surprise that someone was being admitted while wearing blue hospital scrubs, took incredible care of me and made me feel as comfortable as I could in a bed that moved every five minutes (to make sure patients don’t get pressure ulcers).

To my cardiology nurse who assured me that everything happens for a reason, and who has greeted me with the warmest hug and concern every time I’ve since shown up on the unit as a medical student.

To my hospital “roommate” who had a far worse condition and prognosis than I did, who taught me “the ropes” of being a hospital patient, told me stories about her experiences in and out of hospitals for the last five years to calm me down and distract me from why I was sitting in my hospital bed, and inspired me with her resilience, optimism, and humor…

To my friends who checked in on me, walked in with their white coats, scrubs, and hospital badges after visiting hours to sneak me milk and cookies, bring me things from my apartment and a spare charger when my phone died, and laugh with me, who just sat with me to make sure I didn’t feel alone for a single second because even though I was trying to be brave, I’m sure they knew I was scared.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I – we – all have so much to be grateful for. I hope your Novembers are filled with blessings, good people, and lots of gratitude.

Natasha Abadilla is a medical student who blogs at Scope, where this article originally appeared.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Prev

5 health care lessons from the mid-term elections

November 26, 2018 Kevin 1
…
Next

The surprising thing this patient was missing

November 26, 2018 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine, Medical school

Post navigation

< Previous Post
5 health care lessons from the mid-term elections
Next Post >
The surprising thing this patient was missing

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Natasha Abadilla

  • How medical school saved this student’s life

    Natasha Abadilla
  • Becoming a doctor is the epitome of delayed gratification

    Natasha Abadilla
  • A medical student’s reflection on time, the scarcest resource

    Natasha Abadilla

Related Posts

  • A medical student was discriminated against by a patient

    Nada Awad
  • Simultaneously being a medical student and patient

    Emily S. Hagen, MD
  • A patient becomes a medical student

    Dr. Vivek Podder
  • What inspires this medical student

    Jamie Katuna
  • The next time you see a medical student, give support

    Gurbaksh Esch, MD
  • 3 medical student tips to improve patient communication

    Subha Mohan

More in Education

  • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

    Rajeev Dutta
  • Why medical student debt is killing primary care in America

    Alexander Camp
  • Why the pre-med path is pushing future doctors to the brink

    Jordan Williamson, MEd
  • Graduating from medical school without family: a story of strength and survival

    Anonymous
  • 2 hours to decide my future: Why the NRMP’s SOAP process is broken

    Nicolette V. S. Sewall, MD, MPH
  • What led me from nurse practitioner to medical school

    Sarah White, APRN
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

A medical student as a patient. She thanks her support systems.
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...