Those are very real worries. I work in a hospital and keep alcohol based cleanser on my desk. I also wash my hands a lot. This is doubly important for us. I am on the same meds as you (except for the tramadol) along with Humira.
The main worry is TB and you can and should wear a mask when seeing someone you suspect has TB. There are other diseases that are air born and you should be cautious when dealing with those patients.
Just be sure to use every precaution possible and become a compulsive hand washer.

Dorthy - Thank you for the tips! I'm definitely worried about TB and some of the fungal infections - I'm in a region of the country where they're seen in a lot of the HIV/AIDS patients . . .

I'm trying to figure out how to go about protecting myself without making too big of a deal about it.

Your hospital should have an ID on staff. Talk to that person and see if you can get the specialized face masks just for TB that stops transmission of the disorder. by cough.If it stops TB from transmitting, then it should stop you getting it. Just keep one in your pocket just in case.

But I would be honest about it to fellow residents and then become the most health conscious doc ever seen in your hospital. Religiously wash your hands and use Purell or another antibacterial(should be all over the place in a hospital). The hospital I use has the lowest infection rate of any hospital in Boston which is amazing. Docs don't wear ties or necklaces. Any jewelry is discouraged. Change your lab coat daily or more frequently.

There is a "game" you can play to learn how often you touch your face. You put a colored powder(like colored chalk powder) on your hands and go about your day. Keep checking to see how "colored" your face is getting...indicating how often you touch your face. Prime transmission route for many infections. It will help you learn to stop touching your face.

Every cut or scratch or burn of scrape or rash...treat and cover ASAP. Buy stock in company that makes antibiotic cream as you'll use it a lot .....but it's worth it. I have 3 male feral cats and I carry antibiotic cream everywhere. I consider it a "staple". Can't afford to get a skin infection. Between the dead mice, voles, birds, squirrels and bunnies they kill and either eat or leave for me to dispose of, I need those creams. And I also have disposable gloves.

It's all really basic stuff but it takes work to do it all. But YOU are worth the work and extra time....aren't you? It's the mindset that needs to change first and you sound as if you are ready.

Jen

Just wanted to wish you the best of luck.
Good job on your schooling.
Great advice here to

The hospital I work at and clinics in the area have signs asking anyone with a cough or flu symptoms to please wear a mask and use the alcohol hand gel provided under the sign to help protect other patients and visitors. It also helps protect the care givers as you are expected to put on a mask before the patient removes theirs. This is normal protection. In the case of suspected TB the hospital has isolation rooms with negative air flow and you are provided with gowns, gloves, and masks outside the room.
Talk to someone in Infection Control and they can fill you in on the policies in your hospital.
Best wishes and good job on making it this far. :)

I think you need to be realistic about what you are doing. You are not going to get adequate sleep while doing med school rotations and residency. Even with the recent work hour restrictions, it's very hard to sleep, eat right, exercise, go to Dr. appointments, etc. while a med student/resident. The curriculum is not usually very flexible. Have you talked to someone at your med school about this?

Not to discourage you, but I do agree with maginoire.

My SIL and DIL are both residents. They had it easy as med students. Now they are on call at least twice a week. Some rotations they leave at 6 am and get home at 11:30 at night. Plus they are both studying all the time, preparing presentations and then my DIL is right now studying for her big 5th year residency exams. If she doesn't pass, that is 8 years of medicine over! (I know she will pass. She is both smart and diligent!)

After watching what they go through, I know I could never have made it though medicine with RA. Before RA, I had that kind of energy, but I have never, even when in 100% remission, had the energy to just go, go go all the time.

I am curious - what speciality do you plan to go into? I know in Canada, there is always a desperate need for rheumatologists, because no one picks it as a specialty. The doctor who originally diagnosed me in 2000, is now in his late 70's and still working, because there are so few RD's around.

Anyway, something for you to think about. I do hope you make, it but please consider your limitations carefully. Medicine is a long road to walk.

Thanks everyone for all of the advice! Lots of very practical solutions! I expected no less from this community!

However, there are some other comments I have to address. II understand that advice is coming from the very best place, but I was pretty surprised to see the suggestion that becoming a doctor perhaps isn't the best choice and something I should reconsider. Again, I understand it came with good intentions, but it ruffled my feathers a little. First of all, getting ready to start my third year of medical school, it's not something I could just "quit" at this point. The loans alone stop me from doing so. And, I love it. Plain and simple. I can't imagine doing anything else.

Yes, I know it will be hard. It's already been hard. Med school is simply hard. Mentally, physically, emotionally. I went into it knowing that and willing to do it anyway because I want nothing more than be a kind, caring, compassionate, knowledgeable doctor one day.

I will take care of myself. My husband is a great support - he's also in medical school - and makes sure I'm taking care of myself. I am surrounded by medical professionals who care about me and they're all making sure I'm taking care of myself. I actually can't think of a better field to be in being a person with a chronic medical condition.

So, to answer your questions, no. I will not be quitting, or re-thinking, or turning away from being a doctor in any way what so ever. No matter what career I pursue in life, I will always have RA. I don't see how quitting what I love would change anything for the positive.

As far as specialty, as of now I'm thinking emergency medicine. I worked in an ER for 6 years and taught EMS courses and just love it. It's also one of the shorter residencies out there with better hours (no being on call) once I'm done with residency. (See, I'm being realistic, I know that being a cardiothoracic surgeon isn't likely in my future).

Anyway - I'm not angry about the comments, I do understand - they come from a place of caring. But I can't help but defend my right to be a doctor and to not let RA get in the way of my dreams.

Gdsonn2, i say go for it. I would not re think a career change because of a medical condition. I have been a nurse for 30 years and that is ALL i ever wanted to do and no one or nothing could change my mind. Good luck and full steam ahead but yes take care of yourself also. We in the medical profession tend to always put others first hence the reason for our career choice. ..but like they say...if we dont take care of ourselves we are no good to others!! Good luck!

gdsonn

blow off what you does not resonate with you :) - like all groupie stuff some folks answer myopically - through only their filters - and other's have the capacity for understanding that you know that OTHER folks have better coping skills, better luck, less disease, less mental or physical affects from their disease, better adaptations, different helping systems, spouses (or not spouses I might add ha ha ), different pre-existing medical and mental co-morbidities and on and on and and so on. just take what you want support wise and toss the rest. i love when other folks share their journeys. I know how to sit in the chair. I want to hear from the folks that are in school, or still pounding the pavement, or pregnant, or watching triplets, or writing, or playing, or doing, or l i v i n g. so go for it.

welcome glad you are here

depot