yes you should keep trying. in fact all that you’ve endured will probably make you a much better doctor.when a patient comes in afraid & in pain you will actually understand what they are going throught. don’t let your illness define who you are or what you’ll be. you will never know how many people you will heal & inspire through your efferts. God bless & good luck.

Hi, Im Chris I have 4 or 5 autoimmunes as well. so I know where you are at, the difference is I am 40, I have children close to your age. Though undiagnosed at your age I did get through college but with a merchandise marketing degree with a 3.5 GPA and a baby as a single mom at the time.
Right now, I have Lupus, Autoimmune Hep, Sjogren’s, Raynaund’s, and I’m getting over cebritis of the brain, and RSD.

I know for a fact you can do it. I co-own a Lupus/autoimmune support group. We have a girl in her Freshman yr of college with the same goal. Since her Freshman yr, she is able to take many of her classes online. can you take some non-pre med or electives online?

Also, though it may take a bit longer, by lowering your load by 1-2 classes, may help a bit, and raise your GPA at this point before med school. Med school is punishing. also there are different areas of medical practice, some less grueling and less germ exposing.. Medical research, nuerology, and hey Rhuematology come to mind instantly.

Pediatrics, surgery, and a few others are out. I know many rhuemies have autoimmunes of varying degrees. They make the best rhematologists, and tend to look outside the box. I havent openly asked mine, but I think she has one that is well controlled, she keeps herself well paced, daily schedule to a limited amount of paitents (i never wait more than 10 minutes) and always looks outside the box, unlike other Rhuematologists. My bloodwork is not always the best indicator of disease activity, but she has been my Rhuemy 10 yrs, so can see any small change in behaivor, butterfly rash, etc. In fact she dx cebritis and got me on chemo and saved my life when the blood test where inconclusive. I think you would be that kind of doctor, instinctive….

Just remeber Med-school and recidancy is high paced, many hours, no rest, demanding etc. so you would have to have great control by that time, but if you went into rhuematology you have inside information; you have 4 connective tissue diseases/ or other autoimmune diseases.

I land in the hospital or with a major flare either 1x a yr or every other year. I thought I couldn’t do anything. Now I need some work, and have someone working as an editor for me, But I write. Mainly non-fiction medically based articles. one has been published. The others, need a fine tooth comb, lol before I will submit. A huge change from retail mgt and buying but better. I also co-own, do research for and write articles for a very busy yahoo groups support group. I belive (oh I use spell check a lot, this spell check is hard to use) even with illnesses like ours, with the right attitude, proper pacing, and ambition we can do it.

I do know as a Resident, and Med-Student you won’t be cut much slack, But if you make it through that, and go into a partnership or private practice, YOU decide how small or big you want the practice. If you want 60 people cheering you on to get to your goals to be a doctor. My group will be your largest cheerleaders, and we will give you a major brain workout, lol asking all kinds of medical questions.

Medicine is Honorable, escpesially if done for the right reasons. Just cut back, for now, find ways to gain some energy.. I know some hints for energy that wont harm you, thanks to my dr. Tthere is nothing you can’t achieve. As long as your entire body dosnt give like mine tends to. Remeber though I am a lot older. So right now your my hero for trying. I would try If I didnt have a teen, so many flares, and wasn’t ugg, the thought!!! middle age.
Good luck
Chris

I love and encourage perseverance – but you also need some rest so that your immune system can have a fighting chance. Overdoing it will be counterproductive, I think.

Dear Young Lady: Keep on trying have perseverance and congratulations.

Academically, a 3.75 might not cut it but if you do well on the MCAT that would help a lot. The rigors of medical school are where you’ll find your challenges. Long hours every day, could be tough. If you are interested in health care there are a lot of field where you would certainly not face the physical challenges, yet have a similar level of responsibility. (Pharmacist, Nurse anaesthetist, physician assistant, paramedic, nurse and so on) That being said, I am strong believer in following your dream and I wish the best.

I really feel for you. It’s an extremely difficult situation, you have a dream, and by all rights you should be able to pursue it. However, reading your story really made me feel as thought you are pushing yourself a little too hard, given you medical conditions. Being a doctor is a lot of hard work, and I don’t doubt your dedication or devotion, but there are lots of careers in medicine that are easier to get into. (Also some of your conditions might disqualify you from the profession, you should look into the requirements before starting any career.) But like I said there are other medical fields that are less taxing, there’s nursing, pharmaceuticals, mental health, med. insurance, med. equipment, research and development to name a few. In all those professions would be doing essentially the same thing a doctor does, which is help people. Remember it’s not considered giving up a dream, if you replace it with new ones. Good Luck you seem like an incredible person.

Dear friend
off course you can be a doctor,all your illness should not stop you from fulfilling your dream.Beethoven couldn’t hear and he was the best music composer.

Keep trying! If it’s something you really really want to do, don’t give up. Take care of yourself first (health wise).
NEVER GIVE UP ON WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE!!!
Work hard at it. Anything is possible.

Best of luck!