One thing I’ve learning while being a medical student is that not only is learning how to care for patients a heavy load, but so is being a patient.
In college, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. After years of feeling fatigue, brain fog, unexplained weight gain, and hypersensitivity to temperature change, I was put on a medication to help control my thyroid levels.
Despite medication, there are still days where I can tell my hypothyroidism is trying to fight the medication in my body. I feel groggy, brain fog, and “slower” than I would on a normal day. Despite this, I still have to get up in the morning and attend lectures, submit my assignments and study for exams.
I wanted to write this post since students talk about the course-load of medical school, but not how to handle both the schoolwork and your own diagnosis no matter what it is. It’s okay to have off-days, miss a non-mandatory class or study less than normal if that’s what you have to do. It’s normal to feel guilty about “doing less,” but just know that that you need to take care of yourself first so that your body and mind are healthy!
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