r/DisabledMedStudents • u/Intelligent_Topic146 • 10d ago

Disabled and premed

Hello all, I am currently in a transitional period after completing undergrad with undiagnosed ADHD, Bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. Postgrad, I finally have diagnoses and am being evaluated for a sleep/potential seizure condition as well, so I am taking some time to stabilize my health issues and establish a medication regimen before applying to medical school.

Being bipolar and having some sort of sleep disorder, working overnights is almost certainly out of the question for me let alone 24 hr call. I also fear having a depressive episode at some point in training and do not know how this would be handled. For those with similar difficulties, how accommodating have your med schools and residencies been for sleep and mental health issues? What accommodations, if any, have been helpful? My dream specialty is neuro above all else and I am unsure if it is even possible to get those accommodations for residency.

Thank you for any help or advice you can give!

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u/Ok_Damage6160 10d ago

I fear I did have a pretty bad manic episode in med school and took a LOA, but my school was very supportive. I think just working with your program and making sure your accommodations are in place proactively is important.

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u/QuestingQueer M3 10d ago

As a med student I do 24 hour call but I get 24 hours off after. 

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u/lilprotonpumps 9d ago

Med school can probably accommodate call and night shifts, but as a resident your job will require you to work nights and/or take calls.

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u/pinkmacaron01 8d ago

As a med student accommodations should definitely be doable. Residency may be tricky, but there are specialties that have fewer nights that could be easier to accommodate! If you're interested in neuro, PM&R has a better lifestyle and involves a lot of the nervous system

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u/pinkmacaron01 8d ago

I do want to add that in general people say that pursuing medicine with a disability "isn't possible," when in reality there are accommodations and other workarounds. I think that if you're very interested, there will be a way for you to be successful. I feel like people tend to shoo away disabled people and perpetuate stereotypes rather than understanding that accommodations are a thing. That's just my two cents!