Hi everyone!

[ides]

FYI - lots of surgical programs do not stick to the 80hr week. They are required to log it that way due to pressure & towing the line. It's also not just hours - the mental & personal abuse in surgery is over the top. It's psychotic. As well residents have no power. They are at the mercy of the attendings and pd's for their future. You may think its yours- your career that you are busting your ass for- but its not, they can witch hunt you & take you out if they feel like it. And often pd's do just that. So, watch out!

God I'm bitter.

[Vanquisher]

80 hours? HAHAHAHAHAHA Where is this magical surgery residency? Try 100 on a good week. 120+ was the norm for us (yes, with the "rule"). Our residency was a special kind of HELL. So, I cannot speak to everyone's experiences, but plan on 130 hour work weeks, and then be floored when it's only 100.

Sorry, I have been where you are. "We can do it! Go us! It can't be THAT bad." Yes, it can, only way, way, way, way worse. ONLY do surgery if there is NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING else.

All my dh ever wanted to do is ortho. Ever. From the time I met him at 15 years old, it was ortho, ortho, ortho. Here we are on the other side, and it WAS NOT WORTH IT!!! I've got severe depression and PTSD (no joke), and my 14 yo son does too. Today, in fact, is therapy day when we all go spend our Saturday afternoons trying to get over what residency did to us.

[GrayMatterWife]

My husband is a neurosurgeon. We had a different experience. While residency was, of course, a lot of work, stress, and lobg hours, I didn't think is was particularly different from any other demanding job. Residency was a great period for our family--we had a young son and added two girls, and were very happy, albeit chronically sleep-deprived. I am glad he chose surgery.

[bokelley]

Welcome. Dh is finishing up his prelim surgery year. All I can say is 80 hr doesn't work. Some rotations are better than other and since he was a prelim surgery year he didn't have to scrub in a ton like general surgery residents. It is hard but if that is what he loves I don't see any way around it. But do NOT count on 80 hr weeks.

[diggitydot]

Good lord. My dude is in FAMILY MEDICINE and was frequently over work hour rules during residency. His program is a stickler for honest reporting, though.

It really comes down to the culture at the residency program. A malignant program, regardless of specialty, is soul crushing. Unfortch, it's hard to suss out during interviews so I highly recommend audition rotations to really get a good idea before ranking.

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

Welcome!

[PrincessFiona]

Welcome!

The ladies here are a great resource. Surgery has a tradition as being pretty malignant, but I know we have several surgery spouses that had better experiences. It might be worthwhile to talk with them and find out where these programs are so that you can arm yourself with information!

Kris

[niener]

Like someone else said, I think it's very program dependent. Intern year hasn't been NEARLY as bad as I thought it was going to be. I'd say he really has averaged 80hrs/wk. Now another good friend at a different program has been averaging 110, 120/wk and they go out of their way to tear her down (being a female also doesn't help at her program). Those malignant places still exist all over, but many of the surgical residents we know are relatively happy people that just work a ton.

[lovelight]

Welcome. My stomach dropped when DH finally decided on surgery. Intern year is currently sucking and I'm going to agree with others that the 80 hr regulations are not always adhered to...that being said, as long as you are ok with being independent it can be done. Make friends when you move in a few weeks.

[SoonerTexan]

Welcome and good luck. No surgery here I hope.

[BonBon]

Welcome!!

[Michele]

Some of the non-surgery surgery specialties fair better regarding hours/demands. It all depends on what he likes and what is important to him.

[houseelf]

HI!

[blondie]

My husband is Oral and Maxillofacial. He isn't guided by the AMA so they never adhere to the 80 hr work week. He has done a couple of Gen Surgery rotations and they are tough. It is tough no matter what. As long as you know that going in and you have a good support system outside just your H, I think you will do great. My biggest regret was letting him rank his top choice in a city far from home and a place I had NO desire to live. I am missing home after 2 years.

[MrsSz]

Welcome! I'm no help - I did a little happy dance when DH said he didn't want to do surgery. Lots of people on here are surgeons' spouses, so you'll get some great advice!

love love...


Oh and WELCOME!!!