Making big decisions, I have all the information I need to make a decision but can't seem to pull the trigger. Ultimately choosing between a career that I am excited about but has limited job opportunities and one that I like (just not as much) but has much better job opportunities.
Wanted to get an informal sense of how much sleep cardiology attendings get across different subpecialties.
Myself, I'm finishing general fellowship and I've found that my body needs relatively more sleep (almost 9 hours if I don't set any alarms - although I'm not sure how much of this is chronic sleep debt at this point). I have found the call to be relatively taxing.
I've been having pain in the mid back between my shoulder blades for 3 years. Dull, aching, constant sensation to crack. I've had two MRI's, the first of which was read as having multilevel facet arthropathy and the second as just minimal disk bulging.
PT and working out helped somewhat, but the only thing that gives very consistent relief is a menthol patch.
The relief is almost instantaneous and the pain comes back when I take it off.
What does this mean? Does it mean my pain is treatable and more superficial or is the menthol patch just concealing something deeper and this is chronic pain I'll have to live with.
I've struggle to understand the source of this pain and how to deal with it.
I have the chance to get my dream job but it would mean being away from my family. There's another opportunity that is not as exciting but in the same city as my siblings and parents?
What do I do? Parents are in their late 60s, brother just had another kid and it would be nice for our children to grow up close to each other. But having a hard time compromising the job
There are products on the market like rampart or the egg that promise less radiation and in some cases the potential for lead apron free workflows.
My hospital doesn't have it but have discussed it. Curious how many other systems are using it and what peoples experience has been.
I have heard of some places not using it even though they have it because it slows down the workflow.
Making some big life choices at the moment and feel very torn about what my heart wants versus what I can reason to be the better option.
When making big, relatively irreversible decisions, do you go with your heart or your head
Curious to hear from people how their perspectives on specialty, lifestyle, and career shifted after finishing their training?
What factors grew in importance? What are things that seemed important but turned out to not to be? What are things you wish you had known?
I don't mean this as rage bait. General fellow who is considering career paths. I really enjoy pure EP, including tracings, SVT ablation, pathways, VT, and complex device management. I love anatomy and using ICE.
I have been considering going into EP, but I just don't love atrial fibrillation and find it kind of bland. When I look at typical community practices, it's like 50-70% of a typical day.
What am I missing here? Is it worth it to go into EP for the parts which excite me and view AFib as what pays the bills? For EPs, what excites you about the job.
By most accounts, the structural interventional market is completely saturated and that it is almost impossible to find a true structural job (outside of some TAVR in small developing community programs).
Is this true? Does it stand to change in the near future?
On a philosophical level, should market realities influence your specialty choice even if it's your passion? As in, would you recommend picking something else that you like, which has better career opportunities, but may not be your top choice otherwise.