Matures - 'the longest journey starts with a single step' check out my old postings!

[Gabby]

hello all of you!

Having read many of the recent postings from people just embarking on this exciting adventure - I decided it would be interesting to check out my original postings on here. I knew that I had been very, very tentative in the beginning - and that I had received such positive responses that it led me to where I am now - a first year Medical Student at UCL - at the wonderfully ripe and succulent age of 47!
If it would help you in any way - check out this thread - which was the start of the mad circus for me, anyway! If you want any more personal support - pm me - I will get back to you, but give me a minute or two because I am busy trying to get back into study mode!!

lots of love and luck to all. gabby xxx (link to thread is below, I hope!)

40something

[welly]

As ever Gabby, you are an inspiration and give hope to us all.
All the very best, I hope that med school is living up to your long anticipated expectations.

Welly

[roopa]

Even for younger applicants, I'm sure you give hope. Because to not get in first time is so hurting, but to see how it can stay in the back of your mind for years is definitely worth applying with all your might and force!!

[chippy]

Oh bugger! Knew it was a mistake to come back to this forum. Have just read your thread and it has reignited (although ember still there!) my interest in changing my life. You are an inspiration and an annoyance as I had started to put my crazy notion of becoming a doctor out of my head. Some of you may remember my post approx 3 months ago. But I have realised that there is no hurry and, now that dust has settled on my business and house move, I am starting to look into science courses to refresh brain and work experience.
Also this may be of interest:

I have just come out of hospital and have been diagnosed with a heart condition I never knew I had, pop quiz, see if you can guess:

Up in Glasgow on business heading back down south (at Prestwick airport) heart rate suddenly goes ballistic. Starting to feel very light headed and with mild pain in chest. Decide to not get on airplane and called an ambulance. ECG shows I have heart rate of over 250bpm (hitting 300 at times)!!!
Rushed to Ayr hospital and given variouls toxic chemicals in an attempt to get heart back in sinous rythym, but to no avail. Eventually the doctors are starting to get a bit worried as it has been 2 hours since it started so decide (unsure of medical terminology) to put me to sleep and shock me. That works a treat and a week later am now back at work feeling fine but a bit tired. If it is of interest will try to post ECG as it makes interesing reading. Took a copy to show local GP, who got very excited and was frankly amazed my heart had kept going!
Sorry to hijack your thread...any idea!?

[Gabby]

Hello chippy - I'm intrigued by your pseudonym because I am actually a 'chippie' as in I'm a qualified carpenter lol!
well - I'm not yet totally convinced by your cardiac episode, my friend.....only because after my father died suddenly (many years ago) from a major myocardial infarction......couple of weeks later, one of my many brothers landed up in A and E with 'chest pains' and breathlessness etc.....and was eventually sent home with the advice that he probably needed some bereavement counselling....but his heart was absolutely fine!!
I can't help you with the whole "do I want to be a doctor?' thing - you know the answer to that - and you will just have to do whatever you have to do.....
but there is support and there are people who have been there, done it and got their MBBS/MBCHB or whatever!....loads of them.

good luck g xx

[Gabby]

Sorry - Chippy, have just re-read my posting, and I think it comes across as rather abrupt - which I didn't intend - so apologies.
If you read through my earlier postings - you will see that I felt exactly the same way as you initially about whether or not to even embark on this merry-go-round - but I am now extremely happy that I took the plunge. Everyone has to come to their own decisions about it, though - and I would say that there are many people on here that would be willing and able to give you their advice and support.

Vis a vis your cardiac episode - did they put it down as PSVT? Have you been under a great deal of stress lately as this can bring on an episode? Very glad to hear they managed to correct it for you eventually - it must have been very alarming for you.

anyway - loads of luck with your decision making - feel free to PM me if you want to chat over any of it.....love and luck, gabby x

[catpea33]

Hey Chippy, I know what you mean about coming back to this site. I'm still at uni doing my 4th year of my geology degree and, although I've had lots of thoughts about doing medicine in the past few years (I was going to apply this September and then decided it would be too much work in my 4th year), I'd decided to ignore myself and just go ahead with my geology PhD ideas. Do you find something always happens to bring you back to this site and then once you do then you can't get medicine out of your head again? For me, it was a woman who started choking at our restuarant on Friday night and after that I wanted to do medicine again with stories like Gabby's really not helping me ignore the fact that I want to do medicine! (Well done though Gabby!)

[racheljane]

As always Gabby you have inspired me... this time, to look up my own first posts and see how doubtful and unsure I was that I'd even get close to being eligible to apply... having just sent off my ucas form I'm obviously not actually IN med school (yet!) but reading those early posts have made me realise how far I've mananged to come in studies and confidence in 1 year. Great post, thanks xx

[chippy]

Originally Posted by Gabby

Sorry - Chippy, have just re-read my posting, and I think it comes across as rather abrupt - which I didn't intend - so apologies.
If you read through my earlier postings - you will see that I felt exactly the same way as you initially about whether or not to even embark on this merry-go-round - but I am now extremely happy that I took the plunge. Everyone has to come to their own decisions about it, though - and I would say that there are many people on here that would be willing and able to give you their advice and support.

Vis a vis your cardiac episode - did they put it down as PSVT? Have you been under a great deal of stress lately as this can bring on an episode? Very glad to hear they managed to correct it for you eventually - it must have been very alarming for you.

anyway - loads of luck with your decision making - feel free to PM me if you want to chat over any of it.....love and luck, gabby x

Hey no worries re your post, I do not think I put it very well, I already know what is wrong with me just thought you might be interested. I have WPW syndrome, which you are born with! I became a minor celebrity at Ayr hospital as most doctors were after a copy of my ECG as it resembled a major earthquake (no exaggeration). I now have to have an operation, probably at Papworth. Apologies if I hit a nerve regarding your father, sorry for your loss.
'Chippy' is a nickname I have had from birth and very boring reason, my parents could not think what to call me and everyone thought I looked like my father ie 'chip off the old block', groan, but I have been stuck with it ever since. So sorry not a qualified carpenter, can't even put shelves up.
Thanks for the encouragement and good luck with your studies, you most certainly are an inspiration, I know you will do it and realise your dream.

[chippy]

Originally Posted by catpea33

Hey Chippy, I know what you mean about coming back to this site. I'm still at uni doing my 4th year of my geology degree and, although I've had lots of thoughts about doing medicine in the past few years (I was going to apply this September and then decided it would be too much work in my 4th year), I'd decided to ignore myself and just go ahead with my geology PhD ideas. Do you find something always happens to bring you back to this site and then once you do then you can't get medicine out of your head again? For me, it was a woman who started choking at our restuarant on Friday night and after that I wanted to do medicine again with stories like Gabby's really not helping me ignore the fact that I want to do medicine! (Well done though Gabby!)

I guess my spell in hospital on the other side of the fence got me thinking again and therefore back on this infernal website! Then reading Gabby's posts got me thinking again. It also put the 'no hurry' thought next to the 'I want to be a doctor' thought, perhaps that is a cop out but as Gabby says if you really want it you will make it happen if not then I will live a happy life watching my children grow up etc