I'm 34 yrs old and have Type 1 latex allergy which is the worst kind. I have A.S. in Enviromental Health. I went to school and studied what my father wanted me to, to be quite honest. I could never finda a job in the field, so settle in sales. Now I yearn to work in a more rewarding field. I have a lot of health problems myself. So I think that has added to my compassion for others. I really want to help peopel, unlike so many drs I have dealt with who don't seem to care. I figure it is much too late to start med school at 34. Plus how can I be a dr with latex allergy. I have heard of nurses & those in nursing school being fired or kicked out for having developed latex allergy.

Is there a field safe for me to go in? I have considered being a pharmacist or pharmacy assistant. But is the pay at least at good as what I make now which is $25,000? The medical assistants here in town make less than me, so I am not sure what sort of schooling to pursue or just stay put and do volunteer work in order to help others.

Originally posted by AngelaA:
I figure it is much too late to start med school at 34.

Patch Adams, and yes he is a real person, went to medical school at the age of I believe to be 32. It's never too late to follow your dreams.

Anyhew - There are gloves made specificaly for people who have an allergy to laytex. So yes, a medical career can still be with reach. As far as the income for a Pharmasist, I believe they make upwards of $50,000/yr. I actually think that might be the median salary for all in the field. But it all depends on geographic loacation and experience. I would make a safe bet that first year graduates make upwards of $35-40,000/yr, given a well populated setting.

Other medical careers, with less schooling would include, and are not limited to: EMT (6 months of school with a certification), Paramedic (1-2 year program with a certification), Nurse (2-4 years of school, or more depending on what kind of nurse)

EMT's make around $25-30,000/yr, and they have constant patient contact. Paramedics make between $25-35,000/yr. The salary for all professions within EMS are about 90% dependant on geographic location. The difference between an EMT working in a city and an EMT working in a small town, could be about $10-15,000.

Furthermore, the drop out rate for EMS professionals is very high due to the nature of the work. You don't only see the most bizzare thing's, but you also see the worst. It's your mission and priority to keep a person alive for however long that ambulance ride might be. You have to have critical thinking skills, be able to calculate drugs FAST, know what to do within a matter of seconds and not be thrown off guard by the unexpected.

IMOP, the EMS field is full of unhappy people. I know, because I've been voluteering with EMS for the past 3 years. I thought about becoming a paramedic, and maing a living of it, but no way, not for me. I love the work, but hate the people I would work with. Everywhere I go, I see EMS professionl's with a stick up their ***. That's why I went to medical school.

I have two friends that used to be EMT's and yes both are now in a new line of work. I couldn't handle the stress of that kind of work myself. The latex allergy isn't a matter of merely wearing non-latex gloves. It worries me that you say you are in the medical field, but apparently you don't know what Type 1 means. It means if the stuff is even near me, if the latex protein particles are in the air, if someone else is wearing the gloves near me, then I can go into anaphylaxis. It's not just gloves; latex is everywhere in the medical field. Tourniquets, intubation tubes, some IV's, catherers, bandages, casting materials... just to name a few things. I have trouble breathing just going into the local hospital. The ventilation system apparently re-circulates it. Between the latex and the new carpet the physicans building put in I can't breathe when I go to hospital for blood tests.

Originally posted by AngelaA:
It worries me that you say you are in the medical field, but apparently you don't know what Type 1 means.

Forgive the Pre-Med Sophmore, he's not yet fully informed.
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif

GriffinS09~

Just a friendly note. Living in NY as you do and living in WI as I do may make a difference as to the working conditions and if some choose to have a stick up the you know what. I feel that was unfair to say. There are many many that don't. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

The people that are unhappy in the field of EMS should not be there and it should be time they find something new to do outside of the medical field. The big part of helping people is the attitude of the people caring for them.

BTW I am only latex sensitive at this time and I hope it stays this way. I have a better chance it will due to the fact I had to retire at a young age from a EMT-I/FF due to spine problems.

Shirl


------------------
Love,
Shirl
History:

1980- Transaxillary resection of 1st rib and division of band (left side)
1982- Diagnostic Laparoscopy
1985- Transaxillary excision of cervical rib (right side)
1991- Laser stapedectomy (right side)
1992- Fractional D&C
1992- Diagnostic Laparoscopy
1996- Lumbar hemilaminectomy
1999- Left knee arthoscopic surgery
2001- Laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy
2002- L5-S1 Microdiscectomy
2002- L4-L5, L5-S1 Anterior inter-body lumbar fusion with cages and my own bone from left hip for bone graft
2002- Neck problems Surgery??????
2002 DEC 21- C4-5, C5-C6 Anterior Cervical Corpectomy with Fusion and Internal Fixation (Bone from the bone bank)

What about pharmaceutical or medical sales? These opportunities appreciate those who have been in the field. The pay is great- some offer flex scheduling for those with children. Usually company car and fantastic benefits. Still get to be in the healthcare field and away from latex. What do you think?

So what exactly is pharmeceutical & medical sales? Is that the guys with the big black briefcases that go in to dr's offices to hawk their pills over the competitor's?

I really want something where I can work with the patient face to face and help them. I know this must be an unusual concept because the drs & nurses I have been to could care less about the patient. The pharmacists aren't any better, at least not the ones around here, as they don't monitor drug interactions.

Yes that is what pharm reps do...just a thought. OK here is another one...seems like you want to be REALLY hands-on with patients...without wearing those latex gloves...let's see...how about social work...now I'm not talking about the social workers who deal with placing the homeless in county homes or dealing with children and foster homes. I'm thinking along the lines of the social worker in the long term care setting or skilled nursing facilities. I know several social workers who LOVE that job. It is really hands-on with the patient and their families. You would help them with major issues like...POA's, living wills, emotional issues with placement, discharge planning along with marketing and public relations. To get certified is somewhat simple.... You already have some education so you would probably need just the core classes.
I chose the drup rep path...enjoy 9-5, like to be on the road...mostly rewarding as sometimes the docs actually listen and therefore help thier patients.
Let me know what you think???!!!

As a drug rep do you travel across country or only within state?

Being in social services doesn't appeal to me. I have a friend in it and know I would never want to do what she does. I really want to be a dr, endocrinologist, to be exact, but besides the latex allergy I'm too old to start now. By time I got out of med school I wouldn't have enough time working to pay off school loans before retirement.

Hey, if you still want to be a doctor and help people and work with people without being exposed to the latex, why don't you consider training in one of the alternative medical professions?

Do you have any previous qualifications, like the ones you took for EMT? If so, you could go and study an ND course at somewhere such as Bastyr and apply for advanced standing status, so you maybe able to cut some time off the length of your course. You could then become a licenced naturopathic doc and could then help people more naturally, such as with herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture and the like.

That is another way to go that you might like to consider and you also get to spend more time with your patients too.

Good luck

As a drug rep- I am lucky enough to have 13 counties in the area which I live. Most companies want the reps to work in the area that they live for several reasons.

Ok social work is out of the question...mmmmm let's see- Try this one...how about a certified diabetes educator? A GREAT and much needed profession! I have two friends that are CDEs and find it very rewarding and very hands-on patient care. Let me know...keep me posted!

I've decided I'm going to check out the local hospital to see if there is any volunteer work I can do. That way I can see if I can even handle being in a building for long term that has latex everywhere. Plus lets me get some experience working in healthcare environment and see what possibilities there are for different types of jobs. I don't know what you call it, but I have seen where they have volunteers go and rock & interact with newborns with problems particularly those born addicted to drugs because of their mother's habit.

Have you thought about going into something like physical therapy, massage therapy, exercise therapy, occupational therapy or rehabilitation therapy? All of these have become valuable adjunct therapies in working with medical physicians to help lots of different conditions.

I know from experience, after working with most of them with my doc as the co-ordinator of my health care. Any one of these professions would allow you to greatly assist people who need your help. It should also be possible to find employment in an environment that is latex free.

Good luck in your search.

I am 29, and was diagnosed with a Type 1 Latex allergy about 2 years ago- although it was misdiagnosed for over 5 years. I am permanetely diasabled..and am unable to work because the hospital I work for refuses to change from powdered latex gloves to something safer. I recieve a disabilty pesion from WSIB (worker's compensation) and they have determined I am re-employable with training- they have approved a plan for me to complete on-line training through a community college in Occupational Health and Case Management. The problem now is finding a safe workplace/placement for the course, but everytime I contact anyone they refuse to consider me for empolyment because of the latex factor. No one wants to accomidate, take the risk/liability on of having me have a reaction and die, and latex is truely an invisible allergen. In theory I shouldn't have to disclose my disability, but the reality is that if I am not upfront I am putting myself at risk, and they are probably going to fire me when they find out. So, in my experience so far there is no real safe place in medicine for me(because of my allergy) and I am only in complete control when I am at home. I have had a horrible time dealing with the local hospital (as both a patient and staff member) safely. Not that I don't beleive that it can change, but the avenues are certainly unaccesssible at this point.

I believe that it will be difficult for you to ever work in direct patient care. There will always be teh potential need to use universal precautions (i.e gloves). Thus even in social work, etc. if you work in a hospital, clinic or medical office, there will be latex used. To expect that an office, hospital or clinic to re do their ventilation, replace cheaper products with more expensive products for one individual , is just not realistic. Ideally, yes they should. But if you are the hospital admin and have limited resources, there are other areas to spend money that will be a better return. The easiest path is just to not hire you an dtake on liablity for someone accidentaly using a latex glove, pulling it off, aerosolizing latex, and having you go into anaphylaxis.

Sorry, to burst your bubble. But I want to be a rock star, but it just ain't going to happen.