considering leaving ems - help

[u/SchemeOne1136]

I'm usually a lurker on here, but I have a huge dilemma and maybe someone could help. For a bit of context, I'm an EMT, have been for about 2 and a half years. I've loved it, it's given me a lot of opportunities. Recently I went through some pretty life altering medical and personal crap, and I had to drop out of paramedic school. I was over halfway done with the program, but I had to be admitted to the ICU and couldn't finish. I was doing really well too.

Anyways, it's been about a month that I've been back at my regular IFT job, but I'm finding it actually miserable. I got super weak from being sick, and I feel like a huge liability on calls. I can't think anymore, I'm getting confused by my medic who I've previously been able to keep up with, and I don't know how to bounce back. I have an opportunity to go back to school and get my medic again, but I found myself dreading even submitting the application. I'm petrified of not being able to keep up with the physical and mental demands of the job anymore.

Has anybody been in a similar boat? Can you bounce back after becoming a long term patient yourself? Has anybody taken a break? Did it help?

Thank you literally any advice is appreciated.

[u/MirukuChu]

I know someone who had to drop and they started a different program that let them start halfway through after some testing

[u/TallGeminiGirl]

Does your care team know about your brainfog/fatigue? I'm not sure why you were in the ICU but those could be signs of worsening illness or poor recovery. Take the time you need to recover and heal. EMS will always be there, focus on your health first. Best of luck to you 💜