Can't sleep. Ever. And I'm getting fat.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  • Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

I've been rotating 50/50 for 1 1/2 years at my current job, and before that I also did a combination of day/night shifts. I can function well at work, but I just can't sleep. I'm definitely more awake at night and drag on the mornings I have to be up early for a day shift, but I'm also cranky either way. I've tried melatonin and Benadryl, and that's pretty much the extent of what I can take. My memory is starting to take a hit from the chronic sleep deprivation. I'm starting a new job on the 9p-9a shift, and I'm a little nervous my insomnia will get completely out of control. I'm also getting so fat! I've gained 25 lbs since September and I haven't changed my eating habits (1200-1500 calories/day), though I'm usually too tired for any meaningful exercise. I can feel my body begging me to make some lifestyle changes, but it's really hard for me to fight the fatigue. In my very spare time the last thing I want to do is drag myself to the gym. I'm hoping once I get on an established shift I'll start to feel better, but I'm looking at my body and thinking yikes, I can't stretch out much further.

eriksoln, BSN, RN

2,636 Posts

Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

Sorry you have to go through this. I went through it when I was full time nights and, unfortunately, didn't find the solution. I had to get off nights, now I only work 4 nights/month and even then they throw me off completely. It's tough.

W/E you do to handle the situation, don't go into a hole and keep to yourself. Get out whenever you can, even if you don't feel like you have "all the ducks lined up" at home. Getting out and socializing is what helped me, but not enough.

Now that I do more days, I'm still just recovering from the sleep deprivation. It took me a long time to simply get caught up enough that I could plan things out and go through with them. I go to the gym now, maybe not as often as I should/could but a heck of a lot more than when I was full time nights.

I left the night shift with the impression "Some can do it, others can't, and I can't". I realize that now, will never go back to working nights. The extra pay doesn't justify the messed up home life.

Some people can adapt to nights/ swing shifts.

Your body is telling you... IT CAN'T!!

Find a shift that will work for you ( either all days or all nights) before

some irreparable damage occurs.

NeoPediRN

945 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

I'm hoping that it's just the rotating that is throwing my body off, because I really do like nights and I'm not a morning person. However, it's much harder to maintain a sense of normalcy on nights. Worst case scenario, my manager told me there's a lot of lateral movement between shifts, so I can always try a different one or go to days when a spot opens if I cant hang on nights. I wouldn't care about any of the rest of it if I wasn't gaining so much weight! I can't stand how disgusted I feel and how uncomfortable I am in my own skin. I can only cut back so much without getting profoundly hypoglycemic, so I try to just make better food choices. Not so easy when the last thing you feel like doing is cooking!

LegzRN

300 Posts

Specializes in CEN, CPEN, RN-BC.

I rotate mids and nights, but that fits my lifestyle perfectly as I've never been a morning person. As far as exercising, I recommend finding a gym that's 24/7 so you won't have to adapt yourself to that facility's hours. Also, find an activity that you enjoy doing. If the treadmill isn't your thing, try a cycling or yoga class. It's all about experimenting!

As far as putting yourself to sleep on your nights off... I have this little concoction I call "The Four Horsemen"

Benadryl 50mg

Melatonin 900mcg

Valerian Root 2 capsules

Nyquil 30ml

Knocks me the f out, that's for sure. I'm not recommending the above... just sayin'

NeoPediRN

945 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

The Four Horsemen, I love it! I think I might be able to take Nyquil (heart condition, can't take anything with pseudoephedrine), I'll check on that and ask my doctor about valerian root. Sometimes they tend to be a little less knowledgeable about the holistic supplements, but it's worth a shot. Thanks!

NeoPediRN

945 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

Also, another thing about exercising. I've always been a little bit exercise intolerant. Never was able to keep up with any sports, and usually the last at things in gym class, but I could at least do it. Over the past year or so, whenever I attempt to exercise (usually a light jog), I end up feeling extremely weak, mostly in the back of thighs, butt, pelvis and hips. I even get transient tingling in my toes. For a few days after, I have to stop and take breaks on the stairs or just tread lightly because I feel so weak in my extremities. I also usually end up getting sick with a fever, swollen glands, and some kind of respiratory illness, like clockwork, a few days after I make a serious attempt at exercising. I don't think I'm pushing myself too hard or anything like that, I think something strange may be going on. I'm going to talk to my doctor about it during my next physical.

Specializes in Obstetrics, Women's Health.

Definitely talk to your doctor! I hope you feel better ASAP. I feel you with weight gain (recent problem at my house too), except I worked 11-7s as a psych tech for a year and lost a bunch because I had no appetite at all on nights! Good luck finding out the best things for you, sorry I cannot offer suggestions.

567 SeaOtter

24 Posts

thyroid check?

ktliz

379 Posts

Specializes in critical care.

No need to jog right off the bat. Walking is great exercise too. :) But, since you do have a heart condition, definitely check with your primary care provider about an appropriate exercise routine (but you already knew that!)

Finding the energy to exercise when you are feeling exhausted is the worst. Maybe some gentle yoga DVDs in the morning would be helpful, so you don't even have to go to the gym. 5-10 minutes of meditation can make a world of difference as well. Just be sure you are practicing active awareness/mindfulness during meditation so you don't end up falling back asleep, haha!

Good luck, and kudos to you. I wouldn't even consider taking a swing shift; I'm just one of those people who needs a consistent schedule to function.

ronray

2 Posts

Specializes in med surgical, geriatric.

Night shift is really hard. Unfortubatelly that is the shift that I am on right right. I am even thinking of going pnr or part-time and go back to school and wait for my threes boys to get older before I start working full time again. Try your best to get some type of exersice in your program. It does not make sense for you not to consume more calories and yet gaining weight. That will be upsetting me a lot.

Specializes in Trauma/Critical Care.

Get a complete health exam (get your thyroids, vitamins...especially D, and an iron level checked). I agree with other posters...some people are just not made for the night shift; still, your case (wt gain, low energy, memory loss...) seems a little bit extreme.

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