Eating Disorders?

Nurses Recovery

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Specializes in ICU, Pedi, Education.

I am going back to work this month and have a long history of anorexia. While I am in a great place recovery wise, I am nervous about working the night shift and continuing to eat correctly. I will be working 3 12's a week and am going to try to stay on a fairly consistant sleep schedule (I have 3 school aged children...so we will see). Does anyone have any advice or tips?

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Specializes in L&D, Family Practice, HHA, IM.

Bring enough foods for you to eat during your shift (I think small meals q 2-3 hrs is a good idea; yoghurt with a banana, for example) and as far as sleeping goes...hmmm, sleep while the kids are gone during the day...but transitioning from that to sleeping at night...I think you're going to have to ask someone else on that.

Best of luck to you in your continuing path to wellness!

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i am also a recovered anorexic who spent 6 years working nights (im on days now only because of school). my best advice to you is to treat your PM just like it was your AM, only backwards. for example, eat dinner @ 1730-1800, that is your breakfast. when you take your break at 0100, that is your lunch. and then when you get off work, 0730 am is your dinner (but you will be eating breakfast).

that is what helped me eat properly while working nights is looking at ti just the same way as day time, only backwards. now that i am working days i think my eating habits are alot worse!

good luck, and keep up the good work!

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Specializes in ICU, Pedi, Education.

Thanks so much for the advice! I have made so much progress and don't want to slide backwards. It is great to hear that others have been able to successfully do this!

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

you are welcome. just know you have a fellow recovered anorexic to talk to on here if you ever need one.

i have one other motivator that i use to keep myself on track. some people say this would cause them relapse, but it has worked well for me. my mom took a picture of me at my lowest weight, in the hospital with my NG tube pumping in formula, a TLC hanging out of my neck and a bandanna on my head because my hair fell out. i keep this hideous picture taped to my bathroom mirror and look at it each day and remember how far along ive come from being the skeleton i once was, and how i dont ever, ever, ever want to be that girl again.

good luck to you and god bless in your continued recovery!

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good luck, keeping to a schedule is not easy but it is doable

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Specializes in ICU, Pedi, Education.
you are welcome. just know you have a fellow recovered anorexic to talk to on here if you ever need one.

i have one other motivator that i use to keep myself on track. some people say this would cause them relapse, but it has worked well for me. my mom took a picture of me at my lowest weight, in the hospital with my NG tube pumping in formula, a TLC hanging out of my neck and a bandanna on my head because my hair fell out. i keep this hideous picture taped to my bathroom mirror and look at it each day and remember how far along ive come from being the skeleton i once was, and how i dont ever, ever, ever want to be that girl again.

good luck to you and god bless in your continued recovery!

Thanks so much!! It is so nice to get both advice and support. It is nice to hear that you are doing so well!

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