New Grad with Chronic Fatigue

Nurses Disabilities

Published

I am 28yrs old, just graduated from nursing school and passed NCLEX on the first try.

Everyone says how excited I must be about finishing with nursing school but I am not; I'm actually pretty bummed because I am realizing that I won't be able to perform up to a good standard due to health issues. I've had chronic fatigue for the past six years that is progressively getting worse. I work as a PCT in a hospital and I am able to perform that job but only to an adequate standard since I typically am struggling to stay away and function.

I've tried to diagnose and treat this but have hit nothing but dead ends. CBC is normal, no mono, iron is normal, b12 supplimentation didn't work. I did see a fatigue specialist who believes I am suffering from a viral infection but the treatment is over 15,000 without insurance.

What should I do? I don't want to start working a job that requires so much energy and mental focus and I don't have any way to pay for this treatment. Plus, I am not going to sink all this money into something that may not even make me feel better.

I'm not looking for medical advise, just career advise.

My thyroid levels are normal and my vit D levels were low but I have corrected them with no improvement to my condition. This specialist seemed pretty confident in being able to correct this but without health insurance, I'm kinda stuck in between a rock and a hard place. I have had this problem for over six years but I was just hoping it would clear up before nursing school ended; all that hard work was for nothing, what a bummer.

I just can't decide if I should get a job and let my work insurance pay for treatment or just scrap nursing all together because I can't resonably have someones life in my hands when I am mentally fatigued all the time.

It's not that I am not active, I am actually pretty lucky at this point that I can still move around pretty good and work hard but it's kinda like this brain fog that consumes me all day everyday like I only got two hours of sleep the night before.

p.s. I am also a man, :)

Specializes in Med/Surg.
My thyroid levels are normal and my vit D levels were low but I have corrected them with no improvement to my condition. This specialist seemed pretty confident in being able to correct this but without health insurance, I'm kinda stuck in between a rock and a hard place. I have had this problem for over six years but I was just hoping it would clear up before nursing school ended; all that hard work was for nothing, what a bummer.

I just can't decide if I should get a job and let my work insurance pay for treatment or just scrap nursing all together because I can't resonably have someones life in my hands when I am mentally fatigued all the time.

It's not that I am not active, I am actually pretty lucky at this point that I can still move around pretty good and work hard but it's kinda like this brain fog that consumes me all day everyday like I only got two hours of sleep the night before.

p.s. I am also a man, :)

Am I being too personal by asking what type of specialist this was, and what was the expensive treatment they recommended? I know you said s/he thought it was a "virus," but to me that seemed a) very vague and b) a little shady.....what type of hugely expensive treatment would "cure" this virus? It may be legit and only sounded this way because I don't know any details. Do you have details, or was that all you were told?

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I have had this problem for over six years but I was just hoping it would clear up before nursing school ended; all that hard work was for nothing, what a bummer.

I just can't decide if I should get a job and let my work insurance pay for treatment or just scrap nursing all together because I can't resonably have someones life in my hands when I am mentally fatigued all the time.

Like others have said nursing is so varied there can be opportunities that are not as physically or mentally challenging as others but I'm curious as to what reflection you have had over the last six years and while you were in nursing school regarding your abilities. Only speculating but it kind of sounds like you have decided you don't want to be a nurse after all? :confused:

Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
p.s. I am also a man, :)

Whoops, my bad. :rolleyes:

Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.

Morningland,

I pm'd you some info.

Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

I don't see any medical advice given in this thread, just things that nurses would be careful to check in the case of symptoms that the OP has listed. It can be a fine line, but medical advice would be more along the lines of suggesting a medication.

OP, I am going to move this thread to the Nurses with Disabilities forum. We have many regular posters on that thread who have chronic fatigue as well as some with fibromyalgia. You may find some good career advice and support in that particular forum.

Like others have said nursing is so varied there can be opportunities that are not as physically or mentally challenging as others but I'm curious as to what reflection you have had over the last six years and while you were in nursing school regarding your abilities. Only speculating but it kind of sounds like you have decided you don't want to be a nurse after all? :confused:

I don't want to be a nurse under the condition that I am in, no... but I do want to be a nurse. This condition has a way of sucking all the passion out of your life as it is very hard to get excited about what you do when you are constantly tired. It sucks, I don't really have a plan B... I was kinda planning my whole life around nursing working out for me.

So do you guys think I should get a job and use my insurance to treat me or just not go into nursing until I can get my energy and ability to focus back?

I would hope that you would be able to continue with nursing since you just finished your degree. I agree with others who have posted who said to try and get a position at a doctor's clinic.

Is it the 12 hour shifts that are difficult for you to work? Can you work 8 hour shifts more easily without becoming as tired? Maybe you can work part time or casual doing 8 hour shifts until you find out the underlying cause of your chronic fatigue so that you don't have to give up nursing.

Just a thought.

Specializes in Critical Care (20 yrs), Hospice (2 yrs).

My name is Kelly and I have been an RN for 22 yrs, but have not worked for the past 2 years due to my Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue. I completely understand your predicament.

I have been fighting with UNUM (the worst disability company, in my opinion) for the past year, because they cut off my payments a year ago.

I am now faced with having to go back to work, because we cannot live on one income anymore. I have almost depleted my retirement savings due to not being able to work and no benefits.

I WANT to work; being a Nurse is part of who I am, but am very afraid of going back to work, because some days I can barely get out of bed. I can't wait the (likely) years it will take to get an answer to my appeal of UNUM's decision that I am capable of working, so though it is not recommended, I either go back to work, or lose my house. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or just want to chat. Kelly

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