Nurses with fibromyalgia/cfs/similar conditions?

Nurses Disabilities

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Im 18 years old, and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia when I was 13. I'd love to be a nurse, but im intimidated and afraid because I know that being a nurse can be very physically exhausting, even for perfectly healthy nurses.

Those with conditions such as fibro, cfs, or even lupus--how do you guys cope? Were you diagnosed during your career? How do you take care of yourself on days off? Are you able to adjust your schedule in a way that works for you?Were you diagnosed before you became a nurse and still decided to become one? How do you deal with flares when you have to go to work? Im really worried about being exhausted and in pain, and not being able to provide patients with the best care that I can provide them--thats my main concern. Thanks :)

Specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, oncology, rehab, LTC, ALF.

I'm a relatively new RN. I graduated with my BSN in May 2014. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis while I was in pre-nursing classes, and then with fibromyalgia, scoliosis, sciatica, and arthritis while I was in nursing school. I'll eventually probably be diagnosed with SLE - it runs in my family and my recent labs seem to be pointing in that direction. Chronic pain and fatigue are the two symptoms I deal with the most.

Nursing school was difficult for me. I lived at home with my parents because they were able to help me with stuff like laundry and cooking meals when I was flaring. The downside was that I had a long commute (around 1.5 hours each way) to class, which meant that I was usually exhausted. Especially after I was diagnosed, I started going to bed early each night and getting up early in the morning if I had stuff I needed to do, rather than staying up late. I also used melatonin as a sleep aid, tried to eat healthy wherever I could, and tried to remember to take my medication as scheduled.

Being a nurse with these conditions is hard. I don't want to be the downer in this thread, I'm just being honest. It's easy to skip lunch breaks, forget to take medications and neglect other self-care. Especially when you're a new nurse and you're concentrated on other things such as time management, passing meds, etc. One of the reasons I left my first job (which was on a Med-Surg/Progressive Care unit) was because I couldn't get the physical help that I needed to do my job. I didn't need anything major, just help turning total care patients.

Not all units are like that, but there are some that are.

Something that is important is to know your limits. Are 12 hour shifts doable or will you need something more along the lines of a 9-5 type schedule? Do you want the excitement (and stress) or working a hospital or would you be happy in a clinic or physician's office? Think about these things as you progress through nursing school. And when all of your classmates are running out getting 12 hour shifts at the local hospital, stick to your plans and find a job that you can actually do for a long time.

Schedule

May I ask what med slows the disease?

hppygr8ful do you have to report that you take pain meds when you need them when you aren't working?

Specializes in Retired NICU.

I have fibromyalgia, diagnosed in the late 90's about 20 years after I became an RN. My best advice is to pace yourself, be aware of the amount of energy and pain you have and reduce what you do accordingly. You won't be able to do as much as those who don't have fibromyalgia can (unless they have some other issue that also impedes them). Take good care of yourself: sleep, food, stretching, stress relief.

Specializes in Retired NICU.
May I ask what med slows the disease?

There aren't any. There are medications for symptom relief.

Specializes in Retired NICU.
hppygr8ful do you have to report that you take pain meds when you need them when you aren't working?
no need
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
no need

No I don't have to report to Anyone that I am taking medication for pain. There is no BON requirement against taking medication for pain as long as it does not impair your ability to practice safely.

As a pain management patient I am listed in a federal data base which keeps track of my prescriptions, my prescribers and how often I have refills. In August I had surgery and required additional meds. The pharmacy initially would not fill the prescription until they verified that I had indeed had surgery. It was a pain but I'm ok with it now.

Still I have it's best not to discuss what medications you take with co-workers or even that you have chronic pain. Keep that your business.

Hppy

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