I'm not sure if what I experience is normal or not. Over the past few years I've had a hard time staying awake in general behind the wheel if I'm driving for longer than 1/2 hour - 45 minutes. During the day it's easier, but even if I get a good night's sleep, I have to work on consciously reminding myself to stay awake. It only happens to me while driving.
I rotate day/nights 12 hour shifts and commuting after a night shift is extremely difficult. Taking a brief nap before heading home only makes it worse. I have tried: blasting the radio, singing along, eating ice, chewing gum, coffee 1/2 hour before my shift ends, rolling the windows down and sticking my head out, putting on the a/c, making myself freezing cold so that I'm too uncomfortable to want to drift off, eating breakfast in the car on the way home. I mean, you name it and I've tried it...and it makes no difference. I can literally feel sleep coming over me and a heaviness in my brain, and there's not much I can do about it. I drift off at red lights until a car behind me honks, I start falling asleep behind the wheel during the drive and my body jumps as I wake up quickly. I will also slam on the brakes in the middle of driving as I wake up thinking I'm about to hit something, but I'm nowhere near anything. Last year I fell asleep driving home after an overnight double and hit a snow bank 1/2 mile from my house. Thank God there was a blizzard and no one else on the road. I don't do overnight doubles anymore because of that, but it still doesn't solve the problem. I swerve at least once every morning, everything starts getting surreal, and often I don't remember driving home or I feel like the drive is a dream even though I know I'm awake, if that makes any sense. It's even started happening after day shifts, but nowhere near as bad as driving home after a night shift. The only thing that keeps me awake is if I come close to getting in an accident and I feel the adrenaline rush. That usually lasts long enough to get me close to home before it starts happening again. I'm so afraid I'm going to get seriously hurt or seriously hurt someone else. I live too far to use public transportation, and I've even thought about giving up the specialty I love to get any job close by, but there aren't many hospitals right near me and the ones that are, aren't hiring anyway.
Has anyone experienced this before or is there something wrong with me? Does it get better with time? I've been commuting after night shifts for about 18 months and it isn't getting better. Does anyone have other tips/tricks that have worked for them? I can't have a lot of caffeine or use energy drinks because I have a congenital heart condition. Thanks in advance, and please, no flames. I'm aware what I've shared is dangerous and I'm coming here for advice because I feel at a loss. I have to work, and commuting with someone else isn't an option, I live about 45 minutes northeast of my work and everyone lives in the city or south of.
I think they were trying to get my attention, to keep me safe. Because they probably could have busted me once or twice or more or whatever. But then again, I could have had a secret admirer! (There was somebody bugging me at the time, but it wasn't a CHP officer that I know of).
I think they were trying to get my attention, to keep me safe. Because they probably could have busted me once or twice or more or whatever. But then again, I could have had a secret admirer! (There was somebody bugging me at the time, but it wasn't a CHP officer that I know of).
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Oh my goodness, caliotter, how embarrassing/funny! You must have lived in a small town for them to have had time to do that!!
Ha!~ When I worked on the north shore..... I swear the State Police used to wait for me on Route 3 AS I exited 128. I would be sooooooo happy that I finally reached the Route 3 ramp and was close to home I would fly off 128 onto Route 3 and BAM!!!!!!!!!! There they were....I even got to know one of them by name. Thank goodness they didn't give a ticket after the first 2..............that and I learned to slow down.....:)
This sounds very dangerous, i would recommend desoxyn.
I know this is an old thread, but I just had to point out that Desoxyn is methamphetamine hydrochloride. The medication guide can be found here (pdf). While it's not exactly the same is street meth, it's still a powerful stimulant that's usually not prescribed unless other drug therapies have proven ineffective.
I'm not a healthcare professional (nursing student on hiatus, actually) but I would think a drug like Desoxyn would be contraindicated in a person like the OP, who stated "I can't have a lot of caffeine or use energy drinks because I have a congenital heart condition."
Just wanted to point that out, but as I said I'm not a healthcare professional so as always, the OP (or anyone wanting advice about whether an Rx might be right for them) should talk to their doctor about this issue and don't just take my advice!
does anyone notice the common theme here? Forced to do shift work. Employers don't give a crap about us. I've personally knew a co- worker die in an accident after a night shift, and another co- worker who falls asleep in report that i have to poke her. Now where I am , they are having us rotate all 3 shifts- days eves and nights. sometimes with no days off between to have a chance to sleep for it. Someone told me that was illegal- yet who is enforcing it? NO-ONE. WHY????? because employers know they have us by the snarklees( those who have seen coneheads movie know what i mean) and if we dont like it we can just leave. With lack of jobs nowadays, who's going to just leave????Its obvious that health concerns are last on the list. Being healthy aint gonna pay the rent.
I like rotating because you get a few extra hours off each time you rotate forward. I do day, day, night, night, and I appreciate the extra sleep in the middle.
I like rotating because you get a few extra hours off each time you rotate forward. I do day, day, night, night, and I appreciate the extra sleep in the middle.
Hey guys! I recently started in the ER and was put on late nights (9p-9a). I talked with my nurse manager (love her) a few days ago and starting next week I'll be orienting to 3p-3a. That is a PERFECT shift for me and I couldn't be happier. I just can't commute 1.5 hours home in the morning with traffic after being up all night on such an unnatural shift. Hopefully this is the start of no more rotating and no more nights!
i considered asking my doctor about provigil since it's short acting, but i'm afraid of getting my license medically suspended. i have to be able to drive to be able to work. i also can't take anything that will speed up my heart. i was prescribed an allergy medicine with pseudoephedrine one time and even that gave me nasty tachyarrhythmias.
no..... it's not normal...at all. anywhere.
why would someone "medically" suspend your license? (i've never heard of that term)
if it's a treatment that your md prescribed for your care, it's not your work's business...a valid prescription should cover it. not all "upper" type meds will cause the same reactions. my nursing instructor begged me to get ritalin while doing my ortho-neuro rotation, and my doc gave it to me.... knocked me right out. instructor was happy i wasn't disappearing every time she turned around.
if they give you any grief about a medical treatment, hand them a computer set of directions from the hospital to your home, so when your family calls about why you haven't been heard from, they have something to give the police when someone reports you missing.
if you have some sort of disorder like narcolepsy, you need treatment. see your doc :) soon!!!
instructor was happy i wasn't disappearing every time she turned around. 
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
I think they were trying to get my attention, to keep me safe. Because they probably could have busted me once or twice or more or whatever. But then again, I could have had a secret admirer! (There was somebody bugging me at the time, but it wasn't a CHP officer that I know of).