autoimmune disease and being a nurse

Nurses Stress 101

Published

Hi All!

So I've got this concern -- I've been dealing with various arthralgias and swelling and just general and intermittent aches and pains for going on 6 years now. i think I'm finally close to actually getting a diagnosis and I've been told it's most likely RA or psoriatic arthritis. On one hand I'm glad to finally KNOW what's going on, and on the other I'm freaking out thinking I'm going to have this "condition" for the rest of my life.

As an aside, I've been so fatigued in the past several years and have basically chalked it up to, you know, being a nursing student, and then nurse, and now a mom and nurse (not to mention a wife - whew!). Plus my stress tolerance is reaaalllly low. So, I've worked my way into a generally less stressful area of nursing (community/PHN).

So, what I am wondering is how other nurses out there who have autoimmune diseases balance work, life, play and family. Has this kind of diagnosis really affected your ability to practice? I am of course worried about future deformity of my hands and know that would affect my ability to practice, but I'm hoping it's been caught early enough to prevent this from happening...

My hope and dream is to go back for my FNP, but I'm not even sure if it's worth us spending the $$ on tuition if this disease is going to get in the way of my productivity.

Anyone else in the same boat?

Happy Holidays!

Alma

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I was afflicted with an autoimmune disease for 7 years. I was diagnosed with autoimmune Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism) in 1998, and it did not resolve until I underwent radioiodine ablation in 2005. I have been hypothyroid since the ablation, but it is something I've been able to grapple with, thanks to the levothyroxine (synthetic T4) I take every morning.

My thyroid lab numbers took a while to normalize, and I dealt with the side effects of having either too much or not enough thyroid hormone in my system. However, my thyroid profile has been within normal limits since May 2007, and I finally feel a sense of normalcy. However, my tolerance for stress is also extremely low, and I quickly become anxious when exposed to a bunch of workplace stressors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in rehab-med/surg-ICU-ER-cath lab.

I am lucky to be financially stable enough to work part time. I work in the cath lab and though it can be intense I am not running up and down a unit caring for 6 or more patients - I am just running in smaller circles taking care of one at a time. I also work 8 hour shifts which is life saving for me. If I feel up to it and we need to stay extra hours I gladly do. I do arrange my life to make sure I am well rested. i am also lucky than my children are now in college. Best of luck to you and I hope good or bad you do find the security of a diagnosis.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 27 yrs in long term care, 5 yrs office.

I was diagnosed with Wegerners Granulamatosis this year, so not sure how it will be in the long run, but I am back to work full time, There are certainly times when you fell better than other times, it helps if you are in a job that can adjust to that, I work in a Doctors office so its not nearly as bad as pushing med cart, lifting patients, etc. Part of my wegeners is also RA, when that is in remission I feel a whole lot better.

Good luck to you

Anna

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment