Combat Fatigue

Nurses General Nursing

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Any tips on fatigue? I’m getting plenty of sleep at night but I am still waking up overly exhausted. It takes me several hours to truly feel awake. Last night I was so tired, I left the door to my car open! Yesterday was a particularly rough day and I didn’t get home from work until 9:30.

I am trying to eat healthier snacks and drink more water (I’m really bad at hydrating myself) but it is just hard feeling like I have zero energy all day everyday.

I’m less “busy” than I was in nursing school but I feel 10x more tired.

Any advice appreciated.

Specializes in Cardiac, COVID-19, Telemetry.
14 minutes ago, Pixie.RN said:

Full disclosure, I initially thought this was going to be a post about the military. ?

I didn’t even think about that but now that is all I think when I read the topic. ??‍♀️

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Specializes in Cardiac, COVID-19, Telemetry.
2 hours ago, TheAngryMan said:

I've seen this repeatedly in a number different jobs I've had in various career Fields. 99% of the time its diet and exercise. After a few years in a stressful job, you see a gigantic difference between those who exercise regularly and those who don't.

First too.... exercise 4 to 5 days a week no matter what. Even if you are dead tired...crawl over to a stationary bike and do 20 minutes followed by some 30 second planks and 10 or so pushups. You will sleep alot more soundly. On days you have more time or energy try 30 minutes of yoga.

I have a free gym membership that I was using for a while and I stopped going to classes because I got sick and then after I got over being sick I just felt so tired constantly.

I think I’m going to pick up their yoga class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and see if that helps some.

Thanks everyone for the tips. Y’all mentioned things I didn’t even think about.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
4 minutes ago, tropsnegRN said:

I didn’t even think about that but now that is all I think when I read the topic. ??‍♀️

No worries, it makes sense when you read the post! ?

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Specializes in Cardiovascular Stepdown.

I agree with many of the others here... Diet and exercise, but here are some tips I haven't seen yet:

1) How much sugar do you eat? It might sound strange, but cutting sugar increases energy levels for a lot of people.

2) How are you timing your meals? Do you eat breakfast? Do you go hungry all day at work? If so, it might help to have several small snacks during your shift, especially if you work 12s.

3) Quality of food is ready important. Are you getting enough veggies, fruit and healthy protein?

A little more information would be helpful. Feel free to send me a pm if you like. What labs were done exactly? Did they check your thyroid and A1C?

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Specializes in icu,prime care,mri,ct, cardiology, pacu,.

What about room temp, sheets. Pillows.

not eating too close to bedtime

shut off phone

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Specializes in ICU.

Maybe take some Vitamins. Eat healthy while at work, no high carb fatty foods that will make you sluggish. Drink plenty of water, get a HEALTHY amount of caffeine. Work on your sleep schedule (maybe you’re not sleeping enough) and just be careful. A sleepy nurse can be dangerous and you don’t want to put your patients or license at risk. Best of luck.

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18 hours ago, tropsnegRN said:

I have a free gym membership that I was using for a while and I stopped going to classes because I got sick and then after I got over being sick I just felt so tired constantly.

I think I’m going to pick up their yoga class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and see if that helps some.

Thanks everyone for the tips. Y’all mentioned things I didn’t even think about.

You got sick. Then you got tired. Did you catch Mono? I have read that the fatigue after being sick can last for weeks. Just thinking.

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Specializes in Cardiac, COVID-19, Telemetry.
14 hours ago, Forest2 said:

You got sick. Then you got tired. Did you catch Mono? I have read that the fatigue after being sick can last for weeks. Just thinking.

No idea. It started as allergies and then developed into a nasty sinus infection. I got out of my habit of getting yo early to go to the gym and would rather stay in my bed. It’s been about 3 months since that.

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On 7/6/2019 at 7:41 AM, tropsnegRN said:

Any tips on fatigue? I’m getting plenty of sleep at night but I am still waking up overly exhausted. It takes me several hours to truly feel awake. Last night I was so tired, I left the door to my car open! Yesterday was a particularly rough day and I didn’t get home from work until 9:30.

I am trying to eat healthier snacks and drink more water (I’m really bad at hydrating myself) but it is just hard feeling like I have zero energy all day everyday.

I’m less “busy” than I was in nursing school but I feel 10x more tired.

Any advice appreciated.

I haven't seen this mentioned, sorry if I missed it.

Depression (or some related difficulty) is also in the differential here I would think, understanding that we can neither diagnose nor give any particular medical advice.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

It is easier to sleep and eat crap....lets see how many of my own suggestions I will take as I sit in 5C (40F) 6AM Melbourne weather after travelling from Dublin.

Probably go home dump the freezer as apparently there was 2 power outages while I was away, shower, bed for a few hrs and then go to the shops and get food....brain says lean meat and veggies, stomach is calling for a bacon sandwich.

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