Exhausted

[missjennmb]

I graduated in August and got my license in October. I started working in November at a community health clinic. I travel between 4 different offices, and care for everything from your standard insured patient to homeless people who live in the woods, depending on which clinic I'm at. I love my job. LOVE it. My coworkers are great, very helpful, and easy to get along with for the most part. The work I do is extremely rewarding...the kind of thing I would do for free if I were able. I work 7 1/2 hrs, w/ a 30 min paid drive between offices and an hour for lunch. I travel right before lunch about 4 days a week. I work M-F, 8:30 to 5:30 w/ about an hour drive (due to dropping my children off).

I am EXHAUSTED. I feel so drained when I leave at night, like I have been run over by a truck. Where I used to be able to stay up until 11, I find myself dozing off before my kids are even in bed (so before 8:30). Other people I work with have mentioned feeling the same...

Is there anything I can do??? I cant drink coffee as it makes me violently ill (serious GI upset the second I eat anything afterwards). Mt dew doesnt do anything for me anymore. I am sleeping early. I do have a 2 and 4 yr old at home that climb into my bed in the middle of the night which isnt helping I'm sure. I'm just so exhausted.

[Perpetual Student]

How's your health? Perhaps there's a physical explanation. I have heard similar complaints from people suffering from thyroid problems, for example. If this is a considerable change from your prior energy levels it might be worth seeing your PCP for evaluation. Be sure to make it clear that you're really happy, just tired, to avoid being falsely diagnosed with depression and sent out the door with a prescription for the antidepressant du jour, hehe.

I'm happy to hear you're having such a good work experience.