My health is suffering..vent I guess...

Nurses General Nursing

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:eek:I think nursing has really aged me. I have a very long commute, over an hour and I work 12 hour shifts which as you know can turn into 14 some days. I have been steadily gaining weight, I look and feel awful. My ankles are swelling and sore, my knees are killing me so even on my days off I just want to rest. I hobble around after 3 shifts in a row. Anyone else experience this? I know I need to hit the gym, but my body hurts. I barely eat at all during my shifts, then watch out! I make up for it after! Then I sleep......... I am a mess. I am working on improving my diet. But it doesnt seem to be making much of a difference yet.

So I guess I need some advice. I am getting heavier, which only makes my ankles and knees hurt more. But I am too tired and broken to exercise. How do you keep up your health? Does it get better? I am still in my first year, will my body get used to this? I am supposed to get married next year and I look and feel my worst!

EmergencyNrse

632 Posts

Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

Nursing pays well sometimes but I can tell you it's not all about the money.

Stress, long hours, hard work, poor diet and sleep patterns. It will get you if you let it.

Try Starbucks. Everyone is usually happy and most of the time they will give a "thank you" when they leave. That or WalMart greeter... That's where I'm headed.

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Sorry to hear this. I too have commuted long hours for work and you never seem to get off on time on a late shift. Then I'd eat when I got home, put on weight, etc.

One solution is to do agency work instead - then maybe you can work your own hours and days, and where you want. Have u thought of that? Are there any agencies near you? Re-vamp your CV and start sending it out to them all. Maybe you can do 4 8 hour shifts as well.

You have to decide what is better for your health - it is up to you to take control and really decide how this is going to affect your life and overall happiness. R u doing these shifts for yourself or to make someone else happy? Of course you need money as well, I'm not saying just go and quite your job.

Would ur future hubby consider moving closer to ur work, even for a year or so just so you can get a handle on things? Also, if ur like this now, these problems will affect ur marriage as well - u don't want to feel like this when married and be overwhelmed.

U have to make time for exercise - I know this sounds harsh. U will be sore from exercise as well, but u will feel better. What about starting with an in home DVD of yoga and/or pilates? U get a good work out from pilates - it's not as easy as it looks! U can do weights at home too. Exercise when u have the next day off, & then u can recuperate and relax. Even walking the dog, or if u don't have a dog, walking to the supermarket or to get the paper is still exercise. Just start off with little things.

Even a half hour at the gym on a treadmill is better than nothing.

I hope you feel better soon.

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

I got out of nursing = way more energy = 20 lbs of weight loss over the past 3 months.

It was a slow process though, I have been out of nursing for a little under a year now, but I contribute having a lot less stress in my life to being able to put the sugary treats down and exercise. I feel 100 % better! More energy all the time now!

You can do it, but you need to get rid of the stressful job first and go from there. It was a loooong process to train my body to stop eating when it is fulll (an not over stuffed full), get up and move, stop craving crap, and so on. I started taking a vitamin every day (women's one a day) and that helped to significantly decreasse cravings for the bad stuff and hunger. You cannot totally take away the fatening stuff, you just have to learn it is about moderation, that is the key! Burn more than you put in and you willl loose wieght, but be patient.

Good luck

Happy

bulletproofbarb

208 Posts

Your post reminds me why I left hospital nursing but I have to be honest, I am now getting depressed as I miss nursing (not hospitals!) so much. I'm trying to find work in GP surgery but having not much luck. Failing that I may look at radiology.

I too used to pop into the fast food outlets on the way home from finishing late and would consume a days worth of calories and go to bed...wake up felt like crap, went to work..back to eating crap and on it went.

Shift work is not good for the body or the soul for many people. I think it would help if nursing shifts were tailored to more normal times instead of constant rotational rosters in hospitals as then you can get into a routine..i dream though cause it wont ever happen.

I am healthier for having left bedside nursing, but mentally i am feeling glum so I am not feeling like I have achieved anything really when my aim was to live a normal stress free life.

Alas, i do not know what the answer is but can only wish you the best of luck in finding one that works for you.

linker12

2 Posts

Specializes in neuro, icu, pacu.

I hear you, I have >1h commute/12(right)h shifts too, & I've been in nsg for 22 years.

You didn't say how old you are, but I'm guessing-? you're significantly south of 40. I really think you need a checkup, including thyroid levels, cholesterol, the whole shebang. I think the amount of swelling/achyness is unusual, esp. if you've not been on the floor for a year. You didn't say if you worked night shift? That can make you feel terrible. The other practical thing I can think of, is check your shoes. There are alot of great ones out there, but getting fitted(like at a Sports store) & trying different styles can really make a big difference.

Make choices to take care of you. Nursing will tear you down, you have to do everything you can to build yourself up. Good luck

Specializes in PCCN.

never got better for me- gained 40 lbs over 5 years. i do all the things previously described- grab fast food on the way home in am cause i never got any break during that 14 hour shift and am angry and starving and my legs and knees are in extreme pain. but sincee the cost of living in nys is so high and my spouse doesnt want to move, i cantt afford a lesser job. ive come to the resolution that when i die I will finally get a break.And at this rate- it wont be too much longer.

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
never got better for me- gained 40 lbs over 5 years. i do all the things previously described- grab fast food on the way home in am cause i never got any break during that 14 hour shift and am angry and starving and my legs and knees are in extreme pain. but sincee the cost of living in nys is so high and my spouse doesnt want to move, i cantt afford a lesser job. ive come to the resolution that when i die I will finally get a break.And at this rate- it wont be too much longer.

I found ur post so sad. Ur life sounds miserable.

Why on earth don't u get a break? Ur entitled to it! You should be demanding proper breaks, or do u get the sack if u do that?

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

Your health is not going to get any better until you take charge of improving it. That is the point where I am right now. A few days ago one of my knees snapped as I walked downstairs, the very next day my opposite ankle gave way. One of my elbows has been hurting so much in the last two months that extra strength tylenol doesn't help. I've decided it is time to see a doctor and stop putting everything off until I lose X number of pounds. You have to decide that enough is enough. If you can't adapt your health to this job, then get a different job. You have to decide.

Katie5

1,459 Posts

:eek:I think nursing has really aged me. I have a very long commute, over an hour and I work 12 hour shifts which as you know can turn into 14 some days. I have been steadily gaining weight, I look and feel awful. My ankles are swelling and sore, my knees are killing me so even on my days off I just want to rest. I hobble around after 3 shifts in a row. Anyone else experience this? I know I need to hit the gym, but my body hurts. I barely eat at all during my shifts, then watch out! I make up for it after! Then I sleep......... I am a mess. I am working on improving my diet. But it doesnt seem to be making much of a difference yet.

So I guess I need some advice. I am getting heavier, which only makes my ankles and knees hurt more. But I am too tired and broken to exercise. How do you keep up your health? Does it get better? I am still in my first year, will my body get used to this? I am supposed to get married next year and I look and feel my worst!

I empathise with you, but your meal times does seem to be a bit reversed. It may work out better, if dinner is your least heaviest meal( which might explain the sluggishness in the am).

It's not a lie when they say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day-it is. A healthy, fiberful breakfast is what you need to get your day started. Not to overfeeding but just enough to not feel hungry.With the proper carbs, protein and fiber and water it breaks down slowly dispensing small amounts of energy as you need it.

As much as you might dislike it now, exercise is a major part, it rejuvenates you (more energy) and burns down what you eat. Your body might also be storing food because of the erratic way you feed.

Tiny steady baby steps is what you need to get started. I offer to be your online work-out buddy if you like. The only thing is that I'm mean with my drills. Except for a truly genuine and obvious reason, I'm out.

You want to fit into and look absolutely dazzling on your special day:). I'm all for a good cause and this one is it:D

PS- The first thing that has to go is fast food.Have you seen the MAJOR calories those stuff carry?!!

Specializes in PCCN.
You should be demanding proper breaks, or do u get the sack if u do that?

thanks- problem is that an intermediate care floor is being staffed like a med surg floor, and no one ever gets a break -and even so you still are never done with your work til 1 hour after shift. I had a horrible night- paged the off shift supervisor for help- she never called back- ed was dropping off pts with no report, had a violent pt we had to call security on, along with all the drips, rapid a fibs, etc. pts falling all over the place cause we cant run to their room fast enough once their bed alarms go off.pretty much ive realized there is no one to complain to. our NM now has 2 floors and I think we are the ugly stepsister. The other floor never gets treated like we do. Theyy all get their breaks, they have a charge that doesnt take assignment. I was charge with 7 pts- on an intermediate floor :-(.

anyhow- I totally sympathise with OP. maybe she could realize this does happen to others, and might be empowered to find a different position.I have considered this many times- and the only non nursing thing I would be qualified for would be a 7 dollar an hour job- if they would even hire me for that, as i would be "overqualified- LOL!". I carry 2/3 of the income at home. maybe op new spouse will be able to help out so she doesnt have to resolve herself to such a crappy job- which after a few years will have you ending up like I am.

Katie5

1,459 Posts

never got better for me- gained 40 lbs over 5 years. i do all the things previously described- grab fast food on the way home in am cause i never got any break during that 14 hour shift and am angry and starving and my legs and knees are in extreme pain. but sincee the cost of living in nys is so high and my spouse doesnt want to move, i cantt afford a lesser job. ive come to the resolution that when i die I will finally get a break.And at this rate- it wont be too much longer.

I'm sorry and I don't mean to pry. Do you work more than one job?

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