Has your health declined since becoming a nurse?

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I was a healthy/active person...then nursing school....then a nurse. Now I stay sick. I think it may be stress related? :stone Ive had multiple surgeries, multiple illnesses, I NEVER feel well anymore. Anyone else going/gone thru this?

Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.
I believe it has to do with all the stress and increasing cortisol levels, but yeah, I've never been so unhealthy in my life as when I became a nurse.

This was my first thought when I started reading the replies. Sounds like high stress levels. I can SO relate to that!!!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I was just saying to myself for the past two weeks that I believe my muscle aches, knee pain, plantar fasciitis (okay, maybe not that one), feeling like I am not quite focusing and sort of zoning out may be due to stress. I don't think I know how to destress the same ways I did before. It is a combination of having empathy for the patients that these hospitals can care less about, while simutaneously being annoyed with these same patients for either walking around with their heads in the clouds about their conditions or not taking responsibility for themselves by believeing that we are here to solve each issue they have. I do not socialize anymore, really, because when I do visit people, I am tired, or irritable. Tired of hearing other people's self inflicted, avoidable problems (this is an issue I have with the co-workers doing this). I am achy all over, tired, feeling like my muscles are constantly running or straining. Feel like I am trembling on the inside, and like many students or nurses working in the field, thinking that I have each disorder the patients have.

In addition, I am taking on more hours because for one, I need money and also, trying to gain as much bedside experience I can while I have the strength (now...THAT is a joke...or interest). Don't know how long I can keep this up. I'd rather get a desk job somewhere and do nursing on the side...seriously.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

tiffear,

My thyroid hasn't quite abandoned me like it did you =P No one is quite sure what is wrong with it. It tends to swing back and forth between hyper and hypo.. it had been normal for the last 2 years, but swung more hypo than ever before. No one can quite explain why I was losing weight with tachycardia while my thyroid was actually underproducing. I'm on a tad bit of levothyroxine because the doc figured that the elevated TSH couldn't be good for me. My health is definitely improving since I left nightshift. I definitely prefer the 'quiet' of nightshift because in dayshift you just have that many more people demanding things and getting angry at you =P I am improving at dealing with the stress. I'm also attempting to start socializing with people again.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
I have Meneires also. Im right now suffering an exacerbation with no relief. I keep hearing a low-pitched roaring and have a hard time hearing others. And the vertigo! Its horrible.

chenoaspirt, after trying antivert for several years with no results my ent put me on valium and phenergan. Actually helps with the vertigo and cuts the days I'm affected by half. Ask your doc...wouldn't hurt :)

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Specializes in medicine and psychiatry.

I am a new computer user and this is my first attempt at blogging. I am having the time of my life. I am howling with laughter. I love you guys. I mentioned before that my sense of humor may have become twisted. What is the bottom line here? When I told my Mother that I was going to become a nurse she stated, " Oh, that will be so stressful". My Mother to this date has never been wrong so why did I choose to continue. Because I did'nt realize what stressful really was in relation to healthcare. This situation is so ridiculous that, "stressful", is a gigantious understatement. I would expect that we'll all end up with Post Tramatic Stress Disorder if we're not dilligent. Our physical symptoms will seem like Romper Rooom compared to that diagnosis. The mental anguish that I see nurses dealing with transends all the physical symptoms we experience. The bottom line I think is this....The vast majority of out physical ailments stem from the mental strain that we are experiencing. I am wondering how many of us are aware of the large number of nurses taking antidepressents and antianxiety medications. Seperate the hard physical labor that is required in nursing from the mental/emotional. Physically,one needs to practically be an athlete to sustain yet the toll on our minds and spirits is what is taking the greatest toll. Last week at work I was cursed at, spit on and wacked in the head by patients. That does'nt bother me in the least. My ego remains intact, and little true physical harm was done to me. I even managed to be an instrument of healing. The harm done to me is perpertrated by the system in which I practice. No respect for me as a healer or the gifts that I bring to the profession. I am nothing more than a unit. Under our current system that will not change. It is a terrible strain to the psyche. No matter how hard I work or how much healing I promote I am just a comodity to be used and discarded when worn out and used up. Lord Have Mercy!

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I've had 2 kidney stones in the past 6 weeks. I've never had them before.

I think nursing has something to do with it.

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Not really. I work night shift and I love it, but I completely re vamped my life to :D

Vamped...nightshift...hmmmm. Halloween's right around the corner.:smokin:

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heart palpitations and backaches for me

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Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

Herniated disc's in my neck, back problems, GERD, depression, PTSD, anxiety. Yeah, nursing has been great for me too :banghead:

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Specializes in medicine and psychiatry.

You might want to consider the impact stress in having on your diet and also how much water you are drinking. Of course, you will have to slow down long enough to do this.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

I'm developing the "nursing bladder".. the super sturdy expandable bladder which can hold up to 13 hours of urine! I'm still new, so I have not experienced the "nursing UTI" (see nursing bladder) yet. The nurse who precepted me during my last semester of nursing school admitted to a few nursing UTIs :uhoh21: (yes..i asked her). I've decided that eating and peeing are inalienable human rights :cool:

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Hmmmmm.......let's see.

I almost never get "sick" anymore---as in colds, flu, bronchitis, etc. My immune system's strong enough to fight off the squirrels in the front yard. Everyone around me can be dropping like flies, and yet I stand ready to care for them all since nothing ever seems to affect me.

On the other hand: I've had four kidney stone surgeries, a lap chole, myocarditis, hypercalcemia, an ACL strain, cellulitis X 3, palpitations, clinical depression, HTN, anxiety, and insomnia since I became a nurse.............and oh, I mustn't forget the addition of some 75 pounds or the resulting diabetes, sleep apnea, and GERD.

Other than that, why, I'm healthy as a horse.........and as long as I can put one foot in front of the other, I guess they won't shoot me, will they?:lol_hitti

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