Nurses who are ill!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 27, 2004

I wonder how many nurses find themselves seriuosly ill and in the care of nursing and medical staff?
I have recently found myself in this situation and am having trouble coping.
Any thoughts from others out there?

A couple of years ago I found myself admitted with a severe asthma attack and ?PE I was admitted onto the ward where I worked and to be honest I preferred it. I was looked after by people I knew and respected. The only down side was I felt that as a nurse I a) knew a bit more than Joe Average and thought of the worse and b) sometime was treated as "you should know what to do" the thing is everything is different when it is you that is ill and it might be an illness in an area that you don't know alot about, that is when fear takes over.

I hope you are over your illness or on the road for recovery, and I also believe that once we have been ill we have a more understanding or empathy with what the patient is feeling and hopefully look after then with more care that someone who hasn't been ill.

Jaymel · Jun 27, 2004

a couple of years ago i found myself admitted with a severe asthma attack and ?pe i was admitted onto the ward where i worked and to be honest i preferred it. i was looked after by people i knew and respected. the only down side was i felt that as a nurse i a) knew a bit more than joe average and thought of the worse and b) sometime was treated as "you should know what to do" the thing is everything is different when it is you that is ill and it might be an illness in an area that you don't know alot about, that is when fear takes over.
i hope you are over your illness or on the road for recovery, and i also believe that once we have been ill we have a more understanding or empathy with what the patient is feeling and hopefully look after then with more care that someone who hasn't been ill.

your comments are appreciated. i became ill with severe weakness, ataxia and dramatic change in my vision at easter, all are increasingly worsening.

there have been difficulties getting a diagnosis and of course having an enquiring 'nurse' mind has not afforded me much calm. i have to add the gp's, practice nurse and health visitor have been most supportive in what has been a really difficult situation (all their children are at school with my own so i 'know' them to a degree and its been difficult to be honest about my anxiety..) the only treatment they have been able to give to try and help (which it has marginally) are steroids. (thought it might be myasthenia etc)

after a 5 week wait for an urgent mri it has been found that i have 'something yet to be determined' at the top of my spinal cord/base of skull compressing the cord and infact causing subsequent degeneration of it. being a midwife (retired to raise children presently) tis' the other end i am used to dealing with and i am quietly frantic about the possibilty of quadraplegia to say the least..

i am known to be a very able bodied and dynamic person, ever cheerful and the supporter not the one seeking support - i have found it difficult to cope with the emotional turmoil all this has broguht down on me.

i know the care will be excellent but do find it difficult to vent my fears and anxieties given my 'nursing background.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 27, 2004

libby,

sorry to hear that you are going thru all of this right now.

i live on the other side of the world, so all i can offer is a big

((((((((((((((((((((hug))))))))))))))))))))))

:balloons: :balloons:

Jaymel · Jun 27, 2004

Thank you, I needed that!

(feeble(Hug)feeble)

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 27, 2004

I am sorry to hear that you are going through a difficult time, I wish all the best your way and a very big ((((((((((((hug)))))))))))

karenG · Jun 27, 2004

I too am sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time........... we dont make good patients! I hope it all resolves itself............ though being a typical nurse you seem to have gone for the worst case senario!!! I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Karen

Farkinott, RN · Jun 28, 2004

I've nothing to add other than I hope you get well soon.

PennyLane, RN · Jun 28, 2004

Ditto to the above. Here's to a speedy recovery.

suehp · Jun 29, 2004

(((((((hug)))))))))) from me too :)

DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 1, 2004

I wonder how many nurses find themselves seriuosly ill and in the care of nursing and medical staff?
I have recently found myself in this situation and am having trouble coping.
Any thoughts from others out there?

My partner is also a nurse and has been off sick for 8 months due to Sjögren's Syndrome and fibromyalgia.

I think the problems stem from being in the know. You know about dangers and side effects, and it suddenly becomes more pertinent when the body they're talking about is yours. We live in France, where the health system is excellent, however French doctors are rather traditional, used to telling patients what's best and having them accept it, rather than two way participation. They're quite shocked that he has a strong opinion on what should happen, and though he has a wonderful rheumatologist who's now used to this, it's been a problem with others.

There's also the assumption that you don't need support because you're a carer yourself. I once went to a doctor in the UK with a back problem, and was dismissed with an attitude of 'you're a nurse, you should know it all, and anyway what's the problem, weren't you lifting properly?' I eventually found more support and very effective treatment from an osteopath.

DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 1, 2004

I wonder how many nurses find themselves seriuosly ill and in the care of nursing and medical staff?
I have recently found myself in this situation and am having trouble coping.
Any thoughts from others out there?

My partner is also a nurse and has been off sick for 8 months due to Sjögren's Syndrome and fibromyalgia.

I think the problems stem from being in the know. You know about dangers and side effects, and it suddenly becomes more pertinent when the body they're talking about is yours. We live in France, where the health system is excellent, however French doctors are rather traditional, used to telling patients what's best and having them accept it, rather than two way participation. They're quite shocked that he has a strong opinion on what should happen, and though he has a wonderful rheumatologist who's now used to this, it's been a problem with others.

There's also the assumption that you don't need support because you're a carer yourself. I once went to a doctor in the UK with a back problem, and was dismissed with an attitude of 'you're a nurse, you should know it all, and anyway what's the problem, weren't you lifting properly?' I eventually found more support and very effective treatment from an osteopath.