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

Nurses General Nursing

Published

You are reading page 3 of My health is suffering..vent I guess...

Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
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.

Oh, please don't die for this lousy profession. Find a more suitable job quick. Think how much your loved ones will miss you. Show your spouse your post and the responses to it. You've got to try something different. Don't let this become a self-fullfilling prophecy. Best of luck to you.

AtomicWoman

1,747 Posts

Can you work 2-12s and then have a day or 2 off before working the 3rd 12? I absolutely cannot work more than 2-12s in a row. By the end of the 2nd 12, I am dead. Dead I tell you! It's from not getting enough sleep on the night between the 2 -12s, plus being on my feet for so many hours and having to maintain focus and concentration for such a long stretch of time. Not to mention not eating or drinking properly. :eek:

You might want to make a list of why you should stay in the job versus what might happen if you stay in the job. I was working night shift and it was literally killing me. I sat down and did that list and realized I was not willing to die for any employer. Went to days at a different employer and don't regret it for a minute.

RockinChick66

151 Posts

Specializes in LTC, medsurg.
: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!

You need to learn to set priorities in your life and exercise is one of them. You'll have to figure out what works for you. I had trouble finding time to exercise myself. A take a brisk walk when I go to the mall, I leave my bike sitting out in view so its much easier to remind me of needing exercise. I volunteer for my daughters sport team.

You have to realize that YOU are number 1. You must take care of yourself, and if you can just try harder everyday to fit in 30 min of exercise, you will feel better! You don't have to go to the gym, just take a brisk walk around your block, find what works for you and just do it! I promise it will make you feel better!

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN

3,734 Posts

I'm back on the wagon (aka Weight Watchers) because I'm sick of being tired and sore. I've got young kids with crazy schedules work and yada yada yada. I'm also fat.

After you go to the doc and get a check up and maybe labs...start watching what you eat. I eat for comfort/ emotions and to feel full.

Excercise...Yeah, I can kill people that tell me it gives you energy, but it really does. How does that make sense when you can barely walk, hobble around, have a back ache, headache and just no time?

Excercise can be anything..it doesn't mean a gym. Walk to the corner of your street and back. What makes this different than the miles we walk at work??? Tons...fresh air, music or no music....it is a time to relax and un wind. Small little bits of increased activity do over time help with weight loss. I'll admit....the first week you won't want to keep doing it, but if you get past that first week.........

chancie

15 Posts

Ugh, man we put up with a lot as nurses. But it's all about taking little steps to improve your physical and mental health. Personally I HATE working three 12 hour shifts in a row. I feel like a zombie by day 3, and then need to take the entire next day off to recover. I found that if I work 2 days, off for a couple, work a couple, etc etc I am able to be a bit more productive on my days off. That way, even if I ate terribly and didn't exercise on the days that I worked, I'd still be able to do pretty well on the four days I have off each week. And start slow with the exercising! You have to build up to these things, otherwise you could injure yourself. Also, maybe it's the job you're in? Maybe it's time to look elsewhere for a different environment? I wish you good luck, and try to stay positive. Don't forget to stop and smell the roses (I know, easier said then done...I'm a constant worrier and often forget to enjoy the little things in life, but I'm getting better!)

+ Add a Comment