Night shift: does it make you sick?

robinbird · Apr 11, 2008

I'm sorry you're feeling bad. You have some very concerning symptoms. I think you need to see a doctor. ASAP!

Robin

bagladyrn, RN · Apr 11, 2008

You definitely need to see your doctor to determine what is going on with these symptoms. Some can happen from changing shifts, but more serious things need to be ruled out first of course.

Night shift can take several months to really start to adjust to and it takes longer if you try to totally turn back to daytime on your days off. You really have to adjust your lifestyle to nights.

If you get everything checked out by your doctor, then post back here, and do a search for advice as well, for ways to adapt to nightshift and stay healthy.

Nacki, MSN, NP · Apr 11, 2008

Quote
-nausea! I go to bed around 8:30-9am.. wake up at 4-5pm.. wake up hungry.. take my first bite of food.. and .........urrrrrrrrrrr *rocks self* I can't eat without significant nausea until about 8pm.. I have only vomitted a few times. my best eating times are 11pm-5am.. but not being able to eat during the day is a problem on my days off. I've been stuffing myself with food at night as I had previously lost 10 lbs I could not afford to lose in a month >_<. I'm not pregnant="P)</p">
-headaches! I never used to get headaches.. I have them everyday now >_<. I bring ibuprofen to work and take it nearly everyday.>
-dehydration/dark urine.. this one I cant figure out.. I am drinking 64 oz of water a day.. I drink so much.. that I am known for being obsessed with drinking water!! my urine is consistently dark and pungent.. and my mucus membranes are very dry..I'm even getting nosebleeds. no edema. It makes me paranoid that my kidney/liver is failing.
-tachycardia.. my heartrate is always 100+bpm.. I've been getting some heart palpitations and sometimes just feel sick..like my heart wants to explode. no chest pain.. but just doesnt feel right.
background info: I have had anxiety issues before.. this feels different.. but maybe I am manifesting it somatically rather than emotionally? I take anticonvulsants (but nothing new).
thanks so much!!:redbeathe

I worked night shift for 3 mths and had horrible dizzyness and headaches when getting up for my shift. I too lost some weight and couldn't function on nights. I finally gave up and worked the 3-11 shift. It was bad for a social life but a whole lot better on my body!

Rabid Response · Apr 11, 2008

My first few months on nights I had symptoms very similar to the ones you describe. I have always been very healthy. I went to my doctor several times with these rather generalized complaints, but she could find nothing wrong aside from a vitamin D deficiency. I felt so wretched! Now that I've been working nights for about six months, the severity of my symptoms has decreased. I still, however, have this awful feeling of malaise all the time and what feels like a constant mild case of jet lag. To add insult to injury, I honestly feel like my IQ has dropped about 20 points!

I think some people are just more strongly affected by working nights. I'm actively looking for a new job on day shift now because I can't imagine spending the rest of my life feeling this run down. You should see your doctor in case there is something else wrong with you, but you (like me) might just be ill-suited to working nights.

Good luck to you. Hang in there--it's bound to improve a little bit with time.

nightmare, RN · Apr 11, 2008

It's all to do with your circadian rhythms!!I've worked nights for 17 years and I like it but then I am a night person. Some people just can't work nights ,they get ill,depressed etc.I also feel like my IQ drops especially between 6-8 in the morning and I always feel jet lagged the day after my shifts are finished,but I like my job and just work round these things.

Montessori Mommy · Apr 11, 2008

I worked night shift for 6 months, and I was miserable. Although the children were at school when I got home in the AM, I couldn't sleep during the day. My depression, that had been well controlled with meds for 6 years, became awful again. I cried constantly, was angry all the time, and felt that I couldn't give 100% to my patients.

Finally, I resigned from a job I loved because nights was killing me!! Now I'm working per diem at another hospital and at the one I had to leave. Per diem days is working out great for me. I feel wonderful!!

Take care of yourself!

nyapa, RN · Apr 11, 2008

That tachycardia issue is really concerning. Do see a doctor.

chenoaspirit, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2008

Yesssssssssss, it makes me VERY sick. I have had bouts of nausea, dizziness, MAJOR colon problems, heart rate averaging 145, headaches. I have worked night shift for years and I am going on dayshift in 2 weeks. I just cant take it anymore. I had an awesome job offer of a Baylor nightshift position and I turned it down so I could go on dayshift. Some people can do it fine, but I just cant. On my off days, I was sleeping all the time. If I did manage to stay awake during the day, it threw me off because then I had to re-adjust to nightshift when I went back to work. I only work 3 nights/week, but with sleeping all the time, I only actually had 1 day of free time that I wasnt sleeping. It just isnt healthy for me. But hospitals need staff on days and nights so for those who can do it...I commend them. Good luck!

Runman1914, MSN, RN · Apr 12, 2008

chenoaspirit said:
Yesssssssssss, it makes me VERY sick. I have had bouts of nausea, dizziness, MAJOR colon problems, heart rate averaging 145, headaches. I have worked night shift for years and I am going on dayshift in 2 weeks. I just cant take it anymore. I had an awesome job offer of a Baylor nightshift position and I turned it down so I could go on dayshift. Some people can do it fine, but I just cant. On my off days, I was sleeping all the time. If I did manage to stay awake during the day, it threw me off because then I had to re-adjust to nightshift when I went back to work. I only work 3 nights/week, but with sleeping all the time, I only actually had 1 day of free time that I wasnt sleeping. It just isn't healthy for me. But hospitals need staff on days and nights so for those who can do it...I commend them. Good luck!

I did nights for 3 years and had these very same symptoms. I have been on days for 5 years now and feel a world better!

kcochrane · Apr 12, 2008

I think several things effect whether nights will make you ill or not. Your body is one, can it adjust? Whether or not you want to be on nights is another. Whether or not you use nights in order to avoid using day care or use it to get more done during the day is still another.

I find that night work well for me...but I make sure I get 7-8 hours a sleep when get home. I also make sure I stay up to 3 or 4 on my days off. I sleep like a log now and never have in my 45 years when I slept on days. I've been on nights for almost a year now and love them. At first I could barely make it home to sleep. But now I can do home and do a few things to wind down before I sleep. I good thing it that I actually have been less depressed while working nights. I was having problems with it on days.

I would followup with the dr. to rule out any problems. If everything is fine, you will need to re-evaluate if nights is good for you. One problem I see is that it seems that you are trying to be a "day" person on your days off, so your body is not on a regular schedule and able to get used to nights.

Keep us posted on how it goes. Take care.

inthesky · Apr 12, 2008

thanks so much to all who responded!! it makes me feel less 'crazy'.. like im not making this crap up or im not horribly ill (although i will still be seeing a doc..just in case).

tachy of 145!! chenoaspirit, im glad you didnt have a heart attack!!! i stay around 100-110 and that makes me feel sick enough.

a big issue is that even though night shift is busy and overwhelming..day shift is worse!!! My anxiety has been staying in check for the most part..but the craziness of day shift and all the people running about..could exacerbate it.. but this isnt the only facility in town. You are all right that I can't make a career of feeling like this *as i am currently hunched over in nausea*.

It is weird..i have always been a night person. When i havent worked, i tend to stay up until about 3am and wake up around 11am. It's actually easier for me to get out of bed at 5pm compared to the hallowing struggle that is me getting out of bed at 5am and the multiple alarms i need.

and i do feel that 'jet lag' exhaustion..and sleep all day.. but for me its hard to know whether it is a)nursing is tiring b)my meds c)some depression.. d)all of the above =P