I am a new-grad who has been working night shift for about 10 weeks now. I have been having all sorts of somatic issues. I'm planning on seeing a doc and getting a blood test, but I'm wondering if other night shift nurses/tech had have similiar problems.
-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).
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Could you try a 3-11 shift? That worked for me for a long time.........I wasn't a morning person, but night shift made me crazy after a few years. I got depressed, gained weight, even developed memory problems! The swing shift was perfect---it was in sync with my normal circadian rhythm. I'd get up about ten or eleven in the morning, run errands, work my shift, come home and watch TV or play on the computer till about 2 AM and then go to sleep.
I'm strictly a day person now, though. My high-energy time is between about 6 AM and 2 PM, and I can't stay awake much past 10 PM these days.
I would definitely follow up with your physician, though, to make sure it's not something more serious than some anxiety making you sick and tachycardic. Good luck to you!
I've worked nights for 7 months and I've had those symptoms as well. They are gone now. After you scrub yourself to death in the shower after work, eat a light breakfast (cheerios, toast with an egg) or on your way home. You may still wake up a bit hungry but not starved. Before you return to work & if time allows, eat something before you get to work because you will need the energy & you may not get the time to eat again until after midnight. You can either eat a meal or snack throughout the rest of the night. You may be waking up with hunger headaches.
When I don't have to work the next day, I go to bed by 10am and get up by 2pm so I could enjoy part of my day and go to sleep at night. If I sleep later than that, I'm up all night (good time to clean and pay bills uninterrupted though). Also, I did start taking vitamins and walking 2 miles 2-3 days/week. I try to plan/attend family and adult activities on many of my days off to keep from being restless. It helps when you have something to look forward to but sleep.
Keep in mind that whatever you try will probably take a little time before you will see a change. Good luck and I hope it gets better.
I have worked nights for over five years. I have seen many nurses have to switch shifts because their bodies just don't adjust. See your doctor and then seriously consider swithching shifts for your health.
I went to urgent care standalone center to get some tests. Shameful to admit that i don't have a gp and i couldnt get in to see earlier than 2 weeks. The basic labs were normal which is what I predicted and the EKG was good, albiet slightly tachy. I dreaded going to a provider with such non-specific symptoms. They referred me to a GI doc. Suggested I test for H pylori, thyroid levels etc. I cried in the waiting room >_<. being a psych nurse i knew they were looking at me thinking>
thanks for all giving me a place to whine. thanks for all the helpful suggestions =).
I hated night shift, I didn't feel nauseated or tachycardic but I was unable to sleep at all in the daytime. I always called in sick because I'm not driving and looking after patients after no sleep whatsoever and several times I fell asleep at the desk because I couldn't keep my eyes open.
OMG!! I am so happy to see Im not the only one feeling these things. Tryng to get on 3-11, but have to wait until my position is filled on nights. Seriously looking for a new job.
I just switched from night shift back to day shift. I had all of the problems you described, with the most distressing being the tachycardia (my regular rate is 68-72, was 110-120). The only difference is that I gained weight on night shift. I was always nauseated and tired, and eating cures those two things for me.
My only suggestion is to go back to day shift. It stinks b/c I actually loved my nights, but I couldn't live that way. Two weeks back on days and I am totally back to normal. I bet that you would be as well. Nights just don't work for some people.
VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN
22 Articles; 9,996 Posts
Could you try a 3-11 shift? That worked for me for a long time.........I wasn't a morning person, but night shift made me crazy after a few years. I got depressed, gained weight, even developed memory problems! The swing shift was perfect---it was in sync with my normal circadian rhythm. I'd get up about ten or eleven in the morning, run errands, work my shift, come home and watch TV or play on the computer till about 2 AM and then go to sleep.
I'm strictly a day person now, though. My high-energy time is between about 6 AM and 2 PM, and I can't stay awake much past 10 PM these days.
I would definitely follow up with your physician, though, to make sure it's not something more serious than some anxiety making you sick and tachycardic. Good luck to you!