Sandman hates me

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Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

I became a nurse 20 years ago. Since that day, I have been a chronic symptomatic insomniac. I guess the sandman hates me since I have become a nurse!!! My usual is 1 hour of sleep per 24 hour period. If I'm on vacation or a stretch off work, sometimes I get lucky and get 3 or PURE heaven I would get 4 hours of sleep. Cloud nine!

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Of course, you've followed up with a doc for sleep studies or whatever, right?

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Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

My husband wants me to. Its just that we have a $10,000 deductible insurance. I can certainly handle the appointment its just the tests that he might order. Then I REALLY wouldn't sleep.

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Oh wow. How on earth do you make it on so little sleep???

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
Of course, you've followed up with a doc for sleep studies or whatever, right?

Yeah. You're a nurse so no one has to explain to you how bad this is. You already know the dangers.

Paying for the sleep study costs less than getting in a wreck on the way home (car damage, lost work time, hospital stay if its bad). Seriously, I've known a couple nurses who it happened to. Its not fun. As a fellow allnurses member, thats all I'd say about it.

If we were friends...............I'd have a lot more to say, and I would not waste my time being "theraputic" about it. I just hope if you do wreck or something, you are the only one hurt. I'd hate to see a family lose a child or someone not be able to see their grandmother again because you were trying to avoid paying for a deductible.

:coollook: oops. See, there I go, I ended up saying it anyway.

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Yeah. You're a nurse so no one has to explain to you how bad this is. You already know the dangers.

Paying for the sleep study costs less than getting in a wreck on the way home (car damage, lost work time, hospital stay if its bad). Seriously, I've known a couple nurses who it happened to. Its not fun. As a fellow allnurses member, thats all I'd say about it.

If we were friends...............I'd have a lot more to say, and I would not waste my time being "theraputic" about it. I just hope if you do wreck or something, you are the only one hurt. I'd hate to see a family lose a child or someone not be able to see their grandmother again because you were trying to avoid paying for a deductible.

:coollook: oops. See, there I go, I ended up saying it anyway.

I should print this out and show it to my friend. She works nights as a CNA and then babysits her 6 wild grandchildren all day. Never gets any sleep. She says she nods off constantly on the way home from work. My husband sees her about every morning on her way home and says she is barely awake. But, her kids don't care how tired she is, its FREE CHILD CARE!

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Specializes in Quality Nurse Specialist, Health Coach.

Wow, how does your body function on so little sleep?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Because I lived quite far from my work, when I did late/early shifts, I used to only get about 3 hours sleep then I would be up for work again. I used to suffer really badly, but oddly, didn't make any mistakes or drug errors (none yet anyway). I used to have to get huge cups of coffee to drink to stay awake to drive home (there were few fast buses and no trains where I lived). I thought one day: I can't do this anymore. It was making me really ill - I used to get chest infections, oversleep and feel lousy, and I would get fierce headaches from lack of sleep. It also affeced my digestion - bad indigestion and constipation from all the different shifts. And I had no desire to do anything on days off - I was too tired and couldn't be bothered even exercising. Now I am overweight and have an unhealthy lifestyle.

So now I don't do late/earlies. I thought if I fall asleep at the wheel and kill myself/someone else and/or their family, is it really worth the money? Now I am looking for a day job, or I do afternoon shift but unfortunately, unless you do all the crap shifts you don't get many shifts you want, or ones where you have to travel too far.

I find nursing shifts disruptive and soul destroying. I don't mind afternoon shift but I feel I have missed out on so many celebrations/nights out due to work, and as I get older I am resenting that. And if I did make the effort to go out after an early shift, I would leave early as I couldn't stay awake to drive home. Life is just not all about work, right?

The poster who said her friend works all night and looks after the g/kids all day, driving would be so dangerous after doing that. Doesn't she worry she may have a bad MVA? She needs to learn to say no occasionally I think!

I am too old to only have 3 hours sleep now; I think you have to accept your limitations as you get older too. I just can't bounce back like I used to.

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Specializes in student; help!.

My Lord, I can barely function on 6 hours of sleep. I'd be fully psychotic on 1-3. Sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture for a reason, you know. Ask my kids.

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The poster who said her friend works all night and looks after the g/kids all day, driving would be so dangerous after doing that. Doesn't she worry she may have a bad MVA? She needs to learn to say no occasionally I think!

This is someone who would rather die than say no to her kids about ANYTHING. She complains constantly of "feeling bad". I guess so. Anyone would feel bad working all night and taking care of 6 screaming brats all day. And sorry, but yes, they are brats. And yes, they scream constantly. And whine. Anyway....

She regularly says she is going to try to go to days. Then, she sighs and says "But, there would be no one to look after the young uns". And I say, they are ______ and _______'s kids, let them worry about taking care of them for a change!!!

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Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.
Wow, how does your body function on so little sleep?

Well, I have lots of chest pain, and the jaw pain is killing me. I am grumpy. For me Lack of sleep = nervousness = fear = not sleeping.

I have kids and want to be here for them during the day, I mean really how am I supposed to take care of them and take them to the dentist, eye doctor, orthodontist, what about snow days, holidays, etc. It has to be nights otherwise I miss all of their activities and miss their life. I only get one small window in my lifespan to be their mom.

Anyway, I don't do caffeine at all because it could interefere with sleep. Once in a while I have a bite of chocolate but other than that, nothing.

I've tried Melatonin, sleepy time tea, Valerian root, I even spent $60 on this light thingy that you are supposed to coordinate your breathing with and it makes you sleep. Did not make me sleep!!!!

Also, I'm friends with a nurse and she has an exact identical twin sister. And they look so much alike, just like carbon copies except the twin that is a nurse looks about 20 years older than her twin that is not a nurse!

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Specializes in neurotrauma ICU.

are your kids school age? If so, that's easily 6+ hours of sleep, even if you take them and pick them up. Not to mention before and after school programs.

I work nights too, and still get decent sleep during the day. Believe me, my kids would not want to be around me at all if I didn't!

If you have to stay on nights maybe switching jobs would help. Three 12 hour shifts gives you four days off each week. Or, is it possible for you to go part time and work fewer nights each week?

Sounds like you need to do SOMETHING. Good luck to you.

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