student with fibro + bad shift hours = flare up

[CeilingCat, ASN, RN]

I've had fibro for over a decade. I don't tell people about it. I learned how to manage it, and I try not to let it slow me down. I am an A-student, bright, capable, optimistic, and active! :)

Currently I am in Nursing School. I'm dealing with the general stress ok, and I've accepted it's ok if I don't get straight As in nursing classes. I have Rx pain meds that work, but I am choosing not to use them days I'm on the floor because the ones that work are narcotics. OTC pain meds do nothing. Pepto helps manage the IBS. Muscle relaxer on my days off help with soreness. Normally I ensure I am well rested, which helps protect against some of the symptoms. I used to visit the gym which helped, but my new school schedule makes it almost impossible.

I had good management strategies until this semester of Clinicals: I was put on a shift where I need to arrive by 6am, which means waking up at 3:30am to do all my chores and leave by 5am. Today was the first day, and despite going to bed early, I fell terribly ill all day. The fibro-fog got the better of me, and I lost my ability to think fast. I felt too sick at 5am to eat, and there was no time to eat anything during the shift, so I went without any food for 9 hours. This instructor is also "preparing us" for jobs where we'd have too many patients by giving us more work than we can really do in our shift, then seeing how far she can push us. I made it through today with only criticism so far (no grade penalty points), but tomorrow she is expecting more from us. The fibro is really slowing me down.

But by the time I drove back from Clinicals, I had no food, was exhausted, and so stressed out. Almost got into an accident on the way when a truck didn't see me and cut me off -- I was so zoned out & I reacted slowly. At home I made myself eat. I laid down the entire rest of the day, feeling so sore I didnt want to move. I dozed off and slept 5 hours, but now my day is almost gone. Rest of the evening was spent doing homework for tomorrow. I am so fatigued. And I have to do all this over again tonight, setting my alarm again for 3:30am.

I can work a long shift (just not early AM). I can handle reasonable levels of stress. But I just can't get up before 4am, be so short on sleep, and not be allowed to eat or drink for almost 9 hours.... then be scolded constantly by an instructor but pulled the other direction by my nurse who has his own agenda. I expect I'll be useless for days afterwards, as my body recovers.

Does anyone here have fibro? Do you understand where I'm coming from?

Anyone her NOT a morning person? Do you ever adjust? Or is it better to accept it and hope to avoid early AM shifts?

Any tips on how to cope with fibro in the nursing workplace?

Any tips on not letting this get me down? I hate that I am this way.

I am not "weak". I am just being pushed beyond my physical limits at the moment, and I am not sure how best to handle it. I know once I graduate I can look for jobs in certain environments & shifts. But what do you do with Fibro if you do end up stuck in an environment not optimal for managing it?

[CeilingCat, ASN, RN]

Nobody has any suggestions or words of support? :sofahider

[iwanna]

Why do you need to get up at 3:30? Are there chores that could be let go, so you can get more sleep?

I don't have fibro, but I do have sarcoidosis. I was diagnosed while completing my LPN. I started out to be an RN, but failed a course due to not being able to keep up with the intensity. I only had one more class to go on my junior level, then 4 more senior courses. I ended up going for LPN because it would take me a whole year to repeat course that I failed. The point for all of these details is to let you know that it can affect your health. I know what you mean by needing the right amount of sleep. I feel fine these days if I get enough of sleep. Currently, I am not working. I have been on disability for 6 years, now. I have been trying to get a job for quite awhile, now. I am restricted and it is hard to find the right job. If I had to do it over again and know that I would have this illness, I would have chosen the clerical side of medical field, or be a counselor. But, I am 53 now, and do not have the money for any more education. I just worked a flu shot clinic this past season.

I have a hard time with early morning, too. My preferred shift is afternoon. My options are quite limited, but I am not giving up hope.

What type of nursing do you want to do? I am going to check out private duty nursing. I will only have one patient at a time. Why do you not have a break during an 8 hr. shift? That does not sound right to me. Are you in RN program? How much further do you have to go? in my LPN program they offered an afternoon clinical rotation. The hours were 11a - 7p. Maybe you can find another program that would be a better fit for your medical condition.Do you have an advisor at school that you can discuss this with?

[TDCHIM]

CelingCat, I'm not in a nursing program, but I have a similar sort of physical disability. At my school, the Office of Accessibility has fairly strong say on helping ALL types of students (yes, med and nursing students too!) with accommodations. I strongly recommend that you seek out whatever office is charged with helping students with disabilities. Fibro is a recognized disability, and you can be given accommodations that will help you manage your situation (like breaks for food, rest periods, etc.) You are not weak if you seek out help; you're weak if you give up without trying to find it. I wasted several years of my life thinking I would never be physically capable of doing anything I really liked. I was wrong. I really hope you try to find help with this. Good luck!

[Jules A, MSN]

unfortunately you will have to figure out a way to deal with early hours and stressful clinicals while you are in school. as you wrote when you graduate you will be able to find a job that is better suited to your needs. i wouldn't spend too much time perseverating over it because it won't change and will just frustrate you. best wishes.