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

2 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!
Nursing pays well sometimes but I can tell you it's not all about the money.Stress, long hours, hard work, poor diet and sleep patterns. It will get you if you let it.Try Starbucks. Everyone is usually happy and most of the time they will give a "thank you" when they leave. That or WalMart greeter... That's where I'm headed.

Sorry to hear this. I too have commuted long hours for work and you never seem to get off on time on a late shift. Then I'd eat when I got home, put on weight, etc.One solution is to do agency work instead - then maybe you can work your own hours and days, and where you want. Have u thought of that? Are there any agencies near you? Re-vamp your CV and start sending it out to them all. Maybe you can do 4 8 hour shifts as well.You have to decide what is better for your health - it is up to you to take control and really decide how this is going to affect your life and overall happiness. R u doing these shifts for yourself or to make someone else happy? Of course you need money as well, I'm not saying just go and quite your job.Would ur future hubby consider moving closer to ur work, even for a year or so just so you can get a handle on things? Also, if ur like this now, these problems will affect ur marriage as well - u don't want to feel like this when married and be overwhelmed.U have to make time for exercise - I know this sounds harsh. U will be sore from exercise as well, but u will feel better. What about starting with an in home DVD of yoga and/or pilates? U get a good work out from pilates - it's not as easy as it looks! U can do weights at home too. Exercise when u have the next day off, & then u can recuperate and relax. Even walking the dog, or if u don't have a dog, walking to the supermarket or to get the paper is still exercise. Just start off with little things.Even a half hour at the gym on a treadmill is better than nothing.I hope you feel better soon.

I got out of nursing = way more energy = 20 lbs of weight loss over the past 3 months.It was a slow process though, I have been out of nursing for a little under a year now, but I contribute having a lot less stress in my life to being able to put the sugary treats down and exercise. I feel 100 % better! More energy all the time now! You can do it, but you need to get rid of the stressful job first and go from there. It was a loooong process to train my body to stop eating when it is fulll (an not over stuffed full), get up and move, stop craving crap, and so on. I started taking a vitamin every day (women's one a day) and that helped to significantly decreasse cravings for the bad stuff and hunger. You cannot totally take away the fatening stuff, you just have to learn it is about moderation, that is the key! Burn more than you put in and you willl loose wieght, but be patient. Good luckHappy

Your post reminds me why I left hospital nursing but I have to be honest, I am now getting depressed as I miss nursing (not hospitals!) so much. I'm trying to find work in GP surgery but having not much luck. Failing that I may look at radiology.I too used to pop into the fast food outlets on the way home from finishing late and would consume a days worth of calories and go to bed...wake up felt like crap, went to work..back to eating crap and on it went.Shift work is not good for the body or the soul for many people. I think it would help if nursing shifts were tailored to more normal times instead of constant rotational rosters in hospitals as then you can get into a routine..i dream though cause it wont ever happen.I am healthier for having left bedside nursing, but mentally i am feeling glum so I am not feeling like I have achieved anything really when my aim was to live a normal stress free life.Alas, i do not know what the answer is but can only wish you the best of luck in finding one that works for you.

I hear you, I have >1h commute/12(right)h shifts too, & I've been in nsg for 22 years.You didn't say how old you are, but I'm guessing-? you're significantly south of 40. I really think you need a checkup, including thyroid levels, cholesterol, the whole shebang. I think the amount of swelling/achyness is unusual, esp. if you've not been on the floor for a year. You didn't say if you worked night shift? That can make you feel terrible. The other practical thing I can think of, is check your shoes. There are alot of great ones out there, but getting fitted(like at a Sports store) & trying different styles can really make a big difference. Make choices to take care of you. Nursing will tear you down, you have to do everything you can to build yourself up. Good luck

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.

Quote from jrwestnever 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.

Your health is not going to get any better until you take charge of improving it. That is the point where I am right now. A few days ago one of my knees snapped as I walked downstairs, the very next day my opposite ankle gave way. One of my elbows has been hurting so much in the last two months that extra strength tylenol doesn't help. I've decided it is time to see a doctor and stop putting everything off until I lose X number of pounds. You have to decide that enough is enough. If you can't adapt your health to this job, then get a different job. You have to decide.

Quote from MJB2010I 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!

Quote from carolmaccas66 You should be demanding proper breaks, or do u get the sack if u do that?

Quote from jrwestnever 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.

In nursing school an instructor shared with us what has to be one of the great injustices of life. When you're under stress, your weight will do the opposite of what you wish. I've witnessed it in action many times. The thin get thinner, the heavy get heavier. It's just not right, and somebody should do something about it, I tell you! Maybe if congress passed a law or something....