Shift Work

[mcswollen]

I have been working night shift since 2001. I am no stranger to mind numbing, lack of sleep induced headaches, the gut renching stomachaches, or the perpetual Fridays with no sleep. Recently, I have been experiencing a sensation of not feeling satisfied after a full breath. It is simular to asthma without the wheezing or coughing. I have been to numerous doctors, they all say the same thing...nothing. They all seem to think it is all in my mind. I have even gone to speak with a shrink...'they' claim there is nothing mentally wrong with me. It has become a complete waste of my precious "daylight." I have tried allergy medications, relaxation methods, metatonin, dark room with a fan for steady noise...you name it I have tried it. I do usually sleep well, the problem is after I wake up. I also jog between 3-5 miles a day after I wake up in the afternoon, so it not like I am leading a sitting on the couch gaining weight lifestyle. I do not where else to turn. It is starting to negatively effect my lifestyle.

I am surprised at how little information is posted on the web (usually a side paragraph) discussing the trials and tribulations of night shift work. I can only find info for nurses, I am not a nurse. If any one has any insights, please send me in the right direction, I will explore it until I figure out what is wrong with me, then share my knowledge with anyone else going through the same thing.

[jake_rn]

That is certainly an unique problem. The only thing I can think of is that you mentioned taking allergy meds to sleep. I'm assuming you are talking about Diphenhydramine which is known to trigger bronchospasm in some people. As far as the melatonin, because it is not FDA regulated it is difficult to know 100% what it really does to the body. Also, the quality and purity can vary greatly from brand to brand and this includes bioavailability. And again, due to lack of FDA oversight, there is no telling what else is in there. Should you choose to continue with the melatonin, I would suggest sticking with the same brand. I'm not sure if you have done this already, but pick one that you like and stick with it.
You also mentioned jogging in the afternoon. Depending on what part of the country you live in, the air quality may fluctuate throughout the day with the daily weather patterrns specific to that area.
Just food for thought.

[djobin]

Finally I'm not the only one,

Here all along I thought it was in my head, I guess I was wrong. I also have been working night shift for the last 3 years and once in a while I find myself gasping for air out of nowhere. I don't have asma nor do I have any heart disease issues. Sometimes it really makes me wonder how healthy these night shifts really are. In my case, I work for a computer support company and luckely enough was granted the ability to work from home. I know I'm quite lucky to have this perk but sometimes I feel like on the long run I'll be paying the price if I don't get off this shift soon. Sorry if I don't have a cure for you but I just wanted to let you know that your not alone.

dj