Quote:
Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse
I'm a wife and mother of four grown children, a grandmother to four boys, and I'm owned by three cats and a Pug mix dog, LOL.
At present, I am the Director of Health Services for a large Assisted Living community---hands down, the best job I've ever had, and I'll move heaven and earth and do whatever I have to in order to keep it.  But I've worked all sorts of nursing positions, because I can't seem to stick with any job longer than 2 1/2 years.....this is the very first place I've been able to see myself staying until I retire. That's probably a bit optimistic. Still, I love it where I am and have the best possible set-up, including a boss who ROCKS!
I've worked Medical/Surgical (which is hell on earth), nursing homes, critical care, OB, and management over a 15-year career. Sometimes I wonder if I became a nurse because I'm bipolar, or if I'm bipolar because I'm a nurse! It's an extremely stressful job, no matter what kind of nursing you do......sometimes all you do is catch crap all freaking day (literally AND figuratively speaking), and at other times you touch a life, and it changes you forever. 
About the cravings: I think sugar/carbohydrate cravings and weight gain are very common with most psych meds, but to be sure, in your place I'd have my blood sugar tested to make sure you're not developing diabetes. It happens to a lot of folks when they gain large amounts of weight, and it sneaks up on you---last year I was tired beyond belief, couldn't stay awake, felt awful, was hungry/thirsty all the time, etc. Well, being a nurse has never given me much insight into my OWN health issues, so I was astounded to find out that my fasting blood sugar was 241. (Normal is between 70-99.) I got it under control with oral meds, but now it's getting worse and I could easily wind up on insulin in another couple of years if I don't watch it. |
Wow girl! You are busy busy, but it sounds like you are good at what you do and enjoy what you do....and those children and grandchildren are a blessing as well....your pets sound amazing, and its funny, because my pets own me as well lol....
Im going to take your advice as well and going to test my own blood this weekend (perks galore when you work in the hospital lol) Im not overweight at the moment (but if this sugar nonsense doesnt stop I could see me heading for the chubby farm lol). I had my blood tested months ago, but that was before all of these med changes, and I have heard that some of them can cause the diabetic thing...Im definitley thirsty alot, craving sugar alot, and tired, and generally just dont feel right .my thyroid is fine, but my doc gave me that stupid Cytomel (levothyrozxine is the generic) that isnt doing crap....but alas, I will get to the bottom of it, or just harrass the hell outta my PDoc until he does something about it. Its always something isnt it lol......
Hopefully I can get my work under control as well, because I know that probably is playing into the sleep factor, or maybe stress....heck who knows-all I know is that you cannot jack with a Bi-Polar's sleep too much or they get psycho lol. I am a radiology technologist as my everyday job (I work mostly a few evenings a week and every other weekend) and I work for the coroner's office as a pathology assistant so I take call for them alot as well. I love both jobs, but I keep odd hours and I feel like I just dont have alot left to give.....my son deserves more than that and Im trying to make up for two parents and its just one now....hmmmm what to do....
Any good weekend plans? Im off tomorrow (THANK GOD!!) so I will probably take my little one on a date....working all weekend, but may catch a movie or something
....they are calling for severe weather up my way so we will probably have to stay indoors. Enjoy your evening and your weekend and hug all those kids and pets!!
