Yeh if I can get into see my original pdoc in the week I'm home I will. This new pdoc is older & very old school, whereas the other was younger & just got me the moment I walked in.

I feel that bipolar, regardless of type, makes rotating shift work VERY difficult & I don't want to put mine or my patients safety at risk. I had once actually taken medication from the hospital to OD with whilst semi delirious in the midst of a dysphoric hypomania & doing a night duty rotation. I have NO idea how the staff I worked with didn't realise something was horribly wrong, I worked with only 1 other nurse at a time.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me, it makes me feel somewhat less pathetic (I don't mean that you are pathetic at all, after I read this back I was like oops! I just meant that's how I felt but in reality my needs are not so pathetic at all). We really do need to do what's right for us & that's take care of our health.

My managers & a few co-workers are actually aware of my dx so I'm hoping that works in my favour. So far like I said with the expect ion of rostering, they have been very understanding & tolerant of my erratic behaviour, but they don't want to give me special considerations because everyone else will want the same. I'm asking for a lot really, doing mainly early shifts, minimal Lates & no nights. But when I'm doing days I get a real routine going & excel, I do not want to leave my very rewarding career due to this illness. An illness I was unaware I had when I began my training or my original employment 4 years ago.

Im seeing my therapist tomorrow so I will discuss this with him too. Thanks for your input!