HCA, post 12 hour shifts.. how do people manage?

[pinkjade]

Hello!

I’m looking to see if anyone else basically experiences the same “shift hangover” like I do.

I’ve been doing HCA work for roughly just under a year, however I’ve always done long 10-12 hr shifts in the past e.g. bar work, call centre etc.

When I talk to colleagues about what they’re doing on their days off and they’ve got xyz planned I think how?! Most even have kids to get up for, I don’t and dont think I’d cope.. I have 0 energy today, sometimes it’s not too bad but I feel like I need a full days rest and I can’t be productive or even have a desire to do anything. I’m sore like I’ve been to the gym and could sleep for 12 hours plus a nap 😴

I do have ADHD, not sure if it’s related but I doubt it. I feel like I’m hit by a bus most days.
I’m trying to be active on my days off and eat all the right things to help with my energy but how does everyone manage? Is it normal to feel so tired?

Retired doctor here, OP. As a junior doc, I had to work 80 hour continuous shifts - Fri morning through to Monday evening. Followed, after Mon night off, by a 32 hour shift - Tuesday morning to Wednesday evening. Then another 32 hours- Thurs morning to Friday evening, before finally getting the weekend off.
Yes, it was knackering. I fell asleep in the cinema the minute the lights went down, I fell asleep in my dinner a few times, and once at the wheel of my car. I had permanent bags under my eyes, and struggled to manage a social life.
I would have been thrilled with a 12 hour shift!
Perhaps get checked for anaemia, hypothyroidism etc, as possible causes for your tiredness, plus get a good 8 hours sleep when not on shift, and eat a nutritious diet to boost your energy level.

@Babdoc i do feel for the junior docs, makes me feel crap for complaining haha! That sounds like hell!
I’ll ring GP on Monday i think.. I’ve been trying to eat healthier and all that good stuff but still feel so exhausted. Thank you!

As a newly qualified vet one week in 4 I used to do 104 shift on call, in calving/lambing season very little sleep.
Now I do 11 hour days Mon, Tuesday and Friday, Wednesday is a 9 hours I have Thursdays off - no longer soon cal.
Whatever pattern you are in you get in a groove and get to be able to use your time off usefully.

In an HCA in A&E. I also have a SEN child who doesn't sleep through the night. According to my Fitbit I average 4.5hrs a night, and that's by sleeping later on non-work days. I often go to work on two hours of sleep. I don't remember a time when I wasn't tired and I'm pretty sure it's impacting my health. I have far too much caffeine but I feel I have little choice in the matter. You do get used to the long shifts to some extent though.

I work 12 hour shifts (actually 13.5 hours with “breaks”) and I have chronic illnesses. You get used to it after a while, but I do try to make sure I have a complete rest day once a week, wearing soft clothes and taking it easy. I don’t have kids though.

You know it's not a competition, don't you? The OP is entitled to be tired by 12 hour shifts.

@JennieTheZebra I done that yesterday, hoping I feel better today

@NeonBoomerang @Lonecatwithkitten thanks, I would say I have always been used to long shifts, working in a bar I definitely done 40+ hours thursday to Sunday on minimal sleep and i would say it was more physically demanding than this and I could cope on the days off. I don’t seem to be coping as well this time.

@SausageinaBun Thank you x

sorry if i sound like “oh this 12 hour shift is awful” i can do them no problem, have done longer in the past etc. Think i’ve just felt exhausted/sore and completely unable to function properly on my days off and was looking if others felt this way? Think im going to get a blood test just to be sure because it doesn’t feel “normal” to feel how tired I do considering I’m getting sleep, rest etc. Thanks everyone.

I know this sounds weird but once you've had kids you just live life with much less sleep or rest and your body adjusts. So not point comparing with parents of young toddlers if you're not at that stage. I don't really know any parent who consistently gets more than 5-6 hours a night - even if the children sleep ok there always chores to do and then you need some alone/relationship time so end up going to sleep late and they wake v early

I'd find 12 hour shifts very tiring as well OP. I'd be no use to man nor beast after the very long shifts being described above.

I think one thing I would try is planning something gentle but which gets you out the house into the outside world in day light for the first morning off. So maybe a walk in the countryside or by the sea, or even just a walk to the local library or similar.

So you've allowed yourself a good amount of time for a lie in (8:30? 9?), you have a decent breakfast and then get out the house by 10am to get some morning light and fresh air. I often find the more I do with my days off, the more I feel I can do with my days off and it becomes a virtuous cycle (or a vicious cycle in the opposite direction).

You do get used to it, I always make sure I have a good afternoon nap on my first day off (all my days off). I try to be productive in the morning then nap seems to work for me.

Having some bloods taken sounds sensible. I was ok on 12 hour shifts but moving back to 10 day stretches of 8 hour shifts absolutely wiped me out on my days off. Turned out I had hypothyroidism. Still hate 10 day stretches though...

I know I hate replies like that ew.

Agree with others OP might be worth having bloods done in case but also shift work doesn't suit everyone.

How do you sleep Op ? You say you have adhd . My D’s with adhd has to take melatonin to sleep.

It might be it just doesn’t suit you. I’m like that after a 12 hour shift the day after and it is like a hangover.

I try having a lie in and getting outside as much and as early as possible which seems to help for the rest of the day (even if asleep on the sofa by 8pm).

I’m looking at moving to a position with more normal hours.

I do 13 hour shifts as a nurse and I don't have the same tiredness that you describe. I'm usually pretty busy and out and about on my days off. I might be tired but I'm still fully functional. Unless I'm after a run of nightshifts, that's a different story...

Disagree with previous poster who said kids make no difference because you just adust.... definitely way easier when child free and days off are your own. I'd often do extra overtime shifts back then, definitely wouldn't have the energy for that now.

I used to work 12 hour shifts. I was a fit and healthy woman in my 40's (admittedly with a busy family life) and they used to wipe me out the following day (a work hangover describes it pefectly) - and three long days in a row would almost break me. I found nights less physically draining, weirdly. I don't think it's you, it's a physically demanding job.

I used to work in a nursing home, and the 12 hour days were horrendous. I'd drive home and feel like I was in a fog the next day. It's so physically exhausting and I think it was using the hoists/bathing people that really knocked the stuffing out of you.

Your body needs to rest in between and especially your brain if you have ADHD. Doesn't make you less human, just overstimulated. I never planned anything other than managing the kids and house the following day.

Thanks for the replies everyone, appreciate them!

I’m definitely not ‘comparing’ to someone having children.. I meant in a way I admire those who do and when they tell me all the plans they have! and I feel right now I certainly couldn't cope to get up and just crack on.
i tried yesterday, cleaned around a little went out with the dog and was knackered after it. Back in working today, felt light headed coming in and just feel ‘off’. so will phone GP tomorrow!

@Lipfloss I love the extra day off but I beat myself up when im this exhausted

@Starlightstarbright1 it changes, when im working these shifts I can sleep 10:30-8am! If i’ve a few days off, it can be shorter or more disturbed so it’s never the same, made even worse when im coming off night shifts.

@shivawn I’m definitely not completely functional, i think thats what I wanted to know if others felt like i do. Agree with the night shifts also!

@Badger1970 it’s quite a heavy/demanding ward so I get what you mean!

thanks for your advice guys, I know i’ll get used to them and hopefully get my bloods checked soon just to be sure :)

Being a HCA can be a physically exhausting job in a way that nursing and medicine just isn't - you are hands on, washing people and physically moving them all day. I'm a second year student nurse and I've done a fair amount of caring before uni. I know when I do a day with the HCAs my back and shoulders will be screaming at me the next day!