Shift work

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CleptaK

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Hi there, I was wondering if any of you work shifts?

A job has come up at my work and I'd love to take on the role as it's right up my alley but it inolves shift work. It'd be on a rotating roster with a mix of morning, afternoon and evening shifts. You have an eleven hour break in between each shift and it's a 'five-on-two-off' scenario - just likes standard working hours.

With the help of seroquel, I'm a pretty good sleeper. I think I'd be able to adjust to different shift times ok, but then I'm not sure...

What are your thoughts?

Thanks again, CleptaK
 
For me

it would be a no go, but I'm not a great sleeper....I have to have quite a bit of help to sleep. LOL. If you think you can do it, then I see no harm in trying. You may want to discuss it with your doc though, and get their :twocents: on the matter. As long as you can get sufficient relaxation time in between, and you ARE able to actually SLEEP, then.........I'd think it would be OK.

Good luck in making your decision. Freedom to us is such an important thing....
 
Thanks Meetz - I'll see if I can phone in the question as the waiting list to see him is 12 months... I'll talk to the contact officer to get more a feel for what the shift pattern is like.

I agree with you on the freeedom, too.

Hoo-roo.
 
Shiftwork can be tough on the system long-term, so pay close attention to how you're feeling if you do take the job. The one time I worked the night shift (without the rotation) it was hard on my social life, so I didn't stay with it.
 
I"ve also worked nights & it didn't effect my seizures too badly (possibly because I am naturally nocturnal) but I know what Nakamova is talking about it effecting the social life.

I know that my seizures couldn't handle rotating shifts because just as my body would get used to a shift it'd be time to change.
 
Thanks Nakamova and epileric - I'll check exactly what the shift times and pattern are today. And that's a good point about social life, I'll have to mull it all over...
 
Boy did you ask the right question ! i work 24X7 with about 6 hrs of "free" (read patient free ) time per day. it IS possible to work shifts with E although you need to be religious bout your meds and tell a coworker you trust about what to do in an emergency. Depending on how discriminating people are around you you can take steps to minimize any adverse events. Above all NEVER COMPROMISE ON SLEEP IF YU CN AVOID IT.
 
I worked a late shift once, and began to feel really sick. It was before my diagnosis so I had no idea why I was feeling so icky, and why things were going so nuts around me (and in me). I changed jobs ASAP, just instinctually knowing I had to or I was going to fall apart. Now I know that lack of sleep is a seizure trigger for me. Looking back it was the right thing for me to do, since I have extreme trouble adjusting to shift changes, time zone changes, etc.
 
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