FEELING AND LOOKING OLDER DUE TO NIGHT SHIFT

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5/6/12 10:42 P

I have done shift work my entire life (not sure what it would be like to work a job with 'normal' hours). I used to get away with it, building a sleep deficit then catching it up when I could but as I got older it really started to wear me down and I never seemed to catch up. I really felt older than I was...

My doctor kept telling me to change careers but that isn't going to happen. I have found an excellent plan that makes a massive difference. I actually feel better during night shifts than dayshifts now. Before I tell you what I do let me preface it with this: *It's not for everyone*

My doctor prescribed sleeping pills. I was very reluctant but she said that the chronic lack of sleep was potentially worse than taking a drug I didn't want to take. So I tried it out. It didn't help at first because I don't actually have trouble *falling* asleep, I have trouble sleeping long enough. The only prescription sleeping pill available in Canada at the time was Immovane which is for getting to sleep but doesn't stay in your system for more than 4.5 hours so it didn't help, I was still waking up mid-afternoon and doing little more than dozing afterward.

As crazy as it is, when I get home from work at 7am I go to bed and set my alarm for 4 hours later. (follow all the previous advice- completely dark room etc) When my alarm goes off, I get up, go pee (this actually helps cause it was often a full bladder that woke me) and take an Immovane and go right back to bed.

This way I consistently get 8+ hours of deep sleep and I am not tired during my 12 hour night shifts. I feel a million times better. I basically made sleep a matter of EXTREME importance.

I don't know if this is helpful to you but it might be worth consideration.

Good luck. :-)

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5/6/12 9:29 P

I work a swing shift 2 1sts 2 seconds 1 3rd. I have not had a set schedule for much of the 11 1/2 yrs. Make sure the room you sleep in is completly dark, sleep mask helps. Try taking 3 mg of melatonin. It help reset your body clock. Read up on it and ck it out with your doc. I was told if you are not melatonin deficient it will do nothing for you. I take it sometimes and 2 of my children take it nightly. I have several friends who take it and their kids. They are on a regular schedule and helps with a more productive sleep. Take it 30-45 min before bed and do something relaxing. It is not a sleep medicine, so if something happens and you have to get up you can.

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5/6/12 9:36 A

Can't work 3rd shift,I done it for 6 months and it was awful.

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5/6/12 9:27 A

Since you are probably exposed to the sun briefly now, working at night, and sleeping during a good portion of the day, you might have you vitamin D3 (the sunshine vitamin) levels checked. I'm guessing they are low by this point.

I thought this was a good article about testing D3 levels, and how to supplement when not able to obtain sunshine.

"Getting vitamin D right"

blog.trackyourplaque.com/2010/01/getting-v
itamin-d-right.html

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5/6/12 5:38 A

I work nights and LOVE it. I hope it doesnt make me look old and sick.

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5/6/12 12:28 A

Wish I had the opportunity to return to day shift work. I work in a lab and finding a job in my field on days has been hard. But you better believe when I get the chance to return to day shift I'm going to do it!! Thanks for the advice.

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5/5/12 1:41 P

Try to get more sleep, at least 8 hours in a stretch. Make sure your room is dark, cool, and quiet. Use a sleep mask. ear plugs/white noise generator if necessary. Exercise. Eat regular meals. Get a SAD light. Good luck. I've spent about 12 years on nightshift, off and on. I'm now on dayshift and am never going back to nights.

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5/4/12 10:24 P

I can totally relate having just gotten off the night shift myself. I think the previous poster has some good ideas--wish I had known them before. But when you get that day shift position, you will be amazed how much different you feel and probably look--although for me, it took getting to the day shift before I had the energy to tackle some of these issues. Thanks for sharing!

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5/4/12 5:28 A

I totally relate. Did many yrs on nights. Drink LOTS of water, eat LOTS of fruits and veges. Keep your face moisturized and use a good exfollient cleanser each day. Under the eyes get one of the eye creams that are to lighten under the eyes. It doesn't make them go away but lessens them and makes your eyes look brighter. Have to do it daily before you go to bed and also under makeup. Takes a few weeks.

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5/4/12 5:22 A

I work third shift 7 days on and 7 days off 10 hours a night. I have been on this shift for almost 2 years. In those 2 years I feel like I look so much older than I did at my first shift job. I have dark circles under my eyes and more under eye wrinkles. I generally sleep 6 1/2 to 7 hours a day with some days rest being better than others. Does anyone know I'm talking about? Am I alone in this feeling? Does anyone have suggestions on what I can do to look and feel better? Any skin care products or home remedies to help with the dark circles, bags, and wrinkles under my eyes? Any advice or help is much appreciated. Thanks so much in advance. I would love to get off this shift but can't find a day shift position. Just thankful to have a job but I don't want to start looking like an older woman before my time!