Main Entry:
sleep deprivation
Part of Speech:
n
Definition:
the condition of being robbed of sleep, in real life or in experiment, as opposed to being unable to sleep. Such as working night shift as a nurse in an emergency room and trying to maintain a normal life.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
An Upset Circadian Rhythm.. the mystery is solved!
I am sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation can be a dangerous thing. Today I put the english muffins on the butter shelf of the refrigerator and the butter in the freezer!! I sat down to read my email with my car keys in my hand, and left my can of diet pepsi on the kitchen counter. It is getting scary. LOL I am sure this has nothing to do with the forgetfullness of menopause and everything to do with working all night and sleeping intermittantly during the day.
So I began to research:
The definition is from an online dictionary, the statement in red is from me. LOL
Life on the night shift is very different from life any other time. Night shift workers eat weird food at weird times, drink too much caffeine, and spend a lot of time trying to "catch up" with the rest of the waking world. We never quite get caught up. About the time we feel like we have gotten close.. we have to go back to work!
Extensive research has been done on the subject regarding night shift workers, here is an excerpt from an online article on this subject:
Sleep is needed by all animals - even plants appear to have rest periods. The human body naturally follows a 24-hour period of wakefulness and sleepiness that is regulated by an internal circadian clock. In fact, the circadian clock is linked to nature's cycle of light and darkness. The clock regulates cycles in body temperature, hormones, heart rate, and other body functions. For humans, the desire to sleep is strongest between midnight and six a.m. Many people are alert in the morning, with a natural dip in alertness in the mid-afternoon. It is difficult to reset the internal circadian clock.
SO! This is why I am always one step behind! My circadian clock cannot be reset! The mystery has been solved! LOLOL
Now my solution to this problem is simple. Retire from night shift nursing. How freaking possible is this? Maybe in 10 years I will find out!
cya tomorrow!
Posted by Tonjia at 10:27 PM
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3 comments:
I couldn't do it. David and I had this talk. He said he couldn't do it either. Jennifer does it, like you.
No way you could shift to days? I know the money is not as good but gosh....
I'm not even working and I'm doing stupid stuff. David even went and put the sugar bowl in the fridge. Maybe it's contagious! LOL
Have you ever tried Ambian to help you sleep during the time you are supposed to be sleeping? I used to be able to stay up all night and work the next day. Now I have a hard time staying up past 10pm. We have to DVR Sat Night Live so we can watch it on Sunday mornings. I get up from the couch, go into the kitchen, go to the back office, try the bedroom and then back to the couch to try to remember why I got up in the first place.
Debbie, I would have to take a $3.50/hr cut in pay to go to days. EEEK!
Michelle, I have never tried Ambien but I have used tylenol PM off and on.. If I could only get to the bed I could sleep! LOL
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