Maybe getting a graveyard shift any tips?

[HoustonDogLove]

I was wondering if any of you have been working graveyards? I may be getting a better job I'm going to give it a shot if they give me one, But it would be graveyards...Normally I'm a 7am-9pm kind of person and if it gets much past nine I turn into a pumpkin,
Do you have any tips? or ideas? I hear pro vigil or nuvigil is for primarily for shift workers( or at least that's who they target in the commercials), I wonder if my neuro would Rx it for me to help keep me going if it's difficult.

I have some sleeping pills that i could use to get in the rythm, I dont know why she Rx'd them originally, she gave them to me when i was on IVSM but they had more refill's than the length of the IVSM, I dont have problems going to sleep normally but occasionally I do when i was on the IVSM which i know can be common,

[doublevision1]

When on nights, make daytime sleep a priority, don't be distracted by chores normally done in the daytime.

Develop a ritual to unwind before sleep.  Maintain the ritual for both day and night sleep.

Avoid watching TV or looking at a computer monitor before sleep.

Make up your bed with comfortable bedding and pillows.

Sleep in a cool room.

Use ear plugs to block out ambient noise.  Unplug the phone.  Turn off your Blackberry.

Use black out shades/curtains so your bedroom is pitch black while you sleep.

Buy an alarm clock that simulates sunrise to wake you, rather than a jarring alarm.

Follow a healthy diet, avoid excess sugar and caffeine.  

Plan a week's worth of meals and snacks in advance to avoid resorting to the vending machine.

Take vitamin D supplements to make up for the loss of exposure during daylight hours.

Avoid as much as possible relying on prescription and OTC sleep medication.

[HoustonDogLove]

Thanks for all your input I appreciate it.

[HVAC]

I did graveyard shift at an emergency vet 5 days a week for a year with MS, I did not know I had MS. I also got up at 1:30 PM and worked another job for several hours. I went to bed at 6PM and slept until 11PM then drove to work, worked midnight until 8AM drove home slept 10AM until 1PM. I got really tired at 2AM until 4AM and then when I got off work. Stop and go traffic was hard because I would fall asleep. Weekends were hard because my husband wanted to keep regular hours.

I drank a lot of soda and ate junk which I do not recommend. People thanked us with all kinds of junk food. I gained weight and got UTIs.

There were 3 of us including the vet and usually 25 patients to monitor and emergencies coming in all night. I would have to do all the laundry from the day shift 35 loads of towel and such, I would be cleaning and sterilizing packs in the autoclave which was hot. I was constantly checking IVs, doing xrays, lab work, and cleaning cages( which was hard with sick and injured animals with IVs. I also did anesthesia, kept records etc. Also cleaning the whole clinic. The two day shifts did not clean up anything so it looked like a bomb exploded. I also did all the front desk stuff, and triage. I used my mechanical skills to fix things, a/c, centrifuges, etc.

I never had trouble sleeping. I liked it in a lot of ways but I could not do it now.

If I had it to do again I would have had a better diet. and not had that part time job in the afternoon.

Alex

[Willowwoman777]

I tried graveyard while still undx'd - although by that time I had had MS for about 10 years. I lasted a week and could barely make it through the shift. When I finally had to stop working, I had been working 3-11 and that shift worked fairly well for me, though I started really dragging about 10.

My suggestion is that you know what your body can and cannot withstand. Just remember, too much physical stress on your body can aggravate the MS, so you might want to bear that in mind when you make your decision.

My father worked graveyard for the last 7 years of his working life before retirement and I was applying for another graveyard shift cause needed the money. (pre dx) He advised me not to do it because he felt working graveyard aged him and he said he never felt rested or well when he worked that shift.

Again, only you know what you can handle. :)

[grannyhotwheels]

I worker graveyard ship when I worked for McKee Foods aka Little Debbie Cakes... One thing for sure is you never get used to the graveyard...  I never felt rested even after sleeping all day... I don't think you ever quite get into that REM sleep... At Least that's how it was for me...

I never tried sleeping pills because at the time I worked nights I had 2 small children... I was always afraid I wouldn't hear them if they needed me... I know this doesn't help you at all and I'm very sorry about that but you did ask...

I'll be praying,
Carol