feeling puny, I don't like being a nurse
 

I am frequently very tired after a big family get together so I wasn't suprised yesterday that I was exhausted. I went to bed at 4 PM and got up at 11 AM this morning. But I have felt worse as the day has gone on. I am freezing, general body aches. Finally took my temp this eve and it was 101. But I have one other sypmtom that being an RN bothers me about and I don't know if it's just coincidental since we did so much construction this past week getting ready for the big day. I have large multiple bruises. I don't remember anything that would cause that. So here are my symptoms: headache, fever 101, general aches especially in my upper legs and back, fatigue and bruises. Of course the fatigue is nothing new but it is worse today. but that's nothing new for it to be worse sometimes. Am I reading to much in this? Remember I am an RN that has cognitive problems that can't remember worth s#^t.

I used to think that being in the medical field (I'm not) would be an advantage. You could reassure yourself that, No, I don't have the very rare East Hysteranian plague, and that you would know how to handle anything that came up.

Now I think that being in the medical field might make you instantly aware of all the worst case scenarios. Hope you find an answer quickly (this morning) or even better, that it all goes away! Keep us posted!

I do understand how you feel Doydie! :hug:

When we get sick, we RN's always expect the worst ... and not only do we expect the worst but there are times where we also expect to be diagnosed with the rarest of diseases, with the worst and most unpleasant side effects, and unfortunately.... often we are! :o

If anything can go wrong it will go wrong. When I had my DD, the cord broke mid delivery, I had a retained placenta and a post partum haemorrhage. When I had the hemicolectomy last year I had a wound infection, prolonged fever, hyperemesis and a paralytic ileus that lasted 15 days .... among other things! :(

We nurses never just get colds.... we get double pneumonia. The list goes on.:D

I can imagine that knowing nurses never get sick gracefully, you've already diagnosed yourself as having one of the nasties such as :

*Leukemia
*Aplastic anemia
*Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

I Googled unexplained bruising Doydie, and I came up with 216 different medical conditions, but please be assured that not all of them are nasty. :)

Have you been in contact with tics? I know Lyme disease usually has a rash, but most of your symptoms would fit something like a tic bite.

I hope you don't worry yourself about these symptoms, but I do think you need to go see your doctor and have some routine blood tests done. Even if they come back normal, at least you'll be able to rest easy, and not think of all the horrible things in the medical dictionary that you just might be stricken with! :)

As a nurse, you ALWAYS know the worst case scenario. You always know that a childs ear ache can turn into mennigitits without proper care, you always know that being immobile for short periods of time can create blood clots in the pelvic veins, and one can bust off and plug a lung! your head swims with all of the weird, insane facts, because...you have seen it happen! you cant just have the flu, you must have been exposed to some bubonic whatever from that man who came from the congo, and wanted a flu shot.

As a nurse, you know you need rest, and fluids. get some rest.

Koalla, it was the leukemia that I worried about most. I feel better this moring, no temp and not freezing. I know I need to let my FPP know about the bruising. But maybe it won't look so bad if I shave my legs!!!!

Its a blessing and a curse, imo.

Jules - I think, no wait, I know you are right. It is a blessing and a curse.

Doydie - Hang in there! Saying a prayer for you.:hug:

Being in the medical field is a curse. lol We can dx everything under the sun and doctors let us take over. Jim's doctor has said he doesn't worry over Jim unless I am worried. I told him he puts too much control in my hands. haha

Ok, BUT there are the times we totally freak out because we know too much. When my youngest had his first seizure I pronounced him dead to 911. He rolled his eyes back and let out the loudest sigh I ever heard. If I had not been so emotional I'd known the seizure was over. Or the time Jim had his first seizure after kidney failure and I ran out of the hospital room convinced he was going to die right then and there because earlier the docs came in and said he was on the way to recovery. Shock is a powerful thing and not so good to those of us in the field.

I'm better than I used to be. Those incidents happened a long time ago. Jim's was almost six years ago and Nik's was 16 years ago. Sorry for the long post.

Anyway, what I am trying to say is I am glad your feeling better and the bruising is just that, simple bruises, nothing more. You know they also say we're the worst patients right? ;) :p Well, we're the best advocates for loved ones too! lol

Sandy - I have been there with my kids many times as well. We lose all reason and all the knowledge we gain during our training when it comes to our loved ones.

When DD17 was a few days old, DD18 had all these strange bruises. Of course, I immediately chalked it up as leukemia - yes, Doydie I thought the same - I was in tears as I had this brand new baby and a 1 year old with possibly leukemia. Apparently, she had a virus that was causing this small bruises. It was scary.:(

I feel much better today. Fever is down to the low 90's. I do have to confess one theing. And I have not confessed this to my Mom, husband or chidren, much less the doctor. I am a procrastinator. That's not the confession. So sometimes I miss my Avonex. I know that there are some people here that take double Avonex shots. So i figure it won't hurt me. So Sunday morning I take two shots and by Sunday eve I am feeling puny. So it could be that. So this is how I feel now.