h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

4am. Just 2 hours of nightshift to go and I'm exhausted.
Dreadful weekend. Son, aged 8 had breathing problems and I had to rush him to casualty Saturday night. Luckily the emergency staff managed to help him and he soon felt much better. It was awful to watch him struggling for breath and being unable to help. He had to stay a further night in hospital for observation and was discharged yesterday. He is much better but not 100%. I would have much rather stayed with him tonight than have come to work
I'd had no sleep Saturday night and a very disturbed Sunday night in hospital so I now feel awfully tired. Saw my doctor yesterday as I'm so tired and have to have bloodtests to exclude all the obvious causes. I told the doctor that I'd be very happy to be diagnosed with hypochondria or trying to cram too many things into one day syndrome!
I'll hopefully have a good sleep today and feel a lot better.

Feeling much better after a 2 week holiday in France. All bloodtests came back fine. So feeling constantly tired is due to middle age, night duty and being constantly on the go.
The good news is that I've cut my hours down at work and my midwifery business has started to take off.
I'm sure I'll feel rejuvinated after a week in a youth hostel in Glastonbury next week. I'm going to stay with a group of Radical midwives. We will share skills and stories and I'll have time to call my own. can't wait

Glad you are feeling better although tired.
The midwives get together sounds great too!
Maybe all of this will help center you and bring you more energy.
You sounded like a rest was vital, glad you got some.

Yup, i can relate to all this, sometimes you just have to put yourself first somehow or you are no use to either yourself or anyone else.

It doesn't take much time to recharge the batteries *but* once they run down past a certain point; exhaustion sets in & we are, after all, only human. When the pregnant lady labours past a certain point, she just can't do it, no matter how much training, willpower or lovely midwives she has with her. Same with everyday life; take some time out for yourself cherie!

zdt*not always practising what she just preached*

Thanks to Abbi and Terri for the wise words. I've been running on nearly empty for a while now and it's only when my physical health suffers that I take notice
Didn't re-charge batteries as my campervan and family car broke down, and my cat was injured whilst I was away. It did give me time to think, but too much to think about. I learnt lessons about listening to our bodies when they're shouting at us to stop though.
An elderly midwife who's been meaning to retire for years had had a fall, injuring her hand (important in a midwives job!). She's a great midwife and very sought after, and continues to practice to the detriment of her own health. I tried to explain that our job is not kind to arthritic knees but it fell on deaf ears. I heard this week that she's now unwell in hospital. It is funny how our bodies make us stop doing what is bad for us eventually
It has been a steep learning curve this week as I've been given apalling working conditions by the NHS. It has made me see what a rotten system it is and how it can grind people down. I'm lucky. I was planning to leave anyway but others have to swallow the bull**** I plan to call in the unions and maybe the press to fight on behalf of those who cannot argue for fear of being sacked.
Can't wait to leave my hospital job now

P.S Terri,
Get practicing or else

Was sacked today. Hooray!!

Really feel as if a huge weight has been taken from my shoulders since being asked to leave my job