Life is so Ridiculously Busy

Here's proof of how busy I've been! Life is so ridiculously busy. I can't catch my breath at times. As I mentioned in earlier posts, I am studying to be a health coach. My job share partner at my primary job retired, so I have been working full time in addition to going to school and starting my new business. Luckily for me we hired someone last week. She starts next Monday!

So, here goes! Check out my websites. I have my health coaching website and my essential oils website. If yo need either service, please keep me in mind. I almost forgot to mention I have a Facebook page and Twitter account, too.

Health Coaching by Michelle: www.healthcoachingbymichelle.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/healthcoachingbymichelle
Twitter: @HealthCoach_RN
doTerra Essential Oils 

Take Your Calcium

Lately I have been feeling so tired. Not just any tired, but falling asleep at 8:00 in the evening and waking up 9 hours later feeling exhausted. It doesn't matter what amount of sleep I get I still feel like a Mac truck hit me. I have been doing the normal things like checking my blood pressure which is in normal limits, drinking enough fluid, and eating well. So, I find myself baffled as to why I still have no energy.

Then it hits me this morning. I have ALL the red flags of Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium).
1. extremely dry skin, flaky, almost psoriasis-like
2. extremely tired, fatigued
3. brittle nails with ridges
4. palpitations
5. sharp chest pain
6. numb finger tips
7. muscle spasms in my face (tetany) by left side of my mouth
8. shortness of breath (talking and walking)
9. dizziness, especially when getting up from seating or lying position
10. muscle spasms and cramps to feet and lower legs
11. dementia or what we like to call CRS (can't remember sh*t)

Now I am determining what course of action I need to take. Do I just taking adequate amounts of calcium through supplements and food rich in calcium or do I call the doctor and get my blood level checked?

I think I am going to start off by taking supplements I have now and then call the doctor to check my level. It didn't get like this overnight so I know it won't be corrected overnight either. My extreme dry skin should have been a warning sign.

I am off to eat some calcium and get my blood drawn.

I LOVE my Job!

How many of you can honestly say, "I love my job?" I can! I really have the best job. Of course my primary job of being mom and wife are great, but I am talking about my job as a nurse.

I work part time which really makes working even more desirable. I get a five day weekend every other week. That right there says dream job.

This weekend, I was talking to my aunt and she was asking about my job. I was going on and on about what I do and she stopped me mid-sentence. Her response was, "I have never seen you smile talking about work or so enthusiastic." I guess I never realized I did that.

As a nurse, I have taken on many jobs over the last 13 years. Some have been good and well, some not so good. I remember my first nursing job. It was on a 23 hour observation unit working nights. After 6 months, I was charge nurse. One of my nursing assistants from then ended up being one of my charge nurses later down the line. Congrats to her for moving on up the education ladder and is now completing nurse anesthetist school!

Between my first job and my present one, I did many things. Reflecting on this, I see I mostly worked in some field of cardiology. The first few years I worked nights and I always seemed to be sick and my body was cold all the time. I am so glad I was able to get on day shift. Let's see; I worked observation, step-down ICU, travel nursing in step-down ICU, agency in telemetry, ICU, and CCU, GI lab, post CABG, heart transplant, CCU, ICU, echo lab, stress lab, cath lab, and even helped out in cardiology doctor's offices. Well, this all leads up to what I am doing today. As a Cardiac Rehab Nurse Clinician, I teach patient's about taking care of their hearts.

No more 12 hour shifts. No working weekends or holidays. No taking call. No more nights. No hurricane duty. Just 8 hour shifts (including a lunch break), 3 days one week and 2 days the next.

Isn't the nursing profession wonderful that there is so much flexibility and so many options? It really is!