No Bruce, you're not alone.  I spent 3 months on disability with a
diagnosis of "severe exhaustion".  My shift changed to earlier hours
about every six to eight months for over 6 years, and every time I went
on vacation my sleep pattern would revert to the one I felt most
comfortable with.  I changed my sleeping habits to match what I was most
comfortable with naturally, which was going to bed pretty early in the
evening.  Now, I may be in bed some nights before my nine year old's
bedtime, but I'm the only one at work not looking exhausted in the
morning!

Janay Zeck, HTL (ASCP)
Schenectady Family Health Services

On Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:30:44 -0600 Bruce Gapinski
 writes:
> Do any of my fellow Histologists suffer from sleep depravation? I 
> find that
> the older I get the harder it is to switch to an earlier shift. I 
> get
> something we've dubbed 2nd day syndrome. It's not the first day 
> waking up 1
> or 2 hrs earlier but the second day. I feel ill, and cranky. I'll 
> bet it's
> akin to jet lag. 
> It's to the point that I truly hate covering for anyone on 
> vacation.
> Furthermore, do you wake up early on your days off? I find it 
> difficult to
> get on "regular" hours except when I take my 3 week vacation. By the 
> end I'm
> much better shape. I think more clearly and I feel really good. Is 
> this job
> killing me?  Sleep is important, and I'll bet I'm not alone. How do 
> you
> cope?
> Respectfully,
> Bruce Gapinski HT(ASCP)
> 
>