I love it...a Dispatcher's Board!

Hi all, I've just started my pre-op testing (everything will be done by the end of the month) to have the gastric bypass. Anyhoo...I just happened to stumble across the board. This is great. It's kind of hard to explain what we put up with on a daily basis without them looking at you like you've got 3 heads and should seriously consider being institutionalized. I dispatched for 5 years in Florida, then moved back to Rhode Island where I've been dispatching now for another 5 years. Has anyone had any problems working midnights & balancing their eating/protein intake, etc?? Thanks! Chari

Hey Chari I am in the pre op phase too. And...on the midnight shift. I feel like eating right after surgery is going to be a real challenge because I don't have a regular sleep pattern, and even now i forget to eat....imagine that at 300+ pounds. One would think I never missed a meal! LOL Let me know how your journey goes, and if I find out any helpful information I will send it your way Be Blessed Joy

welcome!... i work afternoons 3-11... i love my shift... but eating is not easy.... but you can make it work!! all i can suggest is answer as many 911 calls you can and find the busyiest radio to dispatch on..keeps ya busy and ya mind off food...

Thanks for the responses I'm looking forward to when my energy levels kick back in. Right now all I seem to want to do is sleep. lolol I dispatch for 2 different towns, full time for one & part time for the other so I wind up working back to back doubles on the weekend with a 20hr day thrown in once in awhile. Managing meals should make things interesting....

Ohhh I was so happy to find this board. I have been dispatching for 6 years and am also having WLS on the 22nd of this month. It's so nice being able to talk to people who understand.... On that note. Chari! WOW... I cannot believe that you have a 20 hr work week without a natural disaster going on. While I love my job, I can only take so much without going code (whatever your number is!). Hopefully you find time to relax and take care of you. I think you are just going to have to carry around enough stuff to get you through without overdoing it. Good luck on that girl. peace Shenikwa

Hi all! Thanks for the input! I actually got my date the other day....April 10th! I could have had it done sooner but I wanted to save up an extra week off so I don't push things going back to 2 jobs at once. Besides...an extra week off from the asylum is never bad! All of the testing went pretty well except for a few minor things with the blood work...turns out I have Vitamin A, D, iron and protein deficiencies. Looks like the protein thing's gonna be more of a challenge than I thought huh?!?! Hope everyone's doing well & the masses are behaving themselves at work!

If the masses behave themselves we will be out of a job.. lol.. Glad to see people on this board too. I have dispatched in California for four cities in the South Bay for almost ten years. I have been off for disability I was in a bad car accident broke my femur in two places. I return to work the yard on November first. Yeah! I am also worried about working all night. I am going to have to prepare prepare prepare. I work a 3/12. Good luck to all.