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Friday Evening Vanity - Sleep Disorders
me

Posted on 06/17/2016 3:42:13 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck

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It may sound silly, but until you have laid in bed for two or three hours in the middle of the night, for several nights a week, month after month, helpless to go back to sleep once you have woke up, you just don't know the misery.

It's not like cancer or a serious disease, to be sure, but insomnia is something that can make your life very unhappy. Maybe you can't get started in the morning, maybe you can't stay awake after lunch, it can manifest in several ways.

I have had a lot of trouble sleeping through the night for the last couple of years and it finally got inside my head so bad I went to the doctor. He sent me to a sleep specialist who had me take a "sleep study." My insurance wouldn't cover an "attended" study in the Sleep Lab at the hospital so I had to just pick up this device and bring it home and do it in my own environment. The device records brain waves and snoring events for the doctor to use to diagnose your condition, and then prescribe some form of treatment. I always knew I snore but had no idea I have 32 snoring events per hour. It may be that is what wakes me up, but that is not what keeps me awake. My brain, once awake, goes into full active mode processing the events of the day and going off on tangents on whatever odd thought train that pops up, keeping me awake until just about the time the wife's alarm goes off and it is time to get up and start my day. I am working on getting a CPAP or APAP machine, a device where you wear a mask at night and breathe pressurized air to prevent snoring from waking you up.

Man, sometimes I am so fatigued that it takes me an hour and a couple of cups of strong coffee to become functional for work. Then in the afternoon I am often overcome with fatigue and have to take a nap. I'm just lucky I work from home and can sneak some shuteye occasionally when my situation is severe. My boss knows about my condition and we keep it pretty low key, but I can't go on like this forever.

There are some of you who will think I'm just being a baby, but there are plenty of you who will understand every word I just wrote. It is a butt whooping, another nail in your coffin if you have it.

1 posted on 06/17/2016 3:42:13 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck
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To: West Texas Chuck

I got a CPAP many years ago and sleep like a log now. I feel SO MUCH BETTER when I get a great night’s sleep.

Note that it takes a while to get used to the CPAP, but stick it out. It’s worth it. Not only does it keep you breathing with no interruption, but it acts as a mild white noise generator and helps to keep small background noises from waking you up.

It can be very hard to get used to... but hoo-boy am I glad I have it now. I LOVE SLEEP!


2 posted on 06/17/2016 3:50:19 PM PDT by MarineBrat (Better dead than red!)
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To: West Texas Chuck

what are you eating? Look there first

stop with anything out of a box or can- fresh meat and veggies and fruits.

stop eating bread and wheat !!!

Take some good vitamins

EXERCIZE - even if it is just a brisk walk around the block before bedtime

Take a shower before bed and sleep on clean sheets (comfort is very important)

Put in a TV show you like to LISTEN to or a radio show

If all this does not work, then you’re doing something wrong


3 posted on 06/17/2016 3:52:02 PM PDT by Mr. K (Trump will win NY state - choke on that HilLIARy)
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To: West Texas Chuck

I have sleep apnea, but I wasn’t so lucky at work. Being tired was interpreted as an “attitude problem”.
Same place dinged me with a drug test after I was in the hospital ER passing a kidney stone.


4 posted on 06/17/2016 3:54:24 PM PDT by Fred Hayek (The Democratic Party is now the operational arm of the CPUSA)
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To: Mr. K

Eating honey and drinking warm milk before bed does wonders.


5 posted on 06/17/2016 3:55:11 PM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12)
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To: West Texas Chuck

I have trouble falling asleep sometimes. Recently I have seen some ads for something called Somnupure that you can get at Walgreens.
I bought some about two weeks ago and for me it works.

I don’t feel groggy in the morning either like you do with other pills like Sominex.

Take one about one hour before you hit the sack.
I hope I helped you with that info.


6 posted on 06/17/2016 3:57:21 PM PDT by Ammo Republic 15
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To: West Texas Chuck
10 pounds is the difference between needing my CPAP or not.
Also, some sleep pills make things worse. My MIL was taking Lunesta 3mg for a long time and not sleeping. I gave her 10mg Melatonin along with and no change. Then I gave a placebo instead of the Lunesta and continued the Melatonin and she sleeps now.
Yeah, she has dementia. When she is too drowsy in the day I cut back on the Melatonin.
There was no withdrawals from the Lunsta. Seroquel XR gave her terrors. The doc gave it to try one night.
If the doc can get you a sleep study, do it.
7 posted on 06/17/2016 3:57:30 PM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our one and only true hope.)
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To: West Texas Chuck

I suffer from horrible amnesia. My record is about 3 1/2 weeks with no sleep at all. Most people would think that would be fatal. It has landed me in the whacky ward where they used industrial strength sedatives to knock me out. Several things seem to help, melatonin being one of them. I also have prescription for benzodiazipines when it gets bad. Whatever you do, don’t try to drink yourself to sleep. It doesn’t work and just turns you into a drunk. Chocolate milk seems to help some. Wish I had better advice. It is a real b^tch.


8 posted on 06/17/2016 3:57:59 PM PDT by lafroste
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To: West Texas Chuck

If you are a Freeper then you likely would enjoy novels where heroes kick terrorists’ butts or beat anti-American liberals. There are many such authors on fiction. The key for me shutting off my brain is fiction while lying in bed. Works every time.


9 posted on 06/17/2016 3:58:13 PM PDT by CincyRichieRich (0bama is drunk on taqiyya. Even seen a moderate Muslim? Hmm?)
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To: stars & stripes forever

Honey and warm milk? What a good idea. Calcium + magnesium does it for me, but I hesitate to share that bc it made my sister throw up. Works great for me, tho.


10 posted on 06/17/2016 3:58:50 PM PDT by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
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To: Mr. K

While your suggestions are good, sleep apnea is a serious condition that likely won,t be addressed by any of them. He needs a full evaluation by a qualified sleep specialist.


11 posted on 06/17/2016 4:01:09 PM PDT by TheConservator ("The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." -- Aristotle)
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To: West Texas Chuck

Not to make light of your problem, but you’ve got it easy. I have several sleep disorders, and since I was a kid. For one thing, I sleepwalk. I have fallen and broken bones, ripped up both rotator cuffs, almost burnt down my house, etc.. I have Rem Sleep Disorder; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_eye_movement_sleep_behavior_disorder
When you go into REM and dream about a 6th grade dodge ball game, your body does not move, mine thrashes around trying to avoid the dream ball. I wake up frequently, and my mind gets going and I can’t go back to sleep. I snored a lot. I have found that wearing a simple chin strap has helped the snoring a lot! This is just some of the sleep problems that I have had for 60 years!


12 posted on 06/17/2016 4:01:18 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: West Texas Chuck

I have never been a morning person. Sometimes I will fall asleep in the day for a few hours then go to work until 3 or 4 am. Some days I will sleep 2 hours some days 12 hours. It’s never the same.

That’s one of the biggest reasons I stay self employed. I’m sure I could get “diagnosed” with something and get a CPAP machine and some pills.

Maybe your boss can give you a flexible schedule that works with your natural sleep cycle.


13 posted on 06/17/2016 4:02:54 PM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: stars & stripes forever

“Eating honey and drinking warm milk before bed does wonders.”

Or a bottle of red wine. :-)


14 posted on 06/17/2016 4:04:06 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: lafroste

You suffer from horrible amnesia or insomnia?


15 posted on 06/17/2016 4:05:55 PM PDT by BipolarBob (I'm so open minded that you should only think like me.)
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To: West Texas Chuck

Sleep apnea is bad news in so many ways.

The CPAP machine should solve the problem.

And your wife may appreciate it, too, because you will sleep silently and soundly.


16 posted on 06/17/2016 4:06:28 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Vote Trump!)
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To: West Texas Chuck

100 mg of magnesium before bed, get more iodine.....no TV or computer after 8 PM, no light in the bedroom, cover eyes with something to prevent any light


17 posted on 06/17/2016 4:07:35 PM PDT by B212
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To: right way right

Melatonin gives me horribly vivid nightmares.


18 posted on 06/17/2016 4:07:50 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: West Texas Chuck
sleep number bed

my pillow

cpap machine

900mg gabatentin + 2 ex-strength tylenol pm

nighty night

19 posted on 06/17/2016 4:08:15 PM PDT by TheRightGuy (I want MY BAILOUT ... a billion or two should do!)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

Heavy drinking and sleep would make me do what you describe.


20 posted on 06/17/2016 4:08:21 PM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our one and only true hope.)
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