Posted on 06/17/2016 3:42:13 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck
I've had issues with sleep for a lot of my life, off and on. Currently I have the "can't stay asleep, can't go back to sleep" form of what my doctor has diagnosed as insomnia. Mild to moderate Sleep Apnea appears to be at least a contributory factor.
Sugar before bed keeps me awake ..ice cream, candy, icing on a cake, etc. Caffeine too, coffee, tea, etc. None of the above for me after 7pm.
Also, too much liquid before bed keeps me popping up to go to the john, so I limit liquids after supper.
Exercise close to bed time keeps my heart rate up, and me awake, so any major “efforts” are done before dinner. Walking just after dinner seems to be ok.
Damn, I hate getting old.
I sleep better with multiple lights and the TV on with sound.
I’ve found that the radio keeps me awake.
But listening to a familiar CD or tape works, e.g., the BBC “Lord of the Rings.”
You must have a good imagination!
My nightmares are bland.
I sleepwalk. The last time I may have sleepwalked, I also knocked myself out, so I’m not really sure what precipitated my injuries. My husband wants to sell this house and get a ranch because he’s afraid that I’ll fall down the stairs.
I hate it.
I can imagine. The bland nightmares are bad enough,
Thank goodness that I can nap sometimes.
Melatonin and Nightmares. Interesting. That’s why I won’t take anti depressants. Sucks being so bad off at 52. Diabetes creeps up by the way. Everyone should get an A1c test kit and do the test. If your doc will only give a urine sugar test, get another doc. The kits can be bought OC anyway and they are extremely cheap compared to diabetic creep.
I did the sleep test at the hospital and they hooked up dozen of wires to my head and chest. I don't see how you could have possibly hooked up all the wires.
Secondly the test is to see if you have "Sleep Apnea" which means you quit breathing not just snoring.
If they are recommending a C-pap I would suggest you go ahead and get one and use it. My husband has used his for many, many years.
You're thinking too much. Got to stop that. Been there...
TV or talk radio will take your mind off...your mind.
If you're listening to someone else talking, you can't talk to yourself.
Do you have leg pain or restless legs when you try to sleep?
I get 3-4 hours at a time. That’s it.
I am a road warrior so if a 2 or 3pm nap can make its way in, I take it. 1 hour helps the catch-up.
I have a 0500 wake-up tomorrow and 2.5 hours to work-site. Should be done by noon and to the next hotel by 1500.
Sleep is a hard one to pin down for an active life.
Good Luck on fixing it.
If it’s the apnea that’s waking you up, the CPAP will work wonders.
If it’s your brain waking you up or keeping you awake, try meditation, incense, or OTC medication.
If your muscles twitch and jerk, waking you up, try skullcap. It’s an herbal muscle relaxer that has been a GODSEND for me!!!
I have both a restless brain and restless muscles. Not just restless legs, sometimes every muscle in my body starts twitching, like they’re trying to run away from each other. Technically, I also have central (AKA: non-obstructive) sleep apnea on top of that, but only if I sleep face-up.
I used to go days at a time without any sleep at all! A combination of Tylenol PM and skullcap works for me. But every person is different, so it might or might not work as well for you.
Or one of Hillary's speeches.
That’s a valid fear!!! Maybe if you can’t move, at least install a door at the stairs, and make it so the lock is unusual. Locking at the top instead of at the knob, for example.
I have talk radio going by my ear all night. TV is not good as the flashing of the light tends to mess with your brain waves.
Your symptoms describe mine exactly. Can’t get to sleep to begin with, then can’t stay asleep all night due to sleep apnea—(my own snoring wakes me up.) Then can’t get back to sleep. Important to understand these are separate issues.
To get to sleep, make sure your sleeping area is pitch black. Even a little bit of light suppresses melatonin, telling your brain it’s dawn and time to get up. Shut all light out of your room. You can buy a BLACK sleep eye mask.
Several online companies sell them.
I just tie a scarf over my eyes.
Try the 4-7-8 breathing trick, also good for getting to sleep within a couple of minutes, especially combined with total darkness. This trick is amazing.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YRPh_GaiL8s
Both of the above put me to sleep quickly, and I usually sleep soundly 8 hours.
Walmart sells 3 mg melatonin in the vitamin isle. Purchase immediately.
Take one, immediately before bed, not every night, but occasionally.
Will knock you out, and you will stay asleep all night.
Personally I don’t like to rely on a pill, but these work so I pop one occasionally, along with the above 2 tricks to get a really deep sleep after a stressful day.
Except I’ve been doing since I was a little kid!
Hi Chuck. I have the reverse sleep disorder from you. Idiopathic hyposomnelence. (Spelling doesn’t count) I have trouble staying awake! I went through a sleep study. I slept through the night and was in level 4 sleep much of the night. They then followed that with a daytime nap study where you take 5 naps throughout the day. I could get to level 4 sleep in 2.5 minutes. That is very unusual. They tried two different classes of meds but the side effects were such that I cannot take them. My doctor then said I just had to manage it with caffeine and with knowing when I was most likely to be sleepy and plan for it! So I sleep through the night, but I am sleepy when I wake up. Then coffee. I get through until about 2:00, then have to drink more caffeine or I have to nap. I have no choice on that. I can’t just power through. My body will just stop! After that caffeine or nap, I can make it until bed time.
People who do not have a sleep disorder can understand, but they cannot feel it the same way. Good luck to you.
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