BS: trouble sleeping?

Subject: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: olddude
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 01:29 AM

ya know my doc buddie gave me stuff that should knock out a horse. Nope here I sit again ... one of these night I may actually sleep ... feel like I am on watch .

sleep is a good thing ... but I never do

anyone else have the same problem ..

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 02:15 AM

Dan, when I settle myself to sleep I tell myself stories. The contents range widely (wildly?) but a favorite involves a shipwreck or other disaster and the means taken to survive it. If I personally am in the narrative I am allowed to include some of my favorite characters but that means I have to include some of my least favorite.

I set the scene, put the character(s) into motion and watch what happens.

Some of these stories last for months, mostly because I always fall asleep before I make much headway, and the next night I have to pick it up again a little ways back.

Try it, my friend.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 04:16 AM

"trouble sleeping?"

Yeah!

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: MAG
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 04:17 AM

I used to be on lunesta, but now have no prescription insurance and it's VERY expensive.

The max dose of melatonin (10 mg) works well

valerian root supposed to help but I can't stand the taste

calcium also supposed to help

sometimes aches and pains we don't even notice anymore can impede sleep; I take (but am NOT prescribing medicine here) some mild painkiller (otc)

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 05:36 AM

It must be awful olddude to lie awake hour after hour and be unable to drop off, I do feel for you. I'm lucky and can sleep for Britain. But I wonder if you do enough during the day to make you tired? If you're fairly inactive, you don't need that much sleep. Also, I find tons of fresh air in the bedroom (ie not stuffy) is a good thing. Also, don't eat just before going to bed. And don't watch over-stimulating programmes on TV. I have a dear friend who can never get to sleep. She makes herself get up out of bed if sleep won't come, and only goes back if she feels a bit more sleepy. I wish you well, as I know, like my friend, it must be pretty miserable for you.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 06:18 AM

I have the reverse roblem - Staying awake , especially in Mid afternoon !
I even dozed off in the middle of a Bernard Wrigley set at Ely Festival

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 09:04 AM

I had trouble sleeping for years. Sleep aids work, but they still hang on into the next day.
Finally, I hit upon Melatonin and COQ10. The combo works and I'm not sleepy all the next day.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 10:15 AM

I will give it a try Kendall, thanks folks for the good advice. I am a pretty active person especially this time of the year with the fishing and stuff so it ain't that ... maybe too much caffeine during the day .. hmmmm

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 10:35 AM

Yes, think about that caffeine.

Often when I can't sleep, it's because I am hungry or I'm cold. Sometimes I don't really feel hungry or cold, but that's the reason.
When I have a snack or put on another blanket, I go right to sleep. On a chilly night, a blanket of real wool makes a difference.


When all else fails, read P.G. Wodehouse, taking time to notice the amazing sentences, the hidden jokes, and occasional poem tucked into the narrative. Works for me.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 10:41 AM

I wake frequently, and sometimes find it hard to go back to sleep. When all else fails I can usually sleep in my caravan!

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 11:43 AM

Me? No caffeine after 5PM.

Benadryl (as in Tylenol PM and other things) does pretty well....but the real trick is a prescription of Ambien generic. (My HMO covers the generic, but not the Ambien CR (controlled release)so it is quite cheap.I use ½ a 10mg. tab or less, often just ¼. This lasts 3-5 hrs.
So... no caffeine late, Benedryl to get to sleep (takes an hour or more to work), then a piece of Ambien if I wake up because it works faster.

There is also prescription Restoril(Temazepam) on an 'occasional'...once a week or 10 days, because they advise against long-term daily use. I save it for nights when I need, a gentle, easy way to get to sleep.

**disclaimer** I am sort of a test case for drugs. They usually work exactly how they are supposed to for me! My wife is delicate.... needs WAY less of most drugs than the standard does. Some folk need way MORE.

*sigh* when I was young... (like, oh.. 50 or so, I didn't need ANY help getting to sleep)

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 11:52 AM

Anyone going to try my method?

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 12:01 PM

sure thing Ebbie, I will try anything short of wacking myself in the head with a board :-)

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 01:51 PM

My wife finds that eating bread tends to make her sleepy. So now she tries to do so saves it till the evening.

If I can't sleep I just lie there and take it easy. Gives me more time to think about things I want to think about. My body is still resting just the same. When I've been in pain, lying awake is indeed a drag, but otherwise I can't see it as anything much to worry about.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 01:53 PM

I agree, Kevin.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 04:06 PM

Here are three other things I thought of.

1. Don't watch TV or computer late in the evening. The light from tubes of any kind is very intense, and it wakes your brain up just when it ought to be going to sleep.

Watch TV with your eyes closed sometime. It is amazing the number of brilliant flashes of light you will sense right through your eyelids. That gives a sense of what it is doing to you.

Better yet, watch one from the back. It's like a small lightning storm.

2. Many people (maybe all people) are kept awake by alcohol. Yes, it may make you sleepy at first, but five hours later you can be stark, staring awake. One beer or glass of wine can do it.

3. Make your bedroom nice and dark. Block-out shades, for example.

My sister used to have an apartment with big windows in it. One day she came to visit and slept in my room - block-out shades, closed door to the hall, and dark brown wallpaper. In the morning she said, "That is the best sleep I have had in a year."

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 07:15 PM

"2. Many people (maybe all people) are kept awake by alcohol. Yes, it may make you sleepy at first, but five hours later you can be stark, staring awake. One beer or glass of wine can do it."

One? I see an obvious solution.

Poor sleep is too much (especially negative) mental activity at night (barring Ebbie's plan) or it's physical... maybe ya don't need ta sleep or yer rythym is messed up. Fresh air and excerise is advised, as above, but I would suggest adding resaerch on the internut... read all you can on this topic... and see if that doesn't make ya...

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 09:46 PM

Olddude, iIf any of these or other suggestions work for you, let us know!

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 09:51 PM

OLDDUDE! SHE SAID LET US KNOW... did you doze off?

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 10:15 PM

hahhaha

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 01:23 AM

The upcoming night reminds me: I am not sleeping well. I have a twin bed and my little dog sleeps on it too. He is hairless, meaning he is wrapped inside a blanket, he is under 15 pounds but you wouldn't believe how long and bony his legs are. He takes up a lot of room and within a few hours he is pasted against me; I often find my legs almost falling out of bed.

I know. I know. He shouldn't share my bed.

Tonight I'm thinking of lying next to the wall and having him lie on the outside. Then I won't care how much he crowds me. I'll see.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 05:39 AM

It's odd isn't it how 'sleep' can differ. I've had a long nine hours and woken feeling absolutely smashing. I can take deep breaths and my lungs feel relaxed somehow. Very occasionally I can have the same nine hours, but on awakening I feel tired still and my breathing doesn't seem to get down to the bottom of my lungs. There must be different qualities of sleep. But sleep I do, Olympic Standard, and I still say it's due to many of the points raised above. Dark room, tons of fresh air, no over-stimulation before bedtime, a bit of healthy exercise during the day, no heavy meal. But one thing will always stop you sleeping - stress. If you have worries or are grieving for example, your mind won't let you shut down. Your eyes fly open and your heart goes bonkers. I've had that at bad times in my life. ( By the way, alcohol is definitely a NO-NO!)

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: olddude
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 08:47 AM

LOL I crash last night, midnight till morning wow ... now that I needed don't know what was different but maybe it just caught up with me ...

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 11:42 AM

Well, anyway and anyhow, be grateful for it. As McGrath said above, the healthy body will make up for a few nights of non/no good sleep.

Just made me think of the reported events of Michael Jackson's last days. Bring heavy drugs in to try to regulate your body yourself and who knows what will happen.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 12:00 PM

" But one thing will always stop you sleeping - stress. "

you mean like frantically preparing for craft show season and knowing you have had 27 interruptions all Spring & Summer and are sure you won't have enough stock... and you are not sure your van will be in shape for transportation, but it's not economically feasible to rent one... and you are TIRED trying to get the final tedious fitting & sanding done...???

So... I take a pill... ☺

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 05:55 AM

Oh dear Bill, that IS stress!

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 09:39 AM

*smile* That was the short list.
   But... so far, I (we) cope ok. Simple age makes it feel more stressful, but the rewards when people come up to your display table and 'oooh an ahhh', and sometimes throw money, make it a 'tolerable' stress.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 10:14 AM

Like you I find my age makes me less able to cope with stress. I used to be bombarded with stress as a teacher, but I could take it. But not now. Even activities for my village and church seem to be major worries at times. I cook quite a lot for various fetes and sales, and just getting the ingredients together seems a huge worry. Deep breaths, Keep Calm and Carry On etc etc! But my lovely afternoon nap restores my energy, not to mention the nine (or more) hours at night! It's 3pm and I'm just off to bed for a snooze.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 12:10 PM

Wow, Eliza. That's a lot o' sleepin'.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 01:04 PM

I know Ebbie. But I've been like it all my life, and even my parents slept a lot, so I don't worry about it. I just go with the flow. I try to listen to my body's needs. Yesterday it wanted liquorice (it's usually something odd like that, for example peanut butter, Marmite, some prawns, or poppadoms!) So I bought some liquorice and chomped away. If I keep it happy, my body tends to behave itself, and sleep is one of its needs! The good thing is, my husband is exactly the same. He has a nap when I do, and we both go to bed early. If anything, he sleeps longer than me, so do our three cats. This house should be called Sleepy Hollow!

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 02:59 PM

Sounds peaceful. :)

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: Bert
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 04:00 PM

...trouble sleeping?...

I thought that was what Mudcat was for.

Seriously, have you tried a hop pillow? Also a puff of weed knocks me right out.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Black Belt Caterpillar Wrestler
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 07:41 AM

I am a light sleeper and rarely get more than five hours sleep a night.

Try to eliminate anything that will keep you awake or disturb you once asleep; light , noises, smells etc.

Don't have any drinks too late beacuase although you may not have to actually get up in the night for the loo your body will be thinking about it.

Cold feet can keep me awake (circulation doen't run in our family! so a pair of hiking socks at the ready can help.

If your brain is too active then get up and practice some music, when you start to drop the instrument it's time to go back to bed again!

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: open mike
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 03:43 AM

sometimes I use ear plugs to block out sounds...especially if there is any other noise in the house such as t.v. And I often put a pillow over my head to shield me from any light that might be distracting me. sometimes I take naps in the afternoon...then I often am not sleepy til after midnight....I have not so much trouble sleeping, but erratic sleep patterns, perhaps....

especially in summer when it is hot in the afternoon...sometimes a siesta is all that is I can muster when the temp in 100 or more... so then I sleep in two sessions....like from 2-6 am and 2-6 pm....my daughter a nurse, says this might not be long enough to get REM sleep.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 12:35 PM

Any suggestions welcome, I've tried everything now even resorting to the odd tot of whisky. Now I've learned that the clocks going back does not make things better!

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 01:31 PM

Hello there Patsy! Don't reckon much to alcohol; as another poster says, you zonk out but a couple of hours later you're wide awake. They say that if you're not sleeping, you should get out of bed and sit elsewhere. Then you associate the bedroom with sleeping. But I think it's to do with the brain racing along with problems, and being unable to push the troubles away for the night. My sister recommends writing down the worries on a bit of paper and putting them on the bedside table. You tell yourself they will stay there (not in your head) until you pick them up again in the morning. Apparently your brain agrees and has a rest! (She's had trouble sleeping since she tragically lost her husband TWENTY years ago. It must be terribly hard for people like her.)

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 05:54 PM

Hello there Eliza! Your advice makes sense especially taking yourself somewhere else. Hope we all get a good nights sleep, if not I expect there is good chance we might pop up here later!

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 01:02 AM

Well its 1 AM and I will be up till the sun comes out Dang

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: maeve
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 01:38 AM

Check you PMs, Dan.

Subject: RE: BS: trouble sleeping?
From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 07:38 AM

Sleep on the settee! It's WONDERFUL! :0)

Get a double duvet, fold it in half, lay it on your settee/couch and then, snuggle inside it, hot water bottle by your back, blanket over the top, dogs snoring softly in the corner...You'll be asleep in moments. The back of the settee folds around you, giving you brilliant support...All aches and pains go away, particularly backache..and you don't get draughty either.. :0)

Of course, it would be *better* to snuggle into Captain Jack Sparrow, but he's already taken at the moment...and besides, he'd no doubt wriggle and jiggle all night.. ;0)