I Can't Sleep.

[shereads]

Do you have an old Al Gore speech?

"Lockbox."

 

[Edward Teach]

"Lockbox."

Damn, judging from the time of your post, "Lockbox" must have worked. Wish I had thought of it.
I tried the "Don't Get Snippy" one, got fired up all over again, had to take extra Valium and overslept.

Ed

Blind memo to self: "Lockbox" for insomnia

 

[Dirt Man]

Damn, judging from the time of your post, "Lockbox" must have worked. Wish I had thought of it.
I tried the "Don't Get Snippy" one, got fired up all over again, had to take extra Valium and overslept.

Ed

Blind memo to self: "Lockbox" for insomnia

What the hell is a "Lockbo... Zzzzzzzz

 

[Guest]

This thread is a demon.

A nasty horrible, contagious demon.

It's spread its wickedness to me now.

Buggered if I can sleep tonight.

 

[minsue]

Buggered if I can sleep tonight.

Sounds about right

 

[magichandslee]

Please, if I may. Insomnia is one of my fields, I am a Doctor.

We can medicate, but this allows the medication to defeat the body's needs, it is only a stop-gap. Long-term use of sleep aids, even over the counter, can result in a dependency that can take weeks or even months for the body to restore after discontinuance.

Normal sleep deprivation can be the result of a myriad of causes.

Environmental factors, upset, stress at work, etc.


Diet.

Lack of adequate fluids, or introduction of the wrong fluids, coffee, tea, alcohol.

Sleep Apnea is extremely common, especially in those over 40, sleeping on the side can help, if not, equipment is available.

Tobacco use.

There are lots more, these are most common, with daily stress being number one, and dehydration being number two.

Many medications interfere, too.

One simple trick is a very hot bath, then lie back and relax in a recliner, be sure you are comfortably warm. A day of sunshine can also help, if winter, try purchasing a sunlight lamp and bask for a half hour or so before going to bed.

In many cases, the support of the bed itself can be the problem. If you can sleep fairly well sitting reclined, suspect the bed or sleep apnea..

Hopefully this helps,

Lee

 

[shereads]

Thanks Lee.

My problem with sleep seems to be something lifelong - a pattern that my body wants to follow, of late nights wide awake, and sleeping during the daytime. Ever since childhood, I've felt like I was "supposed" to be asleep at the wrong time. Now that I'm working at home for half a day and going to the office in the afternoons, I've given in to the sleep pattern that seems most natural to me. It hasn't been a problem until recently, when the office needs more of my time earlier in the day, and i can't seem to break the pattern. Arggh.

I know from experience that sleepiing pills help me only for a couple of weeks and then they make things worse - can't sleep at all without, but sleep fitfully with them, a shallow sleep with unsettling dreams. And there's no way out of that except to go "cold turkey" for a few miserable days, which means being exhausted day and night and almost worthless at work.

Help. I need a transplant of brain cells from someone who likes to work at 8 a.m. and is happily out like a light by the time the 11:00 news reaches the sports part.

Some of our ancesters had to be night-watchmen, right?

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Sleep Apnea is extremely common, especially in those over 40, sleeping on the side can help, if not, equipment is available.

Dear Dr. Lee,

I'm up late tonight with no good indication that I'll be falling asleep anytime soon. Sex is my normal sleeping pill and it is sadly in short supply, of late. You mentioned equipment...would you care to elaborate on that? And do you have to be over 40 to use it?

Regards,
Tuesday Eve Insomniac-Lucky

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Thanks Lee.

My problem with sleep seems to be something lifelong - a pattern that my body wants to follow, of late nights wide awake, and sleeping during the daytime. Ever since childhood, I've felt like I was "supposed" to be asleep at the wrong time. Now that I'm working at home for half a day and going to the office in the afternoons, I've given in to the sleep pattern that seems most natural to me. It hasn't been a problem until recently, when the office needs more of my time earlier in the day, and i can't seem to break the pattern. Arggh.

I know from experience that sleepiing pills help me only for a couple of weeks and then they make things worse - can't sleep at all without, but sleep fitfully with them, a shallow sleep with unsettling dreams. And there's no way out of that except to go "cold turkey" for a few miserable days, which means being exhausted day and night and almost worthless at work.

Help. I need a transplant of brain cells from someone who likes to work at 8 a.m. and is happily out like a light by the time the 11:00 news reaches the sports part.

Some of our ancesters had to be night-watchmen, right?

Would be happy to offer up some sleepy brain cells but take no responsibility if you suddenly begin howling at the moon and streaking the neighborhood for no apparent reason.

So when do you want to make the switch?

lucky

 

[shereads]

Would be happy to offer up some sleepy brain cells but take no responsibility if you suddenly begin howling at the moon and streaking the neighborhood for no apparent reason.

I have an apparent reason.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I have an apparent reason.

Then by all means, Wild Thing! Streak away oh breasted one.

And then sleep deeply whilst dreaming of the next nude jaunt.

lucky

 

[magichandslee]

Hi, lucky-e-eleven.

Sleep Apnea is usually found in older people. The cause is soft tissue at the entrance to the airway. It softens and falls back forming a restriction.
This causes one to gasp for air periodically in reflex.
It also is a cause of serious snoring.
Current methods short of surgery are machines that are basically air pumps.
They force air into the lungs, this can assist in breathing while sleeping.
The machines are cumbersome and awkward but effective.
We are finding that mild Oxygen therapy is helpful, too.

Your comment about sex being helpful is actually right on. Orgasm requires oxygen, and the act of intercourse is excercise, so that follows logically that it would be beneficial to resting afterwards.

I had a few problems with normal sleeping right after my husband passed away. That was a huge change to lifestyle. I found that simple excersize in the evening before bed really helps a lot.

Lee

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Hi, lucky-e-eleven.

Sleep Apnea is usually found in older people. The cause is soft tissue at the entrance to the airway. It softens and falls back forming a restriction.
This causes one to gasp for air periodically in reflex.
It also is a cause of serious snoring.
Current methods short of surgery are machines that are basically air pumps.
They force air into the lungs, this can assist in breathing while sleeping.
The machines are cumbersome and awkward but effective.
We are finding that mild Oxygen therapy is helpful, too.

Your comment about sex being helpful is actually right on. Orgasm requires oxygen, and the act of intercourse is excercise, so that follows logically that it would be beneficial to resting afterwards.

I had a few problems with normal sleeping right after my husband passed away. That was a huge change to lifestyle. I found that simple excersize in the evening before bed really helps a lot.

Lee

Thank you kindly. The equipment sounds like no fun, so I will just have to start pre-bedtime aerobics or find a way to have sex. Although I fear that I will be thinking of oxygen supply upon next orgasm but suppose if it helps me sleep it can't be all bad. Appreciate the help.

-lucky

 

[OldnotDead]

Hi, Sher,

Sounds like you've got 'induced jet lag'. Talk to anyone that is involved in swing shift work and they'll all tell you about the horrors of not being able to sleep on the days that don't follow the predominant 'normal' pattern. It's not the same as insomnia which represents a real inability to sleep. You just don't want to sleep when you now need to.

Best two suggestions I've read are the sunlamp, or light box, suggestion and exercise (or sexercise, if available).

I only have two other suggestions: First is that if your pattern is normally up late, sleep late and then you have a day that you have to get up early, going to bed significantly early is not going to work. Try some exercise and hit the hay an hour or two (at most) earlier than normal. Much more than a couple of hours early and your body will rebel and let you nap and then have you wide awake when you least want to be.

Just like jet lag, if the change in pattern is going to be 'permanent' (or at least for an extended time) you basically have to adjust your body gradually to the new time schedule. Depending upone how many 'time zones' you are trying to shift, it can take a few days or a couple of weeks.

Second, look at your meal cycle. You may be able to improve your internal cues to sleep by adjusting when you eat to coincide with when you need to sleep.

Last, on alcohol. A glass of wine, a beer or one drink may help relax you. But again, it's more about cues that you give to your body about time of day than anything else.

Best wishes

 

[magichandslee]

I found that without my regular partner, and the results of medications, I had some episodes of tossing and turning.

Also waking numerous times during the evening.

Short of standing outside in a negligee waiting for a bite. LoL, I started working out to the point of needing a shower from the sweat, and then take care of myself. It isn't the same but it does help.

But I am a little manic (Lying..a LOT Manic) Sorry I have to admit it to me to fix it.

So it is easy for me to get lost in that for an hour or so, it is hard for those who aren't like me to focus on such a discipline.

But it does work for reaching REM sleep, at least for me.

It would help even more if my phone rang, but it's been almost a week.

Lee

 

[shereads]

You're a better woman than i am, then, Lee. I just popped an ambien for the first time in a month. Ten minutes from now, I'll be dozing like those sleepy puppies they show in their commercial. I may ever dream that I'm a puppy.




Forgive my weakness. i have sinned. I know I'll regret it tomorrow night when I "know" I can't sleep without it.

Yours in ambien,

S

 

[Svenskaflicka]

If I could sleep at night, I'd never get anything done around the house.

 

[shereads]

Last, on alcohol. A glass of wine, a beer or one drink may help relax you. But again, it's more about cues that you give to your body about time of day than anything else.

Thank you for the tips, OldNot. One of my college summer jobs was working the midnight-to-eight-a.m. shift at a factory. I took that shift because the pay was better, but I couldn't handle the weirdness. It wasn't that I couldn't adjust my sleep cycle - that seemed natural to me. It was the fact of being cut off from the rest of the world. Coming home to sleep while your friends and family are beginning their day can make you feel as if you're living in another dimension. Oddly enough, there were married couples at the job who worked separate shifts. Dad working nights because of the better pay, mom working during the day when the kids were at school. I have no idea when the entire family would get together.

I need to adjust my eating and excercise schedules, I think. A glass of wine, unfortunately, has the oppostite effect.

 

[shereads]

If I could sleep at night, I'd never get anything done around the house.

Have you ever pruned the shrubs at night?

Don't.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I don't have any bushes to prune. OK, one, but Hubby has asked me not to prune it.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

YAWN!

lucky here...sleepless again...

just wondering if internet YAWNS are as contagious as those in important meetings or phone conversations. seems like everytime someone YAWNS around me, it sets me off too. even saying YAWNS makes me want to YAWN...is it working?

oh well...I keep YAWNING and it's not working, so I'm giving up and moving over to the dull thread.

YAWN,
lucky

 

[shereads]

Re: YAWN!

just wondering if internet YAWNS are as contagious as those in important meetings or phone conversations. seems like everytime someone YAWNS around me, it sets me off too. even saying YAWNS makes me want to YAWN...is it working?

Apparently so...





Bitch!

I'll get you for this...I'll post the name of a horrible song and you'll think about it all night.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Re: Re: YAWN!

Bitch!

I'll get you for this...I'll post the name of a horrible song and you'll think about it all night.

Hit me with your best shot, Your Cleavageness! Looks as though I'll be up for awhile. And I love to sing .

Since it's always just you and me at this hour...we should go toilet papering or something fun like that. I'm always tired after that.

~lucky

 

[shereads]

Re: Re: Re: YAWN!

Hit me with your best shot, Your Cleavageness! Looks as though I'll be up for awhile. And I love to sing .

Oh, great. Pat Benatar. Thanks a lot.



You may be too young for my cruelest ear-worm suggestions...Are you at all familiar with Bobby Goldsboro?

See the tree how big it's grown
You know it hasn't been too long
It wasn't big...

I laughed at her and she got mad
The first day that she planted it
It was just a twig...

And honey I miss you
And I'm being goo - oo - ood
I'd love to be with you
If only I could...


You have to admire the man's craft. Consider, "The first day that she planted it it was just a twig." The double "it"s were a risk, but for me it's what makes this a great ear-worm. If you're not familiar with the song, you were comatose during the 70s. If you are familiar with it, you wished you were in a coma.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Re: Re: Re: Re: YAWN!

Oh, great. Pat Benatar. Thanks a lot.



You may be too young for my cruelest ear-worm suggestions...Are you at all familiar with Bobby Goldsboro?

See the tree how big it's grown
You know it hasn't been too long
It wasn't big...

I laughed at her and she got mad
The first day that she planted it
It was just a twig...

And honey I miss you
And I'm being goo - oo - ood
I'd love to be with you
If only I could...


You have to admire the man's craft. Condier, "The first day that she planted it it was just a twig." The double "it"s were a risk, but for me it's what makes this a great ear-worm. If you're not familiar with the song, you were comatose during the 70s. If you are familiar with it, you wished you were in a coma.

Hey! Pat Benatar kicks ass...I can think of worse things to have stuck in your head. Starting with the little gem above, but I always prefer this one...

This is the song that never ends
Yes it goes on and on my friend

Some people started singing it
Not knowing what it was

And they'll continue singing it
Forever just because...

This is the song that never ends
Yes it goes on and on my friends...you get the idea.

Anyway...back to YAWNING and counting stars for me.

~lucky