Insomnia

[Mobasser]

I'm wondering if other BR members suffer with insomnia. I have no trouble falling asleep at 10:00 when I go to bed. Something will wake me up later, and I can't get back to sleep for another two hrs.                                            The result is my sleep is broken up, and I feel burned out and tired when I get up.           Any ideas on getting a better night's sleep?

[padlin]

Happens a lot to me, wife too. In our case we blame it on aging. I’ve gotten to where if I lay there for say 30 minutes, I get up and read for a while, sometime a bowl of cereal works too. For me, it comes and goes.

 

 At one point in my working years I tried OTC drugs, that made it worse, you might sleep but you feel even worse in the morning, booze of course does the same.

[gim]

It could be sleep apnea.  Its a diagnosed, treatable condition and is often genetic.  You might consider having a sleep study done.  It causes breathing issues like snoring during the night and your brain doesn't get enough oxygen, which can lead to other health issues.  Plus it could be why you don't have enough energy during the day.

[fishhugger]

as people age, sleep can be an issue...or rather lack of. if my back is relaxed, i sleep better. if it ain't, i'm never quite comfortable and i'm fidgety - sleep suffers.  if worry or anxiety is keeping you awake, try not to think of stressful things. leave them for the daytime.  i've used thc or pot - that can become habit forming.  i've never tried ambien, etc. what i use almost every night is asmr - from youtube. look it up, if interested.  also, there's just 'soothing' sounds you can play on reasonable quality speakers ---- fire, water, airport, starship...l haircuts......... the list goes on............ youtube....

[gim]

19 minutes ago, fishhugger said:

i've never tried ambien

That can become extremely addictive.  Use sparingly.  My advice would be to avoid becoming addicted to a nightly sleep aide.  Even OTC meds like Tylenol PM can cause issues.

[Mobasser]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

That can become extremely addictive.  Use sparingly.  My advice would be to avoid becoming addicted to a nightly sleep aide.  Even OTC meds like Tylenol PM can cause issues.

I don't like to take anything, and as you say, many sleep aids can be addictive. I've read that melotonin is a safe thing, but I'll talk to my doctor first. I'll be 66 next month, and this could be from aging.

[fishhugger]

5 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I don't like to take anything, and as you say, many sleep aids can be addictive. I've read that melotonin is a safe thing, but I'll talk to my doctor first. I'll be 66 next month, and this could be from aging.

yes, could be one of the many joys of aging, lol.......    i'll be 67 this year.....  i got prostate issues, so peeing at night has been a problem.  now i'm on flomax, which definitely helps. i just don't like takin' all these dumb meds. 

[TOXIC]

I’m good unless I’m going fishing in the morning.? My brother in law has apnea and insomnia and while we were in Wisconsin one year, I came into the cottage from fishing in the morning and plopped down on the couch and said that I was going to catch a quick hour or so nap.  I woke up and he was in amazement that I could just go to sleep whenever I wanted.  I normally don’t have a problem sleeping but if I wake up for too long it resets my “body clock” and I’m up for good.  

[Darth-Baiter]

i'm lucky.  always have been.  i sleep thru, and even if i wake up, i can drift off again quickly.

 

i would contact my doctor ASAP if things changed for me.   it actually did for a bit, and it messed me up profoundly.  i didnt sleep for 3 days and it almost killed me.  i am not exaggerating.  i am glad that is behind me.  i called my doc ASAP.  it was so scary.

 

i declined meds and elected to meditate and to do white noise experiments.  i wear my headphones with the volume turned as low as it can go, and i am done.  asleep.  i still resort to the method everyonce in awhile. 

[TnRiver46]

@Mobasser, Replace a wooden transom and you’ll sleep like a dead man 

7 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i'm lucky.  always have been.  i sleep thru, and even if i wake up, i can drift off again quickly.

 

i would contact my doctor ASAP if things changed for me.   it actually did for a bit, and it messed me up profoundly.  i didnt sleep for 3 days and it almost killed me.  i am not exaggerating.  i am glad that is behind me.  i called my doc ASAP.  it was so scary.

 

i declined meds and elected to meditate and to do white noise experiments.  i wear my headphones with the volume turned as low as it can go, and i am done.  asleep.  i still resort to the method everyonce in awhile. 

That works til your buddy cranks the volume up to max while you’re sleeping. Had a buddy do that to another buddy and I don’t know if I’ve ever laughed so hard. He sat up like the undertaker in a coffin 

[Skunkmaster-k]

What’s waking you up?

[Mobasser]

2 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

What’s waking you up?

Not sure

[gim]

Obviously if there are distractions at night like kids, pets, or your spouse then there's sometimes not a lot you can do.  The human body sleeps gets optimum sleep when the air temperature is between 65-70 degrees.  I realize that it may not be possible to keep the temp in your bedroom at that temp though.

 

This is generally why I sleep much better when I'm on the road for work.  I have no distractions in a hotel room by myself and crank the temp way down so its frosty in there.

[Skunkmaster-k]

This happens to me too. Getting up and setting  in the living room reading my Bible for a little while almost always helps me fall back asleep. 

[Captain Phil]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

It could be sleep apnea.  Its a diagnosed, treatable condition and is often genetic.  You might consider having a sleep study done.  It causes breathing issues like snoring during the night and your brain doesn't get enough oxygen, which can lead to other health issues.  Plus it could be why you don't have enough energy during the day.

 

Good advice.  I took Advil PM to help me sleep for ten years and it gave me an ulcer.  I went to a sleep doctor and had a sleep study done. It's an interesting process that requires an overnight stay.  Turned out I had a marginal case of sleep apnea.  This meant my insurance would pay for CPAP if I wanted it. I tried the machine and it was horrible. I can't imagine anyone getting used to that thing.   I discovered there are drugs that can cause sleeplessness.   Alcohol also keeps me up at night as does eating large meals before bedtime.  I stopped drinking alcohol and I eat lightly in the evening.   I also take a 30 minute nap in the afternoon.  Any more than 30 minutes and I will be up all night.  I'm in bed a 9:30 PM and up at 6 AM feeling refreshed. Are you under stress?  If so, exercise will help.  Get a hobby that gives you enjoyment.  That way you have something nice to think about instead of mulling over the bad.

[FishTax]

Occasionally I'll have anxiety that keeps me up, usually work related. I've found that listening to audiobooks helps me significantly to relax my mind. Try to avoid screens, that seems to stimulate some people more than others.

 

I'll take benadryl sometimes, but never more than half dose and never more than 2x/week. I also have bad allergies, so half the time I'm taking it for that anyway. 

Melatonin can have hormonal effects, not sure to what extent but you can research further. It may still be better than other options. 

 

Sorry to hear you're struggling with this. I've always said I can deal with almost anything as long as I get sleep. I started saying that when I was up all night with a newborn a few years ago. 

[A-Jay]

I have had some occasional sleeping challenges on & off much of my 64 years.

In the long run what's helped me, even now, is living a healthy life style.

My dogs allow me to 'relax', and I try to stay out of my own head.

Thinking about fishing can be both a blessing & a curse, depending on the season.

Hope you get it straightened out @Mobasser.

A-Jay

 

 

[TOXIC]

And as an aside…..I started using earplugs years ago when we  take our Lake St Clair trips because we sleep bunkhouse style most of the time.  I then transitioned to using them all the time.  It’s not necessarily from outside noise waking me up, it for the more pure silence from everything else.  It’s very calming.  You don’t realize how much natural noise there is until you remove it.  

[Bird]

Sleeping has never been an issue for me personally, fall asleep in a matter of seconds.

The problem began as I got older and started snoring, to the point that the wife couldn't sleep.

Got a sleep study done and had mild sleep apnea. 

CPAP now going on 6 years..... harmony.

 

I also drink a glass of red wine " dry " in the evening, heard that helps with sleeping disorders.

hope you get this resolved because lack of proper sleep can bring on all sorts of health issues including weight gain.

[Will Ketchum]

No sense repeating all the good suggestions above. I'll add to them that you could watch some comedy you enjoy on TV and go to bed with humor on your mind. That tends to stick with me even when I get up in the morning. A horror movie will stick in your mind too and you don't want that.

[gim]

42 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

It's an interesting process that requires an overnight stay.

They can do it at your house now.  Its monitored remotely.

 

I haven't had it done yet but I'm sure at some point I'll need to do it, as sleep apnea is a problem in my extended family.  Being over weight is a factor sometimes too.

[Mobasser]

A friend told me to drink one can of beer before I go to bed. Not great advise. One can turns in to two, two into three and so on. Before long your a drunk.  I don't like being a sleepy head when I hit the lake at sunrise. 

I have my a annual checkup on Sept 15th. I'll ask my doctor what he recommends.

[Captain Phil]

One thing I should mention that's never talked about.  When you are young, you want to sleep with your spouse.  If your spouse snores or breathes heavily when sleeping, this can keep you from getting a good night's sleep.  There is nothing negative about sleeping apart.  It's doesn't mean you don't love each other or are too old for intimacy.   There is plenty if time for that when you are awake.

[Woody B]

Do you use caffeine?   It affects me more/longer as I've gotten older.   I don't ingest much caffeine, and never any after 10AM.   

 

Some believe that sleep is a habit.   I tend to agree.   I'm a light sleeper, but normally fall back to sleep easily.    There's a train track a mile or so from my house.  I'm a light sleeper but normally fall back to sleep easily.  When we moved here (17 years ago) there was a train came by at 3:15am like clockwork.  I noticed once when we were on vacation that I work up every night at 3:15.   My body had a habit of waking up at 3:15.   

 

According to my Doctor most people with trouble sleeping (without an underlying medical condition causing it) can correct it with temporary use of some type of sleep aid.    The sleep aid in Advil PM (and many other sleep/pain medications) is diphenhydramine.   You can take Benadryl instead of a sleep/pain medication to prevent the pain killer side effects.  (like Capt Phi's ulcer).  He also says melatonin is a good sleep aid.  My wife takes it.   Believe it or not, the only time I have trouble sleeping is when I'm too tired.   I'll take a Benadryl is I feel like it's going to be one of those nights.  (maybe once every couple months)

 

Good luck.

[LrgmouthShad]

So far so good, but I am sorry to hear about your struggles. You're not alone.

 

I have been trying to get more sleep recently. Seems like my body requires a lot of it. Some days it seems like I can never get enough. Melatonin is helpful when I want to adjust my sleep schedule. Otherwise I avoid it and try to get myself to sleep naturally. I avoid alcohol when I want to feel more rested and overall get better sleep. That's more often, right now.

 

My parents, in particular my Dad, have trouble sleeping. I'm pretty sure my Dad runs off an average of 4-5 hours a night, maybe less. If you met him, you'd never know it.