Insomnia

[Texas Maverick]

thanks everyone. I took 2 Tylenol PM last night and was able to get about 5 hours sleep. I plan on talking to my sleep doctor this next week to see what he has to say. He is the one that monitors my CPAP usage.

 

Again thanks

 

TM

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

On 8/23/2024 at 12:55 PM, Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 said:

Maybe try to sleep in a cooler room, body covered up nice and cozy.

I found some of my best sleep was up North in a tent, snuggled inside a down sleeping bag, with my head outside the bag, breathing cool/cold air. Even had to wear a toque!

I already turn my ac down to 68 and sleep under an electric blanket set at 16' . I works a bit but not always and it's using an awful lot of electricity.  Not that it matters much:  I have 30 solar panels and often get credits and very few or very low bills.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

On 8/23/2024 at 6:10 PM, Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 said:

As far as the OTC nostrums are concerned I researched them a few years back and settled on Costco's house 'Sleep Aid'. It uses an early antihistamine, not diphenhydramine (Benadryl). It works well for me when needed, and unlike Benadryl, it does not have a rebound effect with extended use.

 

Having an exercise regime can be a great help, too.

Only if you're physically able to do them.  I can do most upper body exercises, but my legs and feet don't work well any more, so if I can walk 100-150 yards in a session ( and I often can't) it's done for a couple of hours while I recharge.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

On 8/23/2024 at 12:20 PM, Texas Lizard said:

I have two friends that could help you sleep...But they live to far away for you...A few hours with them and you will sleep very sound....

 

Texas Lizard

I don't know two women who would go along with that any more.  Not sure I could do it anyway.    

[Texas Maverick]

1 hour ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

I don't know two women who would go along with that any more.  Not sure I could do it anyway.    

Yeah I wondered what kind of friends he has that will travel and make an old man sleepy. Lol

 

TM

[Texas Lizard]

1 hour ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

I don't know two women who would go along with that any more.  Not sure I could do it anyway.    

Could be fun finding out.....

 

Texas Lizard

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I suspect you're right but at my age I can't remember for certain just how.    

 

 

Could be fatal.

Edited August 28 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[Texas Maverick]

20 hours ago, Texas Lizard said:

Could be fun finding out.....

 

Texas Lizard

Not sure my old heart could take it and I definitely know my wife wouldn't go for it. LOL 

 

TM

Edited August 26 by Texas Maverick

[Texas Maverick]

Well, I guess I got my hopes up too soon. The Tylenol didn't help last night. Went to bed at 9:30 after taking the Tylenol PM around 8:45 so it had time to kick in and went to sleep around 10:30. Then I woke up at 2:30. Laid there and getting in a few catnaps but pretty much awake. Got up at 6 and took the puppy out for his morning time. I have decided to go ahead and call my sleep doctor today and see if I can get in to see him before I go crazy from this brain fog. I don't like not being able to focus. I could never be an addict because I like being grounded and not flying above the room.

 

TM

[Eyesa Horg]

37 minutes ago, Texas Maverick said:

Well, I guess I got my hopes up too soon. The Tylenol didn't help last night. Went to bed at 9:30 after taking the Tylenol PM around 8:45 so it had time to kick in and went to sleep around 10:30. Then I woke up at 2:30. Laid there and getting in a few catnaps but pretty much awake. Got up at 6 and took the puppy out for his morning time. I have decided to go ahead and call my sleep doctor today and see if I can get in to see him before I go crazy from this brain fog. I don't like not being able to focus. I could never be an addict because I like being grounded and not flying above the room.

 

TM

Good idea, let us know how you make out at the Doc. 

[Texas Maverick]

5 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Good idea, let us know how you make out at the Doc. 

Thanks

TM

[Sedalia Dave]

On 8/26/2024 at 9:08 AM, Eyesa Horg said:

Good idea, let us know how you make out at the Doc. 

 

THIS ^^^^

[Texas Maverick]

My sleep doc can't get me in until Sept 17 so I called my primary family doc and he has sent in a prescription for Lunesta. I should be picking it up sometime today after the insurance has approved it.

 

Update:

Insurance approved it but after doing some research on Lunesta I am not sure  I want to go that route. It isn't recommended for anyone over 65, it is addictive and has a lot of side effects that I do not want to experience. Back to the drawing board to find something else. Might try Melatonin and Magnesium first. They seem to be safer and also help with sleep.

 

TM

Edited August 28 by Texas Maverick

[Eyesa Horg]

2 hours ago, Texas Maverick said:

My sleep doc can't get me in until Sept 17 so I called my primary family doc and he has sent in a prescription for Lunesta. I should be picking it up sometime today after the insurance has approved it.

 

Update:

Insurance approved it but after doing some research on Lunesta I am not sure  I want to go that route. It isn't recommended for anyone over 65, it is addictive and has a lot of side effects that I do not want to experience. Back to the drawing board to find something else. Might try Melatonin and Magnesium first. They seem to be safer and also help with sleep.

 

TM

Wishing you the best dealing with this issue. Hope they get you on track soon.

EH

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

Just my 'umble opinion, but I'd try the Lunesta. Every medication has possible negative effects that are quite rare but of course are in the literature, and your research will turn them up.

 

The idea it seems to me is to break the current cycle of insomnia. Then re-evaluate when that is done. Just my own thinking.

[Texas Maverick]

52 minutes ago, Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 said:

Just my 'umble opinion, but I'd try the Lunesta. Every medication has possible negative effects that are quite rare but of course are in the literature, and your research will turn them up.

 

The idea it seems to me is to break the current cycle of insomnia. Then re-evaluate when that is done. Just my own thinking.

Thanks for the food for thought. The price has been reduced from $275 down to $17 so might go ahead and get it and try it for at least a night or two. 

 

TM

[Chantry]

On 8/23/2024 at 2:16 PM, Texas Maverick said:

Title says it all. About a week ago I started waking up around 2:00 am and not being able to go back to sleep. 3 to 4 hours sleep a night is about it. I am tired and dragging during the day and can't seem to find an answer to it. I see some medications on the net but am concerned most of them are scams and hype. I need to find an answer soon. I usually wear a CPAP to sleep but this insomnia happens whether I am wearing it or not. Anyone else out there going through this or have any suggestions?

 

TM

 

Can you think of anything that has changed or are you doing something different than when you were sleeping better?

[Texas Maverick]

1 hour ago, Chantry said:

 

Can you think of anything that has changed or are you doing something different than when you were sleeping better?

Nope, been racking my brain trying to figure out something. The only thing that has surfaced is that I got a new pair of glasses 3 weeks ago and it turns out they did the prescription wrong and things were blurry. I went back to my old glasses yesterday and met with the doctor and got the prescription straightened out and the new pair of glasses sent back to be corrected. The doc said it should not have had anything to do with insomnia but will see how it goes for the next couple of night with my old glasses. At least I am not seeing double right now. It would be great if that was the problem but will have to wait and see.

 

TM

[watab kid]

this used to happen to me back when i was working - generally solving problems in my sleep that couldnt be solved till the next day , but sometimes it gave me time to figure things out , im not going to say its all gone way - sometimes im still solving or resolving them , 

 

my wife has a sleeping problem - she only needs a few hours a night so its not helpful that she is awake a lot when im trying to sleep , these days the dog and i are trying to get what we need [about 8 hours] and not finding the environment conducive , im sure things wil one day resolve themselves but till then our sleep patterns are not normal , 

[bgavin]

On 8/23/2024 at 11:16 AM, Texas Maverick said:

Title says it all. About a week ago I started waking up around 2:00 am and not being able to go back to sleep. 3 to 4 hours sleep a night is about it.
...
Anyone else out there going through this or have any suggestions?

Ditto.
I walk three miles each day, no help for this.

For the record, I am taking a diuretic for blood pressure, and Jardiance for diabetes.
Both make you pee.
A lot.

I surrendered my prostate several years ago to cancer.
That is what keeps most mature gentlemen up at night, but not my root cause.

[Texas Maverick]

5 hours ago, bgavin said:

Ditto.
I walk three miles each day, no help for this.

For the record, I am taking a diuretic for blood pressure, and Jardiance for diabetes.
Both make you pee.
A lot.

I surrendered my prostate several years ago to cancer.
That is what keeps most mature gentlemen up at night, but not my root cause.

i take 3 blood pressure medications and a blood thinner so have to be careful what I take. I am also very sensitive to medication and can't take a lot of it because I don't like the dizzy, floating sensation that some meds give me. I tried Melatonin last night and it made me feel like I was high on drugs. I went to the pharmacy to pick up the Lunesta today and the pharmacist wanted to talk to me before I bought it. She said it causes dizziness, lack of focus, next day fog/drowsiness and she said mental disturbances (whatever the heck that means) along with possible hallucinations. Needless to say for $271 I passed and didn't get it. Not sure what my next step will be. I guess I will quit trying to stay awake during the day and when I get sleepy just give in and take a nap and see if that helps.

 

TM

[Texas Maverick]

On 8/28/2024 at 2:26 PM, Texas Maverick said:

Thanks for the food for thought. The price has been reduced from $275 down to $17 so might go ahead and get it and try it for at least a night or two. 

 

TM

Went to pick it up today and they had made a mistake and it was $271 for a 30 day supply and that was after the insurance deductible. Also told by the pharmacist that it had a number of side effects that I needed to be made aware of before taking it. After her talk I ended up passing on taking it. Not sure what the next step is going to be.

 

TM

[Eyesa Horg]

The taking a nap might at least give you some needed rest. But will probably make it harder at night to sleep. Good luck TM

[Texas Maverick]

Saga continues. I picked up a new prescription of Trazadone yesterday and was told to take half a tab to see how it did. I took it last night and didn't have any effect at all on me. No side effects but no sleepiness either. Spent the night in my recliner again taking cat naps. The doc said if half a tab didn't work then to try a whole 50 mg tab so I guess that is what I will try tonight. Sure would be nice to get a complete good nights sleep.

 

TM

[bgavin]

My bride is back to trying CBD again for better sleep.
It helps a bit.

I will never again get a full night of interrupted sleep.

Down at 10, up at 2 to pee, awake until 4+ or thereabouts, then up at 5:30, maybe 6:00

[Texas Maverick]

2 hours ago, bgavin said:

My bride is back to trying CBD again for better sleep.
It helps a bit.

I will never again get a full night of interrupted sleep.

Down at 10, up at 2 to pee, awake until 4+ or thereabouts, then up at 5:30, maybe 6:00

I can literally feel for you. I also found Nyquil to work in the past, but now that I am on blood pressure medicine I was told I couldn't use it. I found the Nyquil HB which is supposed to be ok to take with blood pressure medication. So that is my backup for now. Will see how taking a whole 50 mg Trazadone tab works tonight. I am just thankful I am retired and not having to go into the office anymore. That would make for a very long tiring day for sure.

 

TM

[Texas Maverick]

Well, I did get some sleep last night after taking a full pill of the Trazodone. I went to bed at 10:30 and woke up at 5:00. So at least is was the most sleep I have had in over 2 weeks. Hopefully, it continues. Thanks everyone for all the support and suggestions. 

 

TM

Edited August 31 by Texas Maverick

[Eyesa Horg]

Fingers crossed that you continue to get some sleep.

[bgavin]

Earlier this week I got 8 hours of sleep.
It only took three days to do it.

[Texas Maverick]

23 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Fingers crossed that you continue to get some sleep.

Well the pill didn't work last night. I took it at 9 and was still wide awake at 11:45 so I got up and took a swig of the Nyquil HB and went back to the trusty recliner and ended up falling asleep around 12:30 and slept until our puppy decided to start his barking fit at 3:30. After getting him settled back down I went back to the recliner and slept until 7:30. Not sure what is in the Nyquil but it does work on me most of the time. I just hate taking it for just sleep.

 

TM

[Texas Maverick]

20 hours ago, bgavin said:

Earlier this week I got 8 hours of sleep.
It only took three days to do it.

Sorry to hear that. It does stink when you can't get a nice nights sleep. When younger I could get by with around 3 hours sleep a night and still function fully the next day but not anymore. I need my beauty sleep now.

 

TM

[Sedalia Dave]

Do you take any vitamins or supplements?

[Rip Snorter]

4 hours ago, Texas Maverick said:

Sorry to hear that. It does stink when you can't get a nice nights sleep. When younger I could get by with around 3 hours sleep a night and still function fully the next day but not anymore. I need my beauty sleep now.

 

TM

Free, no meds - might work for you. https://med.umn.edu/news/top-story-practice-military-sleep-method-fall-asleep-mere-minutes-naturally

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

5 hours ago, Texas Maverick said:

. Not sure what is in the Nyquil but it does work on me most of the time. I just hate taking it for just sleep.

 

But that's the whole purpose right now. Get caught up on sleep, then reassess the situation.

[Texas Maverick]

1 hour ago, Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 said:

 

But that's the whole purpose right now. Get caught up on sleep, then reassess the situation.

I spent some time today researching the ingredient that is used in Nyquil for sleep-aid and found that they also have meds with the same ingredient without all the other ingredients. Equate, Unisom, ZZZQuil, Decapryn and Doxy-Sleep-Aid all have the Doxylamine as their main ingredient. Might have to check them out and see if they might work as well.

 

TM