I wanted to know what all of your sleeping patterns are like? I used to sleep 8 hrs a night easily. But for the past year I have had the worst sleeping pattern. I go to bed at 10 and then i wake right up out of a deep sleep at around 1a.m. and then i'm up until about 3a.m and i finally fall back asleep but toss and turn for the remaining hrs. Then i'm up at 5a.m. to workout. The only thing that has changed in my life is i started physical therapy school a year ago but its not that sressful to keep me up all night. I have tried melatonin, 5-HTP, other OTC sleep aides to sleep with no avail. Once in a while i will take 2 tylonol pm's and it knocks me out but then i feel groggy in the morning (more so then with no sleep) any suggestions? do you all experience this?
sleep
- Thread starter kariev
- Start date
Fit_mommy
Cathlete
I don't have any advise for you unfortunately but I have been having sleeping problems as well....
Prior to having my son, I would go to bed around 11pm and drag my butt out of bed between 6 and 7am. I had no trouble sleeping but was not getting enough rest so it was always a fight to get up in the morning.
Having a baby made me cherish my rest more and so I began going to bed between 9 and 10pm and I would get up at 6:30am with no problems at all!
Lately though, even though my schedule of 9 or 10pm to 6:30am has not changed, I have begun waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back to sleep! Sometimes I can't sleep for the rest of the night and other times it'll take me from one hour to several hours to fall asleep again. My brain just starts workin' on over-drive and it keeps me from sleeping. It doesn't even matter if something is bothering me or not!
When the above first started happening I thought it was from caffeine so I cut it out after dinner and cut it back during the rest of the day. I soon realized that although that may bother me a little bit, it's NOT the only problem. I began to notice that they only time I have sleeping issues are when I have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom! I guess getting out of bed wakes me up and then it's hard to get back to sleep cause by the time I get up I've usually had 4 or 5 hours of sleep so I guess I've "taken the edge off" and my body just isn't as tired.
So anyway...all of that to say that you are not alone. I have never tried any kind of sleeping aid. I pretty much refuse to. I have seen too many people grow dependent upon them and I don't want that to happen to me if I can help it. I am a SAHM mom right now so I have the capability to nap in the afternoons if need be. Once I go back to work f/t, if I am still having issues, I will have to re-think how to handle it because I won't be able to function at a 40 hour per week job after losing several hours of sleep!x(
Prior to having my son, I would go to bed around 11pm and drag my butt out of bed between 6 and 7am. I had no trouble sleeping but was not getting enough rest so it was always a fight to get up in the morning.
Having a baby made me cherish my rest more and so I began going to bed between 9 and 10pm and I would get up at 6:30am with no problems at all!
Lately though, even though my schedule of 9 or 10pm to 6:30am has not changed, I have begun waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back to sleep! Sometimes I can't sleep for the rest of the night and other times it'll take me from one hour to several hours to fall asleep again. My brain just starts workin' on over-drive and it keeps me from sleeping. It doesn't even matter if something is bothering me or not!
When the above first started happening I thought it was from caffeine so I cut it out after dinner and cut it back during the rest of the day. I soon realized that although that may bother me a little bit, it's NOT the only problem. I began to notice that they only time I have sleeping issues are when I have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom! I guess getting out of bed wakes me up and then it's hard to get back to sleep cause by the time I get up I've usually had 4 or 5 hours of sleep so I guess I've "taken the edge off" and my body just isn't as tired.
So anyway...all of that to say that you are not alone. I have never tried any kind of sleeping aid. I pretty much refuse to. I have seen too many people grow dependent upon them and I don't want that to happen to me if I can help it. I am a SAHM mom right now so I have the capability to nap in the afternoons if need be. Once I go back to work f/t, if I am still having issues, I will have to re-think how to handle it because I won't be able to function at a 40 hour per week job after losing several hours of sleep!x(
seeking_guns
Cathlete
OMG, Wendy, that describes my pattern almost to a T, except that I don't have a baby, of course.
I need at least 7 hours of sleep a night to function decently the next day, and while I used to be able to sleep like the dead, I noticed my sleeping patterns went out of whack around the time I turned 30 or so. I'll wake up in the middle of the night (sometimes b/c I have to get up to use the bathroom) and often can't get back to sleep. Like Wendy said, my mind starts working - not always necessarily from stress - and I just can't sleep. And then, at the opposite extreme, I have been known to doze on the couch at 6 or 7 pm and not wake up til the next morning. It was actually happening quite a bit for awhile there, but not so much anymore. Generally, I rarely have problems *falling* asleep - when I do have an issue, it is *staying* asleep.
I'm not sure what the answer is. I avoid taking meds, too. The only suggestions which come to mind would be to not drink caffeine after a certain hour (you might have to experiment) and to not work out too late as that can keep you up. I haven't tried this, but I know a few people who say sound machines, ear plugs, and/or an eye mask helps them.
Cathy
"I always loved running...You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."
-Jesse Owens
I need at least 7 hours of sleep a night to function decently the next day, and while I used to be able to sleep like the dead, I noticed my sleeping patterns went out of whack around the time I turned 30 or so. I'll wake up in the middle of the night (sometimes b/c I have to get up to use the bathroom) and often can't get back to sleep. Like Wendy said, my mind starts working - not always necessarily from stress - and I just can't sleep. And then, at the opposite extreme, I have been known to doze on the couch at 6 or 7 pm and not wake up til the next morning. It was actually happening quite a bit for awhile there, but not so much anymore. Generally, I rarely have problems *falling* asleep - when I do have an issue, it is *staying* asleep.
I'm not sure what the answer is. I avoid taking meds, too. The only suggestions which come to mind would be to not drink caffeine after a certain hour (you might have to experiment) and to not work out too late as that can keep you up. I haven't tried this, but I know a few people who say sound machines, ear plugs, and/or an eye mask helps them.
Cathy
"I always loved running...You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."
-Jesse Owens
Fit_mommy
Cathlete
I don't often have problems falling sleep to start with either, Cathy. If I do, at that point it's usually b/c something is bothering me.
My way to combat sleeplessness these days is to avoid getting up to pee b/4 6am at all costs!:7 If I wake up and have to use the bathroom but can get comfortable enough to fall back to sleep despite it then I will not get up. I only get up now if I absolutely have to! Probably not the best idea either but what are ya gonna do, right?
This morning, as a matter of fact, I woke up around 4am I think and had to pee. It was freezing in my room so that made it IMPOSSIBLE for me to get comfortable between having to going and shivering!:7 I got up, turned off the fan and went to the bathroom. I think I dozed a few times between then and 6:30 but that was it. Atleast I was able to relax enough to where I didn't feel the need to get out of bed.
My way to combat sleeplessness these days is to avoid getting up to pee b/4 6am at all costs!:7 If I wake up and have to use the bathroom but can get comfortable enough to fall back to sleep despite it then I will not get up. I only get up now if I absolutely have to! Probably not the best idea either but what are ya gonna do, right?
This morning, as a matter of fact, I woke up around 4am I think and had to pee. It was freezing in my room so that made it IMPOSSIBLE for me to get comfortable between having to going and shivering!:7 I got up, turned off the fan and went to the bathroom. I think I dozed a few times between then and 6:30 but that was it. Atleast I was able to relax enough to where I didn't feel the need to get out of bed.
sherryc
Cathlete
I've just come to accept the fact that I will never sleep thru the night again. I usually go to bed around 11pm and get up about 6am. I am up every night at least 2x to go pee (if not more). I have tried Tylenol PM too, but feel groggy in the am. I'm lucky enough to have a small nap almost everyday (1/2 hour) and I find this gets me thru the day. I never wake up feeling totally refreshed, but there's not alot I can do about it. BTW I am 43.
Sherry
Sherry
seeking_guns
Cathlete
Um, yeah. I do this, too. *lol*
>My way to combat sleeplessness these days is to avoid getting
>up to pee b/4 6am at all costs!:7 If I wake up and have to use
>the bathroom but can get comfortable enough to fall back to
>sleep despite it then I will not get up. I only get up now if
>I absolutely have to! Probably not the best idea either but
>what are ya gonna do, right?
>
>My way to combat sleeplessness these days is to avoid getting
>up to pee b/4 6am at all costs!:7 If I wake up and have to use
>the bathroom but can get comfortable enough to fall back to
>sleep despite it then I will not get up. I only get up now if
>I absolutely have to! Probably not the best idea either but
>what are ya gonna do, right?
>
you ladies hit it on the head when you said your mind starts spinning. i think as soon as my eyes open and not bad things either i just think. it could even be about what workout i'm doing in the morning I don't take meds i have just tried them. i know i could easily become dependent on them. i too have the luxury of taking a power nap in the afternoon so that helps. hopefully one day i will get back to normal. last night i literally slept for 2 hrs. i have cried most of the day b/c when i don't get sleep i'm an emotional wreck. i should sleep better tonight since i got no nap today. i'll be lucky to make it till 9
I don't take meds i have just tried them. i know i could easily become dependent on them. i too have the luxury of taking a power nap in the afternoon so that helps. hopefully one day i will get back to normal. last night i literally slept for 2 hrs. i have cried most of the day b/c when i don't get sleep i'm an emotional wreck. i should sleep better tonight since i got no nap today. i'll be lucky to make it till 9dlandkk808
Cathlete
I have this problem off and on also. What has helped me recently is I downloaded some meditation/relaxation music on my mp3 player and put it on when I wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling asleep. It helped me out a lot. Now I'm pretty much back to staying asleep the whole time, but I still have nights were I get up and have to throw on the music to help me get back to sleep.
Lisa
Lisa
dorothyrd
Cathlete
Almost 46 here, and my biggest problem is my snoring husband. Some days he goes downstairs, or I go downstairs and sleeps on the sleeper sofa, and then I sleep soundly all night. Usually around 3:30-4 I wake and he is loud, loud, loud. He also gets up multiple times a night, which always wakes me.
And then you have the marching band kid who has to be at the high school at 3:30 am on July 4th, so you are sitting waiting for her to come down, answering a thread about sleep!x(
And then you have the marching band kid who has to be at the high school at 3:30 am on July 4th, so you are sitting waiting for her to come down, answering a thread about sleep!x(
seeking_guns
Cathlete
In that case, Kariev, if this were me and I was finding myself in situations where I absolutely could not function the next day, I would take the Tylenol PM when needed. Talk to your doc if you are uncomfortable with that idea. Perhaps s/he has other recommendations. While it's true I *avoid* taking anything for any reason if possible (that's just me), sometimes it is necessary.
Cathy
> i have cried most of the
>day b/c when i don't get sleep i'm an emotional wreck. i
>should sleep better tonight since i got no nap today. i'll be
>lucky to make it till 9
Cathy
> i have cried most of the
>day b/c when i don't get sleep i'm an emotional wreck. i
>should sleep better tonight since i got no nap today. i'll be
>lucky to make it till 9
seeking_guns
Cathlete
Have you tried earplugs?
>Almost 46 here, and my biggest problem is my snoring husband.
> Some days he goes downstairs, or I go downstairs and sleeps
>on the sleeper sofa, and then I sleep soundly all night.
>Usually around 3:30-4 I wake and he is loud, loud, loud. He
>also gets up multiple times a night, which always wakes me.
>
>Almost 46 here, and my biggest problem is my snoring husband.
> Some days he goes downstairs, or I go downstairs and sleeps
>on the sleeper sofa, and then I sleep soundly all night.
>Usually around 3:30-4 I wake and he is loud, loud, loud. He
>also gets up multiple times a night, which always wakes me.
>
Amy Steppe
Cathlete
I have to sleep 8 to 10 hours every night.
I require more sleep due to my meds.
If I get less than 8 hours per night, I feel so bad the next morning.
I require more sleep due to my meds.
If I get less than 8 hours per night, I feel so bad the next morning.
Amy Steppe
Cathlete
A sleep mask helps me. I have one that is filled with some type of "bead" like material and it blacks out all light.
I take Ambien for sleep and have taken it for 10 years now.
However, I would not recommend that anybody take Ambien or any prescription sleep aid without close medical monitoring.
Perhaps your doctor can help you with ideas for quality sleep.
I would try natural ways to sleep prior to chemical means and see what happens.
Since I've had insomnia all my life - literally - I know how awful it is to try to function without adequate sleep.
I take Ambien for sleep and have taken it for 10 years now.
However, I would not recommend that anybody take Ambien or any prescription sleep aid without close medical monitoring.
Perhaps your doctor can help you with ideas for quality sleep.
I would try natural ways to sleep prior to chemical means and see what happens.
Since I've had insomnia all my life - literally - I know how awful it is to try to function without adequate sleep.
dorothyrd
Cathlete
>Have you tried earplugs?
>
>>Almost 46 here, and my biggest problem is my snoring
>husband.
>> Some days he goes downstairs, or I go downstairs and sleeps
>>on the sleeper sofa, and then I sleep soundly all night.
>>Usually around 3:30-4 I wake and he is loud, loud, loud. He
>>also gets up multiple times a night, which always wakes me.
>
>>
>
Yes, and they bothered me a lot, and the snoring cut through. We have a softside water bed, and while it is not real wavey, it moves enough that his constant up and down all night feels like I am going to get thrown out of bed at times. So the best sleep I get is the couch.
>
>>Almost 46 here, and my biggest problem is my snoring
>husband.
>> Some days he goes downstairs, or I go downstairs and sleeps
>>on the sleeper sofa, and then I sleep soundly all night.
>>Usually around 3:30-4 I wake and he is loud, loud, loud. He
>>also gets up multiple times a night, which always wakes me.
>
>>
>
Yes, and they bothered me a lot, and the snoring cut through. We have a softside water bed, and while it is not real wavey, it moves enough that his constant up and down all night feels like I am going to get thrown out of bed at times. So the best sleep I get is the couch.