Getting to sleep

Dorsetmike

Dorsetmike

Member
Colin's thread on Dreams reminded me of the fact that I have difficulty getting to sleep, usually a minimum of 1 hour tossing and turning, brain going like a trip hammer.

Come the morning I poke a bleary eye out from under the bedclothes and look at the clock and think ah another five/ten minutes then I'll get up, turn over and instant zonk for up to an hour. It ain't fair!!!!!!!

I need something reliable and non habit forming also non alcoholic, that I can take which will put me to sleep in a few minutes yet not leave me muzzy headed in the morning, so no Mogadons or similar bombs.

A nurse at the local practice advised 2 paracetamol, which would relax me, slight improvement, it used to take 2 hours to drop off.

I don't want a bash on the head, nor sleeping pills, just something that will get me to sleep in a reasonable time. If I stay up late it makes no difference - except to the time I wake up!

I used to take a cough medicine that makes you drowsy (Benylin in UK) that worked fairly well, however with a chest affected by years of smoking (gave up about 10 years ago) I need to cough from time to time. So that's out.

I have a malted hot chocolate drink last thing at night, no food after about 6pm except maybe a sweet or two, fruit gums, chocolate etc.

Any meaningful suggestions welcome, (or applications to join my insomniacs club for mutual commiserations)
 
JHC

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
A few hours of hard labour always does it for me, I am asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow
 
wljmrbill

wljmrbill

Member
I usually have a cup of hot tea with 25-50 mg of generic benedryl tablets ( I am cheap),2 - extra strength headache relief( for general aches and pain type) which has acetaminophen,aspirin and caffeine {generic again - equate at walmart }... at times I use Valerin Tablets ( a natural relaxant made of Valerian root,Passiflora and magnesium Carbonate) which works great for muscle spasms , stress,tension etc.. ever try the claming teas that you can buy? I usually take them 30-45 minutes before going to bed.
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
JHC shares a great suggestion - I take an aspirin which after fifteen minutes puts me in La-La Land...
 
marval

marval

New member
I am lucky, I don't have this problem. Head on the pillow, before I know it I am asleep.
 
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Mat

Mat

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
Regulator
I've had difficulties falling asleep for years. One hour is a minimum for me. Often times it takes two or three hours, and ocasionally an entire night without sleep will occur. It's been a common problem on my father's side of family. I tried all kind of herb-based pills and also some homeopathetic (yes, pathetic) stuff. Needless to say, none worked. I'm hesitant to start taking real sleeping pills, wouldn't want to get addicted. My physician said giving up PC and TV etc. at least an hour before going to sleep might help; it didn't.

teddy said:
A glass of red wine or a beer can also work wonders.

teddy
Click to expand...

I'd say more like five or six glasses... ;)
 
Dorsetmike

Dorsetmike

Member
The only wine I drink is an occasional mead (still got a couple of bottles I bought last spring), don't like any others, whisky/whiskey makes me ill, other spirits I can manage in small quantities, but beer - I don't need anything else to get me up during the night for a stumble across the landing! Which is why I mentioned non alcoholic in my original post
 
ericwood992

ericwood992

New member
Mike,
Try going to bed with a vodka mixed with a drop of the fruit juice of your choice. Although alcoholic admittedly, it is a short drink which does not give the problem you have with beer and is virtually entirely ethyl alcohol, which does not cause headaches or other nasty side effects.
 
JHC

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Mat said:
My physician said giving up PC and TV etc. at least an hour before going to sleep might help; it didn't.
Click to expand...
Quite the reverse here! watch NZ TV and you can't stay awake
 
Mat

Mat

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
Regulator
Then it's a shame we don't have any NZ channels over here. How about CNN or BBC instead? Will they do?
 
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Krummhorn

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Mike, have you ever had a "sleep study" performed? You might have "Sleep Apnea" ... I do, and have been using a C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine every night since Sept 2007. Most insurance plans will cover the cost of the machine and its associated equipment.

Sleep Apnea happens when the soft pallet falls to the back of the mouth and temporarily blocks the airway to the lungs. This in turn causes the brain to partially wake up the body, thereby taking one out of the "rem" stage of sleep, and getting it to move the tongue out of the way.

I can't sleep without it at all ... I put on the headgear which comprises two flexible "pillows" that fit into my nostrils, then turn on the machine. The positive air flow prevents the soft pallet from falling to the rear of the throat, and allows me to get to the "rem" stage for hours on end.

A sleep study usually consists of two nights of testing ... the first night they will study your sleep pattern, and monitor rapid eye movement and such. After a medical doctor reviews the data, you go back for the 2nd night where they fit a mask over your nose and mouth, or just the nostrils, and adjust the air flow to find the proper setting you need to achieve the deep sleep.

I love that machine ... even had it with when we were in the UK and Denmark in 2010.

Lars A
 
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