How important is sleep?

Aloha my OFF family.....

So often someone mentions sleep (or lack of it) in their posts, and since it is an issue for me, too, I thought I'd start a thread about it.

Last night was typical for me, and I wish I could sleep better, but I don't. I was asleep by around 9:30, but woke at 1:00 and knew I wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. I watched several episodes of "House" which I'd recorded and finally fell back to sleep around 4:00 for maybe an hour. I know that our bodies are healing and doing their "housekeeping" while we sleep, and that is why I wish I could sleep a straight 8 hours. I've only done that maybe three times in the last year. More normal for me is five to six hours.

My doc gave me an Rx for trazadone and I do take that regularly and it does get me to sleep quickly, but I don't STAY asleep. I wonder what you all do to deal with this. My friends have differing problems with sleep......one sleeps TOO much...maybe 15 hours a day, and that to me says depression. Others are like me sleep sporadically and are thankful when they occasionally get a solid 7 hours. To those of you who are good sleepers, I am envious. For those who deal with the lack of sleep on a daily basis....I understand.

I'm very grateful to have this place to come to any time of day or night and find someone here who cares. We are very fortunate!

Any pearls of wisdom will be appreciated.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

I can so relate Karen. I was having that problem and got a book from the library about Melatonin. I started taking it, and after about a week, I was staying asleep. The first time I slept 8 hours I was so shocked, and felt so good. I dont take it all the time now, but when I start with that problem again I start taking it for a few weeks. I take a pill about a half hour before I go to bed,,take a warm bath and it works.
Just a thought, you might give it a try.

Blessings
Betsy

Aloha Betsy...It is so nice to see you again!

I know that melatonin works well for a lot of people. I have tried it and for some reason it does nothing. But that is nothing new to me because I do not have typical reactions to most anything new I try. I think I might be an "alien." Ha!

Maybe it's worth another try though. Thanks, Betsy.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Hi, Karen!

Sleep is so important, not only for physical health but also mental health.

I took Trazodone to help me sleep for years.  Gradually it seemed to stop working (especially the staying asleep part).  I guess my body became accustomed to it.  So I switched to Remeron (another antidepressant with sedating effects) and that has worked better for longer.

Melatonin never worked for me, either.

Before I started the Trazodone, I would occasionally take Benadryl to help me sleep, but only when I was desperate because it would give me sort of a "hangover" the next day.

Maybe you need a higher dose of the Trazodone?

Jean

Aloha Jean.....I think you might be onto something with the trazadone not working after several years. I am writing down the suggestions that people make to pass on to my doctor. Docs seem to get set with a certain treatment and forget that we sometimes cease to get the benefits of it.

Thanks for your input, Jean. It helps just knowing that others have the same problem.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Hi Karen,
I have the same problem.  I don't have to get ready for wor****il 7:00 a.m.   I try going to bed with hubby at 11-11:30 p.m. but just lay there and sleep won't come.  A lot of nights I sneak out and watch TV or play computer games until 1 - 1:30 a.m. Then I fall asleep and wake at 6:00 a.m. and attempt to "nap" until 7:00 a.m.  It really bothers my husband.
I even took a course with my insurance company at work for sleep therapy.  I tried all their ideas:  Clean, uncluttered room; same routine every night; good light control on the windows; no TV watching in bed; no overpowering scents; not too warm temperature; turn the digital clock display away from you; etc.  It didn't work for me.  My problem is I can't turn off my brain.
I have been prescribed Ambien and it works, but I'm not comfortable with all the adverse symptoms that can occur, or that it can become habit forming.
Does anyone have any other ideas???
Thanks for the thread.
Bev

Aloha Bev.....thank you so much for putting this into tangible terms!! I so know what you are talking about with looking at the clock in the middle of the night and going .... "oh, sh*t! " I toss and turn and try to make it to a respectable hour of 5:00 a.m.....but just worrying about it makes me toss and turn.

My metabolism is really strange.....I tried ambien and I so DID NOT LIKE IT!!

Good luck to you!

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Hellooooo

Ahhh, sleep. I take Temazapam every night, and have since I was diagnosed with sleep apnea before WLS. I still take it because I have never been a good sleeper.
My sleep specialist told me to turn the clock face away from you on your night stand. When you wake up, say to go to the bathroom, we tend to look at the clock and think "gee, it's 2:15, I have to get up in ____hours". Then, our minds get working, and just as we get back to sleep, we wake up, look at the clock and think, "geeze....I have to get up in _______hours" and so it continues. This trick really helps from getting that pattern started.

I don't ever sleep through the night....potty at least once, then the old dog gets us up around 4:30 or 5:00. Dont' know what I'd ever do if I got 8 hours!!!

Aloha sweet Susan.

Oh yes....I know about the middle of the night "potty break." I think I have three!! I know at some level that it's good because I'm drinking a lot of water, but when I crawl back into bed......I'm sometimes KNOW that I'm Not going back to sleep.

If I see the clock and it says "2:00" I'm done! Tossing and turning until I give in and get up and make coffee or just start the VCR and watch recorded TV programs.

Thanks for your "take" on this!!

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen