Insomnia.

[perchance dreamer]

I also think anyone with chronic insomnia should be checked for apnea. I'm thin and don't snore, so apnea didn't occur to me, but it showed up when I got tested. I have apnea because I have a small airway and a long palate.

My ENT thinks problem sleepers should also have an ENT exam to see if nose and sinus problems could be playing a role in insomnia. Congestion really torpedoes my sleep.

I think it's so interesting how different people are affected by the various dosages and forms of melatonin. For me, 1/2 MG of a sustained release is the only kind that helps my sleep. Others benefit from larger amounts of instant-release melatonin.

Tart cherry juice has melatonin and helps some people sleep. It has a weird effect on me, though.

Drinking it at night makes me truly sleepy right after I take it, as opposed to my usual tiredness, but then I can't sleep. Although the type I took had no sweeteners or additional ingredients, it may be that the natural sugars from the cherries affected my sleep. I've eradicated almost all sweeteners from my diet except on rare occasions, and I think I can't handle it anymore.

 

[Indigophoton]

As you're underweight, could someone carry you outside to lie on an airbed for a bit?

That's a nice idea @Squeezy, thank you for the thought. It's just me and the cat, so there's no one who could help like that. My carers couldn't do it because of health and safety.

You've reminded me that I was thinking I could maybe get a wifi camera set up outside, to create a window to the outdoors. There are admittedly a few practical problems in achieving this - I can't wield a drill myself right now and can't manage tradespeople, so I'm not sure how to run power or get it fixed on the wall - but it could be really neat

I'm getting to the point where I might brave my GP. If she'll even give me Ambien or similar.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that your GP is helpful Treating poor sleep should be a no-brainer, but I had to negotiate quite persuasively with mine to get the medicine I thought would be most helpful, as opposed to the amitriptyline he wanted to prescribe simply because it's in the NICE guidelines.

 

[Squeezy]

I finally got to sleep! I tried a sublingual melatonin. I mg did the trick. I still woke up to anoint my eyes and went back off to sleep without the appalling wide awake nonsense!

I was still sleepy this morning, and dozed a bit, even after a cup of tea. But i got up at 11 and didn't have my usual hang-over plus jet lag I pottered about doing tidy-up things. It's now 1:30 pm and I'm ready for a nap.

Feels like ME normality for me.

Let's hope this is the cure!

I think it's so interesting how different people are affected by the various dosages and forms of melatonin. For me, 1/2 MG of a sustained release is the only kind that helps my sleep. Others benefit from larger amounts of instant-release melatonin.

Aint that the truth! I hadn't set much store by melatonin for me - I reckoned myself an expert as my daughter has a serious problem with hers. Her natural sleep time is 4am! She's tried every type. I was a fool to myself!

I've read about that cherry juice. Tablet form might be good?

a window to the outdoors

What a beautiful idea! For now though, maybe you can travel through your phone or computer like I do - gorgeous photography capturing the beauty out there.

 

[Invisible Woman]

That's great news @Squeezy!

 

[Indigophoton]

I finally got to sleep!

Yay!

 

[forestglip]

My sleep was getting worse and worse and I was starting to get worried. I was taking much longer to fall asleep, and often waking up very early, like 4 AM, and not going back to sleep.

I was wondering if it was because I was spending more time in a totally dark room and messing with my circadian rhythm. As far as I can tell, I don't crash from light, it's just often more comfortable to be in the dark.

For a week I've started getting significant amounts of bright light again during the day, and my sleep is much better. I'm falling asleep more quickly and sleeping longer. I was even surprised at how long I slept last night (9 hours), which is longer than I remember in a long time.

I try to get at least five minutes outside in the morning while eating breakfast, and I started using my very bright, sunlight colored lightbulbs in my bedroom again for at least a couple hours a day.

Edit: Here's the data I have from when I started tracking my hours asleep a few weeks ago. The blue line is showing the sleep after the first day of using more light.