Help with sleep

[tydoron]

I'm 28 years old and have suffered from insomnia for as long as I can remember-at least 20 years. I was wondering if people have any ideas that would help. Besides the same old sleep hygiene stuff that is. This is old news and doesn't work well for me. I suspect there's an element of anxiety, but I also get up multiple times a night to urinate which I've also been doing since I was a child.Any help at all would be appreciated.

[April]

I don't know if this will help or not...

Have you been tested for sleep apnea?

http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_apnea.htm

From the article:
What happens when you have an episode of sleep apnea?
When you stop breathing during sleep due to sleep apnea, the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood is upset. This imbalance stimulates the brain to restart the breathing process. The brain signals you to wake up so that the muscles of the tongue and throat can increase the size of the airway. Then, carbon dioxide can escape, and oxygen can enter the airway. These waking episodes are necessary to restart breathing (and to save your life), and you may not remember them, but they do disrupt your sleep and cause daytime exhaustion.

[Aaron Hoot]

Hey Ty,

I hope this letter finds you doing good. I too used to suffer from not getting enough sleep. Here is what helped me. A lot of people will not agree with me about this on the forum but what has helped me is the bridge. You don't have to go all the way nose to mat. I do that but it is not necessary. Just to the top of the head and three minutes is usually the ample time needed but you do what you can. The other thing that has seemed to help me a lot is about three months ago my family bought me Chisel for my birthday. I only take one pill in the morning but it seems that I am resting better at night.

Aaron

[Alan_OldStudent]

I'm 28 years old and have suffered from insomnia for as long as I can remember-at least 20 years. I was wondering if people have any ideas that would help. Besides the same old sleep hygiene stuff that is. This is old news and doesn't work well for me. I suspect there's an element of anxiety, but I also get up multiple times a night to urinate which I've also been doing since I was a child.Any help at all would be appreciated.

Hi Tydoron,

If you are chronically having problems sleeping, that in and of itself could be causing anxiety and low mood. April's suggestion that you be evaluated for sleep apnea is quite good.

I am also quite concerned that you need to get up multiple times to urinate. You should go to a doctor and have your blood sugar checked. I don't want to alarm you, but it is possible you have diabetes, especially if you're overweight (although skinny people get diabetes too).Frequent urination at night is one of the classic symptoms of out-of-control and untreated diabetes, although many other conditions can cause it too.

Both sleep apnea and diabetes can be killers.

Sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia and sleep apnea can contribute to obesity, cause excessive daytime sleepiness, hypertension, and be a contributing factor to congestive heart failure. Sleep disorders can lead to inattentiveness, depression, falling asleep while driving, dozing on the job, and it can ruin personal relationships. Chronic excessive fatigue leads to chronic excessive crankiness.

Untreated diabetes can lead to blindness, heart problems, end-stage kidney disease and kidney failure, diabetic neuropathy, gangrenous ulcers in the extremities necessitating amputation, etc.

http://www.alanstancliff.com/images/divide4.gif

The comforting news is that sleep disorders can be treated effectively and allow you to have a normal sleep-wake cycle. You'll feel much better and be more energized. Your mood will be better and anxiety will become much more manageable. You will have much more energy for physical culture.

If you have diabetes, that can be managed to where you can have a healthy life. Key to treating diabetes is a sensible diet and exercise. The majority of diabetic patients also benefit from medication. A diabetic can lead a normal vigorous healthy life with a normal lifespan if the diabetes is controlled.

So do see a doctor for an evaluation. You should get a hemoglobin A1c blood test and a referral to a sleep clinic.

This will get you a diagnosis, which is a medical expert's opinion. You can then plan your subsequent course of action, likely in conjunction with the doctor.

Keep your courage up. We're all pulling for you here at the Transformetrics forum and hope for the very best for you.

I hope you have health insurance.


Regards,

Alan OldStudent

[JoeJustice]

Here's a helpful thread:

http://www.transformetrics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2558

-Joe

[gs300tx]

Hey Tydoron,
I still have this issue from time to time . One otc product that as really helped me is called "Midnite", you can usually find it at walmart. Try that and see how it works for you.
Good luck!

[JoeJustice]

Blunt trauma to the head will also induce sleep. To accomplish this, just before you go to bed hand your wife and frying pan and suggest she's been packing on a few pounds and/or her butt looks big. You'll be sleeping like a baby in no time! :beat-up: :sleepy:

-Joe

WARNING: Please consult with a doctor before trying this procedure.

[watchman]

I am very much same as you. I also had insomnia since 2nd grade and now I am 56 years old and rarely sleep more than 6 hours. I also get up to piss frequently and I rarely sleep through the night. However I find I do not really need much sleep. I find it helps a great deal if I take a nap for an hour or so during the day, but I am retired and can often do this whereas I realize if you are working you probably cannot. Anyway my main point is don't worry about it too much. My lack of sleep has apparently not affected me in any great way. Some people get by very well on only four hours a night. Probably a good idea to check out about the apnea, as people say, but I have a feeling your problem is more of an anxiety related one. Like my doctor told me when I was a kid, no one dies from lack of sleep.

[April]

Blunt trauma to the head will also induce sleep. To accomplish this, just before you go to bed hand your wife and frying pan and suggest she's been packing on a few pounds and/or her butt looks big. You'll be sleeping like a baby in no time! :beat-up: :sleepy:

-Joe

WARNING: Please consult with a doctor before trying this procedure.


Is this how we welcome new members???

Joe, I am really really really sorry to have to say this, but this one missed the mark.