| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| greyghost |
Posted - Jan 16 2006 : 08:17:32 AM
I can't sleep!
I know a lot of it is related to stress - I'm going through a lot right now. Most nights anymore I just get up and get going on the day, or bake something, or work on a quiet project. I have been sprinkling lavender on my bedsheets - and that helped for a night or two.
Any ideas for me?
Tired in N. Georgia. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| knewslady |
Posted - Jan 17 2007 : 05:59:18 AM
Thanks so much Rebekah
Will always be a farmgirl at heart |
| country lawyer |
Posted - Jan 17 2007 : 04:17:15 AM
Knewslady, Here is the thread that I was remembering. Hope it helps!
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
James Taylor
www.ragstoroses.blogspot.com
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| Phils Ann |
Posted - Aug 29 2006 : 06:05:38 AM
I've had sleep issues since adulthood. Then, my husband couldn't stay asleep for more than a couple of hours for a few months, had severe pain, and after searching the internet, found he most likely had Fibromyalgia, and that elavil often helps. I also began to take it, and still do. It doesn't make me sleepy, but when I do go to sleep, I usually stay asleep for the night. I also use American Ginseng from time to time in order to relax. No animals are allowed in the bedroom, there's a "noise machine" on every night, and I wear the cylindrical shape white earplugs. You do get used to hearing your own heartbeat, and for me, it was helpful not to hear every noise in the house. Oh--DH was diagnosed with myofacial pain syndrome, not fibromyalgia--but sleeping plays a major role in healing and in conquering the pain.
Karin, hope your night tonight is a better one!
Ann
There is a Redeemer. |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Aug 29 2006 : 12:14:24 AM
I knew that if I searched, I would find a topic on not sleeping. Aargh!! The past few weeks have been awful. I go to bed, fall asleep and then -BOING!!- I am wide awake 2 hours later. Then it is toss and turn all night. (It is 3:00 in the morning as I write this! )
So, I get up and putter about the house, read a book,do some Sudoku puzzles. Whatever pops into my head at the time. I am going out tomorrow to get some Valerian at the herb shop. I don't know why I didn't think of that myself. I have a feeling that this is all related to coming off of estrogen replacement,(trying to do things to help my body seems to be backfiring!), my dad's health, the job I have looming before me detailing the history of family things with Dad- what feels like a bajillion little items!- 2 callings at church and just being a mom!
Right now, I am off to finish redecorating my little house-in-the-wall. Teddie (theoanne) is coming to over Wednesday for lunch, and it is in a state of disarray! So, the rest of my house may be in a tip, but the little one will look great! It is the most fun I have "cleaning house" ever!
Thanks for letting me ramble on, and on, and.......
Karin |
| theherblady |
Posted - Mar 02 2006 : 12:45:38 PM
I have a question about Valerian...Does it matter where you get it? I went to CVS and almost bought some...but I also saw it at the health/vitamin store at the mall and there were some differences in the price $$. Where do you girls purchase it? And why the big difference it price?
Jan |
| Annab |
Posted - Feb 23 2006 : 11:03:52 AM
I think this may have been posted somewhere else. Greyghost, do a google search for Lucky the Lavender Dog. Even as a grown adult, I have slept with my Lucky for almost 2 years now. He is stuffed with lavender and flax. You can toss him in the microwave and drape him over yor eyes.
And, I have forever been a light sleeper and will constantly wake up. I tried earplugs, and have used them since well before 1990!
The yellow spongy kind allow just enough noise so you can hear a baby crying or young child in trouble (or dog throwing up at midnight)
Since this past Christmas, I switched to a waxy/cottony kind you can really cram and mold to your ear. These work a little too well, and thanks to hubby, have nearly slept through the alarm. So I use these and Lucky when I want to sleep in and hubby has to get up for work.
You will hear yourself breathe and your heartbeat at first, but give it time.
I also use a desk fan and have used an aquarium pump too when I had fish, in addition to the ear plugs. |
| lonestargal |
Posted - Feb 13 2006 : 08:02:53 AM
I have to agree on the valerian. That stuff is wonderful and really works. It's completely safe IF you take the recommended amount. Anything can be harmful if not taken as directed. I also drink chamomile tea right before bed and that helps as well. I alternate between tea one night then valerian the next if I'm having trouble several days in a row. Only rarely do I have to take valerian and the tea together. Give it a try though, it's inexpensive, works, all natural, you can't go wrong IMO!!! |
| Frankenblonde |
Posted - Feb 12 2006 : 02:23:05 AM
* You'll note that my last message was sent at 2:15 in the morning, so obviously I'm not following my own advice. D'oh! I'd better get my butt to bed!  |
| Frankenblonde |
Posted - Feb 12 2006 : 02:15:49 AM
A full day's work, a hot bath, a good book, and some Sleepytime Extra tea with honey (Valerian makes it Extra) works well for me. It's a little harder to get to sleep if I'm feeling anxious, or if hubby's snoring and smacking his lips (weird, but he does). Lots of good info about sleep and how to acquire it ~ thanks!
“Always know in your heart that you are far bigger than anything that can happen to you.”
~ Dan Zadra, Chicken Soup for the Country Soul
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| lamarguerite farm |
Posted - Jan 30 2006 : 6:21:18 PM
I'm not sure why I didn't notice this topic before now. I know I have been taking the Valerian for too long. I need to talk to the naturopath about something else I can do and maybe alternate. With the muscle pain and tension and restless legs at times from my fibromyalgia I would be awake all night and then the sleep deprivation would make the FM syptoms worse....it's kind of a viscous cycle. I figure the valerian is MUCH safer than some of the drugs I was put on by MD's and the ones they wanted me to take. I just can't spend my life feeling drugged out and wierd from those meds. At any rate the Valerian has worked better than anything and I wake up without feeling groggy. Once every 3-4mos. my symptoms will be so bad that I might have to take two valerian and then I do have a little harder time waking up, but it wears off quickly after I'm up and around. I was almost hospitalized for the sleep deprivation. Sorry to be so windy, just thought I would share my experience.
Blessings,
Missy
If you have a dream, even if you don't feel qualified to accomplish it, just try your hardest.-Maggie Jensen
http://18happyhens.blogspot.com
http://LamargueriteFarm.etsy.com |
| pkallen |
Posted - Jan 26 2006 : 9:34:59 PM
Sleep-----whats that? I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Gone through that old Chemo thing. Now onto Radiation for 6 weeks. Medicine? So many names and side effects, but still sticking to the flow. I am on prescription sleep aid, but I think it is losing its power. Oh well, just keep fighting.
Polly
John Deere |
| cajungal |
Posted - Jan 20 2006 : 3:35:21 PM
All family members have personal fans, traveling ones, too. I'm so glad to know we're not odd....or maybe we all are!
The Valerian is popular. The Melatonin works for my husband.
Something for all us gals to consider is that we are so alike in our hobbies, lives, etc... that we may also be similar in personalities.....creative, goal setting, hard workers, etc... Anyway, just a thought...perhaps problems sleeping come from our tremendously smart and overworking brains!!
I battle with long runs of days of "manic" behavior. Won't share the details at this post, but, if you want to hear it, just ask. Anyway, when these manic days come I can go days without sleep and I accomplish a whole lot and am at the peak of my creativity. I have a great doctor that didn't want to get rid of my high performance days....he says they're beneficial and many great inventors, etc....were manic. But, the Doc says it's not safe to be without sleep. Just a little loss of sleep affects our brain response. So, when I feel these sleepless nights coming I take a medicine called Restoril. My Doc does the physicals for some of the NASA astronauts and this is the med they take even while in space. It does not make you feel drugged and forced to sleep, and it doesn't make you feel drugged the next day and is not on the habit forming list. He says the astronauts need to be able to sleep and they also need to be able to work and they could not take a sleep aid that would interfere with their work.
When hubby is snoring, the infomercials work for me, too!
Blessings
Catherine
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
| greyghost |
Posted - Jan 20 2006 : 3:11:45 PM
I would try the fan - but I can't sleep with noise - at all. The few times we were running the space heater in the bedroom, I thought it might help - instead I kept waking up thinking something was "wrong" because I hadn't heard normal night sounds. May seem odd but - I guess I keep track of what's going on even while I sleep. lol.
The dogs: I know. We had promised ourselves NOT to allow the dogs on the bed. Somehow... there they are. Stuie's place is curled up between us, and Cookie hogs the foot of the bed. Of either dog that should be booted - it's Cookie. I had meant to not let her up last night, but DH and Stuie stayed up late to watch King of the Hill or somesuch and Cookie came looking for me (she's my baby), stretched out alongside me and pushed her head and shoulders under my arm - I fell asleep pretty quick that way! Snuggling always puts me to sleep. |
| theherblady |
Posted - Jan 20 2006 : 10:41:56 AM
Great advice Diane~~Makes you think about taking care of yourself so that you can get some sleep~~instead of everyone else that is disrupting you~~
Last night I moved the fan closer to my ear and put it on high....I was daring him to say it bothered him~~lol
Jan |
| Fabulous Farm Femmes |
Posted - Jan 18 2006 : 12:19:48 PM
I have had all of these problems at one time or another.Here are my solutions: take 'em or leave 'em gals.....
1.DOG: I LOVED my dog, but dogs sleep 3/4 of the time, and can sleep anywhere, anytime. I can't.Can't sleep thru itching, back end licking, house patrol recon, etc. My dog finally got booted out and slept in the living room, which he liked just fine.
2.Snoring:Sleep with a fan on.The louder he snores, the higher (and louder) the fan goes up. He says it bothers him when it gets loud, and goes into the other room. Problem solved.
3.Restless legs: I have found if I massage his legs for him before we go to sleep, they are fine the rest of the night.
4.If you can't sleep,get up and leave the room, curl up in a real comfy chair or the couch and turn on infomercials on low. They will bore you right to sleep.
That's my 2 cents anyway. |
| theherblady |
Posted - Jan 18 2006 : 07:50:37 AM
Oh Cynthia....How funny~~~ or-not really...But I can certainly relate!!
I think I am going to try the Valerian...I am willing to try anything!
Jan |
| greyghost |
Posted - Jan 18 2006 : 07:47:54 AM
Kay, I can relate to that!
My hubby snores. I poke him about three times a night to roll over and cease the racket. Our pit mix curls up nice and tight and shifts maybe three times in the night. The other dog (the 60 pound Shepherd mix, of course) recons the house a few times a night, turns 3 times before picking out exactly where she will lay, and if I pick my head up, she'll come belly-crawling (disturbing the other dog in the process, who growls her "I was asleep, you big oaf" growl) and want to cuddle. Now the cuddling is fine, I love my Cookie a lot (and she actually does seem to sleep a little more contentedly when stretched next to me like that, I sleep ok that way too), but this is a QUEEN size bed! Two big dogs and two people all in a row is a bit tight!
There are times... if we had a spare bedroom, I know that's where I would be most nights! It is in the plans as we remodel the house that the 2nd bedroom will BE a spare bedroom and not just an office. I'm hoping my business will be good enough in a few months that I can rent a little room in town for the office. Would be nice! |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jan 17 2006 : 8:24:58 PM
I've decided that I'm moving into my own bedroom or we're getting twin beds. At this stage of my life a good night's sleep is more important. Hubby has restless leg syndrome and moves his legs about every 20 seconds. Then the cat starts snoring or at 3 AM decides that she needs to go out for the 15th time that night. I've had enough!
http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
| medievalcat |
Posted - Jan 17 2006 : 7:28:36 PM
I've heard that if you can't sleep don't stay in bed. Get up but don't watch tv or read...find something to do like laundry or dust. Something you dread. "They" say if you do this then your mind will naturally relax and not get caught in a rut. My mind must be hip deep in a rut!
Last night I couldn't sleep. Hubby was curled up next to me, I can't stand being touched when I sleep, the larger of the two dogs had taken up permanent residence up to my knees, the other one was attached to my butt (don't know why but there you go...) I got so mad at the three of them and I hate to wake anyone sleeping so I sat up in bed and read. I took two more sleeping pills... to go along with the one I had taken two hours earlier. I FINALLY fell asleep around 1:00ish...then I'm waken by two dogs at 4:00 when my hubby got up and left our bedroom door open... I'm not very nice when woken...this is the carnal rule in our house.
I marched out in the living room, said some unplesant things to my husband about HIS dogs, growled at HIS dogs, marched back to bedroom, closed door, and went to bed. I was asleep till 10:00.. I had overslept.
I'm going to try to go to bed now... Hubby is on his side of the bed, one dog is curled up to HIS butt, the other is only taking up minor realestate at my feet area. Things should be better tonight.
Sweet dreams y'all. |
| quilt8305 |
Posted - Jan 17 2006 : 7:05:42 PM
I have heard that too and tried it and believe me it works. You don't have to worry if you will remember in the morning!!!
Mary
The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. Wm. James |
| Meg |
Posted - Jan 17 2006 : 4:44:22 PM
Another suggestion I've heard...put a pad of paper and pencil or small tape recorder on your night stand...so, as your mind races with wonderful ideas, lists of things to do, what you want to share with someone, you can write it all down or record it...then, hopefully, this will put your mind at ease and you can wish yourself sweet dreams and sleep away!
MaryJane's daughter,
Meg
megan@maryjanesfarm.org |
| greyghost |
Posted - Jan 17 2006 : 11:46:03 AM
The only side effects of valerian that I'm aware of are, for some people, bad dreams. There is another herb that can be taken in conjunction with valerian to counteract that - I'll look it up. |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jan 17 2006 : 08:52:49 AM
Jan I hear ya about the fan. Mine runs every day of the year. And my daughter has to have one running too. I even pack a small one with me when I go on vacation. Can't sleep without the noise!
http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
| theherblady |
Posted - Jan 17 2006 : 07:53:15 AM
Amen Kay~~ IF I get to sleep...something always seems to wake me up..If it isnt night sweats...it is DH snoring..or I need to use the bathroom...etc....
I sleep with a fan running...365 days a year...but still wake up!
I guess your right...I forgot about the kids being young, and then teens, and getting in late...I wonder just how much sleep -good sleep -we really get in a lifetime~~~ ??
Thanks for the info~~
Jan |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jan 16 2006 : 9:36:32 PM
Jan -- from personal experience I would have to say that Valerian is really safe to take. Of course, as with anything, if you take more than the recommended dosage you could have problems. I have 250 mg capsules and take one before bed. It doesn't put you to sleep but just makes you relaxed so you can fall asleep. I've never felt groggy the next day or felt like I had medicine head.
Isn't it sad that from the time we have children we lose sleep? You'd think once we got our kids raised we'd be able to get a good night's sleep and then menopause hits along with the insomnia and nightsweats. Yeah!
http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
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