Starfish-I had to laugh when I read your comment about the sleep board . Really there are no other boards that compare to our osteo board!! Also your sleep experience was interesting! Glad to hear you re-established your normal sleep pattern- have you let your husband back in the bedroom and if so , are you still sleeping ok?
Only me again, montesflus, just to bore you a little more
Remember I suggested a cup of warm milk at bedtime, in an earlier post? What you could also do when you go to bed is put one of those eye-masks over your eyes (you know, the kind they give you on long-haul airplane flights). Then, turn on your radio real low to one of those talk radio programmes. The sound of one of those boring voices droning on and on used to kind of send me into a weird sort of hypnotic state, eventually making me fall asleep I don't have a prob sleeping now, but I still do leave the radio on very low - almost a murmer - and I just drop off!!
Another thing you could try, too, is read a book. This sometimes has the effect of making one's eyelids just kind of drop
Osteoblast-no I haven't let him back yet; actually, I think he likes the current arrangement because when I'm well-rested I'm not near as crabby to deal with! Good thing we have a solid marriage eh?
Desertbloom-you know what the sleep specialist told me?(I never followed the advice, but here's what he told me to do): he said "Calculate the total amount of sleep you're getting (which for me was about 5 hours). Then determine what time you're going to get up. Then subtract one from the other (for example, 5 hours sleep with a wake-up time of 6:30 equals 1:30AM). Then, force yourself to stay awake until 1:30AM, go to bed then and get up at 6:30 no matter how tired you are. When you can stay asleep the whole 5 hours (or whatever you decide), you can add 1/2 hour to your sleep time i.e. you can go to bed at 1AM. Then, when you stay asleep for that 5 1/2 hours, add another 1/2 hour. And so on, until you can sleep 7-8 hours straight."
This is what I posted on the sleep board, and like I said they didn't give me the time of day. We osteo board contributors are truly the best !
Montesflus-I too have done the radio trick on occassion.I think it's the letting go thing again- letting go of your thoughts and going with the flow of the radio program. It's like falling asleep watching tv-generally pretty easy but then you get up and try to go to sleep in bed and not so easy sometimes with a racing mind. When I listen to the radio in bed I use a small walkman radio with head phones so I don't disturb my husband.
Last edited by osteoblast; 01-22-2008 at 07:13 PM.
Starfish- So, you have given him the boot and he ran with it. That seemed to work out ok, I guess. You may however be setting a "new normal " where you may have trouble sleeping together again. Just something to think about. You are so right about cooperative sweet husbands! Thank heavens there are a few out there.I wondered why you didn't try the sleep specialists advice??
DesertBloom- About this technique that starfish was advised to do--this is exactly what my husband read about recently with one minor modification and that was to advance in 15 minute increments rather than 1/2. It sounds like a good technique actually, and one I wish I had known about back when my sleep issues were really bad. Maybe you could try this. Good luck and sweet dreams tonight!
Last edited by osteoblast; 01-22-2008 at 07:36 PM.
Hi Monte: It's interesting you mentioned the eye masks, since I've been using one of those for years. They do really help since we only have shear curtains in our room. I use the type that has a magnets in it, because it's suppose to help open your nasal passage-don't know if it really does though. I've been wondering if the magnets could have a negative effect on your eyes because I've developed some new probs with my on going eye probs. I have a lot of trouble sleeping because I can't breathe through my nose so I've started using a netti pot, and believe it or not it is really helping all the congestion, you just have to get used to putting water/saline up your nose till it runs out the other nostril-but it really isn't bad and it's helping so much that I don't have to breathe out of my mouth, which I've been doing for years-NOT FUN.
I haven't tried the radio, but I do find that some t.v. will makes me fall asleep, it just depends on how "boring" the show is. And you hit the nail on the head I definitely have a racing mind, which always hits at bed time. To counteract that I try praying, doing yoga breathing or reading and that sometimes helps.
Starfish: I'm also going to try your suggestion since it was the exact same thing I learned in college psychology to regulate your circadian rythms.
Osteo: I'm going to look for the tapes/dvds you suggested since I have gift cards, at various stores for Christmas presents which I haven't used yet. I really want to find a dvd that I can pop in and follow just before going to sleep like I used to do with my Rodney Yee PM yoga routine which I really miss
One last thing is you aren't suppose to use your computer within 2-3 hours of bedtime, and right now I breaking that rule and do it all the time. It has something to do with the energy that's emitted from the screen and the fact that you don't blink much while reading the screen, which is a factor in my new and fun eye disorder, that really hurts
If I left anyone out on their suggestions, don't worry I'm trying them ALL!!!!
Thanks everyone you're all just GREAT!!!!
Angels describe all of you. Aren't I really lucky to have all of you?
Last edited by DesertBloom; 01-22-2008 at 07:55 PM.
DesertBloom-this morning I did some research and found an excellent source of information that you may find helpful at University of Maryland Medical Center (all you need to enter is UMM) and sleep disorders. So it was "umm" "sleep disorders" . There is a discussion there about sleep hygeine, relaxation techniques, and treatment. I am sure you have already thought of this but are there any meds that you are on that could be contributing to your sleeplessness? Also, they did note how important it is that the room is dark. I know you said you are using a sleep mask. We made our bedroom super dark with black out curtains. They are just very heavy white cloth that you can get at a home store like Bed Bath and Beyond. They are not attractive curtains , you would put them behind your regular curtains or behind blinds. Also I have seen the black out fabric at fabric stores, so it can be sewn as a lining behind curtains.
I also have trouble breathing at night, due to having a deviated septum, so I use the nasal strips. I don't care if I DO look like a football player, it makes a HUGE difference for me! I use the ones for sensitive skin, which are a little easier to peel off. I started wearing them after complaining about the dark circles under my eyes to an aesthetician who was giving me a facial. I always have dark circles, even when I sleep well! She said it was because my sinuses weren't working properly. That's when the light bulb went off in my head. It is such a relief, to be able to breathe through both nostrils. I wish I could wear one all day!
My husband, who has chronic sinus headaches, does Jala Neti every evening on the advice of his ENT. The doctor calls it "nasal irrigation".
I don't wear an eye mask to bed because our bedroom is quite dark but I do wear ear plugs and they also help. So does my husband, because we both snore. Well, since I started wearing the nasal strips, I don't know if I still snore, but we're both used to wearing them now and believe we sleep more soundly (or should that be soundLESSly). BTW, we can still hear the smoke alarm quite well. That's something we were concerned about at first, but believe me, the alarm gets right through to our eardrums!
Hi Aleta: I've never tried the nasal strips, but I'm going to know. No one ever told me that the dark circles under my eyes were from nasal congestion, but I knew that it was, I also had surgery for a deviated septum, but it didn't solve this problem of not bein able to breathe.
The jala neti must be the same thing I'm doing. Does your husband pour water and saline into his nostril? That's what a netti pot does. Your pour it up one nostril while you head is tipped to the side and it comes out the other nostril. I know this sounds weird, but it does help, it just doesn't completely open my nasal passage. My husband is gross and calls the netti pot, nasal douche-disgusting.
My mom had the same problem with polyps, and she had the dark circles, but not as bad as mine. It's so embarrassing
Thanks for asking your Dr about the fibrocystic question, I still don't know what med I'll switch to after forteo, but I like the idea of Evista the best. I wish there were other choices out there, because I don't really want to do the iv bisphos, but they say it causes less gi probs.
I'll let you know how the strips go, it sure would be nice to breathe at night. I tried many different ear plugs to block out our neighbors dog, but I couldn't get any of them to stay in, they would pop out when I move. I'm really learning a lot from this thread the good advice just keep going...
Last edited by DesertBloom; 01-23-2008 at 12:48 PM.
Hi Osteo: I'm sure there's probably something I'm taking that causes sleeplessness, but according to the dr she doesn't see anything that would cause it on my list of meds. I can't blame it on forteo since I've had this problem all my life. I still think it's the relaxation thing. I tried the muscle tensing last night, and I did fall asleep pretty fast. I'm still sleeping through the night, but I thought it was having the hormones still in my body.
I also took B complex (sublingually) last night and right after I did that my husband said, what did you take that for it's going to keep you up. He claims you can only take B in the morning, and I say that if B works on your nerves, why wouldn't it relax them???? Anyway I'm still sleeping for now and won't worry about it until the hormones are gone completely and/or if the problem returns.
I'll read the article you mentioned to see what they have to say about all this. I was looking at the sleep board and they have some good suggestions on a "sticky" over there. Both my brothers have sleep apnea, but my prob is completely different. Also both of them are easy sleepers. When my youngest brother goes to the dentist he jokes that he always falls asleep as soon as his head hits the back of the chair and they literally have to wake him after the procedure-he's probably exagerating but I know he can fall asleep ANYWHERE.
Boy I could write a book with all these good ideas
Last edited by DesertBloom; 01-23-2008 at 12:47 PM.
I also had surgery for a deviated septum, but it didn't solve this problem of not bein able to breathe.
I'm surprised the septoplasty didn't improve your breathing. It's something I've thought about doing myself, but if it isn't 100% effective, then maybe I'm gonna think twice about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertBloom
The jala neti must be the same thing I'm doing. Does your husband pour water and saline into his nostril? That's what a netti pot does. Your pour it up one nostril while you head is tipped to the side and it comes out the other nostril. I know this sounds weird, but it does help, it just doesn't completely open my nasal passage. My husband is gross and calls the netti pot, nasal douche-disgusting.
Yeah jala neti is the sanskrit term for nasal cleansing; sounds more classy than nasal douche, LOL! My husband uses an ear syringe instead of a neti pot. I make up his "nose juice" a quart at a time, and he pours a cupful into a small bowl and nukes it for a few seconds to warm it up. Then sucks it up into the ear bulb. By the way, the solution I use is 1 rounded teaspoon of kosher (sea) salt plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda (Arm & Hammer) to a quart of water. I do it occasionally myself. Afterwards it feels like I've been swimming in the ocean, not an unpleasant sensation at all.
Oh, and about the ear plugs, you might try a different brand. I used to get the foam ones, but they did tend to fall out. Now I buy the Macs brand, kind of a tan-colored rubber. They tend to stay put.
I've wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your posts. You have a knack for research and for also for writing, and I appreciate all the thought you put into your posts. Keep it up!
Hi Aleta: Thanks for the kind words about my posts!!! When I look at them I just about cry, bad spelling, grammar, sentence structure-my english professors would shoot me I always wanted to write, but I don't have IT.
I think I'm just lucky on the research, but I do enjoy it so that makes it interesting. It's like solving a mystery and I love a good mystery. When I was working that's all I did was research, but in the stuffy old law libraries.
I had my surgery back in the dark ages, so I would imagine the procedure has changed a lot by now. It is truly amazing how far medicine has advanced in the last 30 years. I remember when cod liver oil was the cure for everything, "oh mom I broke my foot, take some cod liver oil that'll fix you right up"-just kidding. My surgery was done in '75, when I was 21, so I would hope the things that didn't work for me have been fixed. I also had a lot of bleeding probs afterwards which didn't help things that much, and I had to keep the packing in way too long. They probably don't use that packing anymore-tubes and cotton packing stuck deep into you nasal passages.
I'm glad you gave me your recipe for the Jala Netti-sounds so glamorous-Jala Netti and in sand skrit as well It does feel like you just got out of the ocean... I've been trying to come up with an explanation of the sensation for my hubby, since I'm trying to talk him into doing it as well. So far I haven't had any luck but he suffers from the same probs, he just won't try anything new. Maybe if I call it nasal juice, ROFL, he'll try it. I use the packets that come with the neti pot, and they aren't cheap, and who knows what else they put in it. The only thing I notice is the salt taste. One problem I have with it is-every once in a while-it comes out my mouth, which it's not suppose to do. They say if this happens you aren't bending your neck far enough to the opposite side, so when I bend further it doesn't happen, but it hurts my neck since I'm having trouble with multiple discs in that area.
Thanks again to you and everyone else, and "I" enjoy reading your posts and everyone elses too, that's the best part of this board. I just hope we don't ever get too depressive here, even though there are plenty of things to be depressed about, it's just that I can't handle it when a board turns overly depressive, because I then have to leave it forever Even when life is really rough, you still have to keep laughing-at least for just a few minutes
I'll be thinking of you with my nasal juice tonight
DesertBloom-I found a cd called "Healthy Sleep" by Andrew Weil and Rubin Naiman that I think may be of interest to you. The local library has it so I have put in a request, there is a bit of a waiting line so it may take a few weeks but I will let you know . I have always found it best to preview a product at the library- not always possible but it can save alot of money . From the product description it sounds like it may be quite helpful to me and perhaps to you as well.
Originally I wrote in about Strontium, but I couldn't help but notice the sleep problem someone was having. Over the years I have read that calcium could actually help in inducing sleep. I take a calcium pill at night before bed and then about 2:00 in the morning when I get up to go to the bathroom I take the strontium. For me it works with the sleep problems. Unless I am flying the next day and then I have to bring out the Ambien.
Karin
Hi Karin: Thanks for the input. Your right about the calcium, since I believe it's the calcium in warm milk that helps you sleep, plus I used to take calcium for sleep and muscle cramps. Now I can't take any supplemental calcium because I'm hypercalcemic. I get some calcium from my diet but I don't take any extra. My drs are at a loss for the reason on this, so for now I'll just try to find another way to sleep. Thanks for the thoughts
Are you keeping the room on the cool side? Not getting excited by family conversations right before bed? Noise was bothering me so I tried ear plugs and that helped. The room wasn't dark enough (they say that helps also) so I wear a eye mask.
Karin
I don't have a prob sleeping now, but I still do leave the radio on very low - almost a murmer - and I just drop off!! 
That seemed to work out ok, I guess. You may however be setting a "new normal " where you may have trouble sleeping together again. Just something to think about. You are so right about cooperative sweet husbands! Thank heavens there are a few out there.I wondered why you didn't try the sleep specialists advice??
