Guest guest Posted April 10, 2001 Report Share Posted April 10, 2001 Greetings, Hower asked about sleep testing, and Ray in VA responded with what sleep medication he was on. I went through a sleep test and had a different experience. My Rhuematologist also was the one to suggest it. The test took many hours, from 7:30 PM to 4:30 PM the next day. The 7:30 start was to explain what was going to happen and get me all hooked up to the sensors (wear a two piece pajama, if you don't have one, buy or borrow one, it was COLD and the sensors go all over your body). I lay down at 9:30 PM and was awakened at 7:30 AM. After breakfast, I was up for an hour, lying down for 20 or 30 minutes, up for an hour. The test showed the doctors that although I sleep a lot, I never actualy 'sleep'. My sleep architeture (is that right?) showed restful deep sleep at 5 minutes for the whole night. I also had less than 5 minutes of REM sleep, which is also important. REM is more important to me, because REM is where you dream, and in most forms of Paganism (my religion), dreams and dream diaries are very important. I have spent years trying different ways to " remember my dreams " and found out that memory was not the problem, lack of dreams was actual, not just forgetting. Instead of drugs, however, I was trained in new sleep habits. I now go to sleep at 11 PM and wake up at 9 AM. When I worked a day job, it was 9 PM to 7 AM. I have changed WHAT I eat (caffein, sugar, etc.) and WHEN I eat, so as not to disturb my rest. There are other techniques I have been taught. This is not to say that drugs are bad, but I was unable to take more drugs because of interactions with other necessary meds. The only medication change is that I take claritin in the morning, when I need to be awake, and Benedryl in the evening, when drowsiness is wanted instead of two Claritin (1 AM, 1 PM). Hope this helps somewhat. Even if meds aren't the answer, a sleep clinic can help immesurably. I really feel it when I fall off the path they suggested. BB J. Bidwell Glaze > Message: 7 > Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 20:10:41 -0400 > > The rheumy has set me up to have a sleep study performed. I haven't > slept > well in years, but recently I started waking at 4 or 4:30, along with > my > usual trips every 90 minutes to the bathroom to stretch my legs. I > know > there's nothing to the study, but would like more information, if > anyone is > familiar. <CLIP> > Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 21:38:54 -0400 > > Subject: Sleep disorder > > , > Chronic pain will certainly disturb your sleep! Your " pattern " is > not normal and you probably need some medical help in getting a more > restful sleep. Deep sleep is necessary for physical, emotional, and > mental health. My sleeping pattern was so disturbed that I ended up > with some serious problems. I've been taking Ambien for almost 5 > years now. It gets me asleep. etc. <CLIP> ===== And the day came, when the risk to remain tight in bud became more painful than the risk to bloom. Anias Nin (1903-1977) __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2001 Report Share Posted April 10, 2001 Greetings, Hower asked about sleep testing, and Ray in VA responded with what sleep medication he was on. I went through a sleep test and had a different experience. My Rhuematologist also was the one to suggest it. The test took many hours, from 7:30 PM to 4:30 PM the next day. The 7:30 start was to explain what was going to happen and get me all hooked up to the sensors (wear a two piece pajama, if you don't have one, buy or borrow one, it was COLD and the sensors go all over your body). I lay down at 9:30 PM and was awakened at 7:30 AM. After breakfast, I was up for an hour, lying down for 20 or 30 minutes, up for an hour. The test showed the doctors that although I sleep a lot, I never actualy 'sleep'. My sleep architeture (is that right?) showed restful deep sleep at 5 minutes for the whole night. I also had less than 5 minutes of REM sleep, which is also important. REM is more important to me, because REM is where you dream, and in most forms of Paganism (my religion), dreams and dream diaries are very important. I have spent years trying different ways to " remember my dreams " and found out that memory was not the problem, lack of dreams was actual, not just forgetting. Instead of drugs, however, I was trained in new sleep habits. I now go to sleep at 11 PM and wake up at 9 AM. When I worked a day job, it was 9 PM to 7 AM. I have changed WHAT I eat (caffein, sugar, etc.) and WHEN I eat, so as not to disturb my rest. There are other techniques I have been taught. This is not to say that drugs are bad, but I was unable to take more drugs because of interactions with other necessary meds. The only medication change is that I take claritin in the morning, when I need to be awake, and Benedryl in the evening, when drowsiness is wanted instead of two Claritin (1 AM, 1 PM). Hope this helps somewhat. Even if meds aren't the answer, a sleep clinic can help immesurably. I really feel it when I fall off the path they suggested. BB J. Bidwell Glaze > Message: 7 > Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 20:10:41 -0400 > > The rheumy has set me up to have a sleep study performed. I haven't > slept > well in years, but recently I started waking at 4 or 4:30, along with > my > usual trips every 90 minutes to the bathroom to stretch my legs. I > know > there's nothing to the study, but would like more information, if > anyone is > familiar. <CLIP> > Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 21:38:54 -0400 > > Subject: Sleep disorder > > , > Chronic pain will certainly disturb your sleep! Your " pattern " is > not normal and you probably need some medical help in getting a more > restful sleep. Deep sleep is necessary for physical, emotional, and > mental health. My sleeping pattern was so disturbed that I ended up > with some serious problems. I've been taking Ambien for almost 5 > years now. It gets me asleep. etc. <CLIP> ===== And the day came, when the risk to remain tight in bud became more painful than the risk to bloom. Anias Nin (1903-1977) __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2001 Report Share Posted November 14, 2001 Yep Ann, I sleep a lot more too. Here and there when I have slacked off a bit on the workouts I have found that I can get by with less sleep. That tells me that I need to crank up the intensity on the workouts again. When you workout at a true level 10 intensity, you *have* to get more sleep so your muscles have time to recover. If you are sleeping a lot, that is a GOOD sign (and be glad that you can fit naps in and that you *can* sleep longer at night) it means you are building lots of fat-burning, calorie-consuming lean muscles. Jen B. P.S. I'm on C5 and I still need a lot of sleep, so the answer is " Get used to it " LOL > Has anyone found that they need much more sleep ever since starting BFL? > > I used to go to bed at 11PM and wake up at about 4 or 5AM consistently. On > weekends I'd stay up till at least midnite or one and then wake up about 6 > or 7. I was lifting weights and running for cardio. > > Since starting BFL I found that as each week goes by I am sleeping more and > more. > > Last night I went to bed at 8:30. I woke up this morning at 6:00. That's > about 9.5 hours. I had to drag myself out of bed. Then on weekends after I > go to the gym and the dog park, I find I take a nap around 11AM and don't > wake up until 3 or 4PM. There have been days when I've gone to bed on a > work night at about 7 or 7:30. > > Is this normal? Does it get better? I feel like I'm sleeping my life away. > I don't have a stressful life or job. > > I'm on challenge 1, week 10. > > Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2001 Report Share Posted November 14, 2001 I guess I've noticed that I get more sleep, but not sure that means I need more sleep than before. I sleep much more soundly and don't wake up a bunch of times during the night. When I do wake up, I am ready to get up and don't feel like lying in bed due to a sleepless night. If I do feel like napping in between times, it is usually on the weekends, but I avoid it and stick to the regular sleeping times. Andyman > Has anyone found that they need much more sleep ever since starting BFL? > > I used to go to bed at 11PM and wake up at about 4 or 5AM consistently. On > weekends I'd stay up till at least midnite or one and then wake up about 6 > or 7. I was lifting weights and running for cardio. > > Since starting BFL I found that as each week goes by I am sleeping more and > more. > > Last night I went to bed at 8:30. I woke up this morning at 6:00. That's > about 9.5 hours. I had to drag myself out of bed. Then on weekends after I > go to the gym and the dog park, I find I take a nap around 11AM and don't > wake up until 3 or 4PM. There have been days when I've gone to bed on a > work night at about 7 or 7:30. > > Is this normal? Does it get better? I feel like I'm sleeping my life away. > I don't have a stressful life or job. > > I'm on challenge 1, week 10. > > Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2001 Report Share Posted November 14, 2001 Hi Ann, My need for sleep went up and down over the course of several months on BFL. At first I was really disappointed because one of my reasons for doing BFL was because I wanted to have more energy (do more on less sleep). Now that I'm in C3 my sleep for the most part averages to 6-6.5 hours a night. Last night I had 7 which is highly unusual. Even if my alarm isn't set (4:45am) and I get to sleep in on free day I automatically wake after 6-6.5 hours of sleep. Your body is working hard to build muscle so if you need the sleep then do it - and grab a few naps for me! --- annalyn@... wrote: > Has anyone found that they need much more sleep ever > since starting BFL? __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2001 Report Share Posted November 14, 2001 , I am SO jealous that you can function on 6-6.5 hours of sleep per night! A few nights of that for me and I would be a walking zombie (kinda like I still am from the weekend). I think everyone is different (duh! obviously) because some people say they sleep less than before and some sleep more. I just wish I was one of those who could sleep less, not more. I would get so much more stuff done. *grumble* Jen > > Has anyone found that they need much more sleep ever > > since starting BFL? > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2001 Report Share Posted November 14, 2001 Jen, Yes, I should be thankful that I can function on that amount of sleep. Most people I know cannot. But I'm sure it's out of neccessity that I've adapted. My kids are 7, 4 and 17 months and my DH works a lot of hours. So if I want to workout or be able to clean the house it cuts into my sleep. But waking up at 4:45am and getting my workout completed in the morning is so empowering! > , > > I am SO jealous that you can function on 6-6.5 hours of sleep per > night! A few nights of that for me and I would be a walking zombie > (kinda like I still am from the weekend). I think everyone is > different (duh! obviously) because some people say they sleep less > than before and some sleep more. I just wish I was one of those who > could sleep less, not more. I would get so much more stuff done. > *grumble* > > Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2001 Report Share Posted November 15, 2001 Thanks Alyson. Hey, maybe I'm growing taller! Heck, I wish! I am anemic though, but since I was anemic before BFL the amount of sleep I get now versus then shouldn't make much of a difference. I wouldn't mind 8.5 hours sleep but 9-9.5 is just too much. I'm wondering if maybe I'm sleeping too much that's why I feel even more tired. Last night I had things to do so I didn't get to bed until 10PM. I woke up this morning at 4:29 and was able to get to the gym at 5:00AM. And I actually feel fine! So, I might train my body to need less sleep again. Ideally I'd like to sleep 7.5 to 8 hours. Ann Re: Sleep > Ann, > Are you getting enough calories? Are you taking multi-vitamins? Could be > anemic....or maybe your body is getting ready to or doing some major muscle > building and secreting alot of growth hormone (released during sleep). I do > know that teenagers require maximum sleep at times, usually when they're > going through a growth spurt. (Of course they're putting on muscle and > HEIGHT....) recommends 9 hours of sleep per night in the > latest MM....maybe you're sleeping just the right amount! I'm like you > (previously), up late at night and an early riser. Haven't felt the need > for increased sleep, but am not getting great results from my exercise, > either.... > HTH > Alyson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2006 Report Share Posted April 22, 2006 Vicki, don't assume you do not absorb drugs. I do not notice any difference since my DS. In fact, I even took some Effexor XR which was the subject of more than one discussion on the 'net saying it did not absorb in DSers. Well, I noticed an effect within a couple hours. Boy, was I surprised! I expected the effect to take two weeks, but I spoke to a psychiatrist friend who told me the anti-anxiety effect is immediate, but the antidepressant effect takes several days. Marta subject to work-related stress! > I cant get anything to make me tired. I know the DS causes us not to > absorb things but why would it make me have the opposite affect from > drugs?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 > Yes, we also use clonidine for sleep .5mg at night and half of that 2x a day for hyperactivity. This also works well for calming him for dentist appointments and infusions. You might also try Theanine for sleep it actually makes my son stay asleep not necessarily get to sleep. Another idea in addition to a fan or a air purifier is Lavender. I put Lavender oil in a spray bottle with water and spray his pillow and his room occasionally. Good luck! Trina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 We have been using Clonidine for years. .1mg at night only along with 2.5mg of xyprexa. although my son doesnt sleep right away he does sleep thru the night when he eventually falls asleep and it does keep him calm the next day. and Trina Sherman <csherman7@austin To .rr.com> Texas-Autism-Advocacy@... Sent by: om Texas-Autism-Advo cc cacyyahoogroups (DOT) com Subject Re: sleep 08/28/2006 05:55 AM Please respond to Texas-Autism-Advo cacyyahoogroups (DOT) com > Yes, we also use clonidine for sleep .5mg at night and half of that 2x a day for hyperactivity. This also works well for calming him for dentist appointments and infusions. You might also try Theanine for sleep it actually makes my son stay asleep not necessarily get to sleep. Another idea in addition to a fan or a air purifier is Lavender. I put Lavender oil in a spray bottle with water and spray his pillow and his room occasionally. Good luck! Trina Texas Autism Advocacy www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org Texas Disability Network Calendar of Events www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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