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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sarah T. on July 20, 2005, at 20:19:17
Hi. I'm wondering how those who live in hot, humid climates are coping this summer. I don't remember having this much difficulty last summer. It's really oppressive and unbearable. I bought a new air conditioner which helps, but I have difficulty sleeping with the AC on and difficulty sleeping with the AC off! When it's on, the noise bothers me, and in the wee hours of the morning, I feel chilled. Very shortly after turning it off, I sweat like crazy. Then I drink too much water and have to use the bathroom every fifteen minutes. Last night I kept a pot full of ice cubes next to my bed so I could get some cold fluids without consuming as much volume. This heat and humidity wave has been relentless since early June, and I trace these severe sleep problems back to that time as well. Any tips on how to cope?
Posted by greyskyeyes on July 21, 2005, at 15:42:05
In reply to Can't sleep. Tossing and turning all night, posted by Sarah T. on July 20, 2005, at 20:19:17
I can sympathize, I live in the DC metropolitan region and it's been in the 90s for a while now with high humidity. Hate hate HATE this time of year.
Coupla thoughts...
1) I assume it's a window AC unit - is there another room you can put it in? That might help with both the noise and the chill factors.2) How long have you been trying to sleep with it? I was irritated by the noise when my husband first started sleeping with a fan on, but now it's become white noise and I have difficulty sleeping without it! (we keep it on even in the winter) So eventually you might get used to the noise.
3) If it is in another room and the noise still bothers you, maybe a white noise machine to mask it? I use one for my son to sleep to and I've gotten so used to hearing it myself over the baby monitor, it's very soothing. Yeah, dependent on both that and the fan - LOL.
4) As for the chill... do you have a blanket handy to cover up with when you wake up cold? Or maybe try sleeping with socks on - I know a lot of times when I'm cold, something on my feet can make a huge difference. And socks aren't so intrusive as to make all of you hot when you're NOT cold (did that make sense??).
I hope something here can help you. Good luck! And let's keep our fingers crossed that fall weather comes *soon*!
Posted by Phillipa on July 21, 2005, at 19:11:59
In reply to Re: Can't sleep. Tossing and turning all night » Sarah T., posted by greyskyeyes on July 21, 2005, at 15:42:05
How come we're never happy with the weather. Either it's too cold, hot ,windy, humid whatever. I would try earplugs. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Racer on July 21, 2005, at 21:48:25
In reply to Re: Can't sleep. Tossing and turning all night, posted by Phillipa on July 21, 2005, at 19:11:59
I wonder if dusting yourself with cornstarch might help? I just get the baby powder cornstarch, and I know I feel a whole lot more comfortable when I use it to keep myself from getting sticky in the heat.
Otherwise, I'd have to say that I agree about getting used to the noise. Or maybe trying a fan at night? Maybe running the A/C during the day, with the windows covered, and then just using a fan at night, when you're trying to sleep? (Not all day, probably, just for the time between late afternoon and going to bed, if that makes sense? It might keep it from getting too hot in the first place?)
Otherwise, I don't know what to suggest. I have never been able to sleep with ear plugs, but I do adjust to noises pretty quickly. (Good thing, since I live next to both a tram line AND railroad tracks, as well as under a flight path from the local airport!)
Best luck to you. The only thing worse than hot, sticky weather that I know of, is being tired and grumpy from not being able to sleep in hot, sticky weather.
Posted by partlycloudy on July 22, 2005, at 10:47:47
In reply to Can't sleep. Tossing and turning all night, posted by Sarah T. on July 20, 2005, at 20:19:17
I rely on my white noise machine to cover up noises that bother me. Crashing waves, trickling brooks (though sometimes it makes me want to pee!!), forest sounds... I also have all these PLUS MORE on CDs.
I'm an ambient noise lover. I find them them soothing.Also if I'm still really warm and the A/C hasn't caught up with the day's heat, I mist myself with a plant mister and let evaporation do the work.
good luck.
Posted by Sarah T. on July 23, 2005, at 1:07:17
In reply to Re: Can't sleep. Tossing and turning all night » Sarah T., posted by greyskyeyes on July 21, 2005, at 15:42:05
Hi greyskyeyes,
Thanks for your reply. Your suggestion about putting the AC in a different room is an excellent idea. That's what I did in my previous home, and that's why I was able to tolerate the AC then. I did go to a lot of trouble to get the AC installed in the room it's in now, so I think I'll just go sleep in another room.
I also like your suggestion about wearing socks. I always wear heavy socks in bed during the winter, but I stopped a few months ago for several reasons, one of which was that I was trying to get rid of a nasty foot fungus. That seems to have subsided now, so I will try wearing socks again.
I always look forward to the summer for many reasons, but I didn't count on this relentless humidity. I think we've had only four or five low-to-moderate humidity days this summer. Every other day has felt the way I imagine the tropics to be.
Posted by Sarah T. on July 23, 2005, at 1:10:06
In reply to Re: Can't sleep. Tossing and turning all night, posted by Phillipa on July 21, 2005, at 19:11:59
Hi Phillippa,
Yes, you're right. This year, I've been complaining all year about the weather. The winter was the worst in years, and this summer, the humidity is relentless. Last summer, we had only a few "tropical" days. There are other things bothering me, too, so that's probably why I'm so irritated by the weather.
Posted by Sarah T. on July 23, 2005, at 1:21:01
In reply to Don't laugh, but..., posted by Racer on July 21, 2005, at 21:48:25
Hi Racer,
Thanks for your suggestions. Hmmm. . . cornstarch. You know, I was thinking of getting some cornstarch last winter, when I had a very bad foot fungus. I wanted to use the cornstarch to keep my feet dry rather than a store-bought powder. I never did buy the cornstarch because I was worried that the cornstarch would attract bugs because it's food -- sort of. A few weeks ago, when I was in the pharmacy, I looked at the ingredients of several foot powders, and I noticed that a few of those over-the-counter foot powders do contain some corn starch.
I'm interested to know why you've never been able to sleep with ear plugs. Is it because they're uncomfortable or is it something else? I used to sleep with earplugs all the time until there was a fire in my apartment building many years ago. It was a small fire and no one was hurt, but I slept through the entire alarm and evacuation of the building. After that, I never used them again although I could certainly benefit from some sort of noise-blocker.
Posted by Sarah T. on July 23, 2005, at 1:30:33
In reply to Re: Can't sleep. Tossing and turning all night » Sarah T., posted by partlycloudy on July 22, 2005, at 10:47:47
Hi partly cloudy,
It sounds as if you have a really good white noise machine. The only ones I've seen are the ones in therapists' waiting rooms, the round, tan machines that generate only one sound. I'll have to look for the one you have.
Using a mister is a terrific idea! I've been doing that with my older cat, who suffers a lot from the heat, but I never thought of using a mister for myself. By the way, all of my other cats have always loved the heat. This one loves cold floors, iced cold water and drafts.
Posted by partlycloudy on July 23, 2005, at 5:49:01
In reply to Re: Can't sleep. Tossing and turning all night » partlycloudy, posted by Sarah T. on July 23, 2005, at 1:30:33
> Hi partly cloudy,
>
> It sounds as if you have a really good white noise machine. The only ones I've seen are the ones in therapists' waiting rooms, the round, tan machines that generate only one sound. I'll have to look for the one you have.
>I went "all the way" and bought mine from Sharper Image - it's a travel alarm clock version. I'm glad I splurged.
pc
Posted by Racer on July 23, 2005, at 19:17:26
In reply to Re: Don't laugh, but... » Racer, posted by Sarah T. on July 23, 2005, at 1:21:01
> Hi Racer,
>
> Thanks for your suggestions. Hmmm. . . cornstarch. You know, I was thinking of getting some cornstarch last winter, when I had a very bad foot fungus. I wanted to use the cornstarch to keep my feet dry rather than a store-bought powder. I never did buy the cornstarch because I was worried that the cornstarch would attract bugs because it's food -- sort of. A few weeks ago, when I was in the pharmacy, I looked at the ingredients of several foot powders, and I noticed that a few of those over-the-counter foot powders do contain some corn starch.
>
> I'm interested to know why you've never been able to sleep with ear plugs. Is it because they're uncomfortable or is it something else? I used to sleep with earplugs all the time until there was a fire in my apartment building many years ago. It was a small fire and no one was hurt, but I slept through the entire alarm and evacuation of the building. After that, I never used them again although I could certainly benefit from some sort of noise-blocker.I can't sleep with ear plugs both because they're so uncomfortable for me, and because I tend to be hypervigilant. If I can't hear what's going on around me, I strain even harder to hear it. %^P
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