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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Emme on January 2, 2004, at 0:04:11
Up all night. Sleeeeepin' during the day. I'm waiting for my incisors to start growing long. I'm a vegetarian, so I'll have to forgo the blood and settle for a V-8! :)
Posted by Brown_cow on January 2, 2004, at 14:51:53
In reply to I've become a vampire!, posted by Emme on January 2, 2004, at 0:04:11
> Up all night. Sleeeeepin' during the day. I'm waiting for my incisors to start growing long. I'm a vegetarian, so I'll have to forgo the blood and settle for a V-8! :)
You could try taking calcium, magnesium, and melatonin (no more than 1 mg or it will keep you awake) at night before bed along with a glass of warm milk. Try more daily exercise too.
Of course you didn't give many clues so your sleep problem could be caused by a lot of different things.
Posted by Emme on January 2, 2004, at 16:08:06
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire!, posted by Brown_cow on January 2, 2004, at 14:51:53
> > Up all night. Sleeeeepin' during the day. I'm waiting for my incisors to start growing long. I'm a vegetarian, so I'll have to forgo the blood and settle for a V-8! :)
>
> You could try taking calcium, magnesium,Yep. Do that.
> and melatonin (no more than 1 mg or it will keep you awake) at night before bed along with a glass of warm milk.
Haven't tried melatonin. I detest warm milk, but I may resort to trying it.
> Try more daily exercise too.
I was living at the gym before Christmas. I was out of town and have felt so rotten since then that I've fallen off the gym wagon in the last 2 weeks.
> Of course you didn't give many clues so your sleep problem could be caused by a lot of different things.Well, here's what happened. I got a flu shot on the 24th. For a couple of days after that I was tired and feverish - which I figured was normal. But the extraordinary fatigue has continued. Because I was so exhausted I ended up sleeping a lot one day and had trouble falling asleep at night and was up all night for a few nights with an inverted sleep pattern, sleeping more during the early part of the day.
Now last night I did finally fall asleep before 2 am and slept enough hours till, say, 9 or 10, and then slept half the day. 12+ hours. The fatigue is so intense that I have to keep going back to sleep until mid afternoon, and then I'm still zombie-like. Even going out for some fresh air and walking isn't helping. Dunno what's going on, but it's not normal. sigh. It's gotta straighten out soon... If I end up sleeping 12+ hours again tonight and tomorrow and still feel exhausted, I'm going to be frustrated.
Posted by Emme on January 3, 2004, at 10:13:55
In reply to I've become a vampire!, posted by Emme on January 2, 2004, at 0:04:11
Okay, maybe it's time to think about melatonin. I'd have to find out if there's any problem with that and my meds. Or off I go to get some fresh milk to heat up. What would make warm milk taste less awful? I guess turning it into hot chocolate would defeat the purpose.
And I'm so darned anxious. I mean really anxious and worried about life, the universe, and everything. And practically twitching I'm so anxious. I was bordering on a panic attack last night. I seldom ever get those anymore. Calgon take me away..... Does anyone else find their fears and worries amplified a hundred -fold at night? I hate waking up every morning with a racing pulse and negative thoughts. Of course daytime isn't too pretty either. I can't get over the hump to be productive and time is slipping away and I'm getting older and going nowhere. Time to resume a little benzo usage - I'd weaned off to see how it would go. Time to do *something*. I want to go look at cool animals in Costa Rica. I want to go to New Zealand. I can't afford to go.
Whine whine whine. I want my pdoc. :(
But hey, it's not snowing! Yeehaa. It's going to be warm today. But it's raining so we're probably not going birding. I threw out my old blender - I got a new one for Christmas. Pina coladas anyone? I need to write out a couple of job applications. I must get inspiration and focus. I threw out my old floor palm because it had bugs I couldn't get rid of. I have my first poinsettia. Don't live above people who are vocally trained. They're really nice but they sing. One says he can throat sing - I think I'll ask for a demo. Oh, and I saw a lovely movie last night: The Road Home. You must watch it. Have a good Saturday. I bet I conk out again soon.
Emme
Posted by Emme on January 3, 2004, at 22:12:41
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire! » Brown_cow, posted by Emme on January 2, 2004, at 16:08:06
for my warm milk. Wish me luck.
Posted by Omega Woman on January 4, 2004, at 6:53:24
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire! » Brown_cow, posted by Emme on January 2, 2004, at 16:08:06
I live with this problem, theres lots of rules for keeping the pattern but once its out theres only one thing to do...stay up all day without sleep.
Sitting outside with warm clothes is a good idea, as its not so easy to fall asleep for long in the street or back garden. Also having friends round to keep you awake till after 9 o clock..you might sleep 14 hours but even if your lucky enough to wake up at 8am your brain will still try to sleep early during the day, because thats when its set its close down time.
The Second day is crucuial, so re-orientate and find things to do that make you want to be up during the day. while thinking through tomorrow in so much detail that the idea of not sleeping loses its appeal.
Posted by Emme on January 5, 2004, at 4:09:40
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire!, posted by Omega Woman on January 4, 2004, at 6:53:24
> I live with this problem, theres lots of rules for keeping the pattern but once its out theres only one thing to do...stay up all day without sleep.
>
> Sitting outside with warm clothes is a good idea, as its not so easy to fall asleep for long in the street or back garden. Also having friends round to keep you awake till after 9 o clock..you might sleep 14 hours but even if your lucky enough to wake up at 8am your brain will still try to sleep early during the day, because thats when its set its close down time.
>
> The Second day is crucuial, so re-orientate and find things to do that make you want to be up during the day. while thinking through tomorrow in so much detail that the idea of not sleeping loses its appeal.It's 5 a.m. and I've done it AGAIN! I took warm milk. I curled up in bed with a book, which has *always* transitioned me to sleep my whole life. I turned out the light and tried to relax my bod. I did web search a little later than I planned, but I had a job application to do and it's due today and I didn't want to risk being too tired to do it in the morning. But I got done with that several hours ago and I'm still entirely too awake.
I can make a stab at your suggestion of staying awake until tonight. I may buy the melatonin.
Posted by Omega Woman on January 6, 2004, at 2:25:44
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire! » Omega Woman, posted by Emme on January 5, 2004, at 4:09:40
pa If you can't keep a sleep apaI had written and then lost it all. I was going to suggest my own strategy for keeping a sleep pattern. I had years of sleep pattern problems. The NHS tried to help me to sleep properly by forcing me into a routine. This did'nt work. I had to create my own routine.
Anyway you have access to a PC obviously. Fixing my PC was where I figured out how to fix my sleep pattern and treat my brain.
My PC was always crashing. Crashes really made me crazy, but I needed my PC to be stable so I had to get to know what was causing the problem, and become a detective, understanding the complexities of an operating system. All the time I was motivated to know how to protect the system from crashing. It was obviously possible because Businesses used the same system with fewer problems.
In a way this is the same attitude you have to take to deal with your own brain, life and sleep pattern. To stabilise a system you have to find out what aspects or upsetting it and become very familiar with each one, while also being aware how one effects the other, and overorganizing obsessively so that everything you learn about protecting the system gets integrated within it, in the form of procedures and habits.
Whats vital is that the problems always retain priority until they are fixed. Only then can you consider putting them down of the list of what you want to do. If you think about it logically, staying up and stimulating yourself with a job application does'nt make sense. If you cant keep a sleep pattern then you wont be employable. The sleep needs to become so high a priority that
Posted by Omega Woman on January 6, 2004, at 2:26:32
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire! » Omega Woman, posted by Emme on January 5, 2004, at 4:09:40
everything else is further down the list.
Posted by Emme on January 6, 2004, at 22:36:38
In reply to Re: overorganize.. » Emme, posted by Omega Woman on January 6, 2004, at 2:25:44
> In a way this is the same attitude you have to take to deal with your own brain, life and sleep pattern. To stabilise a system you have to find out what aspects or upsetting it and become very familiar with each one, while also being aware how one effects the other, and overorganizing obsessively so that everything you learn about protecting the system gets integrated within it, in the form of procedures and habits.It sounds like you mean that one should find a good routine and stick to it, with built-in provisions for delaing with destabilizing elements (like worry!). So looking at what's helped in the past, I should try to get back to exercising at night as soon as I'm able, as that disctracts my brain and expels nervous energy and sends me to bed tired and a tad less stressed. I need to force myself to get back to reading for half an hour at bedtime again in order to shut out worries and lull myself to sleep. Lately a warm shower seems to feel good, so maybe add that to the pot. And I always seem to get hungry as soon as I brush my teeth! So I should wait till the last minute to brush and floss. :)
>. If you think about it logically, staying up and stimulating yourself with a job application does'nt make sense. If you cant keep a sleep pattern then you wont be employable. The sleep needs to become so high a priority that
Actually, staying up to do that particular job application *was* the first logical thing I'd done all week long! I used my brain when it was still alert rather than when it was too tired. The result was a better application package than I could have produced in the morning. The jobs I'm applying for don't start until August 2004. Now with a few days until dealing with the next application, I can try to work on getting night to turn back into night!
Posted by Brown_cow on January 7, 2004, at 13:52:16
In reply to I've become a vampire!, posted by Emme on January 2, 2004, at 0:04:11
Hello my sleep deprived friend. If the calcium and magnesium with hot coco (made with milk & homemade preferred) and melatonin didn't work, then I might make one more observation and suggestion.
You had a bad week ... got the flu shot, got sick, took a trip (unsettling event?). You also complained of feeling anxious for some reason.
Maybe you have a depression or anxiety problem that a professional should address? Perhaps your family doctor could prescribe something too?
I do know of natural cures that have worked for myself under certain circumstances but not others. Of course this requires that you go out and buy melatonin for probably $6.95 or maybe something else.
The one thing I found to truly banish my anxiety was a specific form of Niacin called (Inositol Hexanicotinate). This is a no flush form of niacin and for whatever reason that plus calcium and magnesium calmed me down. No other form of niacin had this effect.
One reminder though ... although certain meds or natural substances can banish symptoms to an extent I have found that there is often a problem or situation that is the actual cause of these symptoms which still needs to be taken care of after the fact. Maybe there is something in your life which needs to get done?
Anyhow I hope this helps and seek help if you need. Lack of sleep is nothing to mess around with too long.
Posted by Brown_cow on January 7, 2004, at 13:58:08
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire!, posted by Brown_cow on January 2, 2004, at 14:51:53
One other thing is that vegetarians sometimes get anemic or lack iron? Ok I admit it I'm just shooting in the dark. see a doctor maybe or try one of the posted suggestions from myself or other posters. good night? :D
Posted by Brown_cow on January 7, 2004, at 14:31:13
In reply to I've become a vampire!, posted by Emme on January 2, 2004, at 0:04:11
One last note, try taking the "Inositol Hexanicotinate" (1 pill or 1 and 1/2 pill) with either 1/2 or 1 mg of "melatonin" ... 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour before you go to bed.
Be sure to get into bed by at least 11:30. If reading a good book makes you feel less nervous, then try doing that for a half hour in bed, then turn out the lights and hope for the best. Be sure to set your alarm clock for a specific wakeup time ... not too early or too late.
Then make sure to get up at that time and eat breakfast. Doing this offers a reward for getting up and sets the internal clock. Of course you have to do it more than once or twice ... be consistent.
Posted by Brown_cow on January 7, 2004, at 14:44:34
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire!, posted by Brown_cow on January 7, 2004, at 14:31:13
Almost forgot ... if you have to check with your doctor about interactions with yout meds you can do so over the phone. Just write down your question and then give it to his nurse over the phone.
i'd also ask if any of the medicines you are taking could be keeping you up for some reason.
Besides this melatonin is natural in that it is naturally made by your own body. Chances of interaction are almost zero unless you take it at the exact same time as you take your meds and it somehow mixes in the tummy.
There are natural products which are not naturally made by your own body though so watch out and ask the doc like you said.
Posted by Brown_cow on January 7, 2004, at 14:55:47
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire!, posted by Brown_cow on January 7, 2004, at 14:44:34
One other thing to "think" about is that you don't want to hit the hay "thinking" about work or problems. Try to drift off to something that has nothing to do with youself, like the storyline in a book.
Video games have the effect of taking my mind off of things. The only problem with them is that I get addicted to it and play them all night long. :D I guess like a book some games have story lines to them. I should read more often and play video games less. :\
Posted by Brown_cow on January 7, 2004, at 16:09:14
In reply to I've become a vampire!, posted by Emme on January 2, 2004, at 0:04:11
Don't forget to check to see if any meds you are taking might be keeping you awake.
I just read an article about that though. The doctor took an antidepressant and he got all nervous and could not sleep. Took a month to get over it after he stopped the med that did it to him. It was hard to find the infor he needed to decide what was happening to him too.
Of course, if the medicines you take have never kept you awake before, then it is probably safe to asuume that they are not doing so now.
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 7, 2004, at 22:37:14
In reply to Re: I've become a vampire! » Omega Woman, posted by Emme on January 5, 2004, at 4:09:40
hopefully you have had some sleep since you last posted, but if not i have a few suggestions.
i think i am a vampire as well, i get teased a lot about my everlasting energy, and my great moods i wake up in (seriously), and my go go go way of thinking even after 2 hours of sleep. it is strange! but after awhile the mood stops feeling so great and i start feeling coocoo.
back to my point- 1st, don't watch tv to fall asleep, it may work to start but it turns into a sleeping pill and when you are somewhere where you can't watch the tv you will be up ALL night!, make sure you are feeling sleepy when you get in bed, the lack of sleepiness will bring on all sorts of lovely thoughts that you had forgotten about and the silence of teh room will torture you for hours :), try reading something boring, it took me years before i took this suggestion seriously but it really works! you just have to be close to the light so you don't disrupt your half asleep state and have to start all over again. make sure you are not hungry, i have gone to bed after not really eaten and not had a clue what was keeping me up until my stomach growelled, a bowl of cereal (soy milk for me) sometimes helps. i never found that warm milk helped me. but it does some. and you should consider getting your blood checked as i discovered i was anemic among other things and i think taking iron did actually help my sleep. and if you have a strict vegetarian diet you should probably take iron anyway, if you don't already. And here is a biggie!! no sleeping during the day! i never had this problem, i just don't sleep, but the logic doesn't add up for me. when travelling i sleep deprive myself to adjust to time changes (if big) and it works. so keep yourself up all day, if you can't sleep that night then read, the next day keep busy, no sleeping, again try that night to sleep and keep up this way. eventually you will crash. (but save it for night hours) oh one other thing, i can't believe i am saying this as i am soooo against these drugs but if you haven't slept in a really long time i think you might want to consider a benzo or a sleeping pill of some sort (only for a few days). just to keep you mentally alert and feeling ok.
good luck, i hope some of this was helpful
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