topic Re: Sound machines in Wellness

Sound machines

KCDiva — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 23:38:51 GMT

I have a terrible time falling asleep and staying asleep. I take medication which helps but have considered a sound machine. Does anyone have success with a sound machine? If do which one? TIA

Re: Sound machines

Growing — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 23:46:24 GMT

Look into Whole Tones which is music to relax or heal the body. They have the CDs and the little round machine. I listen with a pillow speaker from the CC Crane company, also available on Amazon. At one time, they were selling these on hsn or qvc but I got mine from their website. I also listen to audio books, the radio, or podcasts in the middle of the night to go back to sleep. I have been trying an herbal product called Deep Sleep by Herbs, Etc., if you are interested. Makes me sleep deeper REM cycles but does not knock me out or cause grogginess. I wish you good luck.

Re: Sound machines

NickNack — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 23:50:50 GMT

@KCDiva My niece uses a sleep machine that makes different fan sounds. I have a hard time staying asleep and tried that one and another one and they didn't help me.

I downloaded an app on my iPhone of different sounds for sleeping. I think I like it better but never really use it. You've got me thinking I might try it tonight.

Also, if you have an Amazon Echo, just tell Alexa to play sleep sounds. This is from Amazon's website:

To Get Started: Say "Alexa open Sleep Sounds". Then, to play a sound say "Play Thunderstorm" or "Play Rain". To get a list of sounds, say "List Sounds". To have Sleep Sounds pick a random sound for you, say "Play Random".

When a sound is playing, you can say "Alexa Next" or Alexa Previous" to play the next or previous sound.

To start a sound directly (when Sleep Sounds is already playing a sound -OR- when Sleep Sounds is not started ): Say "Alexa, tell Sleep Sounds to play Thunderstorm". Replace 'Thunderstorm' with any supported sound name.

By default, the sounds will loop automatically and play until you say "Alexa, Stop". To limit the time that the sound will play, first play the sound using one of the above methods and then say "Alexa, set a sleep timer for 2 hours" or whatever time limit you would like.

Re: Sound machines

pdxlalesley — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 23:49:47 GMT

@KCDiva , this problem has plagued me for decades. What I do (and I know you specified sound machines) is turn on a box fan, at the end of my bedroom, not near my head. And also I use a Homedics air cleaner/ionizer closer to the bed.

I have tried sound machines, but usually they utilize running on a sound loop and I could hear when the loop started over. Kept me awake and anticipating. With a fan it is "fresh" random soothing noise. Works for me. Good luck.

Re: Sound machines

Irish1210 — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 23:52:22 GMT

@KCDiva

I purchased 2 HoMedic SoundSpa Machines @ BB&B ~ 19.99 (then use the coupon).

Has auto timer ~ 15, 30 or 60 minutes

Ocean
Summer Night
Rain
White Noise
Thunder
Brook

Lightweight and easy to take with you, which I have : )

Re: Sound machines

Mellyg — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 23:55:10 GMT

Same problem! I use "RelaxMelodies" app, I've used it consistently for over a year. It has an abundance of sounds to chose from, different sound mixes, meditations, etc. my favorite feature is the ability to make your own "sound mix" based on the noises they provide. Trust me, it's not complicated (in the event I made it sound more difficult/confusing than it is)!

Re: Sound machines

godi — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:10:25 GMT

dohm is the one we have. You can adjust the sound. Check them out online.

Re: Sound machines

Kachina624 — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:11:24 GMT

I have an Amazon DOT with a Bose speaker in the bedroom with Amazon Music so I can literally listen to any kind of music or sounds that I want. I find thunderstorms a little annoying plus they make my dogs uneasy. Rain, ocean waves, rushing streams, etc. never helped me go to sleep.

Re: Sound machines

on the bay — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:17:19 GMT

@Irish1210 wrote:
@KCDiva
I purchased 2 HoMedic SoundSpa Machines @ BB&B ~ 19.99 (then use the coupon).
Has auto timer ~ 15, 30 or 60 minutes
Ocean
Summer Night
Rain
White Noise
Thunder
Brook
Lightweight and easy to take with you, which I have : )

I use this one too @KCDiva.

My daughter uses relax melodies on her iphone. I tried that but found it annoying for some reason and I like the simplicity of this sound machine.

Re: Sound machines

Icegoddess — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:21:23 GMT

I have a Sharper Image alarm clock/radio/cd player sound machine. They don't make what I have anymore. It has several sounds to choose from. I use the ocean sound. It stops after an hour, so I can't say it helps me stay asleep. I currently use hormones for that. I really like it, but it has started having a problem with the display, so I'm afraid the alarm clock part may become non-functional at some point simply because I won't be able to see the display to set it. I recently looked into a replacement and was disappointed not to find something that had all the same functions that also looked nice and sleek like the one I have.

Re: Sound machines

50Mickey — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:24:25 GMT

I cannot go to sleep in a silent room.We use a sound machine but it is old and I can't remember where we got it. We also turn on a box fan for additional noise. If we ever lose power and all of the white noise goes off I wake up out of a sound sleep immediately. When we travel we take the sound machine with us. i think most of them are ok but a fan works just as well. if it gets too cold point it away from you.

Re: Sound machines

PA Mom-mom — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:48:00 GMT

@KCDiva We have box fans available in evey bedroom. Got the idea from my brother when he was in med school and living in a YMCA about 45 years ago. To supplement that I have Alexa (Echo) looping "Ambient Noise" (Thunderstorms.) There are so many sounds available, either on Alexa or YouTube, you should find something to your liking. I like the various snowstorm offerings on YouTube as well

Re: Sound machines

KCDiva — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:51:45 GMT

Thank you all! Yes this time if year I miss my ceiling fan. I could try a fan and I think I will look into some of the recommendations given here. What do I have to lose? Thank you!

Re: Sound machines

knittykitty — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 02:56:03 GMT

all of the Alexa machines offer a wide variety of sounds. I like rain, train, and fireplace in particular. I use this instead of a sound machine as they generally only have about 5 sound options. HTH

Re: Sound machines

Msfitness — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 04:01:09 GMT

@pdxlalesley that is what I do as well; but I have a little box fan on my chest of drawers. I cannot sleep without it being on. I have searched online for a sound machine, but I've run into too many negative reviews once I have made my decision to purchase.

Re: Sound machines

Icegoddess — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 04:21:21 GMT

@KCDiva wrote:
Thank you all! Yes this time if year I miss my ceiling fan. I could try a fan and I think I will look into some of the recommendations given here. What do I have to lose? Thank you!

@KCDiva I run my bedroom ceiling fan on low 24/7 year round. It's not cooling the room, just moving the air around. If you're feeling like it's cooling, there should be a switch on the fan housing to reverse the direction the blades move and that directs the air upwards instead of down.

Re: Sound machines

NYCLatinaMe — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 04:52:27 GMT

@KCDiva wrote:
I have a terrible time falling asleep and staying asleep. I take medication which helps but have considered a sound machine. Does anyone have success with a sound machine? If do which one? TIA

I had a white noise machine that I bought in Sharper Image that worked great for me. It had a fan sound that I could adjust in volume. I passed that along to my niece, and later tried to replace one with something cheaper, but the cheaper noise machines tend to have brooks and rainstorms, and varied noises, and I have found those noises distracting and not sleep inducing. I have been sleeping with a Vornado fan, and that works for me. If it stops working, I have found the one I am going to try next in Amazon, the "Marpac Dohm Classic (White) | The Original White Noise Machine".

Another thing that helps me sleep is to wear blue light blocking glasses. I put them on after dinner, as I watch TV or computer monitor. I purchased them in Amazon. The price has really gone up, but they really help. there are some eyeglasses that protect the eyes from blue light, but are not blocking. The blocking ones (orange lens) are best.

I also do not keep electronics (TV, computer) in the bedroom, which I know is recommended.

Re: Sound machines

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 10:50:20 GMT

I bought one years ago thinking this might help cancel out DH's snoring. It didn't! It might work for you though for your problem. I can't remember the one I had, sorry. It had a lot of different nature sounds --- the ocean, etc.

Re: Sound machines

SilleeMee — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 11:23:12 GMT

When I went looking for a sleep/sound machine, I was overwhelmed by the number and types available. I didn't know which one was the right one for me so I just kept reading the reviews for them on amazon then picked one. That's pretty much what you have to do with this type of technology. I suggest buying one which has free returns and that way you won't be stuck with something that doesn't work out for you.

Re: Sound machines

VaBelle35 — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 13:37:40 GMT

I bought one about 20 years ago because I live in a townhouse and my bedroom faces the parking area. People start leaving for work at 4:30 am some mornings, so all the beeping and car doors slamming was waking me up.

It's also really great for travel because it softens the hotel sounds of doors closing and people using the shower or walking in the hallway and rolling their luggage.