topic Re: Weird sleep pattern in Wellness

Weird sleep pattern

I am still oxox — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 11:47:00 GMT

I am asleep by 9 most nights with the help of 4mg valium and a benadryl. I sleep well until my potty run around 2-3am after that it takes me over an hour to fall back to sleep and when I finally dall back asleep I can sleep to7 or so.I am married and my hubby has his own sleep issues. I am also recovering from a fractured wrist. any thoughts Thanks

Re: Weird sleep pattern

catter70 — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:07:19 GMT

I can't remember the last time I was still awake at 9 p.m. No thoughts here on getting a god nights sleep. I've finally decided to no longer allow my cats to sleep with me as they were always waking me digging in and using the litter box, etc., then I'd have to get up and clean it due to the smell. Kinda works, but now they scratch to get in starting on and off from midnight on. Then there are the bathroom breaks for me. Sometimes I can't fall back to sleeep, but rarely awake past 4 a.m.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

Ainhisg — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:07:21 GMT

Yes, get off Benadryl and the Valium but the Benadryl first. Some research has linked Benadryl to an increased risk of dementia in older adults. If you must have something to sleep, my doctor says muscle relaxers have a side effect of sleepiness and are much safer to take than anything else. I highly recommend reading the book pictured below. It is an interesting, quick read--not boring at all. It may be available at your local library or for download from them if you don't want to purchase it.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:10:44 GMT

@I am still oxox I feel your pain. Sorry to hear about your fractured wrist.

I broke my shoulder early December and posted about difficulty sleeping. I would say in the last 3 weeks I am finally sleeping like I did before my shoulder break/surgery. The surgeon has released me as the break has healed but I still have pain and in physical therapy 2-3 per a week.

Not getting enough rest and trying to recuperate is hard, I thought I would never sleep like I had in the past but finally I'm there.

I took Tylenol PM to help me sleep, it did not work... It was really hard to get comfortable in bed...and I was afraid I would roll over on my injured shoulder even tho I did my best to make that not happen..

I hope you get some good answers...I slept in our spare room and when I woke up, I just turned the TV on, sometimes I could go back to sleep other times I was awake most of the night. Take care

Re: Weird sleep pattern

Major Shopper — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:11:19 GMT

@I am still oxox So sorry you are dealing with this plus a fractured wrist! Wow!

Just wondering if your health care professional suggested the Valium and Benadryl cocktail?

You may want to research the combination's side effects.

I hope you find something that works for you.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

LizzieInSRQ — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:15:53 GMT

9pm to 2am is 5 hours . 3am to 7 am is 4 hours = 9 hours of sleep.

I am not sure what you are seeking thoughts about from your post.

Im not seeing weirdness in your sleep pattern. You dont say why you think its weird:

Should you stop meds? Is it normal to wake up in the middle of sleep? Is it normal to take an hour to fall back to sleep? Etc.

Can you be more specific about concerns?

Re: Weird sleep pattern

CalminHeart — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:32:22 GMT

@I am still oxox wrote:
I am asleep by 9 most nights with the help of 4mg valium and a benadryl. I sleep well until my potty run around 2-3am after that it takes me over an hour to fall back to sleep and when I finally dall back asleep I can sleep to7 or so.I am married and my hubby has his own sleep issues. I am also recovering from a fractured wrist. any thoughts Thanks

What time do you stop drinking liquids? Other than a little to take your meds, it might help if you stopped earlier.

Before I retired, I stopped drinking by 6pm, made a last potty run right before going to bed, and very rarely had to get up before my alarm.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

CalminHeart — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:41:12 GMT

There are a lot of drugs other than benedryl and Valium to help with sleep and have fewer risks. Ask your dr about Melatonin, Trazadone, and others.

Valium seems like an odd choice for sleep, especially considering it's so addictive.

My dad always wanted benedryl to help him sleep. The dr at the assisted living facility was adamant that the elderly should never take it because of long and short term side effects.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

I am still oxox — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:43:24 GMT

@CalminHeart I have OAB and stop drinking warer with dinner then one sip with my pm meds and another sip with my slep meds. I can never make it through the night without a potty run.

@CalminHeart wrote:
@I am still oxox wrote:
I am asleep by 9 most nights with the help of 4mg valium and a benadryl. I sleep well until my potty run around 2-3am after that it takes me over an hour to fall back to sleep and when I finally dall back asleep I can sleep to7 or so.I am married and my hubby has his own sleep issues. I am also recovering from a fractured wrist. any thoughts Thanks

What time do you stop drinking liquids? Other than a little to take your meds, it might help if you stopped earlier.

Before I retired, I stopped drinking by 6pm, made a last potty run right before going to bed, and very rarely had to get up before my alarm.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

haddon9 — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:45:09 GMT

It sounds to me that you're getting 9 or so hours of sleep but it's just broken up. I wish I could get that much sleep.

I think many of us have some sleep issues. I am always waking up multiple times during the night and having a hard time falling back to sleep. This has been going on for years.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

Biftu — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 13:19:17 GMT

You are getting nine hours of sleep which is plenty. What is your issue, and why are you taking these drugs, and why do you think you need them? I generally go to bed about midnight and am fully awake by 5:00 or 6:00. Seems like this is enough sleep for me since I never need a nap or become tired during the day.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

Desertdi — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 13:46:36 GMT

I worked the "graveyard" shift for many years...so my circadian rhythm is upside down. (I sleep during the day, and am up all night). Can't seem to change at this late date.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

wagirl — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 14:09:58 GMT

@I am still oxox ---oh girl----if I had any type of answer or solution, I'd be a billionaire!!! when I broke my wrist and recently my ankle--sleep was like a unicorn---for months afterwards---so hard to get back to normal after such a traumatic accident---me amd sleep are not best friends----I don't know about you, but I was always trying to protect my injuries in my sleep, when I needed to roll over into a new position--would always wake up just enough to do that carefully---doing that many times a night--- well it SUC%ED--rhymes with tucked time will help, you aren't fully healed yet---it took me at least a year for my wrist ---and did my ankle in Oct 2022 and it still is barking at me!!! If you can nap--that's good, I can't so I drag all day.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

I am still oxox — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 14:12:18 GMT

@Biftu its the hour or 90 minutes that I am awake thats bothering me and you can never tell a person how much sleep they need

@Biftu wrote:
You are getting nine hours of sleep which is plenty. What is your issue, and why are you taking these drugs, and why do you think you need them? I generally go to bed about midnight and am fully awake by 5:00 or 6:00. Seems like this is enough sleep for me since I never need a nap or become tired during the day.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

ID2 — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 14:41:22 GMT

Get off the drugs that you're taking. Let nature take its course. No one needs drugs every night.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

I am still oxox — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 14:49:22 GMT

@ID2 then I will have insomnia my doctors know what I need

@ID2 wrote:
Get off the drugs that you're taking. Let nature take its course. No one needs drugs every night.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

cheriere — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 16:11:32 GMT

Valium is also prescribed to be used as a muscle relaxer. Whenever I had colorectal surgery I was prescribed this in addition to a pain medication for a couple of weeks. I was only given .5 mg twice a day though.

Like another poster mentioned, I'm prescribed Trazadone to help with sleep. It works most of the time, but not always unfortunately. I've always been a very nervous person and struggled with sleep. However, physicians here do not like to prescribe medications for this, so I've had to try and learn to live with it. It's very hard sometimes.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

cotton4me — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 15:23:11 GMT

From the CDC website:

Some habits that can improve your sleep health:

Be consistent. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, including on the weekends
Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable temperature
Remove electronic devices, such as TVs, computers, and smart phones, from the bedroom
Avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime
Get some exercise. Being physically active during the day can help you fall asleep more easily at night.

Re: Weird sleep pattern

Bri369 — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 15:23:52 GMT

You're getting 9 hours of sleep each night with the help of two drugs and getting up to go to the bathroom once. I don't know what your expections are?

Re: Weird sleep pattern

I am still oxox — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 15:33:07 GMT

@Bri369 I want to be able to fall back to sleep after my potty run its that simple.

@Bri369 wrote:
You're getting 9 hours of sleep each night with the help of two drugs and getting up to go to the bathroom once. I don't know what your expections are?