Need prayers.

[Dario_M]

15 hours ago, jpv said:

Yes! Definitely 🙏

Thank you thank you thank you. 💙

[Dario_M]

14 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I watched a video on FB today, with a baby crying and the mom grabs a blow dryer and turns it on near the crib and that baby was out like a light!  

I'm gonna buy a blow dryer Today !! 🥳 And hopefully i will also be out like a light when i wanna sleep. 😴

[Tacenda]

6 hours ago, Dario_M said:

I'm gonna buy a blow dryer Today !! 🥳 And hopefully i will also be out like a light when i wanna sleep. 😴

There has got to be an app or someone needs to make one, because Dario, how are you to fall asleep if you're holding a dryer, lol.   ETA: Wait, they already have apps and youtubes! I need to download an app because I use a kindle at night to listen to podcasts/books. And it gets very hot if I play youtubes! I'm going to try it because sleeping pills aren't good to use I hear. Here's an app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hairdryer-sound-for-baby-sleep/id1106666165

Edited August 8, 2023 by Tacenda

[Calm]

3 hours ago, Tacenda said:

pills aren't good to use I hear.

Most of them have significant side effects.  If you have to use them, I would suggest first trying one of the new kind that works by turning off your wakefulness rather than making you sleepy, orexin antagonists.  Not that they are perfect, my Dayvigo gives me vivid, but emotionless nightmares if I take a full dose and a sick headache if I try and fight it and get up to do something for 8 hours.  But doesn’t seem addicting and no hangover, so I have been able to skip it without any rebound insomnia. I take a 1/4 dose so that’s nice because they cost so much.  

Before that route though, try stuff like calcium or magnesium (the latter works best for me), tryptophan (used to swear by it before my sleep disorder got severe), chamomile or sleepy time tea (check ingredients for allergies and possible diuretics or other natural “drugs” that can interfere with sleep if you are sensitive to them)…or my current all time favorite swimming in a not too cold pool in the evening (though technically I am not swimming but jogging and other movements with a life belt on due to needing to keeping my head relatively upright to avoid vertigo).  Finally got an exercise that tires me out whole body without leaving me wired or in a bit too much discomfort.  I need at least 3, much better 4 days a week to make a difference for sleep. Looking forward to see if I can adjust my sleep cycle to a more typical one come cooler days.  But even that can backfire as my husband, who works much harder in these pool sessions than I do, will have worse sleep if he pushes too much with evening exercise. Walking may work as well for most people, it used to work okay for me before my feet got screwed up.  I think doing it longer (at least an hour for me), but not as hard works best for sleep if in the evening.

And big, big, big help (that I have got to deal with now my body isn’t fighting me as much) is stay off the electronic devices from an hour or more before bedtime.  And try to avoid the temptation to pick them up if you wake up.  I am so addicted to my tech keeping me company at night and keeping the restlessness from driving me up the wall, but now everything is working better and I can sleep once the restlessness passes, they are more hindrance than help these days.

Edited August 8, 2023 by Calm

[Tacenda]

3 minutes ago, Calm said:

Most of them have significant side effects.  If you have to use them, I would suggest first trying one of the new kind that works by turning off your wakefulness rather than making you sleepy, orexin antagonists.  Not that they are perfect, my Dayvigo gives me vivid, but emotionless nightmares if I take a full dose and a sick headache if I try and fight it and get up to do something.  But doesn’t seem addicting, so I have been able to skip it without any rebound insomnia. I take a 1/4 dose so that’s nice because they cost so much.  

Before that route though, try stuff like calcium or magnesium (the latter works best for me), tryptophan (used to swear by it before my sleep disorder got severe), chamomile or sleepy time tea (check ingredients for allergies and possible diuretics or other natural “drugs” that can interfere with sleep if you are sensitive to them)…or my current all time favorite swimming in a not too cold pool in the evening (though technically I am not swimming but jogging and other movements with a life belt on due to needing to keeping my head relatively upright to avoid vertigo).  Finally got an exercise that tires me out whole body without leaving me wired or in a bit too much discomfort.  Looking forward to see if I can adjust my sleep cycle to a more typical one come cooler days.  But even that can backfire as my husband, who works much harder in these pool sessions than I do, will have worse sleep if he pushes too much with evening exercise. Walking may work as well for most people, it used to for me before my feet got screwed up.  I think doing it longer (at least an hour for me), but not as hard works best for sleep if in the evening.

And big, big, big help (that I have got to deal with now my body isn’t fighting me as much) is stay off the electronic devices from an hour or more before bedtime.  And try to avoid the temptation to pick them up if you wake up.  I am so addicted to my tech keeping me company at night and keeping the restlessness from driving me up the wall, but now everything is working better and I can sleep once the restlessness passes, they are more hindrance than help these days.

Thanks for these suggestions! I am taking two different kinds of magnesium. Looking at the one with glycinate to help with sleep and will buy that. 

I have been on the generic of Ambien for several years, that's how bad I have with insomnia. I worry that it could add to the problem of getting Alzheimer's that I try to fight, but not very hard since I'm addicted to Diet Dr. Pepper, and before that Diet Coke, and before that Diet Pepsi and before that Pepsi Light and before that Tab. That is probably a biggy too. My doctor whom I've gotten the meds ordered through has recently retired. And now I've got to fess up and tell a new doctor of my habit of using the prescription for sleep. That's why I feel I've got to do something more to stop insomnia besides the easy way out. I'm down to 2 half pills in a bottle. I have been taking smaller and smaller doses. 

I am horrible with having my tech with me and listening to stuff to get to sleep. I could try the app of a blow dryer to see if that helps and feel like that would be better than trying to listen to what people or books are saying. 

And limit the caffeine I drink for sure. But that habit has been since I was a teen with my mother alongside me and our get up and go drinks every Saturday before doing the chores. 

 

[Calm]

I don’t know about Alzheimer’s, but Tacenda, please talk to your doctor about switching you to Dayvigo.  My mind was much clearer when Ambien was out of my system for a week or two and it cut my dizziness in half or more….and I loooovvvveeee Ambien and have been on it nightly for most of the last 20 years and only not longer because you couldn’t get it in Canada.  I still take it now a couple a times a month, no more than 1/2 a 5 mg pill, only when I am awake at 8 am and have to sleep because I have somewhere I have to go because after four hours of sleep I can function with Ambien (obviously not doing anything serious myself, no operating heavy machinery or playing with knives that day) where Dayvigo keeps me horizontal with a headache if I stand up during 6 to 8 hours after taking it and is less likely to help me sleep in the day.

If you have been taking Ambien frequently that long, you might be pleasantly surprised that your mind isn’t as bad at this point as you thought.  I was shocked as I had taken vacations from it before and hadn’t noticed a difference and it may be you are healthy enough in other ways you won’t either, but besides its own issues, I think it makes other problems like my Meniere’s worse.  

It seems like when I hit 60, me and drugs were even less cooperative because I never use to get bad withdrawal symptoms and last time I tried to go off one of my main drugs, I had a panic attack.  Might have gone to the hospital except I knew what caused it and it was an easy fix (take a pill), I was trying to switch to a better medication and you have to have 24 hours between to avoid a bad reaction.  My insurance won’t cover the new drug anyway, going to try again in a couple of months as there is a good discount program.  
 

Anyway, that is to say while I know you are younger than I am (think around ten years, I am 65 this year), drugs like Ambien hit you worse the older you get as your body changes.  
 

——

Listening to stuff to get to sleep is not a big issue unless it is loud enough to wake you up or too interesting.  It is the visual stuff with lights on that is the big problem.  Don’t read online or play games and try to avoid videos, but do relaxing ones if you have to.

Look into MyNoise sleep sounds app, though if you have Alexa, it has a variety as well and you can have it going all night on loop.  Likely has a blow dryer and tons of other sounds.

——

Try to stop drinking your caffeine at earlier and earlier times of the day.  Don’t have to give it up completely unless you are really sensitive to it.  You are using Ambien to sleep and caffeine to fight the Ambien hangover the next day.  If you stop taking Ambien, you may find switching to caffeine free diet drinks later in the day satisfy you enough.  Ideally you won’t be drinking any caffeine at least ten hours before you go to bed or more if you are sensitive to it….which means you should probably avoid caffeine after lunch.  So if you are drinking caffeine after dinner, switch to no later than dinner for a couple of weeks.  Then mid afternoon and then lunch.  Or do it in half an hour increments or even 15 minutes if it is hard.

——

It was surprisingly easy to get off Ambien using Dayvigo.  Can’t take them together though, so if you do switch start if you have a choice when you have a few days you can manage with not great sleep.  But with how low you are on Ambien now, you should be able to take Dayvigo as soon as you got it as you have already tapered down the Ambien.  You will likely need to get a prior authorization for Dayvigo and it’s dang expensive, but start out small, 1/4 pill, and that might be enough.  Get some samples from your doctor to try first if possible.  You might need to go to a sleep specialist, I don’t know how well known it is.  The pharmacy always has to order it, so not that many using it yet.  There are 3 kinds of pills like Dayvigo, so your doctor may want to prescribe something different. My husband is on a different version, he isn’t as happy with it, but helps enough.  

The great thing about Dayvigo is no rebound, so if I am sleepy, I don’t need to take it just to keep from getting sick or wired, unlike Ambien.  So another way you can save money.  Don’t take it if you think you can sleep without it, but don’t delay too long if you don’t fall asleep easily as you need a full 8 hours before getting up.

[Tacenda]

3 hours ago, Calm said:

I don’t know about Alzheimer’s, but Tacenda, please talk to your doctor about switching you to Dayvigo.  My mind was much clearer when Ambien was out of my system for a week or two and it cut my dizziness in half or more….and I loooovvvveeee Ambien and have been on it nightly for most of the last 20 years and only not longer because you couldn’t get it in Canada.  I still take it now a couple a times a month, no more than 1/2 a 5 mg pill, only when I am awake at 8 am and have to sleep because I have somewhere I have to go because after four hours of sleep I can function with Ambien (obviously not doing anything serious myself, no operating heavy machinery or playing with knives that day) where Dayvigo keeps me horizontal with a headache if I stand up during 6 to 8 hours after taking it and is less likely to help me sleep in the day.

If you have been taking Ambien frequently that long, you might be pleasantly surprised that your mind isn’t as bad at this point as you thought.  I was shocked as I had taken vacations from it before and hadn’t noticed a difference and it may be you are healthy enough in other ways you won’t either, but besides its own issues, I think it makes other problems like my Meniere’s worse.  

It seems like when I hit 60, me and drugs were even less cooperative because I never use to get bad withdrawal symptoms and last time I tried to go off one of my main drugs, I had a panic attack.  Might have gone to the hospital except I knew what caused it and it was an easy fix (take a pill), I was trying to switch to a better medication and you have to have 24 hours between to avoid a bad reaction.  My insurance won’t cover the new drug anyway, going to try again in a couple of months as there is a good discount program.  
 

Anyway, that is to say while I know you are younger than I am (think around ten years, I am 65 this year), drugs like Ambien hit you worse the older you get as your body changes.  
 

——

Listening to stuff to get to sleep is not a big issue unless it is loud enough to wake you up or too interesting.  It is the visual stuff with lights on that is the big problem.  Don’t read online or play games and try to avoid videos, but do relaxing ones if you have to.

Look into MyNoise sleep sounds app, though if you have Alexa, it has a variety as well and you can have it going all night on loop.  Likely has a blow dryer and tons of other sounds.

——

Try to stop drinking your caffeine at earlier and earlier times of the day.  Don’t have to give it up completely unless you are really sensitive to it.  You are using Ambien to sleep and caffeine to fight the Ambien hangover the next day.  If you stop taking Ambien, you may find switching to caffeine free diet drinks later in the day satisfy you enough.  Ideally you won’t be drinking any caffeine at least ten hours before you go to bed or more if you are sensitive to it….which means you should probably avoid caffeine after lunch.  So if you are drinking caffeine after dinner, switch to no later than dinner for a couple of weeks.  Then mid afternoon and then lunch.  Or do it in half an hour increments or even 15 minutes if it is hard.

——

It was surprisingly easy to get off Ambien using Dayvigo.  Can’t take them together though, so if you do switch start if you have a choice when you have a few days you can manage with not great sleep.  But with how low you are on Ambien now, you should be able to take Dayvigo as soon as you got it as you have already tapered down the Ambien.  You will likely need to get a prior authorization for Dayvigo and it’s dang expensive, but start out small, 1/4 pill, and that might be enough.  Get some samples from your doctor to try first if possible.  You might need to go to a sleep specialist, I don’t know how well known it is.  The pharmacy always has to order it, so not that many using it yet.  There are 3 kinds of pills like Dayvigo, so your doctor may want to prescribe something different. My husband is on a different version, he isn’t as happy with it, but helps enough.  

The great thing about Dayvigo is no rebound, so if I am sleepy, I don’t need to take it just to keep from getting sick or wired, unlike Ambien.  So another way you can save money.  Don’t take it if you think you can sleep without it, but don’t delay too long if you don’t fall asleep easily as you need a full 8 hours before getting up.

Love this, so helpful! I'm going to be 62 in December, so not too far behind you Calm. I will ask the new doctor I find, about this Dayvigo and try to wean off drinking caffeine so late in the day. My goal is to not rely on a sleeping pill. Sadly, my husband is hooked on the Zolpidem too now. But I've discussed that we need to both get off of it, since I did read it could cause dementia. I saw something the other day about sleep issues. And how worrying over it makes it worse. And to pretend or tell yourself that you're going to go to sleep. And after reading that I thought, could it really be that simple?

Thanks again!

[Calm]

11 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

And after reading that I thought, could it really be that simple?

I hope it is for you.  I know worrying about sleep always makes it worse for me.  I always have to take Dayvigo on days I have doctors appointments and “have” to go

[Dario_M]

16 hours ago, Tacenda said:

There has got to be an app or someone needs to make one, because Dario, how are you to fall asleep if you're holding a dryer, lol.   ETA: Wait, they already have apps and youtubes! I need to download an app because I use a kindle at night to listen to podcasts/books. And it gets very hot if I play youtubes! I'm going to try it because sleeping pills aren't good to use I hear. Here's an app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hairdryer-sound-for-baby-sleep/id1106666165

Sleeping pills i allready use a bit in a way because i take Lorazepam. It's an anti anxiety medicine. But it definitely helps with your sleep as well. The days that i take a higher dosis of that stuff are the days i also have the best sleep. 

Edited August 9, 2023 by Dario_M