How long does it take...

[The Void]

Sigh.

If it weren't for 2 things: 1) potential addiction; 2) rarely have the luxury of 8 hours straight available to me, I'd beg my doctor for a prescription for Ambien or Lunesta.

I cannot fall asleep quickly. My brain will not shut down without something to numb it - be it a boring TV show (PBS documentaries, especially on history, are great), how-to program (nothing like Norm Abram's voice on "Old Yankee Workshop"), or some kind of droning or soothing CD - either a sound effects thing like wildlife at night or babbling brook or crickets, or The Cure's "Faith" with faster sounds programmed out.

Part of my problem now is Jon's snoring. To watch a TV show and hear it over the snoring, I have to put it so loud, it's no longer soothing. To listen to a CD - forget it. I won't even try. I COULD wear earplugs so that once I am asleep his snoring won't wake me - but then that makes it impossible for me to do the TV or CD thing.

It's a horrible, horrible quandry. One that might not get fixed without medical help.

I've always had trouble falling asleep. Reading sometimes helps, but it takes an hour of reading to get to that point.

In recent years, I've dabbled in pills. Jon got Percocet after a foot injury in 2002, and I discovered their "sleep assistance" abilities when I took half of one to see if it would help with some morning back pain I was having at the time. OMG - not only did the back pain go away, but the SLEEP was INCREDIBLE. It was the most wonderful thing. But I finished the bottle in about 2 months (took half at a time, and tried not to take it every day), and found myself almost in an addictive state of withdrawal when it was gone.

I ended up going to over-the-counter things like store-brand-version Nytol, and found the one that worked best was actually Tylenol PM. Managed to not feel "addicted" to those - they don't give you a sense of "relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" that the Percocet does, just seems to make it easier to close your eyes and give in to sleep. I can go back to those if I need to (and I may need to...)

In 2003, when Jon had surgery to remove the screws originally put in his foot, he received a prescription for Percocet. He knew of my taking the original ones, and would have been willing to fill the 'scrip so I could take these (he didn't have any real pain). But both of us decided that wasn't wise, so we threw out the scrip. I would have loved - LOVED - the sleep they gave me. But I don't need that kind of feeling of addiction.

My sleep sucks. I hate the state I'm in. Jon goes to sleep about 11:00. I'm up until 3:00 at least. I can't break the cycle. Not without something changing. And I don't know what that has to be.

I do my "wifely duty" of waking up with him at 6:00, making his lunch and frying him up a couple eggs with toast. That takes about 15 minutes, and I go back to bed while he takes his hour of time getting ready for work. I go back to sleep after he leaves at 7:00. I used to wake up again about 10:30, 11:00. Now, I'm sleeping until at least 1:00, and often until 1:30 or 2:00. My days are shot as a result, but I can't figure out how to fix this.

We're both seeing doctors about this stuff when his insurance kicks in in November. I don't know what can be done, but at this point, I'm desperate.

Sorry to hijack the thread. As you can see, this is a topic that weighs heavily on me right now. I've done everything but cry about it. And I might do that next.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

maybe if i red this every night before I go to sleep, i'll fall alseep real fast. *lol*

[Fierce Critter]

If posting of my suffering has helped your own, then it was worth the typing.

[Saephyr]

I vary a bit but I havce a hard time relaxing at night...racing thoughts. I have a great sleep drug treatment from my doc though. If any of you can't sleep GET TO A DOCTOR and fix it!

If you lapse into sleep depravation it's worse than you'd ever imagine!

[pharoh]

It varies sometimes for me....usually about a half hour to wind down, but if I work out and take a hot shower I am a goner lol

[Guest Megalicious]

...

[saechalyn]

it takes me a while. Unless Im being read too. We  are in the middle of Alice in wonderland right now. Its so nice because the person who is reading it to me has such a rythmic voice.....  it gets me in the mood for bed. Which helps me sleep easier.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh that is just adorable.

[Marblez]

What no option for 30 seconds? LOL. Maybe it's just me.

[saechalyn]

What no option for 30 seconds?  LOL.  Maybe it's just me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am jealous.

I'm definitely in the an hour or more category, unless I down some tylenol simply sleep.