Do you wake up in the morning ready to take on the day with gusto? Has your sleep been restorative, filled with wonderful dreams? You can count yourself lucky indeed.
I haven’t counted myself lucky for a very long time. Going to sleep isn’t the problem. In 5 minutes, I’m gone. But if something were to wake me in the first few minutes to the first few hours, it’s all over. I don’t just drop back off to sleep. Most mornings I woke more tired than when I went to bed.
That could be me exactly.
I sent myself to the doctor for a sleep study. Turns out that I stopped breathing every couple of minutes. Not good. Brain cells die every time that happens. No wonder I can’t remember anything. Makes it hard to put coherent sentences together and it’s a contributing factor to weight gain, high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and even depression. Did that scare me? Oh yeah! I wasn’t looking forward to what came next. The dreaded C-pap machine. Everyone said I’d feel so much better after using it. I’m still waiting for that.
It’s not very big and has a small container for water inside.
The night before I got my machine, I was awakened at 1:00 a.m. I didn’t go back to sleep. I read blogs and left comments in the middle of the night. After the machine was all hooked up and attached to yours truly, I wrestle with it for hours trying hard not to feel like I was suffocating. Up again for the rest of the night but still not catching up on my blogs. You all write some very wonderful posts and I have to read all the comments. By day three, I was starting to feel a psychotic break coming on. I changed the size of the nose piece to the extra small and finally, finally slept a whole 6 hours. That’s about how long I last so far but I’m finally starting to feel better. Of course, I have been working hard to get any extra weight off as that is a contributing factor. It’s one of those catch 22 things. Weight exacerbates the obstruction and lack of sleep can cause more weight gain. I will win this war!
That’s not me either. He looks more restful than I do.
I can tell you, it’s a good thing I sleep alone. The wind coming off the hose on that thing is enough to freeze anyone out of the room. One morning I woke up because my nose was frozen and hurt. I’m wearing long sleeve night shirts to keep my arms warm and a stocking hat to cover my head. Pretty picture, isn’t it? It’s not entirely quiet either.
Looks like I’m going into outer space with all that hose.
There are an awful lot of people out there that need one of those delightful machines. A few I saw were quite heavy but most were like me with just a bit extra weight to some that were quite fit but still had problems with obstruction or brain induced sleep apnea. We all just want sleep, sweet sleep. It helps us be more productive and creative.
Are you a good sleeper or do you walk around in a brain fog too?
From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself
insearchofitall 
Comments on: "Sleep, sweet sleep" (76)
Good morning Marlene! I can’t imagine having to strap something to my face every night. I would however, do it as well if it means better quality sleep. I feel lucky to sleep like a baby most nights. I am crossing my fingers that you get used to it quickly and get a good night’s sleep every night! 😀
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I’m thinking we will need more than crossed fingers for that to happen. Getting hit on the head and unconscious might work. I almost had a panic attack the first night. Had to take it off. I keep trying though. I’m half conscious now and I’ve been up since 5:30. 😦
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Good luck with that! I don’t envy you! I’m in on the lunch! What time?
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Whenever you are ready. I can meet you there if you want. or you can come here first. I’m game.
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I could pick you up and give you a ride if you like! Around noon?
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Sounds good.
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See you then! 👍
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Oh, I feel you, my friend. I truly do. Your machine is nothing like mine, though. Of course, mine is over 8 years old. And what’s with the nose thing? Ugh, I couldn’t wear that. I use a full face mask.
As for getting a full nights sleep? More than six hours? dream on! Not going to happen. At least it hasn’t for me. Six hours is about it. Do I feel rested? Yeah, most days. It took almost a year of using the machine though.
And no the machines are not completely quiet. Your’s is probably quieter than mine. I got used to the noise pretty quick, because I usually have a fan running so I was already used to the white noise.
As for the cold air…oh yeah, it’s cold. You should be able to adjust how much humidity you can use. I can on mine. The more humidity, the less cold the air is. I find that I breath better with little humidity. So yeah, my air coming out is always cold.
Not the most sexy thing in the world but breathing is. 😉
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You are so right, Jackie. I do have the moisture on it but not all the way. It’s so damp here it was dripping down my face one morning. I can opt for the full mask if this doesn’t work out. This one sends a recording wirelessly to them and at the end of 30 days we get to review. I always have a fan running too for the white noise. You can almost hang meat in my bedroom. i hope I can adapt to this thing. So far the 6 hrs have been in chunks, not all at once. I’m such a light sleeper and have always been that way. Guess that’s why God made coffee. 🙂 I don’t care about sexy anymore. Too old to even think that way. 🙂 Good to know you adjusted and I did buy the brand of chapstick you recommended. No wonder it’s more expensive. It’s made in Germany just like me.:) Haha.
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The chapstick has helped me a lot. Hope it does you too. My bedroom is like yours. I have to keep the door closed because of the cats and it’s in the front of the place so when the cold winds blow that room gets really cold! With these machines you just have to give it time. I hate them. The masks are so uncomfortable and hard to sleep in. No matter what kind. It’s unnatural. But it’s a necessary evil. 😉
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I hear you. We can’t afford to lose more brain cells. 🙂 I bought 3 of the chapsticks. My lip is always peeling on my left side too because of the Bells. Just the left side!
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You’re so funny: breathing IS sexy! 😉
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I’m so sorry to hear you’re struggling with the C-pap, Marlene. Although doctors say we need more, I typically sleep around 6 hours. I wish I could do more. Hang in there. Perhaps you’ll get more adjusted to it and work up to 7 hours.
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I’m with you, Jill. More is not necessarily better. I just want 6 hours of good sleep. So far it 3 hrs here and 2 hrs there then maybe one more sometime later. They say there is an adjustment period. In the meantime, I tend to be a bit foggy still. I may go to the full cover mask and see if that helps. Thanks for stopping by. Maybe when my brain is working again, I can write something more interesting. 🙂
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I’m glad you’re keeping us up to date…we’re praying for you. 🙂
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Thank you, it’s appreciated. 🙂
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I’m sorry it’s become a struggle to get used to your CPap machine. My ex has one, I don’t know how anyone can sleep with them. He complained about his nose being sore from the cold if he did manage to sleep all night with it too. He eventually switched to the face mask but still complains and only uses it now and then. I suggested he try coating around his nostrils with something like petroleum jelly to help the soreness but I don’t think he ever tried. It just came to me that when a baby has a sore bottom coating it will protect it from more irritation.
As for the cold, yes, I was the person next to him. I took to pulling the covers up and making a tent-like wall to block the cold from hitting my face and keeping me up. The noise wasn’t bad I got used to that the soonest but then again he was an awful snorer so the machine was better than his snoring. 🙂
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Those are typical reactions to the C-pap. It was recommended by a fellow blogger to use Nivia brand chapstick in my nose if the dryness becomes a problem. It’s a better quality brand and quite gentle. There are so many in this country with sleep disorders that it amazes me. I’m not a big snorer. Maybe a little on occasion and softly. I’m hoping the adjustment period isn’t too long. Can’t afford to lose too many more brain cells. 🙂
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Having just endured one of my bad nights of sleep I read this post with some [self] interest – do I need one of these machines? By the end I decided NO!! 🙂 I wonder if it is like most things and one needs time to adjust to the different parameters. I remember when I finally purchased my space age mattress that was designed to ensure a comfortable and good nights rest. It took about a week before that happened and I spent a day or two feeling very disappointed before realising my attitude wasn’t helping.
On the plus side for me I am sleeping better and better now my thyroid condition has been correctly diagnosed and I am taking a natural whole thyroid dose every day – many little health issues are resolving including a better, deeper sleep for longer. I have an Up24 on my wrist which monitors my sleep and my daytime activity and I find this really helpful.
I thought I’d share all this with you as there might be something in my experience which is of interest to you – we often seem to be dealing with similar issues at the same time don’t we. 🙂 xoxo
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Thanks so much Pauline. You are a dear heart. Is the Up24 like a Fitbit? I gave mine to my daughter because the sleep tracker didn’t work well. I kept hitting it during my sleep and it kept resetting the sleep time. I get more exercise when I’m asleep than awake. I had been previously diagnosed with sleep apnea and had an older machine that was left behind when I moved out. I thought losing weight would mean I didn’t need it anymore. Oh well. My son heard me snoring softly when he walked by my room and was so concerned that I had it checked out. Turns out I’m on the severe end of the spectrum when I was hoping I wasn’t on the chart at all. Fooled me for sure. I’m down 15 pounds and still a ways to go. Starting to take walks on dry days again or go to the mall to walk. I could go to the gym too but it’s just not interesting. You really don’t want to need one of these things and I’m expecting a good period of adjustment. May have to change the breathing apparatus before it’s over. All I know is I can’t afford to lose anymore brain cells. There are so few working now as it is. 😦 I’m glad your thyroid med worked. Mine check out low many ears ago but I couldn’t get the safer med anymore. They quit making it here. I take plenty of supplements to try and help my system naturally but there is so much to learn. Always happy for advice.
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From my recent experience I would say get your thyroid checked – both the T3 and T4 . I was doing everything right diet wise including eating tons of sea vegetables and still my thyroid rocketed out of control. And it affects sleep, weight, muscle pain, thinning hair, eyes, internal organs, heart palpitations, angina and just about everything that ails you……… I am of the opinion that sleep apnoea is a symptom not a condition. [You know me, I’m rather opinionated….. 🙂 ]
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I like your opinionated self. 🙂 My insurance won’t do the proper testing for thyroid. They only do a partial test that everyone comes out normal on. I’ll have to find somewhere else to get it done properly. You are correct that sleep apnea is a symptom. I’m not done searching for it all yet. 🙂 That’s why I put this out there rather than hide. The candida is a symptom too. So the diet had to be brought under control. Slowly but surely, I will find wellness. I appreciate any help.
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You get more exercise when you’re asleep… oh, dear me. I’m sorry, but I laughed out loud.
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I have trouble falling asleep because of the bipolar. I take 11 pills to try and knock myself out. Usually once I get to sleep I can stay asleep though. My dad had sleep apnea and used a c-pap for years. It made a huge difference for him. I hope you manage to get it all sorted out soon!
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I’m sorry about your struggle. My sister was diagnosed with it as well but I think they were wrong. It’s a tough battle and makes mine insignificant. I never want to whine about my little discomforts, just enlighten. No one told me how hard it would be to use that darn thing. Someone needs to tell the truth about it.
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Hope you have many wonderful nights of rest.
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Thank you. One would be nice to start with. We shall see what time brings.
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It seems like half the people I know use a C-pap machine now, some more successfully than others. Wishing you peaceful nights filled with sweet dreams, Marlene.
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Thank you so much, Carol. A dream would be nice. To sleep soundly enough to have one and remember it will be a novel experience. Going to keep working to get all the weight off and see if that improves things.
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I’m proud of you for getting the machine and I wish you a peaceful night’s sleep tonight (and always). May it get easier and faster to get used to the new machine. xo
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Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m hoping for the best each night. Keep trying to last longer each night. Hugs.
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Proud of you! You can do it Marlene! ♥
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Marlene, sleeplessness is so horrible!
I hadn’t heard of a c-pap machine until now but it looks pretty scary. (But probably better than medication).
I’m a very poor sleeper while my husband sleeps like a baby all night every night – I’m so jealous!
I have had some good results with certain foods (see http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/better-sleep-with-6-foods/) it might be worth a try but although they can help with sleeping, of course they won’t help with the sleep apnea.
I really hope your sleep improves – sending good wishes your way.
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I’ve always been a light sleeper and usually got better sleep during an afternoon nap than at night. I checked out your list. Thank you for that. That is why I wrote about this. To learn what I can. Orange juice puts me to sleep as soon as I drink it so I don’t. I’ve started eating an orange in the evening before bed and that helps. The sleep apnea makes the sleep non productive. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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If I am upset by anything then I have sleep problems, but I usually get back to sleep finally. Otherwise I am lucky, today I have woken from a 8 hour sleep. Hope you sleep well soon.
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Not sure I’ve ever had 8 hours but 6 or 7 good hours sounds like heaven. Made it all the way through with several adjustments during the night but that’s the best so far. I’ll keep working at it. I make it a point not to carry anything unpleasant to bed by reading light and inspiring things before I sleep. But I guess the mind has a mind of it’s own. :)) Thanks for stopping by.
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I’m sorry to hear this is such a struggle. I slept next to my husband for several years as he wore a C-Pap and, while he had some other issues, the coldness for him or me wasn’t one of them. I think that’s definitely something to ask the doctor about. Give yourself some time to adjust to the weirdness of wearing the thing. I hope you get some relief!
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Thanks for stopping by and the kind words, Kerry. Last night was the best so far. I woke several times but got more sleep than usual..I found it interesting to find how many have had experience with these things. And so many willing to share information and help. There is a good adjustment period and I think the more relaxed I can get before going to sleep, the better.
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My heart really goes out to you! Not being able to sleep really affects your quality of life in so many ways. Hopefully your machine will improve things in time. When I was working I struggled with sleep often. The stress of the job just would not allow me the sleep I needed to face the day. It became a miserable cycle. Once I retired my old good sleeping habits kicked back in and I was doing really well for a period of time. Then the pain started in full force. I have hip, knee, and feet problems- the pain will often keep me awake. Since I’ve started exercising again this seems to be getting a little bit better but who knows? It’s on a day by day basis. Many people in our age group complain of not getting a good night’s sleep anymore. Oh the joy of sleeping like a baby, huh?
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Falling asleep has been the easy part. Waking up rested was the trick. I had no idea I stopped breathing so often during my sleep but the covers wound up on the floor I was wrestling the bed so hard. I am well past retirement age but it’s little things that keep waking me. Motion sensors going off or the need for oxygen. 🙂 Pain is a tough one. I’ve started doing my Qi Gong again this morning. It’s been too long and started slow. I think that will help too. Getting the kinks out since I spend so much of my day sitting. I’ve had leg cramps that kept me awake for hours. Found out Tuesday from my quilting friends that a spoonful of mustard would stop that immediately. I usually make a magnesium tea for it but it doesn’t always work. I think you may be onto something with the exercise. I took a 10 day challenge to do it each of those days till the end of the month. Thanks for stopping by. Sorry to hear you are having pain. Hope you find a way to manage it. Keep me posted. I’ll be thinking of you. Hugs,
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Hugs back at you! I hope you fall asleep, stay asleep and have a restful sleep tonight and in the days and weeks and months to come! Thanks for the little tips. I may look into some of those. If I can fall asleep and the pain does not wake me up I can usually stay asleep so I guess I’m considering myself one of the very lucky ones. My husband is up and down a lot for bathroom trips. Fortunately I’m a pretty sound sleeper once I’m out.
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I’ve been up since 5:30 and my eyes are quite heavy today. Need to move and wake up after my shower. Lunch with a friend today and some intelligent conversation will make for a fine day. 🙂 Miss seeing you here.
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You have my sympathy. Sleep deprivation is evil. I sleep much better since I had my pacemaker – it stops my heart stopping, if you see what I mean
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You made me laugh with that comment. Yes, I could see how you would sleep better if your heart didn’t stop. :))
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Marlene, first of all, big hug. This all sounds exhausting. It’s got to be bad enough that you can’t get quality sleep on your own due to the apnea, but then all the complications of the apparatus sound miserable too.
I did go through a time of poor sleep, but giving up caffeine did the trick. Eight hours is rare though. If I go to bed earlier, I just wake up earlier. The first month after my surgery was misery. Every time I rolled over my foot hurt, I would moan, then the moaning woke me up and on and on it went. I was so glad to get up in the morning after those awful nights. I would move to the couch for the day and then repeatedly nodded off sitting up. Lack of quality sleep is the worst.
I hope all these wonderful comments, along with advice from your doctor and your continued weight loss will all add up to productive sleep. My heart goes out to you.
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They warned me that there was an adjustment period. I do remember the pain of foot surgery. Had a bunion fixed oh, 30 years ago. It was the most painful thing I’ve ever gone through so have avoided getting the other one done. They didn’t give you pain meds then either to help sleep. Same kind of sleep when I broke my ankle. 😦 I was so feeling for you and really understood how long it would take. You get so sleep deprived that your brain feels like an alien has taken over. I was truly worried about psychosis one day, I was that tired. Starting to feel human again. Started exercising again and as soon as it dries up a bit, I’ll go for a walk again today. 🙂 Keep giving your foot time to heal. It really takes longer than we think. Giant hugs for all the help.
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Medicine has come a long way, even in just ten years. I remember a co-worker showing us her appendix scar and it was a long, jagged mess. Now they go in arthroscopic ly with diminished healing times and minimal scaring. Yet with other things, like your apnea, the tools still seem clumsy and uncomfortable.
I didn’t know (or had forgotten) that you had foot surgery and a break. I remember thinking to myself how hard it would be if I had to have surgery on the other foot. I don’t blame you for avoiding another surgery.
I worked with a few clients for the first time this week and continue PT. I overdid it one day without meaning too. I have a way of compartmentalizing the pain, which isn’t good. I’ll have the chance to rest it this weekend.
I’ve been thinking of you all day.
Hugs
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I don’t think I ever mentioned the foot surgery or the broken ankle. I might write about them. If I can find a way to make light of them. 🙂 Yes, things have improved but still, an assault to the body is still an assault. It wants time to recover itself. I hope you are taking down time this weekend. Had a decent night here but still a ways to go.
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I’m glad to read that you had a decent night. I hope more will follow, Marlene. You’ve said it best: you’re dealing with an assault on your body.
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I’m sure you’ve done tons of reading on your own, but I wanted to include this link in case there might be something of use. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/in-depth/cpap/art-20044164
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Thank you, Alys. I checked it out. I did have to go to the smallest sized nose piece.After a full week of working with it, I managed an almost 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I have the humidifier on medium which seems perfect now. I go to sleep quite easily as a rule. The claustrophobic feeling made that hard in the beginning so it’s a matter of becoming accustomed. It would be great if I didn’t just stop breathing all night. I do it during the day. Find myself holding my breath and then needing a deep one. I can go to sleep anywhere, just can’t stay asleep. The health risks are not worth doing without that monstrosity. I’ll keep at it. I had one more than 10 years ago that was even worse. Left it behind when I moved out. Wonder how many brain cells I lost over time? 🙂
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You still seem sharp to me, so I’m pretty sure you’ve got healthy brain cells to spare. I’m glad you are finding some adjustments to make things a bit easier. Six hours is progress, eh? Not what you need but better than what you’ve had.
Do you think you’ve had the apnea all these years (since leaving your former c-pap behind? Or is this a recurrence?
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You are too kind, Alys. I’m still a dull kind of sharpness. When my daughter read how often I stopped breathing in an hour all she could say was “no wonder you can’t remember anything” Huh? Was I forgetting something? Just before I left, I had lost 50 pounds and close to my goal weight. Yes, I had reached astronomical heights with the scale. Stress eating, Then the stress reached an all time high and the Bells hit, I struggled with the weight again and could barely move without falling over. The weight began to creep up again over the next 5-6 years and I think that’s why the apnea is back. I’m down 15 but have a good 20-30 to go for my bone structure and height. It’s hard to have enough energy to move when you are always tired but I must to have the energy. A catch 22. In essence, I think it’s a recurrence. 🙂 They said it wasn’t the weight, it was my breathing structure that causes it. Who knows?
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Exhaustion is the worst. I can’t imagine how you’ve accomplished so much with your apnea. You are an iron woman. Congratulations on losing 15 pounds. That’s significant. I’m all to familiar with stress eating. It’s usually what puts on the pounds, too, because I’m not stress-eating celery and carrots. I will continue to hold good thoughts that your Apnea improves and the weight continues to fall. I’m down eight pounds with another 20 to go to get to a respectable, middle-aged woman weight. One day at a time. Hugs xo
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You make me laugh. 🙂 Respectable middle-aged woman weight. 🙂 I’m hoping for respectable old lady weight. 🙂 My kid won’t let me get away with it. It’s always “make some muscles mom”. 😦 So there you go. Next week will be good eating week. Then back to the grind. 😦
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“Make some muscles, mom.” That is both funny and sweet. As for food challenges, I’m ready for Valentine’s Day to come and go. There are chocolate displays everywhere. Sigh.
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Valentines day, my nemesis. Summer is so much easier on the diet. 🙂 It’s too hot to eat and lots of fresh veggies around. 🙂 I hear that sigh and second it. 😉
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Summer is easier, isn’t it? I drink tons of water eat berries and other summer fruit and no holidays centered on candy.
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Dear Marlene..I can only sympathise with you my friend for the cumbersome machine that is there to help yet hinder also..
When we lack sleep I so know how draining that can be.. The one good thing is that you got diagnosed and hopefully once you and this machine get more acquainted if ever! you will get more blocks of 6 hours sleep at a time..
My thoughts are with you and I so understand.. this week especially for me seems like my wake and sleep clock got turned upside down.. Not slept well at all this week…
Sending you lots of well wishes Marlene.. and hope you manage to get a good nights rest…
Love and Blessings
Sue ❤
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Thanks so much, Sue. I hate too when my body clock gets out of sorts. I thought I was getting enough sleep and couldn’t figure out why I was still tired. The machine is getting more comfortable to deal with but when your health is at stake, you make whatever adjustments are necessary.I’m grateful to be able to afford to pay for the machine. With that kind of investment, I have an interest in making it work for me. Can’t afford to lose more brain cells. Those I have left are working overtime already. 😉 Giant hugs to you.
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Oh dear, Marlene! I hope your contraption is helping with the sweet dreams. I so appreciate your sense of humor right smack dab in the middle of the “stuff” we have to live with. And, in answer to your question, most of the time I sleep very well – of which I’m grateful. When I don’t, though, aggghhh is all I can say. Take care!
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Very funny. Serious subject, for sure, but you tell it just right. I’m also a horrible sleeper–although I’d never know it. Apparently I laugh and talk and thrash around and I also stop breathing. And I snore like a chainsaw. My daughter told me that sleeping with me is like trying to sleep at the circus.
Thankfully my husband is gracious and probably loves me just enough to stick around. The affordable care act has removed insurance premiums from my budget capacity so I’ll just have to suffer through it. Except, I don’t suffer. I sleep like a corpse. Everybody else? Not so much. Great story..
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Thank you so much for stopping by and your kind words. I’m hearing that there are many of us out there struggling with sleep issues. I like the circus description. I can see it now. The affordable care act is not affordable for anyone. I was without insurance for many, many years so I understand your dilemma. At least medicare is a little kinder. I probably wouldn’t have bothered with it at all, but my son moved in with me a year ago and it worries him so much that I relented. He hears me snore when he’s wandering about at night. It’s not real loud but enough to worry him. Me, I’m just tired of being tired. Still wake up tired so you aren’t missing out on much. 🙂
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So, it’s been 3 nights since you posted, and I am hoping that you are adjusting to the machine. I’ve had many patients tell me that they note significant improvement … once they adjust. Much of how we feel during the day is contingent upon how we sleep and what we eat. Sending sleepy thoughts your way, Marlene
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Eating very well and sleep was better last night than in a long while. The wind from the machine wakes me more than anything with the hose blowing the out air on my face. It’s a design issue that no one has addressed yet. You are so correct about how sleep affects everything and what we eat. I just don’t want to lose more brain cells. At my age they are slow enough to need all I can get. 🙂
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P. S. Thanks for stopping by and asking. My mind just assumed I’d said that first. 😦
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Sleep makes everything a little bit harder, makes good moods a little crankier, makes challenges seem overwhelming. I can totally relate to your quest for sleep. I really hope this turns out to be a good thing for you in the end. Maybe you’ll have some dreams about doing a spacewalk or something, with all that hose! Hugs to you my friend.
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Dreaming would be nice even if it was that I was a space alien. 🙂 Good thing I sleep alone. The wind coming off that hose is flat annoying. Who designs these things?? Obviously not someone that has to use it. Giant squishy hugs.
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I know! The wind part is totally baffling to me. It seems obvious that whomever designed it was a person who slept really well. Because people who don’t sleep well can be annoyed by everything, and would design the machine to eliminate as many annoyances as possible. Why can’t the air be discharged somewhere else?
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You poor girl. That contraption looks so uncomfortable. It must be frightening to awake after not breathing. No wonder you can’t stay asleep. The lack of sleep is something I’m a little familiar with. When I was having hot flashes and night sweats, I barely slept at all. I think I’d ‘just’ doze off and I’d be awoken again. I thought I was doing ok, it’s funny what you get use to. But I’ve been told I seemed anti-social. I think I was sleep-walking through my 40’s. I couldn’t manage crowds or loud places well at all. Since getting help, I sleep fine and often sleep way too long. How long will you need to use this unit? Talk about cramping your style hey? Maybe a little washi tape? LOL Alys does wonders with it. Let’s hope your dreams will all be sweet from now on xoxo K
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That contraption may be permanent unless I lose 30 pounds and then I’m not sure. I’ll get it checked again as the weight goes down significantly. That’s my goal for this year. It doesn’t help me sleep better but it keeps me from losing brain cells when I am asleep. 🙂 I remember the sweats. They were awful. They lasted forever. Aren’t you glad that part is over? 🙂 At least I’m not having nightmares. Hugs. M
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Good luck with your challenging goal Marlene. No joke, losing weigh and keeping it off is a really hard thing. I’ve done it several times, HA I guess that means the ‘keep-it-off’ part needs work. That’s ok, we’re all a work in progress until we aren’t around anymore and that’s even worse.
Speaking of nightmares, I dreamt this morning that I was back with my ex. The good part was we were both young again, the bad part was I knew it wouldn’t last. What is it about your first love that hurts forever? xo sweat dreams to both of us ❤
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Wow! That was quite a dream. Haven’t been asleep long enough to have one in years. Maybe soon. First loves? I’m not sure. Keeping the weight off is more about confronting my stressors than anything else. I just need to more more than I eat these days. :)))
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Firstly, dear Marlene, I love the new look of your blog 🙂 Secondly, I am so, so sorry for all you are dealing with, this darn sleep thing is awful. As I think I shared with you before, my ex had sleep apnea and had to use one of these machines. My sleep has been awful for many years. Like you, hit the pillow, out, but heaven help me if I awake, as you say be it 5 minutes of a few hours. I read with great interest Pauline’s comment about getting your thyroid checked. Two things that doctors can check easily, that is the thyroid and vitamin D levels. So many post-menopausal women have issues with both. I take vitamin D every day now as I was found to be deficient which really surprised me, and I’ve had thyroiditis in the past when my thryoid has gone too high and too low. It made me feel lousy. Weight gain and all that you describe here are classic symptoms. But brain induced sleep apnea is caused by something different isn’t it? It’s been a while since I looked into it so now I’m thinking I need to. The signs sound more promising for you that the machine is starting to help. My ex had to get a different tube and faffed around with it until he had to where it was actually working and helping. Once he got to that stage, it worked wonders. I really hope that you get there and soon my friend. And once you start to sleep better, then everything else will start to get better too. Big hugs to you ❤
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I’m getting 5.5 hrs of sleep a night now. Woohoo! I think I’m too tired to breathe at night. I can hold my breath for quite a long while during the day as well. I get busy and just forget to take a breath. 😉 I may still have to go to the full cover mask but they wanted me to start out on the smaller one. It’s a process. I’m impatient. 😦
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Progress, great progress Marlene. So happy for you. Hang in there… 🙂 xo
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