Wherefore Art Thou, Sleep?

So I finally got the narcotic sleeping pill that carries hefty warnings for addiction as well as sleepwalking and sleep paralysis. It's called Belsomra or something like that. I fully expected it would knock me on my butt. Well, I am still waiting. I actually got 2 hours of sleep 2 times last night/this morning. I slept for 2 hours and then was up for about an hour and then slept for 2 hours more but was up and ready to go to the gym at 4:30 am. Which I did and biked 12.20 miles at an average watts of 104 on levels 5 and 6. Then I came home and had French toast. Lol, I guess I can't complain because 4 hours of sleep in one night was more sleep than I previously got in 5 days. I don't know why but I keep waking up at 2 am. Like literally 2 am every night. Then I want to get dressed and start my day. Makes no sense. The more I do it though the more my brain thinks that is natural. Marvin the stoma doesn't mind me waking up and emptying his baggy. So he can turn around and fill it back up in less than an hour. I have noticed since taking iron that he has thicker output. I wonder how that works and why. I don't mind because he is still producing plenty of output. Anyway, I wanted to thank everyone who responded to my other post. You all are so kind!!!

Lee

Hello Lee.
Thanks for sharing.
It reminds me of a long-lost friend.
Many years ago, I had a friend/colleague, who came into work one day and literally fell asleep at his desk. When I asked him about it, he explained that he had taken his sleeping pills the night before, but they hadn't helped at all during the night, but had kicked in as soon as he walked into the office!
I offered to take him home in my car because he was obviously in no fit state to drive.
Best wishes

Bill

Sleeping pills are interesting. My psych nurse has tried all sorts of things to get me to sleep regularly. She thought giving me 600 mg of gabapentin would knock me out. Nope. Then she added Doxepin. Nope. So then with the Ambien. And now with a combination of 600 mg gabapentin and the Belsomra, she is hoping to have me sleeping at least 6 hours a night. So far, it's been 4 hours the night before last and 4 and a half hours last night. But all broken up in pieces. When I woke up at 2 a.m. this morning, I was actually really glad I did wake up then, because my bag was so full of air that it could have exploded on me. I mean, you could press on the bag and it did not go in at all. So I got up and let the air out, but then I was up for my day. Amazing how boring 2 a.m. is when you aren't sleeping.

Lee

I feel for you, Lee. I have insomnia but no energy after lying awake. I hope you will find the right medicine to help you.

I'd rather be tired than filled up on drugs. You will eventually sleep; your body will demand it. If your sleep/awake times are all messed up and you don't have daily responsibilities like working, who cares when you're awake or asleep. 🤷‍♂️ Personally, I can go from up all day to up all night and adjust my sleep pretty easily; my job demands it. The issue with being up all night is it messes up your circadian rhythm, which is set to be sleeping at night, especially from roughly 2-5 a.m. Also, being up nights means you're basically always tired because your natural sleep patterns are messed up.

Only the problem this last month and a half is that I am never tired. Enter the mania. When I was in the hospital, they got me to sleep 5 hours one night by pumping me full of drugs and putting me in restraints. I guess I was a little psycho. I keep telling people I will sleep when my body is ready to give in. I don't seem to have any of the side effects of taking this Belsomra. I have absolutely no hangover effect. When I get up at 2 am, I am energized and ready to go to the gym and work out. And all my working out doesn't make me tired either. I kind of thought I could wear myself out. So far that does not seem to be the case. Eventually, though, I am guessing I will crash. Probably badly. I have been keeping active during the day with walking in addition to the exercise at the gym. Also chores. Appointments. Shopping. Going to yell at the bank lady. Doing my therapy homework. And a lot of holiday baking (and dishwashing). Everything but working. The absence of work doesn't keep me still or sitting around much. I keep thinking I should try to take an afternoon nap, but I never seem to have the time or the true desire to lie down. All good things must come to an end though, and one night I am going to sleep a full 8 hours. Just the question is when.

Lee

Thanks, I am sorry you have insomnia too. It is a challenging thing to deal with. I have been dealing with it since my early teen years. I am hoping this new med works and that it cuts the mania and lets me have a break to actually rest.

Lee

So, if you do all that stuff during the day, why not work?

Mental health reasons are why I am on disability.