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12-14-2015, 02:21 PM
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#41
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,358
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I use hydrion paper. What I have found for me is that: highly acid pH = insomnia, highly alkaline pH = even daytime sleepiness.
For acidicity, Milk of Magnesia works for me pretty close to 100% of the time. So does chamomile or peppermint tea.
__________________
Even clouds seem bright and breezy, 'Cause the livin' is free and easy, See the rat race in a new way, Like you're wakin' up to a new day (Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether lyrics, Alan Parsons Project, based on an EA Poe story)
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12-14-2015, 02:56 PM
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#42
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by daylatedollarshort
I use hydrion paper: highly acid pH = insomnia, highly alkaline pH = even daytime sleepiness.
For acidicity, Milk of Magnesia works for me pretty close to 100% of the time. So does chamomile or peppermint tea.
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What are you measuring the acidity of?
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
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12-14-2015, 03:35 PM
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#43
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,358
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Quote:
Originally Posted by audreyh1
What are you measuring the acidity of?
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It is urine testing pH paper. I should add this is what works for me through trial and error. Everybody is different. For me green tea acts like knock out drops while I've read in most people it speeds up metabolism.
__________________
Even clouds seem bright and breezy, 'Cause the livin' is free and easy, See the rat race in a new way, Like you're wakin' up to a new day (Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether lyrics, Alan Parsons Project, based on an EA Poe story)
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12-14-2015, 06:29 PM
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#44
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,085
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Many of the herbal supplements out there cause nasal congestion for me. Am probably allergic to one or more of the ingredients.
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12-14-2015, 06:43 PM
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#45
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL/Helen, GA
Posts: 6,002
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Earl E Retyre
I take Ambien almost every night and have been doing so for a very long time. I cut the 10 mg pill in half with a pill cutter and that does the trick. With the pill, I often still only get about 5 hours of sleep - but that is more than enough for me to not feel tired the next day. The doctor is not concerned about me taking ambien for a long time. I have tried the over the counter options and nothing so far has worked. I will read through the links mentioned above and try some of those options.
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Ambien & 6 hrs. sleep? Ever try going to the sleep clinic?
My father had just taken an Ambien and the doorbell rang. When he tried to jump up to answer the door, it was like having concrete shoes on. He fell, broke a hip and never made it out of the hospital.
I once took an Ambien--thinking it was another of my tiny pills. 5 minutes later I misjudged the distance at a red light and my foot didn't put enough pressure on the brake. I tapped a little old lady in the (car's) tail end.
As someone with sleep apnea, I use a CPAP machine and it makes me sleep so much better. I would never take Ambien again as I work hard enough physically around the house to be tired at bedtime.
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12-18-2015, 05:04 PM
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#46
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmcgonig
Car-Guy..thanks! I tried this back in September and it worked well for me. I don't take a full 25mg, sometimes only a quarter tablet, but now even though I might wake up at 3AM, I go back to sleep quite quickly. Again, thanks!
Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum
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You are certainly welcome. Glad it works for you "too".
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12-18-2015, 05:10 PM
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#47
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Amethyst
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I keep forgetting to read this article for some reason...
I didn't see the variety of Unisom that I've been using on the list but to be honest, even it it was, I'd continue to use it. My sleeping problem was that bad, so I'll take the risk. But I "might try" to cut the pills in half and see if they still work for me. So thanks for the info.
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12-19-2015, 12:47 AM
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#48
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 748
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Car-Guy
I keep forgetting to read this article for some reason...
I didn't see the variety of Unisom that I've been using on the list but to be honest, even it it was, I'd continue to use it. My sleeping problem was that bad, so I'll take the risk. But I "might try" to cut the pills in half and see if they still work for me. So thanks for the info.
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Doxylamine is an anticholinergic which was what was studied for the dementia/long term memory results. I would try half, the worst that might happen is a crappy night sleep, but if you have been using it nightly for 10 years, it might not work and I'm kinda surprised that the original dose is still working.
Good luck
__________________
I don't want to spend my entire life at work. I deserve more. - Want2retire aka W2R
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12-19-2015, 04:51 AM
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#49
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,962
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I've had varying degrees of insomnia over the years. Sometimes it is trouble getting to sleep, but more often waking early and not getting back to sleep. It seems to be more of an issue as I get older. I have the recommended routine and bedtime habits but that only goes so far. I mostly use Diphenhydramine HCL at the lowest dosage needed. I will take partial pills until it has worked, and so far have never needed more than a regular dose. I also have melatonin, but that only has a light effect for me.
A third option I use that I have not seen mentioned here is prescription Lorazepam, an anti-anxiety medication. This works well but I only use it once or twice a week to avoid building resistance.
__________________
"The mountains are calling, and I must go." John Muir
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12-19-2015, 07:55 AM
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#50
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronnieboy
I'm kinda surprised that the original dose is still working.
Good luck
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Maybe it's physiological and/or physical dependence?
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12-19-2015, 09:09 AM
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#51
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
Posts: 583
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Quote:
Originally Posted by haha
Here's a link that references a recent study.
Over-the-counter sleep aids linked to dementia - Medical News Today
Ha
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Ouch. Chlorpheniramine, the only antihistamine that works for me but doesn't make me drowsy, is on the list. I'm allergic to many things, so for the last 25 years I've taken one most mornings and sometimes 4 a day. The study found 1 pill a day for 3 years increased the risk of dementia. So it goes.
__________________
ER Oct 2008 at age 54. An expat enjoying a mild 4 season climate after 11 years in the tropics.
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12-19-2015, 09:41 AM
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#52
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,473
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I have taken no sleep medications at all, ever, prescription or OTC, during my first 67.5 years of life. Instead, I put some serious effort into doing everything else I can do to sleep better. Also I have begun to accept that maybe at my age I don't need 8 hours every single night any more. I doubt I will ever resort to sleep medications though, since I wonder if they do more harm than good.
(edited to add: OK, OK, years ago when I used to drink alcohol I would sometimes use a glass of wine to put me to sleep but that's as far as I have ever gone or ever will go. And once or twice tried "Sleepytime" herbal tea but that does almost nothing as far as I could tell.)
I suspect (but do not know) that the manufacturers of these sleep medications do sleep better themselves after counting all the huge stacks of money they made from them. Wouldn't you? (see below, image for illustrative purposes only)
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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12-19-2015, 10:38 AM
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#53
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W2R
(edited to add: OK, OK, years ago when I used to drink alcohol I would sometimes use
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Now that gives me a new sleep aid idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by W2R
(see below, image for illustrative purposes only)
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Look closely (zoom in) on that picture... Either a good Photoshop job or counterfeits... Looks like most (maybe all) of the serial numbers that can be seen are the same.
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12-19-2015, 12:45 PM
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#54
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Car-Guy
Now that gives me a new sleep aid idea.
Look closely (zoom in) on that picture... Either a good Photoshop job or counterfeits... Looks like most (maybe all) of the serial numbers that can be seen are the same.
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Oops! It's just a random photograph from a Google images search on "piles of money" or something like that. I should have looked at it more closely. But, you get the idea...
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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12-19-2015, 01:57 PM
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#55
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,863
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At first, I thought that was a picture of your petty cash.
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12-19-2015, 03:32 PM
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#56
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,473
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I could wish!
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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12-25-2015, 10:32 PM
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#57
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,969
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Exercise vigorously in the late afternoon till you are exhausted and dead tired.
Don't drink caffeine. Take melatonin big dose. You have to be exhausted by 7 pm thru exercise. You'll sleep soundly after being dead dead tired from exercise.
__________________
No to consumerism, Living a simple life, enjoying the experience - not the material stuff
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12-26-2015, 01:40 AM
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#58
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 728
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As someone who has experienced varying degrees of insomnia for over 30 years, I just reassure myself each time an attack comes that I am not alone. Many people have the same problem and I don't have to panic. Sleep will eventually come. In the meantime I just do everything from yoga, exercise, counting sheep, valerian........ to Xanax to give nature a helping hand.
Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum
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12-26-2015, 05:03 AM
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#59
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 335
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I have my bouts of sleeplessness during the full moon phase.
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12-26-2015, 05:36 AM
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#60
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Humble
Posts: 188
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DW and I both suffer from moderate insomnia. For her (she's post-menopausal), she takes Ambien daily and Sonata as needed. She's a night owl and does not go to bed with me anymore. She stays up until she's sleepy and many nights sleeps for quite awhile in her chair before she moves to bed. This is often after 1 am.
For me, I can go to bed at 9:30 and sleep like the dickens until 3 or 3:30. Then it's a toss-up re - further sleep. As I'm still working, this really doesn't do. I'll be seriously dragging after 2-3 days of being up at 3 am. I take half a doxylamine succinate daily. I might take a full one once a month. I also take the Sonata as needed. It's great, puts you to sleep for maybe two hours. It is Rx. I try not to take more than 1 -2 a week.
Cutting back on the liquor helps. Staying active/exercise helps also. Getting out of bed and doing something instead of laying there does help, but I find it nearly impossible to do.
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