Sleep, how good is yours ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dkveuro · #1 08-24-2006, 12:07 AM

In Russia a little while ago I was introduced to Vodka.....a Russian brand of 140 proof, called Parliament.

I noticed that after an evening with serveral friends and knocking back about a half cup...say 6 oz or so, I slept the sleep of the dead.

Now...fast forward to last night, I had bought a bottle at the store a week ago ( 100 proof.) and last night knocked back about two fingers worth mixed with about 10 oz of apple juice. ( I'd forgotten to get the drinking water container filled with filtered water, and being late couldn't be bothered. )

This morning...awoke having slept all night through and did not hear the delivery truck next door which arrives at 6:30 am on Wednesdays....usually.
What's more, no hang over.

I usually sleep fitfully and awake about once or twice a night.

I have low tolerence to drink and a hangover is guaranteed after 3 beers or some other spirit. So, I don't drink much, maybe 4 to 6 time a year.

Does anyone else have experience with sleep problems and remedies?

.

Johnhef · #2 08-24-2006, 12:11 AM

I had a stressfull situation waking me up in the middle of the night a few months back 3:30, 4am'ish and not being able to get back to sleep. After finding out I had been lied to and the stress eventually went away, I sleep usually until the alarm goes off again now.

Funny thing is, ever since that happened I realized I can't remember having any dreams since. Even now still I haven't had any (or rememebr having any).

Is that weird or what?

davestlouis · #3 08-24-2006, 12:12 AM

I don't sleep worth a damn...here I am at 11PM, wide awake, on the computer while the rest of the house is alseep. I have chronic back pain and sciatic nerve problems that wake me up several times a night...not a whole lot of fun!

dkveuro · #4 08-24-2006, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnhef

I had a stressfull situation waking me ....................... After finding out I had been lied to.........................

Funny thing is, ever since that happened I realized I can't remember having any dreams since. Even now still I haven't had any (or rememebr having any).

Is that weird or what?

Know exactly what you mean...my ex...bless her....would do some bad stuff and this would keep me awake worrying.

Now I live alone, my sleep is way better.

Dreams ? Have some great dreams, but not with the Vodka....funny that .

.

dkveuro · #5 08-24-2006, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davestlouis

I don't sleep worth a damn...here I am at 11PM, wide awake, on the computer while the rest of the house is alseep. I have chronic back pain and sciatic nerve problems that wake me up several times a night...not a whole lot of fun!

I'm a night owl , always have been, but not because of discomfort.
I'm sorry to hear you have less sleep because of your pains.

The Vodka made me sleep without dreams though, and usually I remember the dreams I have and sometimes they are fixes to problems with vehicles in the shop here....some times they are a little more graphic !

I wonder if I should try a few more blind studies to get this thing sorted

.

#6 08-24-2006, 12:51 AM

From various web pages:

Alcohol and Sleep in Those Without Alcoholism

Alcohol consumed at bedtime, after an initial stimulating effect, may decrease the time required to fall asleep. Because of alcohol's sedating effect, many people with insomnia consume alcohol to promote sleep. However, alcohol consumed within an hour of bedtime appears to disrupt the second half of the sleep period (7). The subject may sleep fitfully during the second half of sleep, awakening from dreams and returning to sleep with difficulty. With continued consumption just before bedtime, alcohol's sleep-inducing effect may decrease, while its disruptive effects continue or increase (8). This sleep disruption may lead to daytime fatigue and sleepiness. The elderly are at particular risk, because they achieve higher levels of alcohol in the blood and brain than do younger persons after consuming an equivalent dose. Bedtime alcohol consumption among older persons may lead to unsteadiness if walking is attempted during the night, with increased risk of falls and injuries (3).

Alcoholic beverages are often consumed in the late afternoon (e.g., at "happy hour" or with dinner) without further consumption before bedtime. Studies show that a moderate dose1 of alcohol consumed as much as 6 hours before bedtime can increase wakefulness during the second half of sleep. By the time this effect occurs, the dose of alcohol consumed earlier has already been eliminated from the body, suggesting a relatively long-lasting change in the body's mechanisms of sleep regulation (7,8).

The adverse effects of sleep deprivation are increased following alcohol consumption. Subjects administered low doses of alcohol following a night of reduced sleep perform poorly in a driving simulator, even with no alcohol left in the body (9,10). Reduced alertness may potentially increase alcohol's sedating effect in situations such as rotating sleep-wake schedules (e.g., shift work) and rapid travel across multiple time zones (i.e., jet lag) (9). A person may not recognize the extent of sleep disturbance that occurs under these circumstances, increasing the danger that sleepiness and alcohol consumption will co-occur.

----

Alcohol and Sleep Patterns

Lately you've been having difficulty falling asleep. You have recently discovered that an alcoholic beverage just before you go to bed seems to relax you into a fast sleep. But the relationship between alcohol and sleep isn't that simple.

This is often true. Alcohol, after causing a short period of stimulation, does have a sedative effect. It will put you to sleep. But first consider the drawbacks. Your peaceful sleep may last only three or four hours. Then that "relaxing drink" begins to disrupt your sleep patterns. Alcohol makes occasional or chronic insomnia worse in the long run. And, if you have not been getting adequate sleep, alcohol increases the symptoms of sleep deprivation.

Alcohol and Sleep Disorders, Including Sleep Apnea

If you suffer from other sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea, alcohol also makes them worse. In some cases, alcohol actually causes sleep disorders. If snoring disrupts your sleep, the malady becomes worse when you drink. If you don't snore, you may start after a drink or two. If you normally snore, drinking can augment the problem into sleep apnea, another sleep disorder made worse by alcohol. If you already suffer from sleep apnea, drinking makes it worse. In fact, alcohol consumption when you suffer from sleep apnea could kill you. When the throat muscles relax and cause a cessation of breathing, you ordinarily gasp for breath and startle yourself awake. If you have been drinking, you are more relaxed, and may be unable to awaken and start breathing again. Alcoholics are at a higher risk of getting sleep apnea and other sleep disorders and sleep disruptions.

If you are a recovering alcoholic, you may find it impossible to recover normal sleep patterns when you stop drinking. This is not a good way to live.

You need sleep, and, in a bid to regain control over sleep, you may well begin drinking again in the false belief that you need that drink to get to sleep.

Brian Carlton · #7 08-24-2006, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davestlouis

I don't sleep worth a damn...here I am at 11PM, wide awake, on the computer while the rest of the house is alseep. I have chronic back pain and sciatic nerve problems that wake me up several times a night...not a whole lot of fun!

I can echo this word for word.

Chronic lower back problems that are aggravated during sleep and a right side sciatic nerve that comes and goes.

I must toss and turn at least 50 times per night...........a real good night would get this down to maybe 6 or so........but, naturally, I'm just gessing on that.

Alcohol can help a bit.........but getting up the next morning becomes a chore.........no hangover.........just lethargic.

WANT '71 280SEL · #8 08-24-2006, 01:19 AM

dkveuro, I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not but a "hangover" is merely your body being dehydrated. A friend of mine likes to set an alarm in the middle of the night and drink a bottle of water. Even if you're not thirsty, it is good to drink quite a bit of water after a lot of alcohol to keep your body hydrated. If you do this you won't get a hangover the next day.

Thanks
David

Nate · #9 08-24-2006, 03:54 AM

water is your friend when comsuming alcohol... 8 party cups of Milwalkies finest(only taste the first 2, yech), and at least 6 cups of water

Pissed rivers, but work the next afternoon wasnt too bad.

She said I was getting to third, but passed out midway before anything else happened...

I sleep good, but I've taken the nasty habbit of sleeping on the sofa for most of the summer...

ANd I'm a night owl, I havent slept yet
~Nate

JamesDean · #10 08-24-2006, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkveuro

I'm a night owl , always have been, but not because of discomfort.
I'm sorry to hear you have less sleep because of your pains.

i with you there. its 4:15am...i cant fall alseep! the spirit's willing but the body isnt! when i do fall asleep i sleep very well. no pains. oddly enough I sleep on what most consider the most uncomfortable thing... a hide-a-bed couch...which has been beat up and the underlying support frame sags into the metal bars..i've remedied this with a 1/2" sheet of plywood. for me, its very comfortable. i have a 12" fan aimed at me too. I find it very hard to fall asleep without my fan. People ask me why i have my fan on when i'm covered with a blanket..why not just take the blanket off...i've tried that and I end up being too cold w/o the blanket and too hot w/o the fan on the blanket....bah...I've also discoverd the more I sleep the more tired I am when I wake up. very weird. Also: I havent had a dream in MANY years...the ones I do have .. are usually good but I forget them within a few hours...

maybe if I take a shower ill fall asleep ?

g'nite everyone.

Kris

Carleton Hughes · #11 08-24-2006, 05:24 AM

No trouble sleeping for me. Weekdays it's usually 11:00pm-5:00am.

I do drink reservoirs of water during the day but cut it off at 8 at night or else I'll awaken around 2am with an urgent need to pee,hard to fall back asleep after that.
My lasy drink is a strong Manhattan right before I hit the hay,works every time.

Funny story:When I lived in the city I dated a gal who took antidepressants,really gorgeous but a total fluffhead.

She loved mixed drinks,especially gin and tonics,but because of her medication alcohol had the most unfortunate effect upon her,since within 20 minutes after her FIRST drink she would become drowsy and fall asleep for an hour or 2.
Thus we {she}drank very little when eating out,but she could not resist drinking at parties,at one of which this charming vignette occurred.

We get to a cool party in Soho,live music,good food and drink,she has her gin and tonic.......you guessed it,20 minutes later out like a light on the couch.

The hostess commented my girlfriend was looking unusually fresh and relaxed and I couldn't help replying "of course she does,she drinks very little and goes to bed early"........

t walgamuth · #12 08-24-2006, 06:44 AM

sleep is a wonderful thing.

i have the standard old man's ailment. enlarged prostrate. causes frequent urination necessity in the night. it can be surgically reduced with risk of becoming incontenent and or sexually disfunctional as a side line. so i will be putting that off as long as possilbe.

doctor has prescribed three different meds for it. all work well but cause difficulties in other areas. sleep well but......

so for the present i am not taking any of the meds. if i eat anything with sugar in it i will be up six times per night. otherwise only 3 or 4. i am not diabetic but have similar reaction to sugar intake. alcohol intake if moderate doesnt do much. a lot will cause poor sleep for me.

i have at least one bad disc which is greatly helped by swimming and stretching exercises. stomach muscle exercises help too. probable ciatic nerve problems too. and artheritis in the right hip. probably will need replace ment soon.

i did pretty well with everything til i hit fifty and it has been downhill since.

i recently have lost weight from a high of 208 down to about 188 in hopes of making the hip better. i feel good but the hip isnt any better.

getting old is not for the faint of heart.

sleep is a wonderful thing!

tom w

#13 08-24-2006, 07:16 AM

If you guys with chronic pain want to sleep, try Xanax I heard it does the job.

Carleton Hughes · #14 08-24-2006, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedMech

If you guys with chronic pain want to sleep, try Xanax I heard it does the job.

Want some?

pxland · #15 08-24-2006, 07:52 AM

My sleep problem is a six month old.

My remedy is his mother.

I've gone through stretches where I've experienced pretty good bouts of insomnia. The only advise I ever got from a doc was if you haven't fallen asleep after 30 min. get up and do something else and try again later.