Not sleeping much

[AaishaDar]

Hi everyone,
Ive had this concern for some time and wanted to know everyones opinion. I feel tired by the end of the day but i dont sleep well. It has really started to bother me. I forgot the feeling of a good nights rest. I am such a light sleeper now that you could say my name lightly and ill wake up. Like i can feel my body exhausted and tired especially after dialysis but not sleeping much. I hope something can help.

[Charlie B53]

Those nights that I cannot easily fall asleep I grab a good book and read for a while.  I easily lose track of time reading, and before I know it I've spent at least an hour.  My eyes and brain get tired then I can easily fall asleep.

I try not to watch TV.  Too many commercials.  That drives me nuts.  If I find a movie I nod off in my chair and miss most of the movie.

[GA_DAWG]

Part of the problem I find is that I take a nap, a good long one, when I get home, right after a sandwich. Then I find it hard to sleep if I go to bed early. It doesn't bother me a great deal though as I have learned to adapt my schedule. Kids find it aggravating I am sure as I know exactly what time they went to bed.

[Charlie B53]

I've been taking 'napping' lessons grom our Dog.  He is very good at it.

We will be in the living room or kitchen and U'll tell him I am ready for a nap, and he DASHES into the bedroom and lays next to my pillow waiting for me.  Hugs and licks my neck for a couple of minutes then lays tight against the back of my knees.

Having that natuiral warm body next to my leg makes it much easier to fall asleep.

Cat gets jealous and joins in,  Sometimes climbing right on top of me and curls up on my chest.

Together we sleep very well.

U very highly recommend fur babies to nap with.

[iolaire]

I've always been a good sleeper, despite being fairly alert. But since dialysis I've started not sleeping so good especially on dialysis nights.  I have a harder time going to sleep and also run the risk of waking up when my wife turns off the light and not being able to get back to sleep.  And I've not been able to link it to napping during dialysis, on the weekends I'll nap a good bit and still sleep fairly good. 

A few things I do when I'm having problems sleeping
* First make sure the temperature is right, we like natural air and don't use AC all the time but after dialysis on hotter days its important that that the AC be lower than we are used to (about 74 on the ground floor is good, which probably means maybe 78/80 in the bed room), even about a two degree difference will harm my sleep, if its just warm enough to trigger very light sweating its to much
* Keep the blankets off my legs and feet, my feet can feel a tad off (even with good lab numbers) so decreasing the weight on my feet feels best
* When I can not sleep taking a bath helps. I bath every day rather than shower so for me baths are relaxing and help calm everything down, usually I can go to sleep afterwards
* If I have a good book I might just keep reading and deal with that loss of sleep later, worst case I can catch up on some sleep in dialysis in two days...

edit
* Also some nights I'll take a Tylenol PM before I get ready for bed.  I don't' do this often only when I feel like I'm going to have extra trouble, maybe twice a month.  More often I'll take a regular Tylenol.

Just last night after D I could tell I was going to have problems, usually its because I have a bit of restless legs (lab work ok) where its hard to get them comfortable and I spend a bunch of time tossing and turning.  I took a bath for mostly just my legs, not much water, washed them and then went back to bed and quickly made it to sleep.

[Simon Dog]

I've been taking 'napping' lessons grom our Dog.  He is very good at it.

My dog taught me to sleep on top of the sheets and bedspread.   Saves time making the bed.

[Michael Murphy]

On dialysis nights I usually don't get any sleep.  I try at 11 pm and find I am either reading, playing computer games, or watching tv. At 330 I shower and dress, leaving for dialysis at 430.  When I get there and get in my chair at 530 I put on headphones and proceed to sleep for the next 2 to 3 hours,

[smartcookie]

I use melatonin to sleep.  Just a 3mg pill is enough to tire me out.  Some tricks that are supposed to help with sleeping is to not watch TV, be on a computer, phone, tablet, anything that is back lite for a couple hours before bed.  A good old fashioned book or magazine tires your eyes.  Try not to eat or drink an hour before bed.  Go to bed at the same time every night.  Work on mindfulness when falling asleep, meaning to empty your mind.  Try to think nothing and if a thought does come into your head, acknowledge it, then let it pass.  Journaling before bed helps if you have something bothering you and need to get it off your chest.  And I totally agree with Charlie, a pet helps a lot!  My sweet Heather (standard poodle/collie mix) is very furry and snuggly!  Makes me drift off to sleep just petting her. 

[Charlie B53]

NOT eating?  Doesn't work well for me.  Much of a meal and I'm like a big 'ole bear.  Ready to hibernate until Spring.  Meals sort of knock me out.

This may be a sign of oncoming diabetus.  The rise in blood sugar from digesting food may contribute to sleepiness.

[kristina]

Hi everyone,
Ive had this concern for some time and wanted to know everyones opinion. I feel tired by the end of the day but i dont sleep well. It has really started to bother me. I forgot the feeling of a good nights rest. I am such a light sleeper now that you could say my name lightly and ill wake up. Like i can feel my body exhausted and tired especially after dialysis but not sleeping much. I hope something can help.

Hello AaishaDar and I feel very sorry for the phase you go through and can rely to it very much and yes there are a few tricks to apply in how to get tired enough to sleep. After my suffering a stroke, I could not sleep anymore because I had fears of suffering another stroke and so it was extremely difficult. It only became better, when my husband and I went for very long walks every evening, just before it was time to go to bed and, believe me,  those long walks did the trick and made me very tired and I fell asleep straight away as soon as we came home. Because of that, it was important for me to clean myself, my face and teeth etc. before going for the walk, because when we arrived home again I was already happily tired ...
Good luck from Kristina.

[Michelle2016]

I agree with others, long and hot bath, or swimming make me very relaxed and I can sleep really good.  I usually bike SLOWLY with music about 30-60 min before bed.

Take care.

[AaishaDar]

Also another thing ive noticed. It seems to me i have lost my sense of taste. Not completely like i can taste very little of what i eat and drink. It is annoying at times. I feel maybe to some it may not seem like a big deal but i miss the full taste of my foooood!

[AaishaDar]

So I started waking up at 7:30am instead of 9 am to start my day. As usual I try to remain as active as I possibly can like taking a walk outside. I am def tired qby 10 pm and i havenoticed having the temperature at 75 made me sleep very well. The house used to be 70 which was too cold for me. I appreicate everyons advice. I hope i can stay having a good nights rest!

[kristina]

What has your doctor said about this ?
Good luck from Kristina.

[smartcookie]

I am so glad things are going better for you!!  Here's to a good night's sleep!!

[AaishaDar]

Thanks for everyones advice!! Also I have to talk to mt doctor about the tasting stuff. Ill see him bext Monday.

[Riki]

I use melatonin to sleep.  Just a 3mg pill is enough to tire me out. 

Years ago, a doctor told me that some kidney patients have a lower meatonin level, which can make it hard to sleep.. he suggested that I try a supplement, but it didn't really work for me... I have seen a difference in my sleep since I started doing dialysis in the evening.. I don't tend to nap during the day, and I can't sleep in dialysis (unless it's involuntary, like dropping off while watching a movie *G*).. I tend to go to bed at the same time every night.. I try to go outside every day, even if I'm not going anywhere.. my mom got me an outdoor rocking chair.. I take it out on the front step and watch the cars go by.. did that today for about an hour after the rain stopped.. it was nice..