Remember last week when I mentioned that I’d been suffering from a touch of the insomnia? At least I think it was last week. It’s hard to remember because all the days with insufficient REM sleep tend to run together.
Well, the very next day, my friend Annie wrote a post about a new app she’d downloaded to her iPhone called Sleep Cycle.
Before I go on with this train of thought I feel like I need to add that, thanks to Annie and her video on folding sheets, I have learned how to properly fold a fitted sheet for the first time in my life. I’ve been doing it the wrong way (assuming the wrong way is to roll them up in a ball and cram them into the linen closet) for thirty-eight years.
(Yes, I have been folding sheets since birth. My parents were hardcore about chores. I also had to fill my own bottles with formula and wash my cloth diapers.)
Anyway, I immediately downloaded the Sleep Cycle app after I read Annie’s post because:
1. I’m a sucker for any kind of app.
2. I felt like I needed Apple to confirm that, YES, I am not sleeping at night because all the concealer I use to cover the dark circles under my eyes isn’t confirmation enough.
The thing is that I’ve always been a night person. My perfect schedule would be to go to bed around 2:00 a.m. and sleep until around 10.
Oh, who am I kidding? I’d sleep until noon.
Unfortunately, polite society discriminates against the night owl all in the name of being “productive” and “not sleeping your life away” and “getting your child to school on time”, so I’m forced to conform to the rest of the world.
Anyway, the point is that I downloaded the Sleep Cycle app and, sure enough, the next morning I went to check the little chart that shows my sleep pattern (or lack thereof) and all it said was DANG, I FEEL BAD FOR YOU.
So the next morning I went to Walgreens and perused the sleep aid aisle. I know I can sleep if I take a Tylenol PM (otherwise known as just a Benadryl with a fancy name) but it makes me feel a little groggy and edgy the next morning, like I might throw the toaster oven through the kitchen window if only I could muster the energy.
I needed something a little more natural and side-effect free so I finally settled on a supplement that contains melatonin, some natural herbs, and a lock of Rip Van Winkle’s hair. Here’s hoping it works because last night I was watching Chuck (I’m sad for you if you haven’t seen it. Hilarious.) and there was a scene where Chuck has this super secret spy pen that had some sort of tranquilizer in it. I swear when he used it to knock out the bad guy, I was actually a little envious and wished I could get someone to knock me out with a tranquilizer so I could sleep for one or nine days.
Too bad there’s not an app for that.
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first of all, i need an iphone- i need me some aps!
but my husband insists that the less time i spend on my phone, the better. grrrr.
second, i am also a late to bed late to rise kind of girl, but luckily, so are my kiddos. i am so not looking forward to that “going to school” thing messing up our schedule!
I can’t sleep these days but only because I’m being kicked to death by my unborn child.
I swear by Tylenol’s Simply Sleep. Same aisle, and light on the medicine ingredients. Leaves me feeling great the next day.
I agree with the Simply Sleep (Traci)- doesn’t make me groggy either. Doesn’t make me sleepy but once asleep, I stay asleep (or fall right back if up in middle of night) Have used it for about 3 years as needed – traveling or certain times on the calendar
.
I love Chamomile tea. I had trouble sleeping for years, but now I sleep like the proverbial baby. I drink 2 cups, but have to be careful to not have them too close to bedtime, else I have to get up to pee!!
Traci
Have you tried carb overload before bed? It’ll make you sleep until you have a little drool coming out of the corner of your mouth. (Totally kidding: just go for the large hunks of cake and milk instead.) Simply Sleep gets me caught up when I’m a little behind in the sleep department.
I finally just gave up and got a prescription for Ambien. Much cheaper in the long run(with our script plan)than buying every $12.99 product out there. I only take 1/2 pill at a time, and the whole bottle lasts me about a year, but I’m so thankful to have it when I need it.
Oh and PS…I am almost 51 yrs old, and I have zero intention of every folding a fitted sheet. That’s why God made pillowcases…so you can shove all of the sheets and stuff into one case, and always have matching sets together. Right?
Sister-
I totally feel your pain…I have not slept in about 2 weeks…unless you call the five minute naps I have gotten on the couch in between work and fixing dinner…those have been few and far between. I agree about Tylenol PM…but would love to hear how your “natural” sleep aide works…please post when you wake!
paige
Here’s what finally killed my wonderful life as a night owl: returning to work as a teacher. Fifth grade, no less. Talk about dark circles. I do hate waking up and having it be late in the morning…or noon, but it’s necessary if you’re going to stay up until the early morning hours watching back espisodes of “The Sopranos”. I feel your pain.
I’ve always been a very sound sleeper and an early riser, but for the past 6 months or so I too have not been sleeping well. As in waking up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back to sleep!!! I’m convinced mine is hormonal…I’m 52 and my body is beginning to go whacko on me, I think. Thanks for the tips girls, I’ll give Simply Sleep a try! And yes, Melanie, keep us posted on how your new sleep aide works!
If I take Tylenol PM, I sleep for a week. No kidding. I’m a big baby. Hope you get a good night’s sleep tonight!
-FringeGirl
I don’t want to make you jealous, but I went to bed on Sunday at 8:30, got up at 6:45 got my kids off to school, curled up on the couch at 10am talked to my husband at 11:00 told him I was not feeling well went to my actual bed and slept till 3:30 dragged myself out of bed and showered. Remained awake until 7:00 then went to bed and slept until right now. Crazy. I must definitely have a had a something. I am no math genius but that is like something like 27 hours sleep in 36 hours. Yikes!
I have two notes:
-How does Sleep Cycle know your sleeping patterns?
-You should check out Valerian Root. It’s an all natural herb remedy for sleep aid. My mom has used it for years and it WORKS. Look it up! You won’t be disappointed!
I had the same question, Jenna! How does your iphone know if you’re sleeping? Kind of creepy and Big Brother-esque!
I like Sleepytime Tea by Celestial Seasonings and Tazo has one called “Calm” that I think helps me sleep, but I usually have very weird dreams. (Last time, I dreamed I ran into Bill Clinton and Al Gore at a restaurant and Al Gore asked me to fax something for him. Seriously, Al Gore?)
I’m definitely going to pick up some Simply Sleep!
(P.S. It was so fun meeting you in Houston! You are a doll!)
I was up watching a marathon of Cake Boss. The boys and I love that show…but I am not loving it this morning after staying awake until 1am…then TRYING to rise at 6am.
Been having a heckuva time sleeping lately. What is the DEAL?
Seriously why do I insisit on drinking my coffee when I read your blog? One day it will actually end up on my keyboard.
Two Benadryl. Every. Single. Night.
Well, that’s not completely true. Sometimes I take a third. And just between you and me, if I am really desperate, I’ll get my husband to share a half of Xanax. Shhh.
The groggy, I’m going to knock out anyone in my way–feeling eventually wore off. Oh, some ten or twelve years ago, I think.
But I have taken melatonin before. And it does help. Maybe I’ll try your cocktail mix.
Too bad there’s NOT an app for that! There’s never an app for the really, really important things in life. I recently posted those exact words. But that had to do with a certain three-year-old who has take over my phone.
Until I found out she increased my cell phone bill almost $30.
Melatonin … I swear by it! It’s natural ingredients and is (supposedly – I honestly haven’t read all the info) not bad for you! I never have that groggy sleep hangover the morning after either! I have some cough syrup with the sainted Phenergan in it, but it makes me dream crazy Quentin Tarantino-esque dreams after I take it. But I do sleep like a baby …
I am a night owl as well – I was up until almost 1 AM last night and that does not bode well for the morning when the alarm goes off – I could sleep until 9 AM or 12 as well
And Chuck is SO FUNNY – it is one of my favorite shows!!!
Have a great day!
I’m a firm believer that we should only be awake when the sun is shining. God gave us night time to rest.
So, I blame Benjamin Franklin and his whole “Early to bed. Early to rise” junk. Crazy Ben Franklin and his kite-electrocuting-self.
I need an iPhone…I want some of these Apps everyone is talking about. Even if it’s one that tells me “you need more make-up” every morning.
Hope the lock of Rip Van Winkle’s hair does the trick! I think I’d look better if I went to sleep for a hundred years….it MIGHT help with the bags under my eyes!
We ought to compare.
I feel your pain. I am also a night owl, unfortunately my 21 month old doesn’t understand this, and still insists on me waking at ungodly hours, like 6:30 am! Anyway, I started taking Advil PM, it does nothing. I also bought Melatonin 5mg from GNC, that seems to be working ok, I take it at about 9 and usually fall asleep by 11:30. I have heard of Valerian Root supplements, but I’ve also heard it smells like feet, or rotting roadkill.. I’d rather be up all night from insomnia that from throwing up.. Good luck with your new found help. Let us know how it works and the name in case you’d recommend it to your fellow night owls.
You could always download the random facts app if you can’t sleep and feel the need to read. Or maybe the snoring app, maybe the sound of sleep might help. Goodluck. I just downloaded the handgun app and shot my self to sleep!
Try prayer – not necessarily praying for sleep, but praying in general! I always think of it as God giving or encouraging me to talk to him during this time!
Knowing you love Chuck, too…well, it just makes me like you more!
i am a night owl, too, now that children have come along. problem is i was a morning person before that, so now my inner night owl and inner morning person conflict.
i think i read martha stewart only needs 3-4 hours of sleep each night, which to me sounds about like the sum of sleep of a night owl/morning person combo. but my house doesn’t look anything like a martha runs it. :0)
and now that i think about it, why is it night OWL and morning PERSON? as if i’m more human if i like to be up early?! haha
i sleep like a LOG with straight melatonin (5 mg i think). at first it made me a little groggy the next morning so i cut back to 2.5mg and had no problems.
Wow. This is a lot of people who can’t sleep. I feel really fortunate.
You should play Nerts on your iPhone to help you unwind. Works for me!
I tried Melatonin and it worked a bit, however it gave me really weird dreams. Really weird like I was ordering mexican food in a diner decorated with pictures of demons and my waiter was satan weird. So no more melatonin for me LOL! I got a natural cures book for Christmas and one of the chapters is called how to sleep like a drunken bum, I was hooked! Valerian Root was the natural cure. I tell ya, it doesn’t make me groggy, I have been getting up at 6am and actually feel like I slept, I love this stuff. Plus it’s cheap, it’s natural, it doesn’t interact with any other medications you may take annnddd the best is I don’t have to visit that demonic mexican diner in my head anymore.
Now I’m wondering if there is a “Chuck” app? I usually don’t fall asleep till around midnight I work a full time job with Citi also and then get up at around 6 am, actually I’m lucky if I fall asleep at midnight sometimes its around 2 am, so most of the time I work on 4 to 6 hours of sleep. Of course my son is grown and I don’t have a lot of responsibilities at home so that makes it easier. Love “Chuck” best show ever.
Oh my there is a “Chuck” app!
And I DIDN’T GET TO USE MY NUNCHUCKS! Best. Line. Ever. in a Chuck episode!
Oh Chuck is seriously the best show ever. I wrote about it on my blog even, that’s how serious I am about it. He’s just so cute/nice/nerdy/hilarious all at once
and I’m loving the plot twist with the new girl – is she from Smallville? she just looked so familiar . . .
Anyways, I love me some tylenol PM but you seriously need like 9 hours straight to sleep it out of your system I’m convinced . . .
A.M.B.I.E.N.
Ok, I’m not an “apps-fanatic” but have you seen the app that tells you why your baby is crying? It says it can tell a hungry cry from a dirty diaper cry and so on. How ridiculous is that?!?!?!
CHUCK! And a 2-10 sleep schedule! I agree wholeheartedly with both of those. I knew we’d get along just fine…
Seriously toooooo many PM’s can cause liver damage….I know….it happened to me….be careful…Pam, South Bend
I used Lunesta when I couldn’t sleep-eight hours of sleep and no hangover but it leaves a nasty taste in your mouth–that I decided was worth it for the sleep. Amy–I am with you, I have prayed myself back to sleep many times. Good luck.
tried to go to Annie’s blog and it says
page not available….what is the address
If only we could get a bill passed for the day to begin at 10
instead of 8…. I’m a night owl as well. Your thoughts always crack me up!!
My doc gave me Trazodone to help me sleep, but it also gives me the crazy dreams. So I alternate between benedryl and traz (depending on how brave I am that night). Not every night, just as needed. And I have a scrip for Ambien waiting in the wings but I’m too cheap to fill it until the traz is gone. Caffeine after lunchtime and sugar in the evening are both sleep killers for me. So I try to avoid them. Sigh.
Try Melatonin. It’s natural and works like a CHARM!
Jo! “That’s why God made pillowcases…so you can shove all of the sheets and stuff into one case, and always have matching sets together.” Why has this never occured to me? Genius!
Hold on! Let me give you some more exclaimation marks!!!
Try Advil PM. Tylenol PM also makes me feel groggy, but Advil PM is great.
Melatonin is generally safe for most people. It shouldn’t leave you feeling groggy. It is a substance that our bodies already makes and helps keep our sleep cycle in check.
Valerian root that some ppl are recommended is an herb that is supposed to help with sleep, but research is somewhat inconclusive. It does work for some folks though.
Tylenol PM, Simply Sleep, and Advil PM all have benadryl (diphenhydramine) as their active ingredient. Simply Sleep is just plain ole benadryl with no “extra” medicine. Tylenol PM and Advil PM have, well, tylenol and advil mixed in there too. (Plain old benadryl is much cheaper…)
P.S.
I’m a pharmacist… and I know it may not seem like it cause we’re so busy sometimes..but you can just walk up to the counter and ask us about stuff like this. (IMO)if your pharmacist doesn’t want to help or talk to you…well, I suggest finding a new one…
I too am a natural night owl, but I married an early-to-bed-early-to-rise guy. And now my 3 year-old daughter is, and has been since just after birth, a go-to-bed-at-7:45-kind-of-girl. Those two things, on top of a principal who frowns on tardiness in teachers, have forced me to change my ways. I must admit, however, that a couple of nights a week I find myself up alone and unable to sleep–Advil PM is my friend. It doesn’t give the hangover-effect that Tylenol PM does.
Love Chuck but what are they doing with his hair this season? Is it just me or is he looking a little Seinfeld?
I had horrible sleep issues for TWO YEARS..I was miserable. And it can’t be healthy!!!
Melatonin is my BFF! I sleep like a baby now. I pop a 3mg Melatonin each night. I get mine from the Whole Foods Store.
i can fall asleep at any moment. so sleep-wise i’m no help.
but oh, chuck. chuck. chuck. i love him so much it almost hurts.
Melatonin also gave me really weird dreams and I already have really weird dreams. It also gave me the feeling like I was on LSD while sleeping. (Not that I’ve ever had LSD but how I imagine it might be).
Ambien is great if you want to get a script. I would like to know more about this valerian root. I have fibromyalgia and bad sleep is a daily affair for me. But whenever I take Ambien life is good.
Oh, I knew we would be BFF in real life. I, too, LOVE the bed-at-2-up-at-11 cycle. I’m actually getting to live that somewhat now, as I have returned to school at the age of 47 and have 2 days a week (right now) with no classes. However, the next day is a bummer when I’m trying to get my body to realize it has to act like a normal person again. There are several of those sleep aids that are really just benadryl with some pain reliever mixed in. I’d like to know what you find that works so I can try it – it would be nice to have a normal sleep cycle.
Big Mama, it was SO fun to meet you. I felt really dorky when I realized that was you standing there, you are a celebrity girl!
All I have to say is thank goodness there is someone else who watches Chuck…I live for Chuck…just let NBC try to take it away. I will start a “send pocket protector” campaign.
Amy
Melanie, I love you to pieces! And YES you did have the cutest top on Friday night. I hear you on the sleep thing. Because of my cancer, I cannot stay up til 2am every night as I have my entire life and pop back up at 6:30am. A nutrition oncologist helped me break the cycle. There’s a reason God makes us stop every night and rest—we so need it. HE planned it. Praying for your beautiful heart to find a tiny bit more sleep and rest in HIM, Isaiah 30:15. I wrote on my blog that you display His Humility when we’re in your presence! Love YOU much. Phyllis & I are praying for you! Ha!
I knew right away what app you’re talking about. My husband downloaded it a couple of weeks ago and it thrilled him to no end to look and see what the app said in the morning. Hope you start getting some sleep!
Have you tried Rum?
Oh, I’m joking.
Half-heartedly.
Shut. Up. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to learn how to fold fitted sheets!!!
I can’t wait to go check out Annie’s video.
I’ve used straight-up Melatonin (in the vitamin area) and it works great for me. I can even take it in the middle of the night if I need to and not be groggy the next day. I hope your stuff works for you – not sleeping is the pits!
This was very funny. I feel your pain about the night thing. I WAS a night person before motherhood. I have been forced into the morning thing and we still don’t fit real well….even after 4 years. Judging by your post it won’t get any better either.
Good Night.
I started working nights almost a year ago and went from someone who could always sleep to someone who struggled to sleep during the day or at night. (I work three 12 hour shifts each week- and it changes each week- so I also go back and forth from sleeping at night to sleeping during the day.) I started taking Melatonin and it has been a lifesaver!!! I use a 3mg time released formula found at GNC. The good news…the week of March 15th I will begin working days again!!!!!
If you don’t get relief from the over-the-counter remedies, I strongly suggest the prescription route with your doctor. I had to do this a few years ago, for just a short period, and took the pills just till my sleep rhythm was somehow “re-set”. I was given maybe 10 pills, with a refill if needed. this got my body back on a regular sleeping schedule. I would do this again if the need arose. You don’t have to think you will take pills forever.
LOVE Chuck.
Every time John Casey makes a face, I giggle like a mad woman.
I don’t bother folding sheets because no one ever sees them and as soon as I get in bed and roll around on them for 8 hours…they are oddly less wrinkled than when I put them on the bed…hum…
Tylenol PM has that effect on me too – groggy, ill, and annoyed. hmmm – that’s how you feel when you haven’t had any sleep too. Kind of counterproductive…
L.O.V.E. Chuck!! Watched very first show to air, and haven’t missed an episode. I think it’s fabulous
I TOTALLY swear by GNC’s Melatonin. Just be sure and get the Timed Release or you’ll sleep for a few hours, wake up to pee and be up for the rest of the night. I take 3 mg per night. Just be sure not to take it for too long (several months) because your body will get used to it and it won’t work anymore. I do take it 3-4 nights a week though. Just not EVERY night. (Sometimes when I’m off Melatonin, I sip the Benadryl)
I recently blogged about folding the fitted sheet and then a friend of my did a picture tutorial on folding the fitted sheet. I am so glad that someone else struggles with this. I don’t feel so alone.
I am so glad you’re a Chuck fan too. A few weeks ago when they showed Buster get into his car after a long day at work and then start singing “someday somebody’s gonna make you wanna turn around and say goodbyYeye” I couldn’t breathe I was laughing so hard. It was then that I declared that “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips is in my top 5 favorite pop songs of all time.
I am so glad you’re a Chuck fan too. A few weeks ago when they showed Buster get into his car after a long day at work and then start singing “someday somebody’s gonna make you wanna turn around and say goodbyYeye” I couldn’t breathe I was laughing so hard. It was then that I declared that “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips is in my top 5 favorite pop songs of all time!
I’m with you on this whole sleep thing. I told a friend the other day that I am a night owl forced to live in a world that caters to morning people. I had to get up at 5:45 the other day, so I went to bed at 10:00. I could not fall asleep until well after 1:00am. I laid in bed for THREE HOURS cursing the clock and my freakish body that refuses to go to sleep at a decent hour. I have a friend that swears by melatonin, so I may have to give that a try.
I’m going to 2nd, or 3rd, or whatever was already written.
Get in the car, and aim yourself toward your friendly health food store. Get a little somethin’ somethin’ called MELATONIN (1 mg.).
It will be your friend. And you won’t feel like you woke up with cotton between your ears.
From one night owl to another, I feel your pain. Now, to find out how to fold a fitted sheet…
I used to have sleep trouble and had taken Ambien and Lunesta for 2 years before I discovered Alteril…It has changed my life, totally natural and has no side effects. It’s at CVS. Sweet Dreams Big Mama! I love your blog.
Maybe this has already been said but I wanted to add my .02 since I feel like an expert in this field! If the Melatonin and Rip’s hair doesn’t work try Triaminic Children’s Thin Strips, Night Time Cold & Cough. Again, it is only Benadryl but it is only 12.5mgs. Tylenol PM has 25mgs and Advil PM has 38mgs! I feel the same way you do if I take 25mgs and 38mgs knocks me out for 2 days but the 12.5 is perfect! Try it!
This totally made me want an iphone
.
I haven’t been able to sleep since I was in a car accident last November. it is the worst. Tylenol PM is my best friend. Thankfully, it does not make me want to throw our toaster out the window… Plus, we don’t have a toaster : )
PS Your perfect night of sleep is mine too : ) 2 am to noon the next day : )
late to the party here, but reading the comments scares me a little.
please, whatever you try, tell someone and keep a log (dreams, waking up, dosage)
my husband works internationally, and has tough jetlag sometimes. melatonin gave him horrid, violent nightmares, but only after 3 or more nights. and he only took it for 1 or 2 nights!
valerian is a cousin to valium; almost all our drugs start out or are synthetics of herbals.
people react differently to different things, and you should wait at least a week before trying something different, just like when introducing new foods to babies.
remember your body needs dim light and no electronics as a cue to get sleepy. my girls were always studying, texting, whatever and then couldn’t fall asleep immediately, or with a tv on. wonder why?
praying for you. please be careful as you seek better sleep patterns & rest.
I’m suffering from insomnia too, it sucks!
Especially when you have a 3yr old and 6month to take care of.
Have you tried stretching and maybe some yoga, really slow holding each pose/stretch for 30 sec or more? Don’t do anything that’s hard just what feels good, also turn off the lights and light a candle.
Very relaxing, not that I can do that with my crew, but I used pre-children. Also a night owl and it sucks that the world doesn’t think like us.
I loved your comments about being a night owl…I’ve been one all my life and just love staying up late and sleeping in…BUT…..I’ve had to put up with feeling like a social outcast for it…my husband wanted me to get up with him at 5 am everyday…WHAT FOR?…so he could have company while he put his shoes and socks on. Never happened…did cause some tension but he still loved me until the day he died. *Sigh* How can we change society and make them see the error of their ways? LOL
I love that you are a Chuck fan too. Jason and I just got back from vacation and watched last week’s dvred episode. One of the few good shows on TV.
I apologize for the late comment–I’m just catching up on my blog-reading after a crazy-busy week last week. My sleep quality–like so many others–has changed as I’ve gotten older, because our bodies produce lesser amounts of the sleep hormones as we age. Pretty much a fact of life. Add to that the daily worries and busy lifestyle, and it can be a real problem. I found a product at my favorite health store, (and now order it online for the best price and so that I will never-ever run out of it!): it’s called “Sleep Optimizer” by Jarrow Formulas. It has a blend of proven natural sleep aids (Valerian, Melatonin, and Tryptophan) as well as ingredients to relax you from the stress of the day (GABA and Hops Flower). I like the blend because it addresses all my issues, and not only does it help me fall asleep, but it minimizes waking in the middle of the night. There are no bad dreams, no grogginess in the AM, no medication interactions, and my medical doctor says “YEAH” because they all seem to freak out about prolonged usage of prescription sleep aids like Ambien. I highly recommend it to all my friends who need some restful sleep on a regular basis.
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