Posts by J-ex-W

This is dead on in my case--an underlying sleep disorder that can be exacerbated if I don't keep a serious watch on my blood sugar levels/ dietary intake. Low blood sugar IS the thing I deal with in response to the wrong foods. Look into 'reactive hypoglycemia' as well, Sparky, just in case. This is another one that, until recent years, some doctors didn't even believe was REAL...some ignorant old-school ones still don't. Educate yourself on all fronts before going in, and after. You're the best advocate you've got!!

44

Sleep Disorder Anyone?

by Sparkplug in

jw
friends

i am curious today about people that cannot wake up.

i have a problem with waking up.

i do not hear alarms.

J-ex-W

My doctor prescribed Provigil. It has been a life saver for me. When I started taking it, I actually felt like I was awake for the first time in 15 years.

I tried to get the Provigil because it messes with JUST the sleep/ wake centers and leaves the rest of the central nervous system alone, but Medical Assistance will not (yet, anyway) approve Provigil for anything other than narcolepsy. I'm hoping that changes soon, but in the meantime, I'm forced to use a stimulant that rev's up the entire central nervous system, even though that means increased nerve pain for another rare disorder I have.

If you can, try something like the Provigil first, because it's more targeted to the problem.

44

Sleep Disorder Anyone?

by Sparkplug in

jw
friends

i am curious today about people that cannot wake up.

i have a problem with waking up.

i do not hear alarms.

J-ex-W

BTW, my sister is diagnosed with restless legs syndrome, my dad (based on his similarity to me--I am guessing) had delayed sleep phase syndrome [DSPS--it's one of the various forms of insomnia]...and my mom recently told me she has perpetual insomnia without taking Ambien CR.

Also, it can sometimes lead to what may seem like depression or some mild bipolar 2 -type behaviors and, therefore, lead to misdiagnosis and years of wrong--INeffective and/ or damaging!!--'treatments.' People with DSPS are usually wrongly 'treated' for some psychiatric condtition(s) for YEARS, which they don't have, until they get a correct diagnosis. Most of the 'treatments' will actually feed into the problem. A neurologist is better equipped to recognize this problem than a psychiatrist would be, because sleep disorders falls under the neurologist's specialized training.

However, natural treatments--a combination of them--are, IMHO, the best first line of defense in combatting a sleep disorder. This said, I first started seeing real improvement in my night time sleep within these last couple weeks when we put me on a sleep aid (my request--12.5 mg of Ambien CR). I need this coupled with a stimulant during the day (Adderall XR--just upped it today from 10mg to 15mg, once in the morning)--PLUS LOTS OF COFFEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also employ light therapy (my own way) and specific dietary maintenance. Also--carbs intake factors HEAVILY into the whole equation as well. I'll go into as much detail as you ask me to...but don't want to overwhelm you, so I'll leave it here for now. Hope it helps.

44

Sleep Disorder Anyone?

by Sparkplug in

jw
friends

i am curious today about people that cannot wake up.

i have a problem with waking up.

i do not hear alarms.

J-ex-W

Delayed sleep phase syndrome-------it's a lesser known sleep disorder...a neurologist can help diagnose it. This is what I have, and you sound similar to me. Also, I get the sleep paralysis and hypnogogia stuff that one poster was talking about. [Or hypnopompic--not sure which...one occurs before actually falling asleep, the other right before waking.

Mine is the one before falling asleep and, as a kid, I used to mistake it for 'demon' activity (attempted possession--the best explanation my religiously educated 12-year-old brain could come up with at the time, lol!]. I used to silently sing hymns to myself till the sensations subsided. It worked...I'm sure because I was focusing my mental activity on something repetitive that allowed my central nervous system / brain to wind down.

I've taken a much more rational/ scientific approach to my understanding of it since then--long before learning about the sleep disorders aspect of it. I learned this stuff from a book (almost a decade ago--and identified my own sleep disorder using it)--to finally get official medical confirmation of diagnosis almost a year ago. Delayed sleep phase syndrome is extremely difficult to treat, especially if you have a severe form of it...

A good book I've found since then about sleep disorders and successful natural treatments is "How to Get a Good Night's Sleep" by Norman Ford. Hope this is helpful to you. I know this not fun!!

26

QUOTE OF THE DAY: IT'S OK TO CRY

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

crying doesnt make me any less of a man, said the 1-12 commander, lt. col. morris goins, who tears up as he recounts how one of his soldiers drowned in a canal, trapped in his bradley fighting vehicle.

to not show emotion, youre an idiot, or youre living a pipe dream.

if someone were to tell me not to show emotion, id hit them in the lip..

J-ex-W

Would you guys get a grip? Please. Guys get stuff stuck in their eyes and sometimes it hurts and then we get the stuff out of our eyes and it feels better.

Repeat to each generation.

UnConfused----- You're funny!! The timing of this post is very interesting to me. I went across the hall last night to talk to my neighbor about a problem I was having with maintenance here, etc. While I was there, he got a phone call from his mother's doctor. She went in for surgery on a broken arm and they found bone cancer--not sure of its origin. When he was done with the call and obviously choked up, I asked if he wanted me to leave. [I've lived here less than two months--we're still virtual strangers.] He said, "Nah...a big boy boy can cry a few tears, too." I really respected his emotional fortitude, honesty, forthrightness, and maturity to be able to face his vulnerable response head on like that. I gave him a hug--he had to bend down way low for it, 'cause he's 6-foot' 4-inches, and I'm 5 feet tall. When the hug was over--it lasted several seconds--and he stood up, he had tears streaming down his face. I felt sad for what he was going through--and glad that he was dealing with it in a way that would allow for faster, more complete healing for himself in the long run. Good for you, guys, who know how to let yourself cry!!! You GO, guy...!!

37

Fluff: What kind of music do you listen to?

by Guest with Questions in

jw
friends

this is to be my one day off but i keep coming back here:.

i love a variety of music these are just a few of my favourites:.

not because im canadian but: neil young, joni mitchell, guess who (had a crush on burton cummings-(actually my husband and him looked a lot alike when they were young) gino vinelli,.

J-ex-W

I do not listen to any kind of music, can you guess why?

...orangutans don't hear?

37

Fluff: What kind of music do you listen to?

by Guest with Questions in

jw
friends

this is to be my one day off but i keep coming back here:.

i love a variety of music these are just a few of my favourites:.

not because im canadian but: neil young, joni mitchell, guess who (had a crush on burton cummings-(actually my husband and him looked a lot alike when they were young) gino vinelli,.

J-ex-W

Hey, Guest with Questions----- A lot of the music you've listed is played somewhere along the way on a music thread here that was started some months ago...gets resurrected once in a while. Take a look if you like, and feel free to add anything.!!

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/129704/1.ashx

Or...if you wanna keep up your own thread encouraging more new stuff....hey-hey!! Cool any way you look at it...!! Always look forward to hearin' good stuff!

12

Comfort I can see, but Creativity??

by Bumble Bee in

jw
friends

a couple of weeks ago i bought a new toilet seat.

hubby is supposed to install it, but hasn't yet.

i was looking at the instructions today to see how hard it would be for me to do (not very hard, all i needed was a screwdriver).. on the back of the packaging it said this seat was designed for your comfort and creativity.. that made me laugh!

J-ex-W

Thats the place I do create

That's funny, Mouthy, because [gotta love the terminology!] I've heard some parents ask their toddler with the 'loaded' pants, "Did you make?"

2

MySpace: "Routine Maintenance?"

by J-ex-W in

jw
friends

one of my regular correspondents [individual, not a group] on myspace popped up with an odd message today, when another's page is just fine.

it said, "this page is undergoing routine maintenance.

sorry for the inconvenience," or some such similar thing.

J-ex-W

Weird. It's back on again...and the person hasn't even logged on in the last few days or made any changes. What does MySpace do that it calls 'routine maintenance?'