Hiya, is there anyone who comes on here who's had a head / brain injury who get the recommended 8 hrs of decent sleep a night & doesn't nap during the day ???
Sleep patterns !!!: Hiya, is there anyone who comes... - Headway
Sleep patterns !!!
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StaceM8
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Yes Stace I do, but I have to fight for it. I sleep on and off from 2am-ish 'til 11am which averages out usually at 6-8 hrs. I always feel deprived of sleep but couldn't nap during the day as my body-clock just won't allow it.
Since the SAH though I've learned to sleep when my mind/body wants to, regardless of convention, but I'm often unable to sleep for 2-3 days straight, and end up bouncing off the walls (literally).
I'm 'lucky' not having to rise early very often since the family flew the nest. Ideally I'd prefer to zonk out around midnight and wake refreshed at 8ish, but it's just never going to happen. 
x
Did U try the power nap Cat ???
I want t prove that conventional ways of sleeping & struggling to get back to sleep is the wrong thing t do for someone who's had a head injury.
The guy I was speaking to from Headway was quite interested in how I sleep cos as he says when you've had a head injury sleep is a problem.
I just want t do a study on this & hopefully help others who have had a head injury of sorts ;o)
Yes Stace I have, but it takes me such an age to stop fidgeting & my mind to stop racing that the only way I can settle is by listening to certain types of music, but even then I have to also be doing something.
I've seen the power nap in action and at its best when my son calls in after work. He comes in shattered, sets his phone alarm, then disappears for exactly 15 mins (I usually hear snoring sounds).
It's different in that he actually sleeps and the time which suits him is 15mins, but it's worked for him since he was a teenager. He re-appears, quite smiley and refreshed, has a coffee and takes himself off home.
He has a half-hour lunch break at work & does the same then. Working such long hours, he claims it's the power naps that get him through. 
x
Hi
Took me a long time - and a lot of discipline about sleep hygiene ( thinking about room temperature, very regular bedtimes and getting up times, "weaning" myself off daytime naps a bit- had to treat myself like I did my kids all those years ago using 15 minute chunks of putting bedtime back ... NO computer/phone screens about an hour before bed, reasonable levels of exercise/fresh air in the day) but I am usually asleep for 8-9 hours/night and would have more if I could ...... maybe my sleep isn't of best quality which is why I am still tired.
Wonder what others will say .... ?
K
Again, interesting K. Is there any reason U had t wean yourself off the naps & have a ' normal ' 8 to 9 hours.
And I don't mean so you do get 8 or 9 hours at night but what's wrong with naps instead & then a few hours at night.
Pointless trying to go along with convention if you're not waking up refreshed surely, unless there is a reason why U have to !!!
Yeah - good point ....
Unfortunately "convention" means I have to work ( phased part time return at the mo ) so I have to try to make do with " a rest" or sometimes a walk at lunchtimeish .... also recommended by my Occupational therapist .... but if I am abso knacked I will squeeze in 40 min nap .
My starting point before BI was with diagnosis of CFS so unrefreshing sleep was pretty "normal" even then .....
I feel better sleeping at night time overall so try to keep it for then .
Hate t be boring (& that's for Emma btw, assuming she remembers telling me that I was gettin boring when I first joined, but as U might have seen from my other replies if you've looked, have U tried a 20 minute power nap (no more, no less (well research has said a 26 minute nap is ideal, but 20 is good for me. And going over, because U go into a deeper second stage of sleep isn't as effective.
Have one of those every lunch time & durin coffee breaks close your eyes for 6 minutes cos as I've said on another post, research has shown that increases brain power by about 50 % ;o)
I can't sleep during the day but I could sleep at least 10 hours a night if I'm in need of it and I've been known to sleep most of the weekend too if the need arises!
I had flu recently and I'm still going to bed early every night. It seems to take so much out of me when I'm I'll or upset or stressed.
In the first few years I would sleep during through the day and be up half the night!
What was wrong with naps during the day & being up half the night (as long as U don't disturb anyone, then I suppose it is a problem).
Do you feel refreshed having upto 10 hours a day ???
Stress & pressure kill me - can't handle the slightest bit of pressure. I start doubtin myself usually resulting in a few days where I struggle to get out of bed.
Someone near enough has to drag me out for the day when I do something when I do something that really enjoy to snap me out of it.
I work 5 hours a day in school with a half hour lunch break.
I get shopping on way home, chuck the washing in the machine and tidy up before prepping tea. Kids come home and I need to help with home work etc. then kids do chores and I cook tea, we eat tidy up and I iron the clothes washed and dried earlier. Then I sit for an hour and watch TV. Then I sleep.
Thursday I do cubs from 6:30 to 8pm, get home between 8:30 and 9, fall in bed!
I get a cleaner in twice a week because I can't physically do anything more. Fatigue is a killer.
Mind you it has taken many years to get to this point. I would get up and have breakfast and fall asleep, wake up shower and fall asleep, go and get dressed and get lunch and sleep. Etc etc.
Only problem with being up when others are sleeping is I could be mistaken for a burglar!!
Hi Stace,
I usually only get sleep on 1to 2 hour shifts throught the night and never collect a full 8 hours although before the tumour took up residence I only used to get 5 or 6 hours a night but in one decent deep block and felt far more rested than now.
My neuropsychologist tells me it's very common for peeps with brain injury of any kind to suffer fatigue and poor sleep. Hoping she'll give me some tactics to cope with it soon.
Take care
Hi
have you discussed this with your GP to see if their is any underlying reason for poor sleep pattern
Since changing my asthma meds I rarely sleep during the day and sleep well during the night (dogs permitting )
Best Wishes
StaceM8• in reply to
Interesting but how many hours at night ???
Personally I love my 20 minute nap, 2 8 minute naps (actually 8 minutes & 20 seconds - I count to 500 ;o)
And also my few hours at night but I just wanted to know if anyone who's had a head injury do get the recommended 8 hrs (without sleeping pills ;o)
Hi at first I constantly fell asleep but suffered night terrors causing me to sleep in boughts of approx 2-3 hours. Since dealing with this and also as time goes on I can achieve about 5-6 hours on a good night. Sometimes my mind will not switch off and I can end up not sleeping for 2-3 days then finally fall into a deep needed sleep fo about 10 hours. There seems to be no set pattrrn to this behaviour and no trigger. Pain and sress can agrivate this butI find it hard to plan sleep and I find myself unable to sleep during the day( at least this proves I am not a vampire). Ovrr the years I have tried many things to help me sleep to little success. One thing that did help is music. I found chill out and some classical music helped although I soon found using headphones problematic tosay the least. Waking up with the headphone cable wrapped around my neck is not what I intended as a sleep aid. I was then presented one xmas with a set of cordless headphones by my daughters....problem solved. I dont know if this is any help the main thing is try not to stress about your sleep pattern ..it just makes it worse.
Nah, don't get me wrong but I love my sleep patterns, but it's just people who moan at me for the way I sleep & if I had th recommended 8 hours sleep a night I would be back t ' normal ' by now.
What a load of rubbish. I'm not ' normal ' , cos most people haven't had a head injury.
I've adapted my sleep patterns to how I am now . Sometimes like yourself I'll have 5 or 6 hrs. 7 sometimes. Ok occasionally, Ok once - Only kiddin but my main problem when I'm not myself I start listening to other people & thinking what if ???
I then try sleeping for the 8 hours & I start spiraling into a depression where I don't want to get myself out of bed, even feeling like I'm never gonna come out.
You'd think the thing is after 21 years I'd know that I inevitably will.
Luckily now I can see that even when I'm down, but it's only a recent thing ;o)
The reason why I asked the question is so I can show people (mainly my brother who I now lives with an still comes out with, ' if U took my advice... '
I just want to show him that I'm not the only one & how rare it is, the fewer people that reply, the easier it will be to be able to show him.
Yours was near perfect cos it shows that you're happy to have got to a stage where U get 5 or 6, not bloody 8 ;o)
Hi Stace
Well, I don't nap during the day, but I never seem to get a good nights sleep. I have been taking Melatonin for the last month, and have had 3 fairly good nights, but on the whole I seem to wake up every half hour after 12.30!
I am lucky I don't feel over tired during the day, but I suppose I get eight hours sleep in the end!
Good luck! 😉☺️
Try regular 'power naps' - Set your alarm for 20 mins & close your eyes. If you fall asleep great but if not you'll still get up feeling refreshed.
Personally I have one 20 minute nap somewhere between 1 & 5pm, usually about half 2, a couple of 6 minute nap, which supposedly refreshes memory & concentration by 50%, I have a couple of those a day & I also close my eyes if I'm listening to something or on a train, at the doctors or something like that.
On top of that I usually get a few hours at night. If I fall asleep before 11 U can almost guarantee I'll wake up at 12.34 (Ok maybe not that precise but about half 12.
Instead of struggling to get back to sleep I simply get up & close my eyes when I next need to, probably 5 or 6 hours later. But then I have a 20 minute power nap ;o) & do as normal.
Talkin of the 20 minute power nap, how did U find it Emma ??
Hi Stace
I maybe the first one then, I get 7 or 8 hours, majority of the time no wake ups either.
May try the nap though, even if I don't fall asleep. That would worry me slightly as I'll prob not get to sleep at night
Hi Stace,
I used to nap during the day but over the years I have managed to conquer that.
Saying that I did take a nap the other day during the day but that was probably my first in a few years. I think it was because my life is getting a bit more busy now.
I used to nap a lot cos my eyes felt heavy but I found that doesn't necessarily mean I ned a nap cos I found myself tucked up in bed for about ten minutes or so.
Usually sit in my chair and close my eyes for a little while, I think you mentioned that you do that.
Sometimes I wake up at odd hours in the night and cannot get back to sleep. If that happens, I usually drink a turmeric tea the next day. Boiled water in a cup with a little sprinkle of turmeric, usually works for me.
Last few nights I have slept pretty well without awaking in the night. I think it is because I am more busy now as I said before. Saturday and Sundays are great days for rest.
Take care,
MJ
Sleep has been a big problem for me since my tumour was removed 5 years ago but with the help of medication I usually get a great sleep now although now that the lighter mornings have started I think black out blinds will be needed.
I don't nap during the day although I am often very tired and I can find work pretty tough at times. Luckily my employer is very understanding.
If U do ever feel tired in the afternoon try closing your eyes for 20 minutes. You don't have t sleep although make sure U set an alarm for 20 minutes in case U fall asleep but I've found that I don't actually have t sleep t come out feeling refreshed.
As it goes even 6 minutes makes a massive difference (according to studies, supposedly increases alertness & brain power by about 50% & it does leave me feeling better although the effects of 20mins lasts a lot longer & is ideal for me.
One 20 minute nap in the afternoon (about 2 - 3 o'clock more often that not) works wonders, it really does !!!
I do now close my eyes for 6mins if I do come over sleepy in between ;o)
Am late to this post/thread, but I would say most nights a week I manage 7.5 Hrs a night; but If I am prepared to go to go to bed at 9.30- 10.00 I will get the full eight. Nearly 7 years post TBI I rarely nap in the day, though if I do let myself really relax I can nod' off! IT IS SO much better, and I am not noticeably more tired than my colleagues, who are all younger than me, Am 51. The difference may be, I unfortunately rarely go on nights out, burn the candle at both ends! I rarely stay up after 11pm, however on the odd occasion I do, it no longer wears me out, it used to and I would suffer the next day. I am very measured in my approach to sleep, having been caught me out in the past. I am fortunate to not have a tremendously busy social calendar, (In other words, (HE'S BORING!!!!) I have discovered if I take care, I can still have an active social calendar. (That's what he thinks!)
I suppose it is about knowing yourself, and being careful. (What did I say. BORING!!!!!) I have twice done waking nights in my current job, and while I would not recommend it for TBI survivors. I have coped, and thin I did a good job.
Is that uninterrupted deep sleep ???
I have sleep apnoea and a Cpap machine, for those who don't know this is a machine that blows air in a positive pressure in through your mouth and nose whilst you sleep to prevent you r throat closing up at night, it's a bloody godsend in two ways. I always have a perfect nights sleep and awake fresh, the action of being well oxygenated at night is like camping under the stars, I breath easy and dreamless. The second is that I do seizure now and again, I had a serious grand mal one night and U.K. swear the machine kept my airway ( which often close off) open and consequently saved my life. Also if I'm a bit stuffed up I can drop some lob as oil in it and awake mucus free..lovely
• in reply to
That should read oblas oil, not lob, bloody predictive text
• in reply to
OLBAS....grrr seriously
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