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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 9:07:02
Worked like a dog (typed god accidentally!) yesterday to prepare for this big party. Was totally stressed. Food that was supposed to be ready at 4:15 hadn't been started yet by the restaurant who was catering, but it was ready at 5:00, which is when the party started.
Spent the day stressing out about whether it would rain, and was finally able to relax when folks started to come. A band played in our alley, and all the neighbors were there helping.
I drank two Bailey's and sodas and four to six beers. Sang one verse of "To Sir, With Love," which everyone said sounded good and torchy, though I felt I probably sucked the big one.
Folks helped clean up, and I went to bed around 1:00 a.m., the latest I've been to bed in more than five years. I woke up at 4:15 to pee, and the ceiling started spinning, I got the sweats and felt sick, and then I ran to the guest room where I couldn't get comfortable and never went back to sleep. My heart was beating out of my chest for two hours.
Now I feel like crap, having slept just three hours and drunk so much, and I'm having that oh-no-I'm-never-going-to-sleep-again anxiety that I get when I have nights like this (which I haven't had for a year, actually).
So, while I know this was a night with extenuating circumstances, I'm still terribly upset with my not being able to fall back to sleep after lying in bed for three hours (I usually fall back to sleep before two hours when this happens on other nights), and I'm worried that I won't be able to fall asleep tonight.
I am damned tired. Plum tuckered out. I had such a good time last night (and I looked really good, too, for a change, and laughed a lot!), yet I'm here feeling sorry for myself. I even got tons of presents from folks who shouldn't have brought anything. Wendy sent me a fab book (a formal thank-you is forthcoming!), and I got lots of cool earings and hats and stuff.
So I have these great, wonderful friends--about thirty-five people, all tolled--and I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself about my sleep.
What is wrong with me? Any NORMAL person (except my husband and all the rest of my friends) would have trouble sleeping under those circumstances, I tell myself.
BUT I JUST WON'T LISTEN!
HELP!
beardy
Posted by mair on October 13, 2002, at 11:28:12
In reply to Got drunk, sang, didn't sleep. Help! (long), posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 9:07:02
Beardy
I just think that for some people sleep is so much more essential than it is for others - not just whether or not you get enough sleep, but also how much you worry about not sleeping. I draw a close correlation between lack of sleep and depressive feelings, so one bad's night sleep tends to freak me out even if there is no particular reason to believe that it represents any sort of pattern. It's sort of like the feeling that depression is going to be permanent. My depresions always feel permanent evey though I know from experience that they will go away. Sleep is sort of the same way. Every time I sleep poorly, I start feeling almost automatically that I'm going to start sleeping poorly for days on end and that depression will follow, if in fact it's not the depression that is causing the sleep disturbance to begin with. It's that awful sense of foreboding.
Also, if you generally don't drink much, a night of too much drinking will easily disrupt a sleep pattern.
It's too bad that you can't just revel in the good feelings of last night, but my guess is that maybe you can once you've gotten a better night's sleep. Rehashing a good party is sometimes as much fun as being at the party.
Mair
Posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 11:35:50
In reply to Re: Got drunk, sang, didn't sleep. Help! (long), posted by mair on October 13, 2002, at 11:28:12
I am the same way with the worry about sleep. Since I've been taking Serzone for sleep, I have been a pretty stable 8-9-hour sleeper. I feel my best at 7, but the problem is that I always count the hours and determine how I feel based on that. I don't feel all that sleepy today. Tired, yes, but not sleepy.
Until I found my latest therapist, each bad night sleep was a big setback--almost to the very beginning. Now I know that it's just a little thing, and I am usually very confident about sleep. This time, because I didn't fall back to sleep after two hours, which is customary, I'm in slight freak-out mode.
I agree that I'll feel better about it after a good night's sleep, but I'm worried I won't get that. I wish I knew how to not worry.
And yes, I drink A beer at a time. I drink them many times a week, but only one or two at the most.
Anyway, thanks so much for your help. It means a lot.
beardy
Posted by Robin David John on October 13, 2002, at 12:47:40
In reply to Got drunk, sang, didn't sleep. Help! (long), posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 9:07:02
Hi Beardy..I once was reading a article about alcohol and drugs and the effect that it has on the brains chemisty and sleeping patterns ...if I may:: first of all you were rushing around and worried about the party , very exausting mentally..possibly you could have fallen sleep naturally after all the exausting preparation.
The article said that when naturally ready to sleep the brains chemicals are at ooohhh say at a level of 5 0n a scale of 1 to 10 ...when you drink alcohol the chemistry changes in the brain making you unnaturally drowsy and tired and so on, the chemical scale drops you down to a 3 which would bring you an induced sleepiness..Now then when the effect of the alcohol starts to where off the natual chemicals in your brain start heading back to the normal functioning state jump back past the 5 and to maybe a 7 out 0f 10 which would be the awareness and awake state in the brain...It will take about 24 hours for the alcohol to leave your system at which time there are no toxic chemicals mixing with your natural brains chemistry., letting you get back into your normal sleep patterns..long winded whoooo...Also one more thing I believe that we can talk ourselves into certain things by worrying about things , in your case hope I get back to sleep.
I think I read this article at a rehab centre while I was coming off codine and trazedone for my back injury . Took me about 2 weeks before I could naturally get a good nights sleepHope your feeling better and glad you had a good time at the party ...
Robin
Posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 13:01:46
In reply to Re: Got drunk, sang, didn't sleep. Help! (long) » BeardedLady, posted by Robin David John on October 13, 2002, at 12:47:40
Thank you for that information. I didn't know that about the brain chemistry. (Brain? What brain?) I am trying not to worry, but I wish my common sense would kick in here.
I've been eating a lot of greasy food and protein to fix my hangover (it works). And I'm drinking lots of water!
beardy
Posted by Robin David John on October 13, 2002, at 13:18:13
In reply to Re: Help! » Robin David John , posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 13:01:46
> Thank you for that information. I didn't know that about the brain chemistry. (Brain? What brain?) I am trying not to worry, but I wish my common sense would kick in here.
>
> I've been eating a lot of greasy food and protein to fix my hangover (it works). And I'm drinking lots of water!
>
> beardyMight I suggest some chocolate milk , worked for me ..Have a great day glad I could be of help
Robin
Posted by IsoM on October 13, 2002, at 13:28:44
In reply to Got drunk, sang, didn't sleep. Help! (long), posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 9:07:02
You drank too much (I don't mean you got drunk but you got more alcohol in your system than your body is used to), didn't sleep enough, had increased level of excitement & resulting stress neurohormones & neurotransmitters, & probably greasier, richer food than you may normally eat. Your body's reaction to it may interfere with your sleep among other things.
If I were in your shoes, I'd compensate to see if it would help. I know that all sorts of relatively minor changes can disturb my sleep at night. This is what I'd do.
Eat smaller but more frequent portions of food today - with complex carbohydrates & protein together but very low in fat. If you're going to eat any meat, make sure it's not too much & take all fat off. Your digestive system's probably already overdosed on fat, & fatty foods stay a long time in the stomach before emptying - longer than any other foods.
Drink lots of water (but not too much at a time or you'll feel bloated & worse ). Alcohol tends to dehydrate a person even if they don't notice it. Don't drink as much as bedtime approaches so you don't have to get up frequently to pee at night.
Break some B complex vitamin tablets in half & take half each time you eat something. If there's vitamin C in the tablet, good, if not, take some C with each small meal too. Got any magnesium tablets? Take a half tablet with each meal too. Alcohol, stress, & lack of sleep either depletes the body of those nutrients or increases the need.
If you normally go to bed at 9:30, go for a nice walk in the afternoon - not too leisurely & not too brisk. It'll help recharge your system & get you more relaxed when evening comes. It also seems to clear out stress hormones.
Do all this Beire-Dei, & I can guarantee that "Dokter" IsoM's advice will enable you to sleep like a baby. Hey! sue me if it doesn't work. ^_*
Posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 15:38:19
In reply to Try this... GUARANTEED!!! ^_* » BeardedLady, posted by IsoM on October 13, 2002, at 13:28:44
That all sounds like very good advice, and I guess I'll have to try it next time (like there will be a next time at my age!). It is 4:30 now, however, and I have eaten some spare ribs and cake much of the day!
As for the fatty stuff, I usually do compensate the next day when I overdo it, but there is a physical need (for me, at least) for grease the day after a drinking binge. (I have heard this is a true remedy, as well, but I haven't looked for a www link.)
The good news is that I paid close attention to Robin's words and realized how right he was about the off switch on my brain. It made me relax enough to lie down and not fret about sleep. Instead, I slept two hours!
For many insomniacs, naps are bad news. But my insomnia is psychological, based on worry that I won't sleep. So it seems the more I am able to nap, the more confidence I have in my ability to sleep, and the easier I am able to sleep.
So thanks, all of you, for your good advice and commiseration. It's nice to feel you are not alone--and to be able to get a pep talk here when you need one. It takes a lot of the stress off my family members.
beardy
Posted by Robin David John on October 14, 2002, at 0:39:26
In reply to Re: Help! » Robin David John , posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 13:01:46
> Thank you for that information. I didn't know that about the brain chemistry. (Brain? What brain?) I am trying not to worry, but I wish my common sense would kick in here.
>
> I've been eating a lot of greasy food and protein to fix my hangover (it works). And I'm drinking lots of water!
>
> beardy
Water is really good, Drink spring water though for hangovers or all the time, because tap water has chemicals in it too. I work for water pollution control in water supply up here in Ontario , so I know, tap water sucks anywhere in the world. Hot milk before you go to bed can ( I know for sure) calm your nerves down so you can get a good nights sleep .And doesn't common sence stand for ..COME on brain lets be realistic...LOL
Happy you slept ..let me know how it went tonight ..
Robin
Posted by BeardedLady on October 14, 2002, at 8:22:25
In reply to Re: Help!, posted by Robin David John on October 14, 2002, at 0:39:26
Posted by Gracie2 on October 14, 2002, at 19:44:21
In reply to food and drink » IsoM, posted by BeardedLady on October 13, 2002, at 15:38:19
Beardy-
You listed all the reasons that I don't have big parties anymore. Glad you had fun, though.
Next time you can't sleep because of alcohol and
over-stimulation, try getting in a hot bath and drinking a big glass of water with Alka-Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine. I think it's better than Nyquil, probably because the carbonation dumps the medicine into your bloodstream faster - and the water doesn't hurt either. Also, eat a banana to replace potassium.
-Gracie
Posted by BeardedLady on October 15, 2002, at 5:23:49
In reply to More thoughts, posted by Gracie2 on October 14, 2002, at 19:44:21
Ahh! That sounds like great advice! The ceiling was spinning, though, and I was having some trouble sitting. (Also afraid I'd fall asleep in the tub, which I've been known to do.)
What about medicine on top of a six-pack and two mixed drinks? I'd have taken a sleeping pill (Sonata) but was afraid I'd never have awakened!
The party was, truly, fun, and I slept well again.
beardy
Posted by Gracie2 on October 15, 2002, at 20:01:09
In reply to Re: More thoughts » Gracie2, posted by BeardedLady on October 15, 2002, at 5:23:49
Only a couple of things you can do for bed spins,
if the nausea keeps you from sleeping.
1.)Take Dramamine or, if you prefer the herbal route, take powdered gingerroot capsules or chew
on candied ginger.
2.)Throw up.
Geeze, I sound like the drinkers' Ann Landers.
-Gracie
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