Insomnia is a horrible companion!

sunnicat

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What started out looking like a possible good night's sleep is over here, apparently.

After some reading, it was lights out at 10:30. Surprisingly, sleep was easy to find tonight. Unfortunately, an hour later, Brynna jumped out of her bed and woke me up. There was a terrible noise outside the window, which is open due to the cool weather. It took me a minute to listen before I decided I should get up and investigate. (Joe is on the road, of course, and it's just me here with Braeden.) We live out in the middle of several fields, so my first thought was possums or raccoons fighting. It was a growling, snorting noise. Worried for Percy, I grabbed a flashlight and scanned the yard. (No worries, Percy is smart. He's safe and sound in the barn, slept through the whole ordeal.) Whatever it was, it was making a racket coming out of the bean field. Sounded bigger than a possum or raccoon, too, although I know they make a lot of noise. When it finally came out, the culprit turned out to be a coyote. In my back yard. Wonderful. Brave little sucker, I'll give it that much. I hit the windowsill and hissed, it took off like a flash. I've never seen them come this close to the house before, so we will have to do something to discourage this from happening again.

Of course, now I've been awake since. Part of it is the realization that the only things between us in here and anything (or anyone) out there are a few thin screens. There's also the adrenaline rush from being abruptly dragged from a sound sleep. Dang that coyote!
 

evnshawn

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I very rarely have trouble sleeping, but I sure do sympathize with those of you (like my husband) who do.
 

boys mum

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i envy those who say "i only had 6 hrs sleep last night"
dont they realise how lucky they are.
 

stampit3d

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I`m from Michigan...and there seem to be more and more coyote around...and we NEVER used to see them. Someone told me they started bringing them in to keep down the rabbit population.....wonder what they are going to bring in to keep the coyote down....BEARS????
I`ve never had much trouble with sleeping...except for 6 months while I was going through menapause....and I swear i did`nt sleep at all for those 6 months....it was Horrible. You truly have my sympathy!!! (Someone suggested drinking warm Ovaltine before going to bed...the chocolate in it is NOT really chocolate so no caffeene....I thought it might have at least relaxed me a bit...so how knows...what could it hurt to give it a try?)
 

rosehawke

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We're on the edge of a large metropolitan area, literally within a mile of the city limits of Birmingham. Early one morning last spring I was just about to let Kellie out the back door when I looked through the window in the door and thought "What the---?" Yup. In the back of the "field" (our lot is one acre wide and 5 deep, with about the front 1/3 being grass) was a pair of coyotes! Kellie had to wait go go out
. They were playing, running and chasing each other until I made some noise or other when they faded into the trees. I called Sunny at work and told him about it, and he was sceptical, but we saw them again towards dusk the next evening. However that was it, I'm pretty sure they were just passing through.

I usually don't have problems falling asleep, but staying asleep on the other hand
...
 

julianne

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Silly question from a non-american... What is a coyote? Is it like a wild dog or something???
 

rosehawke

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Also called prairie wolf. It's like a smaller version of a wolf, about the size of a German Shepherd Dog or Alsatian, although from what I understand our Eastern version tends to be larger than their western cousins. The ones I saw were easily the size of large GSD's.

Coyote
 

lionessrampant

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I too have to deal with intermittent insomnia. Have you ever tried taking Valerian root, anyone? It's an herbal supplement that's been used basically since the dawn of time that is known to slow the central nervous system and relax the muscles, thus making sleep come more easily. I'm pretty sure you can find it at any drug store that sells herbal supplements. It works for me when I have trouble falling asleep, or when I know I have something big on tap for the next day and need all the sleep I can get!
 

katl8e

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When I went through a bout of insomnia, melatonin worked wonders. I still take it, when I have to get up early. Within 1/2 hr, I'm asleep and don't wake up with a sleeping-pill "hangover".

As for the coyotes, keep your garbage cans securely covered and don't leave any bowls of pet food out. Check with your local animal control, to find out if there have been any cases of rabid ones, in your area.

Tucson is a sprawling metro area, of about 500,000 and we have urban coyotes, javelina, bobcats and the occasional bear and mountain lion.
 

fwan

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i have suffered since wednesday pretty badly i have not slept for more than 3 hours every night. or lets say morning.

So last night i went out and bought a few beers drank half a bottle of wine and some snaps, Suprisingly i dont have a hangover. It has atleast made me sleep for a few hours but still not much has kicked in.

Last thing i ate was little kids yoghurt yesterday morning its been 25 hours now since i ate and im still not hungry
i cant shove anything down my throat
 

nebula11

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Originally Posted by fwan

i have suffered since wednesday pretty badly i have not slept for more than 3 hours every night. or lets say morning.

So last night i went out and bought a few beers drank half a bottle of wine and some snaps, Suprisingly i dont have a hangover. It has atleast made me sleep for a few hours but still not much has kicked in.

Last thing i ate was little kids yoghurt yesterday morning its been 25 hours now since i ate and im still not hungry
i cant shove anything down my throat
Hun...i am so sorry...please please please...dont ever self medicate insomnia....and eat something.........please.....

if you still cant sleep try camomile tea...or valarian root...they will naturally relax you to the point where you can sleep.....i know what i am talking about I am a seasoned insomniac.......
take a hot shower before you go to bed....and if you have any unfinnished bussiness and concerns in your head...get them down on paper...this act acts as a realese.......

lie in your bed with you eyes closed on your back....dont move a muscle...for at least 5 minutes, then on your sides repeat...then on your stomach..repeat....then go into your regular position.....this will get your muscles ready to sleep...

just some idea that have worked for me in the past.....but please please...dont use alcohol to help insomnia...believe me it makes it worse....and eat...its hard to sleep on an empty stomach

good luck hun
 

george'smom

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I think you have good reason to be up! I would be terrified out of my mind if I was alone and heard sounds outside my window


I have trouble sleeping most nights too. . . . because my littlest kitty doesn't want me to. If I really want some peace and quiet, I have to close my bedroom door (with the cats on the other side). I like them to sleep in my bed. Bella is ruining it for everyone I'm afraid!

I also spend many nights worrying (if one cat won't come in, or if my 17 year old son isn't home yet).

Sigh.
 

missy&spikesmom

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Ahhhhhhhhhhhh....sleeping at night....... What a great concept!

Yep, here it is, 7:50am and I have not been to sleep yet! NOT that I am an insomniac. But, my DH has been ill enough, for long enough, that he has his nights and days mixed up! He had a BAD night last night, so I am just going to try and go get some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz right now!

Catch you all later!
 

george'smom

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Originally Posted by fwan

i have suffered since wednesday pretty badly i have not slept for more than 3 hours every night. or lets say morning.

So last night i went out and bought a few beers drank half a bottle of wine and some snaps, Suprisingly i dont have a hangover. It has atleast made me sleep for a few hours but still not much has kicked in.

Last thing i ate was little kids yoghurt yesterday morning its been 25 hours now since i ate and im still not hungry
i cant shove anything down my throat
Fwan-
This doesn't sound good. I would make an appointment with your doctor. He/she can prescribe something to help restore your sleep and maybe get you into a sleep study (is the loss of appetite because of your lack of sleep or part of the reason you can't sleep? Are you ill?)
 
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