Sleep & almost there

[shootingstar]

It's been a long process to realign my sleep patterns over past few months. Combination of prescription low-dose sleep medication and a sleep schedule regime. This post-concussion common problem..getting sleep back to normal. I used to sleep at ..8:30 pm during injury recovery for lst few months ..now switching to 11:00 pm or later to retrain my body.


*Hence, I've naturally reduced my coffee and tea intake by 50%. I don't drink it past approx. 2:00 pm unless it's purely herbal.
*I get off the computer 1 hr. before I go sleep. The brain is quite activated by computer exposure. Thankfully I'm not hooked to an iPhone ...since I don't have one.
*Some light stretching exercises several hrs. before bed.
*A shower afterwards.
*Warm milk..actually I have cornflakes in evening also. So I start day with breakfast cold milk and cereal, so my body doesn't get sleepy/make those associations.
*I read from a book or magazine --in paper before bed. There ARE advantages over computer. It's to occupy my brain in a lulling kind of way.
*Seeing a counsellor every few wks.

[AppleTree]

What a process you've been through Shootingstar...hope it will work itself out for you soon. Good sleep is important. I'm a big fan of lavender, just spritzing some on my pillow (diluted) or a warm flax seed bag with lavender...or just a few drops of essential oil at the base of my throat...whatever works. It helps me.

[azfiddle]

This has been such a long road for you. I hope the new routines and time continue to bring you improvement.

[OakLeaf]

Glad you're continuing to improve. Take good care Shootingstar.

[shootingstar]

Am now seeing a specialist doctor, who runs a clinic on sleep and sleep disorders.

After telling me he had discussed my case with my referring family physician and asking me well over 15-20 questions, he said:

"I've seen thousands of head injured patients (he's been in practice for over last 2 decades), and you are the lst patient given the severity of your injury, you have had a faster recovery than others. You are at least working on the job (part-time). It's miraculous. Most of my patients have headaches 1-2 years still after their injury."

So I consented to being used as a case study for his medical research since the clinic is part of teaching hospital's work.

I wonder though, prior present public awareness about concussions, if there was just a lot of under-reporting. Injured patients who just gave up and live with their symptoms for several years.

My regime now under his orders are:

No computer screen time (even iPhone) for 4 hrs. before I go to bed. (which has been tough)
No coffee after noon.
No alcohol after 4:00 pm (Guess it's wine for lunch to celebrate dearie's birthday.)
etc.

Yes, according to him, my good health/fitness prior to my concussion and my attitude to get better, is contributing to a faster recovery than some other patients.

[Crankin]

That is great, ShootingStar. The no wine after 4 PM would be hard for me!