I'm Only Sleeping....not so much
I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink I'm so tired, my mind is on the brink I wonder if I should get up and fix myself a drink NO! NO! NO!
That seems to be the theme song, not only for Parkinson's patients but everyone over 60.
Here's the thing about Parkinson's...some of us tremor. Some have stiffness. Some can't walk straight. But we're all freakin' tired!!
Last Saturday, at a Parkinson's symposium, there was a segment on sleep issues. We were all wide awake and attentive.
A few weeks ago there was an online seminar about Parkinson's and sleep/fatigue. It had the highest attendance of any of these things all year.
I asked my two Facebook PD support groups "How are you sleeping?" There were over 100 responses all saying the same thing, "we don't."
Everyone is sleep deprived. We sleep a couple of hours. Get up and pee. Go back to bed. Can't fall asleep. Roll around. Finally fall asleep and a half hour later, the alarm goes off. Are you kidding me?!?
My friend Debra says, "We're over 60. No one sleeps."
Fine....welcome to the club. You sure you want to be a member?
Until recently it hasn't been an issue for me. But since last August, I just can't sleep more than a few hours without waking. Fall back asleep again...NOT!! I'm a cranky bitch!!
It leads to falling asleep on a kitchen table. Falling asleep on a bus and missing my stop by two miles. Taking those two hour naps...at 10am...and again at 3pm....and yesterday at 6pm. How do people work like this? How do people live like this?
It came to a head this week. By coincidence, I've been involved in three different discussions on vitamins. I know...I live in the fast lane. I noticed that I told all of them that I take a different vitamin. All were wrong. It's Vitamin A...or D.
I'm so zoned I can't think straight.
But the worst was at my therapist's office. I fell asleep in her waiting room. She had to wake me up.
I rambled for an hour about exhaution and how desperate I was for just one good nights sleep. Trust me, desperate is not a word you want to say to a mental health professional.
So what's the answer to this? Hell if I know!
I've received a lot of advice lately. Ambien, Klonopin, Trazadone, Melatonin. Half a valium, a whole one, try two! Take more naps, take less naps, warm milk, exercise, have sex....with or without a partner.
Sigh...it's overwhelming!
You'd say I'm putting you on, but it's no joke It's doing me harm, you know I can't sleep. I can't stop my brain, you know it's three weeks I'M GOING INSANE! You know I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind.