1. < Sleep Health

Sleep advice

Posted by be1976 @be1976, Jun 30 3:41am

I tend to wake up around 2am and have trouble going back to sleep.

I have some gut discomfort when I wake up. It is not severe but it is unsettling.

I've worked with several doctors and had many tests. Even taken an antibiotic. Nothing is obvious.

This could be stress.

I may be interested in a sleep aid but don't want to take anything too strong.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.

cb3 | @cb3 | Jul 1 9:07am
In reply to @gloaming "You are experiencing an arousal mechanism, and my guess it is associated with your gastro-intestinal problem,..." + (show)
@gloaming

You are experiencing an arousal mechanism, and my guess it is associated with your gastro-intestinal problem, whatever it is. If it is reflux, a tbsp of apple cider vinegar will probably help. This sounds counter-intuitive, but the reason we get stomach contents traveling up into our throats is because the pyloric valve is not shutting. It shuts in response to stomach acid. If you're getting stomach contents rising into your esophagus, you may not be producing sufficient stomach acid. So, the apple cider vinegar, one swallow, will often induce the closure of the pyloric valve. I have proven this to myself several times over the past 12 months. It can't hurt, really, and might be worth a try or three.

Has apnea been ruled out?

Jump to this post

@gloaming I agree with you 100% about apple cider vinegar (ACV). It's the wonder helper for many ailments. I have a short story that discloses what I have experienced and I hope it helps others the way it's helped me. The natural medicinal that helped my gut issues and (possible) acid reflux is peppermint oil with fennel and ginger, as well as, ACV.

In October 2013, I went through treatment for anal cancer and it left me with radiation proctitis which is known to cause various gut issues. I use to get what I thought could be acid reflux. You know where you get that burning feeling at the top of your abdomen traveling to your throat? I did a lot of Google research in those earlier days and ACV helped me a lot, along with antacids.

My father died from colon cancer at age 82. And because of that, I was first scheduled for a colonoscopy every 10 years beginning about 1989. Then it went to every (5) years. Then in May 2022 I had a colonoscopy that showed (5) polyps and I was aghast with anger and fear because I've never had over (2). But! it only takes (1) to end a life. And I had another colonoscopy one year later in May 2023 and had a tiny polyp.

Forgive me but I feel the need to input a little bit of medical humor here. For the record, it appears that polyps love me. Perhaps I should change my pen name to Polly Polyps. (goofus grin)

Onward. So back to Google research I went for advice. And that is when I ran across Heather's Tummy Tamers (HTT) for sale on Amazon. And as we all know, Amazon has really helpful reviews. HTT is an outstanding combination of peppermint oil, fennel and ginger. And they are enteric coated, meaning they pass through the stomach and dissolve in the the intestines. They claim to support a healthy gut and I can attest to that as solid truth. But they are no longer sold on Amazon. Here is where to find them:
https://www.heatherstummycare.com/c/tummy-tamers/
I strongly support this product for acid reflux and other gastrointestinal issues. And I plan to stay on HTT for life. Just remember, if you decide to take HTT, take when you first wake up on an empty stomach with a tad (sip) of water. Wait 1/2 hour before you eat anything and you should be fine.

Hugs for a healthy gut. Carolyn

REPLY
cb3 | @cb3 | Jul 1 9:37am
In reply to @llynch17056 "You’re welcome. I hope he works for you, too. It’s not perfection, but it has greatly..." + (show)
@llynch17056

You’re welcome. I hope he works for you, too. It’s not perfection, but it has greatly improved my sleeping and seems to be reliable. I wear a Fitbit so I get a sleep score and actual sleep/awake info. I was surprised when THC and Ambien didn’t work, at all. I held these as my last gasp because I, also, prefer the natural path. Then I stumbled upon Jason. Good luck.

Jump to this post

I've got a Fitbit that I have never used. I didn't know I could get a sleep score. Thanks. I'll look into that.

REPLY
1 reply
HomeAgainLA | @llynch17056 | Jul 1 7:17pm

It will give you a LOT of sleeping info. I love it.

REPLY
scspalding | @scspalding | Jul 3 4:30pm
In reply to @gloaming "You are experiencing an arousal mechanism, and my guess it is associated with your gastro-intestinal problem,..." + (show)
@gloaming

You are experiencing an arousal mechanism, and my guess it is associated with your gastro-intestinal problem, whatever it is. If it is reflux, a tbsp of apple cider vinegar will probably help. This sounds counter-intuitive, but the reason we get stomach contents traveling up into our throats is because the pyloric valve is not shutting. It shuts in response to stomach acid. If you're getting stomach contents rising into your esophagus, you may not be producing sufficient stomach acid. So, the apple cider vinegar, one swallow, will often induce the closure of the pyloric valve. I have proven this to myself several times over the past 12 months. It can't hurt, really, and might be worth a try or three.

Has apnea been ruled out?

Jump to this post

Do you take the vinegar at bed time?

REPLY
gloaming | @gloaming | Jul 3 7:05pm

If the reflux were quite bad, and it was only half an hour before I wanted to turn in, yewbetcha!! I can't fall asleep when my throat is burning, and the vinegar stops the attack almost cold...easily well enough to relax and to fall asleep 30 minutes later.

REPLY
kayraymat | @kayraymat | Aug 15 7:06am
In reply to @margotcc "Managing here with four or five hours of sleep, that’s better than I used to get...." + (show)
@margotcc

Managing here with four or five hours of sleep, that’s better than I used to get. I’m doing pretty well though, not really complaining.
My husband passed away last July, I had stayed awake during those last days, and my sleep hasn’t been “normal” since. Later got a prescription of Trazodone, then had a bad fall on a minor hike, and was told in the hospital that I blacked out before I fell. Spent two nights there, had a black and blue face, hurt like the devil, but tested out normal.
I had taken that med late that previous night, and took that hike before breakfast. Well, I learned from that! Too old to go on any hike by myself, etc. But I felt good, LOL.
I have not taken Trazodone since.
Am praying that the lack of sleep doesn’t affect my overall health, and so far my family doctor doesn’t seem worried.
I do wonder of long term effects.
Am I sticking my head in the sand?
Oh, I tried that Beam sleep drink, now drink some Chamomile tea and take 5 mg of Melatonin. Keeping out blue light, and used to listen to white noise.
Do think I’m doing pretty well, just hope - like I said above - that I’m not sticking my head in the sand.

Jump to this post

If you stick your head in the sand, you might go to sleep forever, so not a good idea........... 🙂

REPLY
dustycat52 | @dustycat52 | Aug 16 9:04pm
In reply to @cb3 "I've got a Fitbit that I have never used. I didn't know I could get a..." + (show)
@cb3

I've got a Fitbit that I have never used. I didn't know I could get a sleep score. Thanks. I'll look into that.

Jump to this post

I pay for premium on my Fitbit and I get a breakdown of my sleep.

REPLY
1 reply
HomeAgainLA | @llynch17056 | Aug 17 7:05am
In reply to @dustycat52 "I pay for premium on my Fitbit and I get a breakdown of my sleep." + (show)
@dustycat52

I pay for premium on my Fitbit and I get a breakdown of my sleep.

Jump to this post

Two things I check everyday are my weight (I enter it onto my Fitbit) and my Fitbit sleep information. Fitbit gives you a LOT of sleep info.

REPLY
1 reply
dustycat52 | @dustycat52 | Aug 17 12:12pm
In reply to @llynch17056 "Two things I check everyday are my weight (I enter it onto my Fitbit) and my..." + (show)
@llynch17056

Two things I check everyday are my weight (I enter it onto my Fitbit) and my Fitbit sleep information. Fitbit gives you a LOT of sleep info.

Jump to this post

I check my sleep daily also. Premium gives me more info than basic.

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