Please help with sleep problems

..hi JK, well I had a tooth out Dec 27 and now a tiny piece/sliver of bone is coming through gum so don't have much choice, but in between "lockdowns" I did go for teeth cleaning 3 months ago and I think that wasn't really wise.... because being exposed to and having instruments put in our mouths that have been shared..... don't want to deter you, and I went ahead but not sure if I will go for the February cleaning. My daughter is going for cleaning tomorrow but as an adult its her decision. At least you have had one vaccination but we haven't even got the meds in our town yet.... so even the dentists haven't had them. In between visits about once every 2 weeks I take a little bit of baking soda and a wet toothbrush and dip wet brush in powder and very slowly brush my teeth... not sure if you have tried it... might be some hints on Internet... don't use it dry as can scratch gums etc. but my teeth feel cleaner after. I mainly used to go for the clean as the dentists would then check for cavities etc. As we have not had a lot of covid cases here I notice precautions aren't taken as much: my first visit to dentist last Fall they had masks and shields on.... now just masks.... so yes we have to weigh the risks and make decisions. (Before treatment they make us rinse mouth with quite strong antiseptic ... but as we know, the virus can be breathe in, or even enter our eyes: so whatever decision you make I hope it turns out safely) JS

..hi JK, well I had a tooth out Dec 27 and now a tiny piece/sliver of bone is coming through gum so don't have much choice, but in between "lockdowns" I did go for teeth cleaning 3 months ago and I think that wasn't really wise.... because being exposed to and having instruments put in our mouths that have been shared..... don't want to deter you, and I went ahead but not sure if I will go for the February cleaning. My daughter is going for cleaning tomorrow but as an adult its her decision. At least you have had one vaccination but we haven't even got the meds in our town yet.... so even the dentists haven't had them. In between visits about once every 2 weeks I take a little bit of baking soda and a wet toothbrush and dip wet brush in powder and very slowly brush my teeth... not sure if you have tried it... might be some hints on Internet... don't use it dry as can scratch gums etc. but my teeth feel cleaner after. I mainly used to go for the clean as the dentists would then check for cavities etc. As we have not had a lot of covid cases here I notice precautions aren't taken as much: my first visit to dentist last Fall they had masks and shields on.... now just masks.... so yes we have to weigh the risks and make decisions. (Before treatment they make us rinse mouth with quite strong antiseptic ... but as we know, the virus can be breathe in, or even enter our eyes: so whatever decision you make I hope it turns out safely) JS

Anyone purchased a bed that raises the head? I can't sleep!! I am like a zombie. I am tired all the time. I have many problems but no sleep is definitely not helping! I watch TV in the evening. I go to bed. Then I am awake! So, I turn on TV in bedroom. I like the Golden Girls and they are on until one am, still can't sleep. Watch Frazier. May go to sleep three or four o' clock. Dry mouth. Have to pee about ten times a night. No sleep. Go to sleep. Up in half hour to go to bathroom. I actually went to sleep on the commode and went flying into the side of the tub at great speed and hit top of my head--neck hurt for weeks and weeks. Four days later, had x-ray. Had a fractured continuous process on C-4 in neck. Very painful! Purchased online a commode chair for bedroom at price of $310. Shower/commode chair on wheels. Arrived by UPS. Shipping charges. Purchased belt to go around me on chair. When it arrived, husband unpacked, very large, made for jolly green giant! If I used it, I would have to scoot way back to even line up with pot. Had to send it all back. The belt was so hard to open, I would have been stuck on it until husband woke up. He's a good sleeper. I have sleep apnea, can't wear machine--can't breathe thru nose. So, I'm back to square one. Have a terribly dry mouth, also. Tried Biotene until I read it contains parabens. I read a long time ago and wrote it down in a journal that it is cancer causing. So, even though it worked, I don't want to use something that causes cancer. If anyone read this all the way through, thank you. God bless you all. We thank Him for all he has done and all he is going to do.

@lacy2 Have you thought to ask your dentist and hygienist to wear a face shield and mask when treating you? Most are very accommodating. I explained to my hygienist about being immunocompromised, she was so helpful. They even changed one appointment because another staff person had a very bad cold. I hate to skip dental visits because oral health is so important especially when my immune system isn’t the greatest. It sounds like you’re doing a great job with the baking soda. My oncologist had me using a salt and soda rinse as a mouthwash. Kept the whole mouth clean and free of germs.

..hi JK, well I had a tooth out Dec 27 and now a tiny piece/sliver of bone is coming through gum so don't have much choice, but in between "lockdowns" I did go for teeth cleaning 3 months ago and I think that wasn't really wise.... because being exposed to and having instruments put in our mouths that have been shared..... don't want to deter you, and I went ahead but not sure if I will go for the February cleaning. My daughter is going for cleaning tomorrow but as an adult its her decision. At least you have had one vaccination but we haven't even got the meds in our town yet.... so even the dentists haven't had them. In between visits about once every 2 weeks I take a little bit of baking soda and a wet toothbrush and dip wet brush in powder and very slowly brush my teeth... not sure if you have tried it... might be some hints on Internet... don't use it dry as can scratch gums etc. but my teeth feel cleaner after. I mainly used to go for the clean as the dentists would then check for cavities etc. As we have not had a lot of covid cases here I notice precautions aren't taken as much: my first visit to dentist last Fall they had masks and shields on.... now just masks.... so yes we have to weigh the risks and make decisions. (Before treatment they make us rinse mouth with quite strong antiseptic ... but as we know, the virus can be breathe in, or even enter our eyes: so whatever decision you make I hope it turns out safely) JS

Hi, Lacy. My experience re dentist....I've been in and out of illness and hospital for a several years, helping my adult son as well, so I'd not put emphasis on my teeth, even tho I was aware they needed upkeep and maintenance.

Well, the good Lord pushed me into getting the help I needed with my own health and I went to Mayo in 2019. He was so right, naturally. I began to get better and stronger...then, when I lost a crown, "bit the bulllet" and went to the dentist. $15,000, lots of visits and a year later, my teeth are happy, look so much better, feel much better.

I had 5 teeth pulled for Goodness Sakes!!!! and a bridge and several crowns! Had no idea how much needed to be done to catch up until the old crown fell off, then the 2nd one broke when I was eating yogurt!

All the work done for so many years w as very old and wearing out. And, with the added health issues, my poor teeth were suffering. So was my health, from my teeth!!! now, they're 'soooooo purty'! They look good, feel good, I eat better, and all the unhealthy things are gone from my mouth and from my bloodstream....

So, I suggest being oh, so careful, but not to the point of harming myself. My dentist office sent out covid info, their own instructions and suggestions to the patients, and were extremely cautious. They were protecting themselves and families, the business from liabilities as well as the patients. They were and are very 'sterile', very careful and I shared my health concerns.

Go for the best for you. I did and went to the dentist. I'm so much happier, even much prettier!!!, and much, much poorer. (Sleep better, too!)

Blessings all. Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, So sorry to hear! Luckily I have had good teeth for 75 years! I've only had one tooth removed because I bit into a piece of metal in a diner. It was Truly one of the most Barbaric things I have ever had done! Because there was no one to drive me home I had to be awake!
I would rather have 10 colonoscopies done without being put under than a tooth removed!
You are a Hardy and Blessed Soul!
Sundance(RB)

Lacy, What time zone are you in? Ah, yes switching "Old People" off of Drugs! Interesting! About six or so years ago my old PCP retired! I got his Little "Hostess Twinkies" for my PCP. First thing she saw and said I would have to do is go off the Ambiem!! I was to go on a "Safer" Drug for "Old People"! Non-habit forming Drug! And all the other BS! Without tapering off the Ambiem I'd been taking for quite a few years!
I was on a 5-day business trip the next week, within about two days I was having 24/7 headaches and other withdrawals and reactions to the new drug! I recognized part of what was going on and quit the new drug! By about the fourth day the headaches were getting but still not great. I emailed the new PCP and told her how I was feeling ! She told me to stop taking it which I already had!! Drove home with the help of some Ibuprofen! For the first time in my life I got pulled over for speeding by a County Sheriff and didn't argue with him! Just told him to write the ticket and let me get home!
Felt better the next day, matter of fact went skiing with my daughter and grandson! Felt Great. That night at some point I got out of bed and walked to the stairs and did a dive! Nobody can answer why except maybe I had a seizure or some kind of blackout. Anyway went all the way down and did a face plant on the tile floor! The stairway looked like a scene from a Dateline Murder show with blood everywhere!
At some point I looked in the mirror downstairs and saw blood all over me!
Went back to bed and my wife asked me about an hour later why I was fidgeting! I said I had fallen not knowing what had happened! Turned on the light and my pillow was red! Long story short went to the ER, they patched me up and sent me home! !0 days later I started having seizures! The called the paramedics and transported me to the hospital where I had one last seizure! It was the last thing I remembered for 7 days! They had not spotted the brain bleed in the ER! What's called a TBI, aka Traumatic Brain Injury!
That was when I learned to get in doctors faces! It's my body, and I'm in charge! I am not afraid of firing one if I don't think they have my best interest at hand instead of what the administration tells them.
I have an Old time Geriatric doctor now as my PCP. He and I talk over what I need, and we go from there! In our state we have certain regulations that must be followed. Like urine test every six months and cannot fill the script before 3 days before it is due!
Even with the Ambiem I still have issues if I am having an Episode of either Lyme or Fibromyalgia! Especially if I have pushed myself to hard!
I've learned over the last half of my life to understand what my body is telling me!
So there is my 1,000-word essay!! Don't suppose it's gotten any warmer where you are! We have a heat wave going on here 43 degrees!
My Momma Red Healer just came in my office to tell me it's time for me to go to bed!
Have a Good nights rest!
Sundance(RB)

@lacy2 Minus 20°? I presume that's centigrade but even with the translation to Farenheight, it's -4°. Brrrrrrrrr, where do you live? I don't think I could deal with it being that cold. Here in southern NH it's 27° right now, I am thinking it may be too cold for an outdoor walk.

Taking something to sleep may well be the lesser of two evils. I discussed that with my PCP in the autumn because I sometimes take Benadryl for sleep and she said it was better to take that if I needed it to sleep than to not get enough sleep. I more often use a 3mg melatonin but sometimes I can tell I need more than that so I take Benadryl instead, not with melatonin.
JK

Hi, Lacy. My experience re dentist....I've been in and out of illness and hospital for a several years, helping my adult son as well, so I'd not put emphasis on my teeth, even tho I was aware they needed upkeep and maintenance.

Well, the good Lord pushed me into getting the help I needed with my own health and I went to Mayo in 2019. He was so right, naturally. I began to get better and stronger...then, when I lost a crown, "bit the bulllet" and went to the dentist. $15,000, lots of visits and a year later, my teeth are happy, look so much better, feel much better.

I had 5 teeth pulled for Goodness Sakes!!!! and a bridge and several crowns! Had no idea how much needed to be done to catch up until the old crown fell off, then the 2nd one broke when I was eating yogurt!

All the work done for so many years w as very old and wearing out. And, with the added health issues, my poor teeth were suffering. So was my health, from my teeth!!! now, they're 'soooooo purty'! They look good, feel good, I eat better, and all the unhealthy things are gone from my mouth and from my bloodstream....

So, I suggest being oh, so careful, but not to the point of harming myself. My dentist office sent out covid info, their own instructions and suggestions to the patients, and were extremely cautious. They were protecting themselves and families, the business from liabilities as well as the patients. They were and are very 'sterile', very careful and I shared my health concerns.

Go for the best for you. I did and went to the dentist. I'm so much happier, even much prettier!!!, and much, much poorer. (Sleep better, too!)

Blessings all. Elizabeth.