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What do you do?

Posted by lrenee08 @lrenee08, Jul 20, 2023

What do you do in the immediate term when husband insists on going home at 2:00 am? He had trouble falling asleep last night and as frustration grows the adamant demands “to do home” increase. I understand this is common with some underlying physical discomfort, but could anyone share their strategies used at 2:00an?
Peace to you all.

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blessedinsd | @blessedinsd | Jul 20, 2023

When my husband gets up in the night to wander thru the house, I remind him it’s only 2 am and we can have coffee together at 5am. Do you want to come back to bed? He currently says yes. Otherwise we go to the family room, sit in the recliner, turn on the news and he immediately falls asleep.

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Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jul 20, 2023

@Irenee08. That must be so difficult for you! Just wondering if some playacting would work? When he says he wants to go home, say OK !, and get the car keys and tell him you’re going home. Drive around the block once or twice, and when you get home, be all excited about being home. Usher your husband into the house and say something like “boy, it’s great to be home”! Might be worth a try!
Think you could try it?

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2 replies
victorkach | @victorkach | Jul 21, 2023
In reply to @becsbuddy "@Irenee08. That must be so difficult for you! Just wondering if some playacting would work? When..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@Irenee08. That must be so difficult for you! Just wondering if some playacting would work? When he says he wants to go home, say OK !, and get the car keys and tell him you’re going home. Drive around the block once or twice, and when you get home, be all excited about being home. Usher your husband into the house and say something like “boy, it’s great to be home”! Might be worth a try!
Think you could try it?

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Good strategy to play along with it. At present, I don't even have to "get the car keys" and leave the home. But I will be ready to do that at 2 am should it come about. Just agreeing and going along with "going home" seems to calm and comfort my wife. I usually ask if we could watch a music video, like Andre Rieu, and watch and listen awhile, then we go back to bed.
To deal with broken sleep, I take a 20 minute midmorning nap and a mid afternoon short nap as well. This is a new paradigm but it is working.
Peace be with you.

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raebaby | @raebaby | Jul 22, 2023

My husband started sun downing. He ended up in the dirt, face down a quarter of a mile away. I found him. He was suffering from hypthermia and an ambulance took him to the hospital. He was sent home later that day.
I solved the sundowning problem by giving him 10 mg of Melatonin at 4 pm and another 10 mg at 9pm or 10 pm.The only time he sun downed again was when my son forgot to give him the first dose until 6 pm. He had no side effects from the Melatonin.

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teacher502 | @teacher502 | Jul 23, 2023

Question for raebaby....Did you start with 10 mg of melatonin or did you start with 5 and increase to 10mg? This sounds very practical to me and does not involve taking another drug. Thanks for sharing!
Jan

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pattyinal | @pattyinal | Jul 23, 2023
In reply to @becsbuddy "@Irenee08. That must be so difficult for you! Just wondering if some playacting would work? When..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@Irenee08. That must be so difficult for you! Just wondering if some playacting would work? When he says he wants to go home, say OK !, and get the car keys and tell him you’re going home. Drive around the block once or twice, and when you get home, be all excited about being home. Usher your husband into the house and say something like “boy, it’s great to be home”! Might be worth a try!
Think you could try it?

Jump to this post

This! Just do it! And you know what? This too shall pass! I honestly had forgotten that stage, because we had moved on to other issues before my husband moved on to our Heavenly home 11 weeks ago. I can’t tell you how many times we were riding around town at the midnight hour, but when we got home, he was content and soon went to sleep. I wonder what would happen if you were the one who, near bedtime, suggested going “home” because it’s late, take a short ride, and go to bed right away.
Right now, I might could enjoy another one of those midnight rides, if I were not so happy to know he is completely healed and in the presence of Jesus, saving me a place!🤗

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