What do you do during nights of no sleep?

Tonight ends the last day of my fentanyl patch. For me this means that today was a hard day and tonight will be pretty much sleepless. My meds for sleep aren't working, the house has quieted down around me, and even the cats are quiet. My sons were kind enough to bring the TV and DVD player in so that I can watch movies quietly, but many of them wake my fiance if I am not careful. We are not blessed with central air, so my sons are in the living room lying on the sofa bed in the air conditioning.

Tonight I make plans for the weekend camping trip. I can hardly wait for Friday night! We go about a half hour away for 3 days, 2 nights. I have many of the meals we will need prefrozen and ready to reheat. There are 2 that are strictly cooking, like bacon and eggs in a paper bag over the fire and pineapple upside down cake in a tuna can. I am checking my lists, fixing the grocery lists for coupons and sales to get the best bargains, and then when that runs out I will read and crochet.

I am just curious to see what others do on sleepless nights. This is always the hardest part of CP for me. The watching hours of the night in the stillness and silence. Early dawn becomes a comfort with the first bird song of the day greeting the gray light compared to the alone times of the night. Still, nighttime storms are always welcome to me, so that our garden grows more!

I hope that you are all sleeping sweetly and soundly.
Mindy

I eat (which is NOT good and I am trying to find ways to stop doing it), read, check my email, or sometimes turn the tv or portable dvd player (I use earphones so as not to wake my son) on for a bit. They all seem to put me back to sleep but I tend to wake up again after approx 30 min. It is a bit of a game each night. One thing that does help a bit is using ear plugs. Some days it really helps to block out extra noises and that makes it easier to go back and stay asleep.

It sounds like your camping trip is very well planned and you are going to have a fantastic time. I have never had bacon and eggs in a paper bag over a fire...it sounds amazing!

Hoping you sleep well tonight :)

Mindy

 

When I cant sleep i fire up the computer and look up different recipes.  I to have never heard of bacon and eggs in a paper bag.  I will have to look that one up and try it.  Thanks for the idea.

 

I dont turn on the tv because I dont have ear plugs or headset to tv so Hubby wakes up when he hears the tv.

 

I read a book, or I crochet.  Do you knint or crochet at all?  I make dishcloths and pot holders for on the table.

 

I have been having insomnia to.  I will check out the chat room.

 

Betsey

Chutz, I have trazodone for sleep and depression. Ambien, remeron, lunesta, all have the nasty habit of making me gain weight. I gained 30 pounds in 6 weeks and had not changed my diet. I was also a zombie during the day. All of my doctors agree to just continue trazodone. As for increasing the pain meds to stop that 3rd day of agony, again, I end up a zombie and still have pain on the 3rd day. My PM doc thinks my temperature runs higher than normal from the endometriosis and or RA, which causes the meds to release more quickly than on a normal temperature person. Its odd, but I would rather have 1 day in 3 be a bad day than be a zombie and not interact with my family. My insurance does not allow every 2 days.

Ah the camping.... I am so excited! The bacon and eggs in paper bags are easy. You spray water on the bag until it is damp, not wet. Cut bacon strips in half. Put the bacon on the bottom, 4-half strips per bag just until the bottom is covered. Roll the top of the bag down 3 times, spear onto a green stick or camping fork and cook over the fire. When the bag has bacon grease on the bottom, about halfway cooked bacon, break an egg on top of the bacon and continue to cook over the fire until the egg is done. If the bag begins to darken or smoke, spray with water again.

I also will cook baked potatoes this way by rubbing them in olive oil and sprinkle with salt, wrap in damp paper bags and put near the coals. If you have foil, place the potatoes in foil. There are so many easy ways to cook over the fire.

All good ideas and thank you for them. I use a sound machine for waves, white noise, rain, etc on my laptop sometimes. It doesn't always help.
Betsey, I do crochet! I make prayer shawls, wash cloths, socks and slippers, a little of everything. Currently I am working on the last of 6 silk shawls for my wedding. This one is all white silk....for me. The first thing I have ever crocheted for myself.

Glad we all have ways to busy ourselves on days of rest and or sleepless nights!

Hi Mindy. I love the idea that you are crocheting the silk shawls for your wedding. That's so cool. I've never saw silk crochet thread. I bet it has a wonderful feel while crocheting with it. I love to crochet, but all I know how to make are blankets, pot holders, the things you put on the back of the couch (can't think of the word). I would love to learn more, but my granny taught me how, and she passed away in 2005.

I take Seroquel to help me sleep. I am a nightowl. You can ask Michael (SE) about that lol. I wish you luck with finding something to help you sleep. You take care. I hope you're having a low pain night.

love and soft hugs
Loretta