Hi, CatLady!
I was serious about
singing you Happy Birthday!
Yes, after MUCH deliberation and angst, I finally quit my job. I was in Healthcare IT and also worked from home. Of course, leaving a "steady" (is anything really steady?) salary, healthcare benefits, retirement plan, a month of paid vacation, short-/long-term disability, and unlimited sick time was not easy. But, despite all that I was leaving, quitting still felt right. I felt it in my gut. For years.
I had grown to hate what the job had become, and, the general idiocy of Corporate America was just another layer of nonsense with which I was tired of dealing. So, in the end, the uncertainty of unemployment was less stressful than staying in a job that I felt was slowly killing me. The first two weeks was a bit challenging, but I now have very low stress. For now!
Also, no, I'm not on any sort of disability. I'm just living off cash that I saved. If things get bad, I have retirement funds that I can access, though I REALLY don't want to do so. At some point, I'll have to look for another "job," but I first need to figure-out what's wrong with me and how to get better.
Anyhoo...
As I've rented most of my life, I've lived in a lot of apartments across various cities and states. So, I completely understand about
the vibrational noise from your neighbor. High frequencies are generally easier to mute, but low frequencies are a real bear. I've long thought that apartments should be built on some sort of dampening material that would reduce/isolate vibrations, and, thus, noise. Of course, that would cost more money and apartment communities don't want to spend any more than necessary. My cousin and his family used to live in an apartment building that had concrete between the floors. He would blast his home theater system and never get complaints. That's the way to go!
Do you know your upstairs neighbor? Perhaps talking to him face-to-face would be a better idea? Maybe not necessarily doing it alone with just the two of you, but maybe in the rental office with the office manager there? Or, having the manager in another room, just in case you need her/him. Generally speaking, I think most people will be more empathetic and understanding, if they're able to see the other person as a real person with challenges, rather than someone who either bangs on the ceiling/walls/floor and/or calls the Police.
I'm thinking back to when I was married. My wife worked an evening shift and had to sleep during the day. We had a downstairs neighbor that would play loud, thumping music. I was in college at the time and came home in the afternoon and my poor wife was nearly in tears from lack of sleep. I tried pounding my foot on the living room floor a bit, but the lady downstairs turned-up the music louder. So, I climbed-up on the arm of the sofa, leapt into the air (we were on the third floor and had vaulted ceilings), and my 185-pound body landed in the center of the living room floor (the best place to land, due to no load-bearing walls) with a boom that sounded like thunder and the entire place shook like something had crashed into the building.
Naturally, that accomplished nothing. Today, of course, I would handle it completely differently.
Anyway, besides speaking to him face-to-face, you could always write him a letter. That way, you'd have time to get your thoughts on paper in a precise way, explain your situation, and ask for his help. He couldn't argue with a letter. Plus, it would give him time to absorb the information and think about
it.
The other thing I was thinking about
it perhaps you can get your Human Resources people at work involved in your request for a shift change. Perhaps having your Doctor write a letter and explain that it's required. Once you start involving your Doctor, Human Resources, and, perhaps, any other advocacy groups, maybe that will grease the wheels for you. My point, of course, is get people to help you. Don't do things all on your own, if you can help it. You need to reserve as much as your mental, physical, and emotional energy as possible.
With regard to sleep, it seems you were already waaay ahead of me. So, good for you in being so informed. But, of course, all that knowledge isn't helping much, given the construction noise, upstairs vibrational noise, the flipped work schedule, Lyme, and originally being a light sleeper, anyway. The deck is stacked against you, so that's why we need to get things reshuffled in your favor.
As for the hormone Melatonin, yes, I believe you're likely taking far too much. Based on what I've read by Richard Wurtman, MD, the proper dose is 0.3 mg. From what I've read, taking large doses of Melatonin can have the opposite effect of what's intended. Our Pineal Glands secrete small doses of Melatonin.
/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wurtman/smartdrugsmarts.com/episodes/episode-140-melatoninDr. Wurtman created a product called "Sleep Answer" that looked pretty cool. It's a "capsule-in-capsule" that delivers two doses of Melatonin at different times. The outer capsule releases the first 0.3 mg dose of Melatonin at bedtime. Then, three to four hours later, the inner capsule releases a 0.6 dose of Melatonin
/www.healthydirections.com/sleep-answeramzn.to/2oeTNlZBut, the product has "FD&C Blue Lake #2" and I try to avoid all artificial colors and flavors. The amount is likely low, but, still. If the Life Extension brand of time-release Melatonin doesn't work, I may try Dr. Wurtman's product.
It's currently 1:07 AM EST, so, technically, it's Sunday here. So,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!Sincerely,
The Dude