Sleep

Since sleep has been an issue for me for several months, actually, close to a year, it seems important to me to address it.

Until about a year ago, I went to bed, went to sleep and slept all night long most nights.  Some nights, I'd have to get up to go to the bathroom, but would always drop right back off when I got back in the bed.  When I started having issues with sleep, was about the time my hip issues were increasing.  I blamed my hip.  I thought it was waking me up every few hours and keeping me awake.  I still think there was some truth there.

Since surgery, and about 95% recovery, I expected to be able to sleep soundly once again.  It didn't happen.  As I mentioned in an early post, my gynecologist put me on some medication to help, which I promptly blamed for an unexpected weight gain.  

This particular medication can take up to four weeks to build up prior to becoming fully effective.  I have only been on it 10 days.  I am noticing some improvement and feel confident that, in time, I will return to my luxurious sleep patterns.

In the meantime, I still need rest.  I have implemented two changes that seem to have helped. First, I don't look at the clock anymore during the wakeful spells at night.  Seeing time tick by, makes me anxious and is counter productive.  Now, when I wake up, I roll over, or re-position myself as needed to be comfortable, go to the bathroom or whatever I need, but I do not check the time.  I feel like I'm falling back to sleep faster.  I can't prove it since I don't know, but I like the feeling.

Second, I don't set an alarm or require myself to be up at any certain time.  I am self employed and work from home so I have a little more freedom of action than most people.  Even though, I could email and call while wearing my jammies, I prefer to be dressed.  So, I don't schedule any appointments before 10:00.  That way, if I have a hard night, I don't have to stress about getting up and being coherent.  With this change, I am generally, awake at 7:15 to 7:30.

I'm probably going to keep both changes even as the medication improves sleep.  The first one may not matter then.  The second is largely psychological.  I don't care.  As long as it works!  Good quality sleep is a major factor in a healthy lifestyle.  I am glad things are moving in the right direction.