Sometime during the summer I became afflicted with insomnia. Remember back to July, when we had four 100 plus degree days? Since we don't have air conditioning, it was hard to sleep and we had the house opened up for any draft of cool air. Our home is close the highway, where there was a continuous river of gravel and asphalt trucks. So I started having trouble in getting to and staying asleep.
My search for a non prescription solution brought me to an overnighter at the Salem Hospital Sleep lab last night. They attach a dozen or so electrodes to the corners of the eye, nose, mouth, head, chest and legs so they can monitor rapid eye lid motion, brain and heart activity and breathing. This seems a bit counter intuitive to me since my concern is not about how I sleep when I do sleep, but about not sleeping when I want to be asleep. Before dealing with the insomnia, however, the sleep clinic doctor checks for sleep apnea, hence the overnighter.
The wiring up process takes about 45 minutes. Then, just in case the doctor my want me to use one, I got to practice wearing a Cpap device for fifteen minutes or more. So, finally about 11:15 I got to lay down my weary head. The dr had prescribed a couple of sleeping pills. It turns out I didn't need them. The technician hints that I may be back with my own Cpap for another overnighter, so hang on to the medication. Sigh. And so far, no help with the insomnia.
Insomnia, as it turns out is very common in the US of A. So you dear reader may have experiences to share. Do you have an insomnia cure? Why not share it with us in the comments section.
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