Sleeping issues

[Stringyj]

Hello everyone

My husband had a stroke in 2023, which left him without the use of his right side and very bad aphasia.

In short i have a sleep question but because my husband has communication issues i am not really sure of his answer.

My question to someone who has had a stroke and can communicate - he tells me he rarely sleeps at night and then when I think he sleeps through the day, he isn’t but just trying to get some sleep!

I think it might be that he does sleep but doesn’t feel the benefit of the sleep so he is tired a lot of the time and therefore thinks he’s not sleeping.

I understand the fatigue and I can in his face when that hits him.

Can anyone shed light on this please?

Thanks

Jan

[Bobbi]

can he use a keyboard?
is it feasible to communicate by messages on the screen.

After stroke many people tire easily so short sessions would probably be effort enough but perhaps worth a try.

[Stringyj]

Hi Bobbi

Sadly, no he can’t as yet. He’s telling me 25 but can’t quite get what units we are talking about. I have tried is it minutes but no.

We will get to the answer eventually but just wondered if anyone experienced the same sort of thinking you are not sleeping when maybe you are.

Thanks

Jan

[EmeraldEyes]

I know when I first had my stroke I didn’t sleep at all for most of the first year. Whenever my family mentioned I was asleep, I’d give them a thumbs up to let them know I wasn’t or if too tired to even think I’d just leave them believing I wasn’t.

That was 5 years ago. Nowadays I do manage to get 6-8 hours sleep but it took a few years to build up to that. And I’m currently stuck at not being able to get off to sleep before 4am. So if I have to be somewhere at around 9am then I only get about 4hrs sleep. And it doesn’t matter how much I do in the day, how many fitness classes or gardening, driving, I will never be tired enough to get to sleep before 4am

Hay-ho, it is what it is and we’re used to it now

Lorraine

[Dexster]

Sleep is elusive for me too, though I do get a few hours during the night now. I also spend many nighttime hours awake. I don’t sleep during the day.

[Stringyj]

Thanks for the response which did cause a lively discussion over breakfast.

TINATUS

Is the problem!!!

Phew!!!

Now I need to see what we can do about that!

Thanks everyone

Jan

[Stringyj]

Or i should say

TINNITUS

Whoops!

[pando]

@EmeraldEyes

not being able to get off to sleep before 4am

hi Lorraine ; I hear you and I used to be the same. You could try looking into phosphatidylserine to lower your cortisol levels. It helps me.

[EmeraldEyes]

Thanks I’ll look into that I’ve even tried going 24hrs without sleep to try and break the pattern but it didn’t work My circadian rhythm seems to be stuck on this new cycle.

Lorraine

Edit: After a quick look I’ve ruled it out as can lower blood sugar and I won’t risk that, as I’m type2 diabetic

[ManjiB]

Not sure if you have seen this already, but Dr. Michael Mosely has covered sleep and insomnia etc. on his podcast series. You may find it useful.

There are a few podcasts and programs on the BBC iPlayer, which you can find easily enough.

This link is for the first podcast in a series of 5 entitled “Sleep Well”

Sleep Well - Michael Mosley podcasts

[EmeraldEyes]

Thank you Manjib, I’ll look at them later

My sleep pattern is not really an issue high on my list to fix. But I am curious to see if I can get it to sleep earlier so I can wake up earlier. That would be nice…then maybe I could maybe pack more into my day

Lorraine

[Mrs5K]

I have tinnitus & it can become very intrusive. Ask for an ENT referral or one to audiology. If he also has some hearing loss which is usual with tinnitus they can give you a hearing aid which they told me reduces the tinnitus. I couldn’t have them as I have extra sensitive hearing. I do use an app on my phone called GN Resound when it is really bad. It plays different sounds which takes your mind off the tinnitus. There is a sound on there to suit everyone’s taste.