I have been waking up between 4-4:30 for nearly a week. I am tired when I head to bed and have been trying to stay awake during the day. Well it doesn't seem to be working. I have been told by the cardiac rehab nurse to take Tylenol PM and after talking to the pharmacist, he told me that the ingredient in Tylenol PM is benadryl and that it shouldn't be a problem.

Has anyone taken sleeping aids and if so which one which worked well. I am afraid that it may have the opposite effect on me and make me wired for sound. Anyone???

Lucy

I had the same problem -- I was told by my OB-GYN it was menopause... Not something I wanted to hear. Anyway, I tried an organic night time tea. Worked for me and was ok'd by my cardio. There is also a Sleepy Time Tea.

I don't like to take anything either, but the tea got me through my hump. I also learned at interrogation that I was having runs at VT at the same time of the night....

Oh My Gosh, so my waking every night at 3:30 is menopause ? I guess in my case it would be womenopause.

There actually is a point to my smart a$$ remark, perhaps it's not related to menopause. I know enough other heart patients who struggle with sleep to indicate (Allbeit anectdotal) there may be a correlation to heart disease and chronic sleeplessness.

Lucy,

I asked my cariod and he suggested Benedryl.... it works and keeps my nose from running. You can get the generic at any Walmart for about 4 bucks for a bottle of 100. Make sure to ask him if you can do this, and if so it works well.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Say it ain't so!!!

Mark......that is what i was told as well, but was a little afraid to take it. I'm a big chicken and hate taking new stuff for fear that it will do something 'NEW' for me to be worried about. I'm a nutcase......don't hate!!!

Lucy

Edwinn,

You totally crack me up "WOMANOPAUSE!!!". I love your humor. Maybe when I wake up at 4 am you can come and perform comedy at the foot of my bed. Wouldn't that be a hoot. Would keep my mind off of everything that runs through it.....that has no place in there at that time of the morning!! Sheesh!

Lucy

Lucy ~ I might as well entertain you too, everytime I get in bed with my wife she just laughs hysterically. Something about assualt with a dead weapon

Edwinn.......bad bad boy! You are funny. How does your wife put up with you?????

I too have same problem, interesting enough I had a sleep study and when I woke at 4am they said I had tachycardia. When I wore a monitor before my icd, it picked up vtach at 4:10am. They told me 4am is REM sleep time. No clue or answer for you but I can relate.
Anita

Anita....that is very interesting. I will certainly pay attention and may just have to see about the sleep study. Where was your study performed??? I have had added stress in my life and for some reason that seems to be the time I have been waking up on a regular basis and then my mind won't shut down and I am awake until the alarm which is 6 am. I try and try to go back to sleep to no avail.

Ambien...works like a top. Been takin it for years as I could not sleep thru the PVC's.

Tom

I have found, after years of study, that 3 shots of Jack Daniels Black Label, a half hour before bedtime, will make you sleep like a baby all night.

Allen

Oh Allen.......I would be comatose!!! How I miss my dirty martini's though

Ahhh alchohol. I have a special place in my heart for vodka martinis. sigh.

I have to take it easy now though... if I have one to many or one and a heavy meal I am up all night. If I don't have enough I am up around 3 AM. It is a struggle, but I keep trying that happy balance of vodka and sleep.