[Blindtlk] ernestly seeking advice about sleep irregularities

[Gary Wunder]

Hi Robert. I have no idea whether my sleep problems are blindness related or 
not. When I went looking for solutions, blindness never crossed my mind, but 
I read a good bit now about circadian rhythms so perhaps blindness has 
something to do with it.

I am prescribed Ambien which is helpful though it does have side effects one 
has to weigh against its benefits.

I have no professional credentials in the field of medicine, but I suspect 
that if you are only getting three or four hours of sleep, it is better to 
treat so that you get more sleep then so you feel more awake during the day.

Warmly,

Gary



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert J Smith" <rsmith247 at csc.com>
To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 3:11 PM
Subject: [Blindtlk] ernestly seeking advice about sleep irregularities


> Hi all.  I am a person who is totally blind with prosthetic eyes.  You
> will see why I mention this right at the beginning later in this message.
> I am ernestly seeking advice from other totally blind persons who suffer,
> or have suffered from sleep irregularities.  I take Melatonin which helps
> the problem somewhat but it could be better.  Without Melatonin, I would
> sleep for two maybe three hours per night, wake up, and stay awake the
> rest of the night.  With Melatonin, I sleep about five hours a night but
> still get sleepy sometimes during the day.  Any ideas as to how I can
> improve my alertness during the entire day?  Cafinated coffee doesn't do
> it.  I can sit and yawn and get drowsy while drinking it.  I take one
> Melatonin tablet at night.  Should I possibly take two?  Should I take
> something to keep me alert during the day instead of focusing on the
> night?  I am open to all suggestions!  Of course I know that nobody can
> prescribe anything on this list.  I have heard that blind persons who have
> no light perception have been known to have sleep irregularity problems.
> This seems to follow with me because when I was a kid I had light
> perception.  I would sit in front of a lamp in my bedroom when doing my
> homework first to be just like my sighted younger brother when he did his
> homework, second because I liked actually seeing something since I had
> both real eyes at that point.  When I was a kid, I did not have sleep and
> alertness troubles.
>
> Thanks much in advance,
>
> Robert Smith
>
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