i am not sure if it is the ebb and flow or my adjustment over time, but I am getting more out of my sleep. Some nights I still only get three to five hours of broken rest, but within that time I have found relaxing myself has made the limted rest more restful.

There are still plenty of nights I have to get up and watch a show or two, maybe a movie, but I am also experiencing evenings where I get 6 or 7 hours of sleep with only 2 or three wake ups. I never have any straight through nights, not even on "crash" days. There is always a spasm or shooting pain that rouses me.

If you are having an impossible time sleeping at least for me I have been able to find some middle ground on rest. It is absolutely nothing like it was before this took over my life, but really what is? Not too much here.

Debi and any others interested, I do occassionally take 3 mg melatonin but have thankfully found myself able to reduce that from more often, almost daily, prior usage. I had a year or more where pn made sleep an impossible task, as much from discomfort as straight up pain.

If you can't sleep, Daredevil on Netflix is really good and The Wire on HBO is one of my favorites of all time. My absolute favorite TV show of all time is also on Netflix, Breaking Bad.

Jon

I take 1mg of Ativan nightly, for years. Otherwise I would almost never sleep.

Mine too!

It is far from an ideal relationship, but it is far better than the start of the summer or year. I am up and down constantly, but I've figured out how to make due on segmented sleep. I've also managed to work in some rather decent nights.

Last night I tried to skip tramadol before bed. I was up from 1-4 before I metaphorically had a V-8, took it and caught some more z's.

I wish, wish, wish I could watch TV or listen to the radio. When going through chemo I spent a lot of time in front of the TV and was hooked on some trials that were going on at that time.

Since SFN, TV and music irritates the pain for some reason. I want nothing on and no one talking....lol....easier said than done of the talking part with my 10 year old grandson around quite a bit

I have just recently MADE myself watch the new seasons of The Walking Dead and Once Upon A Time. The Walking Dead is filmed just up the road from us and my neighbor works on the carpentry end of those sets. I do love a good thriller/scary show and a lot of the scenes I recognize which is pretty cool you know ?

I watched the first 2 or 3 seasons of Breaking Bad and loved it but cannot remember why I quit watching it.

On the Melatonin I will not be using that again at any strength ! It brought my teenage years back to me up front and personal like

I'm thinking it was probably a reaction to something else I'm taking and need to look up the link mrsD sent to me on that. Surely if you could take one 5 mg Melatonin and get that kind of 'high' then every stupid kid in town would be using them.

I thank the good Lord that my pain meds (BuTrans 20 mcg/hr & oxycodone 10-325) don't affect me in that way. I'd be up the well known creek if it did !

Thanks for this thread Jon.....I have had quite a few bad pain days and mine also ebb and flow but the flow has been taking front and center. I always check out your posts and was glad to see this one and be able to respond.

My sweet grandson said "Grammy are you hurting bad ?" I said yes and he said "Well you just need to go and lay down now". These kids have been so caring and helpful to me through all of this as I know they are also dealing with their own feelings about losing their Bubba.

Take care y'all and have a good Sunday.

Debi from Georgia

I enjoy The Walking Dead, too. My favorite character was Hershel. Currently, Carol. I know many people find her behavior vile, but I think those same people give Rick a pass, which is odd.

Anyway, do not be a moral compass on The Walking Dead! It is a sure fire way to your end on the show.

He may have stayed around a little longer but he got one DUI while here filming. There may have been more I'm not sure. I loved his character too. I like Carol. She does what HAS to be done. Just in a different way from Rick.

Debi

For the past month I have been sleeping every other night (until last night but that's another story). For me sleep means getting up a few times to apply creams, use the bathroom, etc. I don't usually watch TV when this happens because for me that's a guarantee I won't sleep any longer. On the nights I can't seem to sleep I usually listen to one of the Meditation CD's that Icelander posted.

I LOVED Breaking Bad. Another that captivated me was "The Fall" on Netflix. I prefer lots of action in my binge watching when I need to be diverted from thinking unhelpful thoughts

Why would every other night become the norm? That is very nearly where I am going lately. I still reserve the right to take the Ambien back up. I can tell that my strength and stamina have taken a hit but I am not ready to throw in the towel yet. I have tried Melatonin and Benedryl with no luck. Was always a light sleeper. Once traveled by 18 wheeler from Okla to Calif and back to Okla before falling asleep. I am a novice at meditation so the old brain keeps me tossin and turnin. Could you tell me again that stuff, was it Natures Remedy? On to television, recently lost an uncle to Alzheimers and this uncle was soooo healthy. No coffee, tea, alcohol, would not even eat BBQ where they served beer!!!! Netflix has a Glen Campbell farewell tour entitled "I'll be me". His journey with Alzheimers is helping perhaps millions of people have an inside glimpse of this disease. Good Luck, Ken in Texas. P.S. Lyric of the day for Texas--"If it keeps on raining levee's gonna break" Led Zepplin

My norm sucks, sorry to say but I have never been a good sleeper. I am too tightly wound. I also will declare right here and now that I reserve the right to take Ambien back up! I do have a substantial stash for just that reason

I get you, I kicked the blankets on the floor. Turned my pillow upside down. The name of that stuff is "Rescue Remedy" by Bach Flowers.

Not to brag, I had a great night sleep last night. I wrote about it on the post "Had a great day." I think my lack of activity and joy have been affecting my symptoms. It's time to shake things up a bit. For now I'm humming another Zepplin song, Dancing Days are here again.... (I know it's not summer, just go with it.

Loved that show Breaking Bad. My all time favorite show besides the X Files.