RecentChange Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 (edited) Soooo dangerous. Drowsy drivers are just as bad as seriously drunk ones. Just because you are battling insomnia doesn't mean you are well rested nor have all your faculties fully functioning. Driving at night because you can't sleep well any way is a very bad and extremely dangerous idea. But either way driving while tired is just as bad as driving drunk - innocent people are killed by drowsy drivers all the time. If I was your friend, I would insist on doing all the driving. Letting a drowsy person drive is terrifying http://https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep-deprived_driving According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving is a factor in more than 100,000 crashes, resulting in 6,550 deaths and 80,000 injuries annually in the USA Edited December 3, 2019 by RecentChange 3 Link to post Share on other sites
jah526 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 I can sympathize. I have terrible insomnia too. Drive during the day but when you’re feeling drowsy pull off and take a nap. I frequently drive 3.5 hours away. I have started stopping whenever I feel the need - rest areas, Walmart parking lots, McD’s. Last time I did this I was feeling very sleepy about halfway through the trip so I pulled off and actually went to sleep for about 20 min. Sometimes helps to have engaging podcasts going too. Better yet, let your friend do the driving. Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 I've hauled both day and night, and did a lot of zero dark thirty towing back in the day when the races would finish at midnight and I'd get back home at 4-5am. Never crashed but nighttime driving, back then anyway, definitely was more tenuous than daytime driving. A lot of that has changed now with road design, reflective striping and lane markers, rumblestrips, etc. As an old guy, I did a couple of zero dark thirty hauls, close to eleven hour straight drives with fuel stops only, and it was 3-5 am that was the toughest, closely followed the last hour or so to the destination. Thank goodness for rumblestrips! They kept me awake and in my lane. IMO, in your situations, team driving, if mostly on the interstates/freeway system, pick what works best for the team. Switch off before getting tired/drowsy and keep plowing ahead, taking time for meal stops and hit the rest stops if you're both out of it. Even a 30 minute power nap can pop one up for a few more hours. I've done plenty of those. It's so nice to have rest stop options now. Back in the day I'd simply pull off in a wide spot or park on the side of a freeway on-ramp and sleep. Link to post Share on other sites
BaileyB Posted December 11, 2019 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Let's just say, I hope I don't meet you on the road when you are driving at night and you haven't slept for... My friend, that's not safe. Do everyone a favor and stay off the road if you are not well rested. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 I recall when they first started installing reflector clickers on the highways and painting a solid white shoulder line. Those were wonderful for night driving and helped immensely in low visibility. These days one needs to watch out for OTR drivers stretching their hours due to time/money pressures. I believe 8 is legal but they'll sometimes go over or fudge their sleep. I keep the CB on in the truck and tune the local trucker channel and will get on if I see one doing the well-known back and forth. The CB and flashing headlights usually does the trick. I've also found on long trips the caged cat keeps me awake too, she's always talking about something. Siamese are like that. Wind noise does better than a radio IME to fight insomnia if no pull over options are available. Usually the moment passes with the noise and rush of air (I still drive vehicles with wing windows) perks one up and holds it until a suitable pullover can be found. Everyone is different but I've noted being older it comes and goes quickly. Normal and alert one moment, then struggling the next then poof gone a few minutes later. Still, a good warning. Stop and recharge. Link to post Share on other sites
RecentChange Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 (edited) Carhill - I have done a lot of long trip / late night driving and hauling as well. Truck and trailer full of horses across the west. Non stop drives from San Francisco to Fort Collins CO. etc. That haul is 19 hours, and yes rolled down windows and singing to myself and a partner were all part of staying awake and alert. The difference though - I wasn't attempting to drive at night after long stints of insomnia. The OP has been describing insomnia that is so bad it's affecting is memory, he is turning to alcohol etc to try to tame it. In my book that's a bit different than driving long distances at night while getting healthy amounts of sleep regularly. Edited December 13, 2019 by RecentChange Link to post Share on other sites
CAPSLOCK BANDIT Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 I've had insomnia on and off for the past month or so, first time I have dealt with it in my life. The idea of getting behind the wheel during the day after I haven't slept for 24+ hours is quite frankly, retarded... I mean, we are in the dead of winter here in Alberta, the roads are icy as all hell and the drivers think because the posted limit is 60, they should just go 60, regardless of the conditions, but still... Also, I know here, driving while you have had a lack of sleep is actually considered DUI or driving under the influence and I would agree, its not far off from being drunk... Not to be rude OP, but I think you need to give your head a shake and think about all the other people on the road, rather than just yourself. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Oh okay, it's just it hasn't caused a problem with my driving so far, so I didn't think it was a problem for others so far. I'm tired, but since I can't fall asleep, it seems I won't doze off or anything. Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 One problem with chronic insomnia/sleep deprivation is the mind can begin to play tricks on us, even if we feel fully awake. I noted markedly when caring for a dementia patient whose days and nights were reversed. I remember one day wandering Home Depot not remembering how I got there or what I wanted there. Just walking the aisles and staring at stuff. I wasn't sleepy, rather fully awake but my memory was fried from chronic sleep deprivation. Pretty dark time. I heard similar recounts from other caregivers. No doubt others may have experienced similar, like the OP's persistent insomnia/ new parents, etc. Everything seemed to be OK then one day it all hit. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 Yeah and I've been having memory problems lately as well, and thought that was because of the insomnia. However, since I was laid off from my job about three weeks ago though, my sleep has been better. I was having stress in the job, but now the stress has lessened since, and the sleep has been better as a result. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted January 25, 2020 Author Share Posted January 25, 2020 I've been having trouble sleeping a lot, over the years, and I keep trying different herbal suggestions, but it seems a lot of it may be just BS in the end. My doctor says he really does want to push pills if can be avoided, but I am wondering, is there a reason why prescribed medication exists, cause it's the real deal compared to herbal, and maybe I shouldn't even bother with herbal anymore? Link to post Share on other sites
Foxhall Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 keep taking the herbal medicines, they will not give you the same overnight remedy as conventional pills, but they are much better for your system long term, and will boost you, taking the good herbs can help keep you in good working order, and avoid the need for the chemicals, prevention better than cure. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted January 25, 2020 Author Share Posted January 25, 2020 Oh okay. Perhaps I just haven't found the right herbal ones yet then too. Link to post Share on other sites
jspice Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 You’ve had this issue for a while. I hate it when doctors don’t consider alternatives when something is clearly not working for their patient. find another doctor who will work with you. Your insomnia is probably caused by anxiety and a few other things. I saw a psychologist for my issues but I also had a psychiatrist who prescribed medication for me to sleep and deal with anxiety and depression. its all good and well to take herbs but you’re not sleeping. You need to start taking control of your life. Tell your doctor you’d really prefer something to help you sleep. If they still refuse, get a second opinion. You need sleep to function. Link to post Share on other sites
elaine567 Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 4 hours ago, Foxhall said: keep taking the herbal medicines, they will not give you the same overnight remedy as conventional pills, but they are much better for your system long term, and will boost you, It really depends which herbal remedies he is taking as to whether they are good for him or not. There is no guarantee that just because they are "herbal" they are beneficial or harmless. Which herbal remedies are you taking, Ironpony? 2 Link to post Share on other sites
major_merrick Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Herbal remedies vary in their effectiveness from person to person. There's a bunch of non-prescription supplements and other stuff that you don't need a doctor to go get. You might try 5-HTP, melatonin, and St. John's Wort. Cheap and available OTC, and they can be taken together or separately. St. John's Wort and 5-HTP are more for mood issues, but for many people they have an affect that is calming enough to go to sleep. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Foxhall Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 (edited) Yes it would be important of course that you are taking the right herbs and not overtaking them particularly if they are in tincture liquid form which can be quite powerful, generally the tea type herbs can be taken more liberally in greater quantities, I myself take a camomile, nettle, marshmallow and parsley tea, mainly for the digestion I know previously I was on skullcap and oatstraw in a tincture form, these herbs are good for the complaint you mention here or have mentioned previously, not sleeping or insomnia, oatstraw might be a good one for you, you will likely only get the tincture from a herbalist though and like all medicines only take the tincture in small quantities!! Edited January 25, 2020 by Foxhall Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 read the fine print on the herbal remedy's bottle. It says something like "this product is not intended to cure or treat any disease or malady" that's all you need to know. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Most herbal medicines give me such side effects that I can't take them. The only two I've been able to take is turmeric and magnesium, and magnesium must be taken with food or it will make you sick. Fish oil makes me sick. There's been warnings on a lot of the herbal sleep aids. Truth is, if the ingredient is really useful, drug companies will use it to make something unless what they have is better. Benedryl will put you to sleep and it's had years and years and been found safe. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
major_merrick Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 2 hours ago, preraph said: Truth is, if the ingredient is really useful, drug companies will use it to make something unless what they have is better. Yes and no. Kind of hard to patent something that grows in the ground and is accessible to everybody, so there's limits to even Big Pharma's profit-making schemes. I think a lot of people are indoctrinated about how useful prescription drugs are. Many of them are just highly refined. Could do it with herbs too, if there was money in it. Just like any other medicine, herbal remedies are very individual. One size does not fit all, so you have to try things to find out whether they work for you or not. For me, most of the time what grows in my garden and what's OTC in the store works. There's a trial and error process to that.... more in depth than what's printed on a white label from the pharmacy. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 I know different things work for different people, that's for sure. Herbal stuff hurts my stomach. I'm good with turmeric, but I never could tell any difference taking it and may go off it and see if it makes any difference. Tired of taking so many pills. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted January 26, 2020 Author Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) Well a lot of times the herbal remedies will work at first, and then they wear off after taking them for a few days or few weeks. Right now I am on lavender and it worked for the first few days but not it's starting to wear off. Edited January 26, 2020 by ironpony Link to post Share on other sites
BC1980 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Always remember that herbal remedies are not regulated by the FDA, so you actually have no way of knowing what is in them or how much of the ingredient is in there. Herbal remedies can be useful though. I've taken lutein for a few years. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
lana-banana Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Just wanted to echo BC1980 above. While herbal supplements can and do work for a variety of issues, the supplement industry is completely unregulated and you have no idea how many pills actually contain the herbs versus just fillers. A study a few years ago found something like 2/3rds of supplements from a particular popular brand were mostly fillers. You can avoid this by getting herbal tea. As far as sleep goes, melatonin is effective in the short term but is not advised for long-term use because taking pills will interfere with your body's natural production of melatonin. Valerian is safe and effective for sleep, but it smells so bad it practically drives my husband out of the house. L-theanine and 5HTP work well for sleep too; I've taken them, usually as part of combination pills, so I couldn't tell you what's most effective. Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 On 1/25/2020 at 2:29 PM, preraph said: Benedryl will put you to sleep... Yes... If I go two nights with no sleep, I'll take one Benedryl tablet and I'll sleep soundly all night. I try not to depend on it, as I don't want to build up an immunity to it. But every so often I need a little help, so one tablet. I do wake up a little groggy/foggy from benedryl, but that is fixed with an extra cup of coffee. Link to post Share on other sites
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