Extreme Measures

[Pretzlgl]

Just wondering from all of you night shift folk, if you have done anything extreme to make your sleeping room dark/quiet, etc. I have read the posts on sleeping after night shift - but I need the room extra dark & quiet. My husband calls me a vampire. (That's it, a coffin!) I will be starting graves soon so any advice would be great!!!

[Q.]

Originally posted by colleen10

I remember him saying that sunlight causes the melatonin in your system to react and causes you stay up. So, if you can not come into contact with daylight you will have a better time sleeping.

Yes, it was something like that. Sunlight causes a decrease of melatonin, therefore you stay up. Darkness causes an increase of melatonin. I remember reading that people who are blind and cannot regulate their melatonin levels d/t not being able to see light as well have taken melatonin to help.

I wish I could remember the source. Damn damn damn.

[emily_mom]

I come home, put on the Today show (since Matt Lauer cut his hair he doesn't keep me up anymore) and crash. I always leave it on all day so the phone or other annoying noises don't wake me up.

[BrandyBSN]

my doctor put me on 150mg of Trazadone (sp?). works ok for getting to sleep, but then I feel hung over the whole next day, so I usually dont take it. Tylenol PM, or if you dont have pain, benedryl works ok too. I turn on Regis and Kelly, and leave it on. I go to sleep pretty quick after work, it is going to sleep on my nights off that is difficult.

[jones58]

My husband is a correctional officer- works out of town. When he is at work he works doubles 2nd and 3rd shifts back to back for 5 days sometimes. When he comes home he is is exhasted, for about 2 days all he does is eat and sleep and eat and sleep. He works these doubles so he can be home for 5-6 days at a time, but I know that it is really bad for his health. He's been doing it for almost 4 years now. Its hard for him to adjust to our routine when he is home, most nights he is up all night.