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Weighted blankets (calling all insomniacs) (1 Viewer)

gianmarco

Footballguy
So, thanks to @jb1020and his post here, I decided to get one for my wife as she's been struggling with insomnia the last few months.

The weighted blanket has been an instant game changer for her. And even though I sleep relatively well, I still toss and turn a good bit and decided to try it myself. First couple nights were rough getting used to it, but last couple have been amazing.

So, if you or your partner have any struggle with sleep, I would recommend considering one of these.

This is the one we went with. Reviews were pretty solid.

Make sure you get the right weight for whoever is going to use it if you get one (roughly 10% of your body weight).

Here's a recent quick article on it.

 
I use one because of my ADD, and my daughter uses her own for the same reason, they’re amazing. The one drawback is that I’m kind of isolated from my wife who doesn’t use it, but it’s an easy workaround.

 
I got one for Xmas and it is great. I recommend you get one for each individual though, not for a couple.

The ones for couples are huge and very heavy. Momma's gonna be burning up while Daddy is cold. Let each person control their own heat with their own blanket.

 
I used one for a while and it was amazing, but I stopped. After a few months it wasn't having the same initial effect. That and I toss and turn a lot at night and so it was almost like a work out sleeping with that thing on. 

I recently started taking melatonin. 3 MG a night. It is absolutely amazing. Now I'm wondering about melatonin and the weighted blanked.... Hmmmm....

 
So, thanks to @jb1020and his post here, I decided to get one for my wife as she's been struggling with insomnia the last few months.

The weighted blanket has been an instant game changer for her. And even though I sleep relatively well, I still toss and turn a good bit and decided to try it myself. First couple nights were rough getting used to it, but last couple have been amazing.

So, if you or your partner have any struggle with sleep, I would recommend considering one of these.

This is the one we went with. Reviews were pretty solid.

Make sure you get the right weight for whoever is going to use it if you get one (roughly 10% of your body weight).

Here's a recent quick article on it.
My wife ordered that same one last night. She got a smaller one for Xmas and liked it a lot so I will inherit that one.

 
I used one for a while and it was amazing, but I stopped. After a few months it wasn't having the same initial effect. That and I toss and turn a lot at night and so it was almost like a work out sleeping with that thing on. 

I recently started taking melatonin. 3 MG a night. It is absolutely amazing. Now I'm wondering about melatonin and the weighted blanked.... Hmmmm....
She's doing the same.

 
Got a cooling one fir my Birthday back in October, I love it 
Sounds like a good combination. Downside to regular ones is they make you warm enough where it counteracts the effect. I open the window enough where I can sleep in a cooler atmosphere, but some might not like that.

 
I used one for a while and it was amazing, but I stopped. After a few months it wasn't having the same initial effect. That and I toss and turn a lot at night and so it was almost like a work out sleeping with that thing on. 

I recently started taking melatonin. 3 MG a night. It is absolutely amazing. Now I'm wondering about melatonin and the weighted blanked.... Hmmmm....
I have tried both. The melatonin worked for a while and now I don't think it helps much. Same for the weighted blanket. I have used them together for about 6 months now and I'm not seeing great results.

 
I use one because of my ADD, and my daughter uses her own for the same reason, they’re amazing. The one drawback is that I’m kind of isolated from my wife who doesn’t use it, but it’s an easy workaround.
My daughter has one for the same reason.  My wife “doesn’t use one” but instead sleeps under 5 blankets at once.  
 

edit to add:  daughter also takes low dose melatonin and it has been game changing 

 
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I have apnea and nerve issues. Melatonin makes me toss and turn for 30 minutes, followed by waking up wide awake 4 hours after I wake up.

 
Wife bought one like 6 months ago.  Made me trip balls in my dreams for a week or so.  Also I sleep kinda hot, so that wasn't great.  In the winter,  it's been pretty good. 

 
Timely topic for me.  I had horrible insomnia for awhile.  Don't really know what started it but it got bad.  I'd fall asleep for a few hours, wake up at 1 or 2am, then not be able to go back to sleep for hours.  Many times I'd fall back asleep at 6 for about 30 minutes and then have to get up.  Complete zombie.  Now throw a ton of travel in with multiple time zones, big presentation in the morning and not being able to go to sleep.  I then got completely anxious about not being able to get sleep.  I went into some meetings with zero sleep.  Not sustainable.  Tried Ambien, didn't like it.  Doctor prescribed Temazepam which in my opinion has worked perfectly for me.  Took 1 pill an hour or so before bed and by the time I put my head on the pillow I was out within 30 minutes.  I didn't get anxious because I knew I'd fall asleep (and it's an anti-anxiety med).  Normally I sleep straight through the night and wake up fresh as a daisy in the am.  If anything I get up to pee at 5 or 6 but go right back down. 

I'd rather not be on any meds.  Melatonin, teas and other remedies helped a teeny bit but didn't work for me.  To me I'm getting good sleep.  That has to be healthier than not getting sleep.  I don't know the long term impacts.  Am I increasing my risk for dementia? Not sure.  The kicker is I have a new primary care doc who I really like. Referred by a friend.  Previous doc went to concierge medicine at 3K a year + insurance costs.  No thanks.  I gave my new doc my medication list with our introductory telehealth visit.  But when I called in to get the Temazepam refilled he hit the brakes.  Schedule 1 drug.  Horrified that my previous doc would have me on the dose he did for as long as I've been on it.  Wants me to see a sleep specialist and potentially a psychiatrist (that would be an interesting session) to get a second opinion that I would need to be on the drug at all.  Said he would continue the prescription because he was worried if I stopped cold turkey I could have a seizure or something.  But he cut the dose in half (so far I don't notice any difference - sleeping well).  Said "I'll never give my patients enough to be hooked".  It was really eye opening.  I never even thought of it that way.  I had horrible sciatica where I needed multiple epidurals and I took pain pills for about 3 days before stopping.  I could see how one gets hooked on those and it scared me.  But I never thought about it for a sleeping aid.  I've never abused it.  Never taken more than 1.  Never upped the dose.  But if I'm running out or can't get it refilled I do get anxious.  That's how much I hate not getting sleep.  So maybe I am addicted.  Anyway, gonna sort it all out in the next few weeks.  Will start with a sleep study. 

 
Nobody I know sleeps well anymore. I wake up every two hours now.  Zquil with melotonin 2 hours before bed though does work for me when I know 
   I have to get rest.

 
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Judge Smails said:
Timely topic for me.  I had horrible insomnia for awhile.  Don't really know what started it but it got bad.  I'd fall asleep for a few hours, wake up at 1 or 2am, then not be able to go back to sleep for hours.  Many times I'd fall back asleep at 6 for about 30 minutes and then have to get up.  Complete zombie.  Now throw a ton of travel in with multiple time zones, big presentation in the morning and not being able to go to sleep.  I then got completely anxious about not being able to get sleep.  I went into some meetings with zero sleep.  Not sustainable.  Tried Ambien, didn't like it.  Doctor prescribed Temazepam which in my opinion has worked perfectly for me.  Took 1 pill an hour or so before bed and by the time I put my head on the pillow I was out within 30 minutes.  I didn't get anxious because I knew I'd fall asleep (and it's an anti-anxiety med).  Normally I sleep straight through the night and wake up fresh as a daisy in the am.  If anything I get up to pee at 5 or 6 but go right back down. 

I'd rather not be on any meds.  Melatonin, teas and other remedies helped a teeny bit but didn't work for me.  To me I'm getting good sleep.  That has to be healthier than not getting sleep.  I don't know the long term impacts.  Am I increasing my risk for dementia? Not sure.  The kicker is I have a new primary care doc who I really like. Referred by a friend.  Previous doc went to concierge medicine at 3K a year + insurance costs.  No thanks.  I gave my new doc my medication list with our introductory telehealth visit.  But when I called in to get the Temazepam refilled he hit the brakes.  Schedule 1 drug.  Horrified that my previous doc would have me on the dose he did for as long as I've been on it.  Wants me to see a sleep specialist and potentially a psychiatrist (that would be an interesting session) to get a second opinion that I would need to be on the drug at all.  Said he would continue the prescription because he was worried if I stopped cold turkey I could have a seizure or something.  But he cut the dose in half (so far I don't notice any difference - sleeping well).  Said "I'll never give my patients enough to be hooked".  It was really eye opening.  I never even thought of it that way.  I had horrible sciatica where I needed multiple epidurals and I took pain pills for about 3 days before stopping.  I could see how one gets hooked on those and it scared me.  But I never thought about it for a sleeping aid.  I've never abused it.  Never taken more than 1.  Never upped the dose.  But if I'm running out or can't get it refilled I do get anxious.  That's how much I hate not getting sleep.  So maybe I am addicted.  Anyway, gonna sort it all out in the next few weeks.  Will start with a sleep study. 
Have you checked for apnea?  I have a mild case but gosh darnit was it the cause of a lot of issues even mild.   I still do what you do on occasion. I'll fall asleep, wake up 30 minutes later wide awake (even with my device) and then wide awake for 3 hours

 
Have you checked for apnea?  I have a mild case but gosh darnit was it the cause of a lot of issues even mild.   I still do what you do on occasion. I'll fall asleep, wake up 30 minutes later wide awake (even with my device) and then wide awake for 3 hours
I honestly don't want to know because I don't want a freakin' CPAP machine.  Good news is I'm in better shape.  Wife says I don't snore unless I'm on my back and neck is propped up a certain way.  She nudges me, I roll over, end of any snoring.  I also had a deviated septum that made it hard to breathe for awhile but surgery fixed that.  I have open airways now.  But I know if the sleep study says I have apnea I'll have to go with the program.  I know it's not good to avoid dealing with it.  My issues are mental.  I can't fall asleep.  Try every trick in the book.  No electronics, read, whatever.  Wife is sound asleep.  I stay awake getting close but don't fall asleep.  For hours.  Get up, walk around, try to reset.  The longer I don't fall asleep the more anxious I get about not being able to.  I just hate even thinking about it.  Like I said, with Temazepam I don't think I have a problem.  Sleep like a baby and life is better.

 
Wife got one when they first came out. Now we have to drag that heavy MF’er along with us whenever we go anywhere.  :wall:

 
So, thanks to @jb1020and his post here, I decided to get one for my wife as she's been struggling with insomnia the last few months.

The weighted blanket has been an instant game changer for her. And even though I sleep relatively well, I still toss and turn a good bit and decided to try it myself. First couple nights were rough getting used to it, but last couple have been amazing.

So, if you or your partner have any struggle with sleep, I would recommend considering one of these.

This is the one we went with. Reviews were pretty solid.

Make sure you get the right weight for whoever is going to use it if you get one (roughly 10% of your body weight).

Here's a recent quick article on it.
Pretty much same story here. Wife has used one for a couple years now and swears by it. I got a cheap one from Target maybe a month ago and it’s helped keep me asleep.  Big fan.  

 
Going to look at these for my 10 year old who gets very anxious at night and can't sleep. For some reason he gets super anxious if my wife falls asleep before him, so he lays in bed calling out to see if she is still up, which leads to him not going to sleep, etc. 

 
We've since gotten two more.  Wife went with the cheaper off brand versions and they don't compare at all to the Ugg brand ($100) I got from Bed Bath & Beyond.  We still fight over that one.  

 
i do not use it for insomnia but i use it for cold weather camping i put it on top of my doubled up sleeping bag rig and have been just fine even well below freezing take that to the bank brohans  

 
As a recovering insomniac, a few things were life changing for me: almost daily exercise, reading “how to stop worrying and start living” and practicing methods from the book, periodic meditation, prayer, and practicing living in the moment (read “how to train a wild elephant.”

 
As a recovering insomniac, a few things were life changing for me: almost daily exercise, reading “how to stop worrying and start living” and practicing methods from the book, periodic meditation, prayer, and practicing living in the moment (read “how to train a wild elephant.”
I want to fall asleep but this seems like a lot of work. 

 
No. Wife has one and she says she likes it but I chuckle ever night watching her try and wrestle it around. Admit it, it makes you fall asleep because you're plumb tired wrestling with it.  

 
Have had off and on bouts of insomnia. I have gotten into a pattern where I sleep with a pillow on my chest that I use to prop up a kindle and have just gotten used to that so I do like the extra weight. Was thinking about these weighted blankets and am going to purchase one from this thread. 

For medication I have to respond because of the almost identical story to @Judge Smailswith the travel and some work issues exacerbating the issue. I looked to medication. Had the reverse reaction to his meds though - Ambien worked well for me. My doc moved on and the new one, just like Judge was surprised that I had been given Ambien for years. He gave me a script for it but said I should reconsider it’s long term use and also gave me the Temazepam (sp?). I didn’t have good experience with that one.

I let the Ambien script expire and tossed the Temazepam one.

Judge I have since given Melatonin another try and it has been working well along with my normal habits I have developed to counter the insomnia. Maybe give it another shot for a few nights. 

No clue if this will work when life returns to normal. 

 
It's just so damn hot here on the surface of the sun, I mean San Antonio. I'd likely wake up in a puddle sleeping under one of these things. And not just because I couldn't wrestle out from under it in the middle of the night to pee.

 
Interested. I don't sleep well at all anymore. Might want to try one of these. 
I've heard, although anecdotally, that exercise helps with this. Have you considered taking up jogging? I've heard good things about it, especially heavier, lethargic people such as yourself. There is a thread on here someplace where fellow joggers commiserate about their jogs, weather, shovels, all sorts of fun topics a low metabolism person such as yourself would benefit from. I encourage you to look it up and maybe dip your toe in the water.

 
We got one fit my five year old son. He also has one of those super tight sheets (maybe compression?) that all work to essentially hold him still. It’s been effective. 

 
I've heard, although anecdotally, that exercise helps with this. Have you considered taking up jogging? I've heard good things about it, especially heavier, lethargic people such as yourself. There is a thread on here someplace where fellow joggers commiserate about their jogs, weather, shovels, all sorts of fun topics a low metabolism person such as yourself would benefit from. I encourage you to look it up and maybe dip your toe in the water.
Ok, thanks. I'll mosey over there and maybe try that out.

I'm also thinking of taking up golf again for a little exercise.  I haven't played in awhile but love the game. There is nothing more relaxing than a leisurely walk around a golf course. I like to walk instead of ride, so should be able to really get some good calorie loss there. 

Golf is kind of my zen game - I like to really just take a lot of deep breaths before I shoot; I also like to take my time lining up putts and such and just kind of get in the moment. It's very relaxing. Plus, a good 5-6 hour round gets me out of the house for some fresh air. 

 
Ok, thanks. I'll mosey over there and maybe try that out.

I'm also thinking of taking up golf again for a little exercise.  I haven't played in awhile but love the game. There is nothing more relaxing than a leisurely walk around a golf course. I like to walk instead of ride, so should be able to really get some good calorie loss there. 

Golf is kind of my zen game - I like to really just take a lot of deep breaths before I shoot; I also like to take my time lining up putts and such and just kind of get in the moment. It's very relaxing. Plus, a good 5-6 hour round gets me out of the house for some fresh air. 
I will murder you

 
I used one for a while and it was amazing, but I stopped. After a few months it wasn't having the same initial effect. That and I toss and turn a lot at night and so it was almost like a work out sleeping with that thing on. 

I recently started taking melatonin. 3 MG a night. It is absolutely amazing. Now I'm wondering about melatonin and the weighted blanked.... Hmmmm....
I've been taking Melatonin for decades now.  Started at 100 mcg and now up to 10 mg.  I got hypothyroidism at about 39 (I'm 59 now) and sleeping is soooo tough for me.  Having a bad back, a bad knee and a bad shoulder certainly don't help.  My suggestion - get on a sleep schedule where you take the pill (for example) 1 hour before bedtime.

 
I've been taking Melatonin for decades now.  Started at 100 mcg and now up to 10 mg.  I got hypothyroidism at about 39 (I'm 59 now) and sleeping is soooo tough for me.  Having a bad back, a bad knee and a bad shoulder certainly don't help.  My suggestion - get on a sleep schedule where you take the pill (for example) 1 hour before bedtime.
I take the melatonin in bed with a book and book light. My wife crashed out next to me. 45-60 minutes later, I'm zonked.  

 
beer 30 said:
I've heard, although anecdotally, that exercise helps with this. Have you considered taking up jogging? I've heard good things about it, especially heavier, lethargic people such as yourself. There is a thread on here someplace where fellow joggers commiserate about their jogs, weather, shovels, all sorts of fun topics a low metabolism person such as yourself would benefit from. I encourage you to look it up and maybe dip your toe in the water.
😂😂😂 does Domer jog? I’m guessing no

 
I've been taking Melatonin for decades now.  Started at 100 mcg and now up to 10 mg. 
We take the 5 mg nightly. Supposed to help you get to sleep, but not really keep you asleep. I take a 2 mg generic Lunesta for that. Only works for 4 or 5 hours but I really don't want to take anything stronger. Afraid of getting hooked.

 

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