ZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I have no trouble getting to sleep, I just can't stay asleep. Around 8:00 PM, warm from my bath, I snuggle in bed and break out the Kindle for a good read. Kindle and I enjoy each others company for a couple hours and then I easily go to sleep. Exactly 4 hours later, you can set your clock, I am awake and my body thinks “OK,that is enough you lazy creature” and sleep is history.

On rare occasions, I slip back into fitful quickie sleeps but a lot of times, I just lay there. Not much to do at 2 AM. So again I read. The odd thing is that I don't go around tired all the time, I just am convinced my old body needs more than 4 hours of sleep to rejuvenate.

I have tried a ton of things that did not work for me. Most of the “cures” are to put you to sleep. That is no problem, it is that staying asleep that I can't manage. I have tried turkey sandwiches with milk. I have exercised and not exercised. I have taken hot baths, warm baths, and morning baths. I even resorted to Tylenol PM which did actually work but I hate taking a pill for any reason.

Then, I stumbled on something wonderful during a power outage. I slept like a baby for 8 continuous hours---without electricity. The only constant I could find is that my bedroom is pitch dark in an outage. No little green computer lights, no red gadget lights, no outdoor security light piercing my window shades, and no night light illuminating the path to the bathroom, just complete darkness.

Trying to replicate the total darkness, I was able to hide or eliminate my electronic toys LED lights. Off went the night light and window shades were added to the blinds to block the security light. Nothing was able to produce complete darkness. Light still found its way into my room.



I decided to go Hollywood and went in search of a sleep mask to hopefully drive the rest of the light from my nighttime.

Finding one in a brick and mortar store was difficult but finally I located one in a Walgreen’s. I was hopeful but skeptical that it would work but first I had to overcome a not at all advertised problem. The Velcro straps LOVE satin pillow cases.

The exposed parts of the velcro became completely attached to my pillow case, to the point I had to remove the mask to release my head from the pillow. They should come with a warning label. When I ripped it free, long threads from my pillow case came with it.


Now it was a toss up. The satin pillow case had to go but did I want blissful sleep at the expense of more wrinkles and fierce bed hair? Realizing it is a bit late to worry about new wrinkles and bed hair can eventually be tamed, I broke out a cotton pillow case and all was fine. Velcro is not attracted to cotten.


I was afraid the mask would keep me awake just by its strange presence on my face. However there is a large area that bubbles away from the eye. I can easily open my eyes while the mask is still on. It seemed so light weight, I didn't even know I had it on and off to sleep I went. This was something I could work with.

When I awoke that first night, per usual the first thing I did was reach for my projector clock and pressed the lever which should have broadcast the time on my ceiling. I was so hoping it was going to tell me I had slept through the night. Nothing. I strained to see but still nothing. At first I thought my favorite clock was broken or in need of batteries, but as I strained harder to see, even the vaguest signs of light were not visible.

Yes panic struck. That sudden spell of clear vision I had a week or so earlier now seemed like it must have been the warning of my impending blindness. The reverse of “darkest before the dawn.” Who was going to take care of my pets? What would I do? Not wanting to be a burden on any family or friend, I was planning my nursing home options.

I went to rub my eyes in frustration and felt the mask. CRAP. Ok, you all ready knew it was there but I honestly did not. Feeling stupid ?? You bet, but relief rather over shadowed that really dumb feeling. This was ranking right up there with my “butt ugly glasses” episode when I refused to recognize my own glasses. I sometimes wonder how I have made it for 71 years.

So had the sleep mask worked? Not totally--- but a bit. I had actually logged 6 uninterrupted hours of sleep, a 50% increase. Not bad. I was feeling positively slothful. The six hours however has not been constant and never do I get more than six. I really am still trying for that 7 or 8 hour goal.



I am a firm believer that there is an answer to most problems, we just fail to ask the right questions. So I am asking you---do you have any tried and true sleep MAINTAINING methods? Remember, I go to sleep fine, I need help staying asleep. I may have tried your methods and failed, but maybe, just maybe the right one is locked in someone's keyboard just waiting for me to see.

My eyes are open and waiting. Thank you.