i think i'm getting the hang of thzzzzz

[rone]

It's nearly my six-month anniversary at Netflix, which means that i've been working graveyard shift for 21 weeks.  Despite a few hiccups along the way, sleeping during the day hasn't been too bad; i've settled into taking a melatonin+valerian capsule and half a Benadryl before sleep (occasionally washed down with hot chocolate instead of water).  I usually hit the sack soon after i see Kim off to work in the morning, so that i can be awake by the time she gets home.  On Friday, i eschew the sleeping aids and just settle into a four-hour sleep period; when i wake up, i can attend one of our team meetings in the afternoon, and then proceed with having a normal weekend (although lately my sleep has been cut short at night, so i've been taking a full Benadryl on Friday nights).  On Sunday evenings, i have another 4-hour nap, and upon waking put out the trash and then head to work.

At times i feel a little uncomfortable about the pill-taking, but given that this isn't going to last forever, i'll keep it up for now.

Comments

[also-huey.livejournal.com]

I would say that I really enjoyed 3rd shift, except for that little bit about how it was a contributing factor to the death of my first marriage.

But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln thought the play was great.

[xythen.livejournal.com]

Better living through chemistry.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I'll drink to that.

[madmerle.livejournal.com]

Oh that sounds sooo familiar. That's how i got thru my measly 4 weeks of graveyard. Pill-popping. For me it was ambien on the tough days, a valerian/passionflower herbal on the better days. Sounds like you've mostly acclimated.

Enjoy, Nightwalker. It won't last forever ...

[doctroid.livejournal.com]

[draws diagram, studies it]

If I'm reading this correctly, it means you have an eight day week.

Cool.

[tau-iota-mu-c.livejournal.com]

Because you'll die! HAW!

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

I have chronic insomnia, so "how to get to sleep" is a Big F'in Deal in my life.

I am certainly not a doctor, but nothing in your list strikes me as "start writing your liver/kidneys apology notes now" material. Drugs.com cites the sleep aid dose for Benadryl as 50 mg, so if you're doing half a 25 mg caplet, you're keeping the dose low.

I don't take melatonin, since it has an effect on depression, which I'm on medication for. In the main, if you're normally healthy, the article says you can take up to 2 years. Mayo clinic stuff here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/melatonin/NS_patient-melatonin/DSECTION=safety

I take valerian on occasion to help relax me before sleep, but I find the smell punishingly yucky, even in capsule form. If possible I'll drink siete azahares or chamomile tea if I know I need to relax that night.

[vampyrecat.livejournal.com]

I've been on Diphenhydramine Hcl (Benadryl generic) for years. It started as an allergy thing, but since I seem to be allergic to crap all year long (pollen, mold spores, dust from agriculture, wood smoke) that I just take one every night. It seems to help my insomnia and keep me from waking up with sinus headaches every morning.

[epileptikitty.livejournal.com]

My understanding was that melatonin is not really a sleeping aid- it's a circadian rhythm adjuster. You take it a half hour before you want to normally go to sleep, and the following day you are sleepy at that time.

I find it knocks me out too hard. Ambien is great, but you can only take it so long.

And, of course, sleeping with someone is less restful than being alone.

[wisn.livejournal.com]

That's a good way to put it. When I was transitioning between first and third shift and pulling the occasional hundred-hour work week, melatonin was about as strong a med as I cared to take.

It didn't make me sleepy or knock me out, but it seemed to help ensure that I could stay asleep once I fell asleep.