my mother is 84 and cant sleep more than 2, 3 or 4 hours an hour at a time

[sam sarrha]

any input or experiences with anything that might help this..

i have been making Rooibos tea for her and she says she still wakes up every hour but with the tea she goes back to sleep better than with out it.. she is getting very exhausted. Otherwise she is extremely active and alert for her age. she exercises more than i do, she says that helps her to sleep as much as she does.

thanks for any help..

[jrthin]

1. Speak to her doctor

or a doctor. At eighty-four there are many reasons why one isn't sleeping well. Some of the reasons bring concerns, some are easily addressed and can allow your mom to have rested sleep.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. A few thoughts

Of course, seeking a doctor's advice is good, but sometimes it helps if you can point them to other possible things! Check the basics first...food and drink intake. Certain foods and drinks keep us awake, as I am sure you know. Smoking also can prevent sleep. There is one thing that is more common than most realize and often goes unnoticed and that is a 'hidden' form of GIRD. It doesn't have the painful affects like heartburn, but it still shoots acid up from the stomach while sleeping and wakes the person. It can help to sleep on a slight incline, about 30 degrees. Also, "white noise" can really help calm a person and induce sleep while blocking out other distractions. And, I personally recommend naps! They can be short ones, but they keep a person from getting so exhausted that they cannot sleep.

[Dover]

3. Melatonin can be very helpful in getting the body into a regular

pattern of sleep to wakefulness, though it should not be used continuously. Only until she gets back into a regular pattern...not more than a week. Of course this shouldn't be taken without a doctor's consent even though it is sold over the counter (often used for travel abroad, jet lag).

But before she takes anything, you should get a thorough rundown of her habits. Eliminate caffeine first and see if that makes a difference. Eating times and habits can be examined. Emotional issues, worries, fears, anxiousness. Any meds and/or supplements she might be taking, etc. Is her bed and/or bedroom comfortable and inviting? Just make a list and see if anything jumps out.

[seventythree]

6. I swear by the stuff.

I take 1/2 tab (1.5 mg) maybe twice a week, max, as needed. If I have been tossing for an hour or so, I get up, take a melatonin and an aspirin. I also find that yoga works wonders, even in the middle of the night for just ten minutes -- I think the stretching relaxes my muscles. I recently got a viscoelastic bed topper -- you know, that NASA stuff. A topper is not very expensive compared to those beds made of the stuff, but it needs to be dense viscoelastic, not foam rubber. I absolutely love it -- went from waking at least once every night in the middle of the night to sleeping through the night. Hubby doesn't see any difference, but I think it has made a world of difference for me.

[ebayfool]

8. Melatonin is great - helped 'old nana' sleep (93 yrs) but didn't do for ..

'old papa' (95 yrs). These were my grandparents (both passed on, now) & they both had trouble w/sleep patterns in the last years. I would be mindful that if she has a caffeine habit, unless it's tapered off gradually - there can be withdrawal symptoms (headache, etc). Maybe shifting the caffeine intake to early daytime will help w/out taking away one of the (in my papa's case, very treasured!) pleasures that are left in their later years?

I would also point out that Sundowner's Syndrome (Alzheimer's) can manifest in greatly disturbed sleep patterns at that age range (again, old papa's situation) & I never really was able to resolve that one. In old papa's case it came down to my family having to live w/me half asleep in the daytime since I had to just stay awake w/him for the last 9 months or so that he was able to live in our home. I used the caffeine for keeping me awake! The Sundowner's syndrome was like living w/a totally different person at night, & then old papa would peek out in fine form in the daytime. Damnedest thing I ever saw.

Sometimes you just have to accept the wakefulness & join in - looking at it as extra time to enjoy spending w/them, if it's not causing her discomfort. A geriatric doc might be able to nail it for you.

Also, Dover is spot on @ the emotional issues, worries, fears, anxiousness - that was certainly magnified w/the feeling of losing control w/old papa.

(I know I'm threading this wrong, Dover - just adding my yesses to the op @ your reply! LOL):thumbsup:

[seventythree]

13. bless you for caring

for your elders, and quite lovingly, it appears.

[ebayfool]

17. It was a blessing for us to have the time w/them! All the drama & boredom

anyone could hope for! I took care of both before Old Nana died in their home. After, I was able to get Old Papa in my home. Nothing beats the comedy potential of combining an oldster that's always cold w/a women going through hot flashes - LOL! And at night, when he transformed, it was into a 2 year old that wouldn't keep his clothes on & wanted to play outside - that's why someone had to stay awake. He was physically mostly strong (though he wasn't always steady, neighbor had to help get his nudie-booty up off the floor a few times!), the mind was the tricky part. I just found it a pleasure when he talked & reminisced - we couldn't have had that, as intensely, if he was in a home. My dad & uncle had put him in one - they finally relented & let me bring him home w/me after the home put him in a diabetic coma TWICE!


His brother had studied our family's genealogy going back generations, the time I had listening to him talk I was able to add the color to that genealogy. He loved the idea (in the daytime) of having his words & experiences live on through the generations. Reading it you not only have dry dates, you can see the people he talked of - rescuing Old Nana, her grandfather - U.S. Marshall Regan & his fondness for dancing w/a stack of hats on his head at the hoe-downs, working as a sharecropper & his amazement when man went to the moon, so many great stories!

Having Old Papa spend his end days w/us was probably the hardest & yet most rewarding experience I've ever had, bar none. So, we were the one's blessed!

[Ilsa]

9. There was an article recently that said melatonin doesn't work.

Some study. I can't remember who funded it. Said the results between the groups were indistinguishable.

[OKthatsIT]

12. yeah, as we age we dont make as much. Melatonin works.

Its harmless. She'll be sleeping like a baby.

[purduejake]

16. We think it's harmless, but long term effects are unknown.

At least according to this article: http://cms.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19970501-000023.html

It recommends one milligram at night for no more than one month. Also, it recommends passion flower and valerian can help. I have tried both and neither of them worked very well for me, but everybody is different. Good luck!

[Mrs_Beastman]

4. older adults sleep patterns change

That is very common to just cat nap. My grandma is 95 and does the same thing. But confirm that with your doctor

[Dover]

5. New sleeping pill is long lasting.

Not endorsing this product, but just saw this article and thought you might be interested.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20050429/hl_hsn/newsleepingpillpromiseslongtermresults;_ylt=AmZNgQx8a8LIbfB8PHXIbeCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2bXJyZDI0BHNlYwNobA--

[Eloriel]

7. There are a bunch of herbs that are nervines and sedatives

but when I say sedative, that's a very different meaning in herbalism. To avoid the kind of hissy fit I seemed to have caused by talking about herbs another day some time ago, I'm not going to do anything but mention some that occur to me off the top of my head (if I'm remembering correctly). If you're interested you can do some research on your own. One or more may be helpful, but some may not be suitable.

Oh, and Hops is a traditional sleep aid.

Nervines and sedatives:
Lobelia
Skullcap (or Scullcap)
Lady's Slipper
Kava Kava
Passion Flower

What also keeps popping into my mind is that there may be an energy (chi) imbalance that acupuncture might be able to help. Does she wake up at the same time each night, or within the same 2-hour period?

[Eloriel]

11. Valerian

I always forget valerian.

[Ilsa]

10. Sometimes I think that as we age, our brain chemistry

alters alot. Makes us more prone to depression, sleep disturbances, etc.

I started taking Lexapro, primarily for depression, last year. My side effects include a little gas, but since i started it, my sleep lasts through the night, apparently with normal dreams, etc. My perimenopausal symptoms have also abated. None of these problems were resolved with diet and exercise.

[Eurobabe]

15. Klonopin has really helped me.

I was having similar symptoms, but couldn't take ADs.

[tibbiit]

14. quit worrying about it

From experience with elderly parents and grandparents this seems to be a pattern for them. My mother in law worried about it and my mother went with the flow of sleeplessness and cat naps.
Her doctor said not to worry about it as it is natural for the body to not require as much sleep because the body activity is alot lower.
She was 87, my mother in law 89, and dad had the same thing and just died at 94 2 months ago.

really, by focusing on it alot, makes it worse.
hopefully she likes to read (or can still read)
And realize all the medicines they are on (your mom? too) dont help either.
tib