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Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#11

Post by jacques_chester »

patrickk wrote: post #10
jacques_chester wrote: post #9

Here's a little PSA: If you have: * High blood pressure * Depressive or angry episodes * Wake up tired no matter how long you've slept * Loud snoring Take a sleep study. You may have obstructive sleep apnea. I got it badly enough that sleeping for 14-15 hours daily did nothing for me. I didn't realise it at the time but I was on track to die, tired, at about 50. Today I sleep with a little CPAP machine that keeps my…

Thanks. I've got #3 on your list, and working in front of a screen is unbearable most days. I've thought about doing a sleep study, this just reinforces it.

I wish you all the best.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#14

Post by JabavuAdams »

jacques_chester wrote: post #9

Here's a little PSA: If you have: * High blood pressure * Depressive or angry episodes * Wake up tired no matter how long you've slept * Loud snoring Take a sleep study. You may have obstructive sleep apnea. I got it badly enough that sleeping for 14-15 hours daily did nothing for me. I didn't realise it at the time but I was on track to die, tired, at about 50. Today I sleep with a little CPAP machine that keeps my…

Yes! This has been a huge win for me.

I'd typically fall asleep at my desk around 3pm, or be fighting micro-sleep episodes. In any case, sitting there felt like torture. Never mind the effect on coding and debugging. Been doing that for decades. Tried ADHD remedies, etc. etc.

I started using a machine on a Friday, and noticed that although I was still a bit tired, I didn't take my usual 2-hour afternoon naps on the weekend. With the initial settings, I would still get a bit tired by mid-afternoon on a work-day, but it was an improvement.

After a second sleep-study and further calibration, I don't get tired at all in the afternoon. This is going to bed at 11:30 to 12:00 and waking up at 6:30 to 7:30.

It's hard to describe the practical effects of sleep-deprivation on programming effectiveness. It's like every programming problem just got a bit easier, and every tool just works a bit better. The difference between being slightly too dumb to do the job well, and being a monster is a small one.

Unanticipated benefits are that colds are not really tiring, and my alcohol tolerance is back to University levels (not sure if that's a win). On the flip side, I'm less inclined to drink alcohol, because I don't want to mess with my new mental powers.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#15

Post by jfb »

JabavuAdams wrote: post #14
jacques_chester wrote: post #9

Here's a little PSA: If you have: * High blood pressure * Depressive or angry episodes * Wake up tired no matter how long you've slept * Loud snoring Take a sleep study. You may have obstructive sleep apnea. I got it badly enough that sleeping for 14-15 hours daily did nothing for me. I didn't realise it at the time but I was on track to die, tired, at about 50. Today I sleep with a little CPAP machine that keeps my…

Yes! This has been a huge win for me. I'd typically fall asleep at my desk around 3pm, or be fighting micro-sleep episodes. In any case, sitting there felt like torture. Never mind the effect on coding and debugging. Been doing that for decades. Tried ADHD remedies, etc. etc. I started using a machine on a Friday, and noticed that although I was still a bit tired, I didn't take my usual 2-hour afternoon naps on the w…

Good stuff. My dad had apnea so bad he had to have his nose and sinuses redrilled. I'm looking forward to the study.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#16

Post by michaelgrafl »

In the past few weeks I've been shitty to my girlfriend a few times after a night of bad sleep (interrupted sleep and more dreaming than normally).

I figured out that I sleep a lot better - especially when sharing a bed with her - when I omit drinking alcohol, even small amounts.

So maybe that's worth a try for people suffering from light sleep.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#17

Post by JabavuAdams »

jfb wrote: post #15
JabavuAdams wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes! This has been a huge win for me. I'd typically fall asleep at my desk around 3pm, or be fighting micro-sleep episodes. In any case, sitting there felt like torture. Never mind the effect on coding and debugging. Been doing that for decades. Tried ADHD remedies, etc. etc. I started using a machine on a Friday, and noticed that although I was still a bit tired, I didn't take my usual 2-hour afternoon naps on the w…

Good stuff. My dad had apnea so bad he had to have his nose and sinuses redrilled. I'm looking forward to the study.

Wow! That's unfortunate.

The message I've been getting from my ENT is that he'd only advocate surgery if the patient wasn't tolerating the CPAP. I.e. at higher pressure settings it might be uncomfortable, and reshaping the airways could help with that.

For me, I just pretend I'm Prometheus in an interstellar cold-sleep casket. I love the mask -- badass!

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#18

Post by jfb »

JabavuAdams wrote: post #17
jfb wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good stuff. My dad had apnea so bad he had to have his nose and sinuses redrilled. I'm looking forward to the study.

Wow! That's unfortunate. The message I've been getting from my ENT is that he'd only advocate surgery if the patient wasn't tolerating the CPAP. I.e. at higher pressure settings it might be uncomfortable, and reshaping the airways could help with that. For me, I just pretend I'm Prometheus in an interstellar cold-sleep casket. I love the mask -- badass!

It was also 20 years ago, so intervention strategies have likely improved.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#19

Post by patrickk »

jacques_chester wrote: post #11
patrickk wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks. I've got #3 on your list, and working in front of a screen is unbearable most days. I've thought about doing a sleep study, this just reinforces it.

I wish you all the best.

If I got diagnosed with sleep apnea, it would be the best news I've gotten in years - it would be like winning the lottery, as I could put a name to the root of the problem, and take steps to deal with it.

I want to do my own startup, and solving my sleep issues could easily be the difference between doing it and not.

So thanks again, it means a lot.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#20

Post by awjr »

darxius wrote: post #12

So how much sleep SHOULD I be getting then? I assume it's based on a few things (age, weight, etc).

Well your genes are different to mine so it comes down to your body type.

Personally I'll go to bed at 1AM and naturally wake up at around 7:30AM. I usually fall asleep quite quickly and don't usually get woken up by any noise.

For you this might be a nightmare.

I know people that try and get into bed for 10:30PM. I tried that once. I was awake at 4:30AM. I basically need 6 hours sleep. More just doesn't work for me.

The problem is more that people with sleep issues don't ever feel like they have got a proper nights sleep. It can affect them deeply. You need to get to the root cause of the issue.

As an aside I went through most of my early life with sleep apnia caused by large tonsils. Luckily on a skiing holiday with some friends, we hit it off with a bunch of nurses, who heard very vocally from my friends about the nightmare that was sleeping in the same room as me and the choking noises I would make. 5 weeks later I had my tonsils removed as they were huge. It was life changing. I'd spent most of my early 20s half asleep.

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