Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

[wannachange]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Awww pie, I don't know why but I had an overwhelming feeling of joy that I had to wipe away some tears when I saw your picture and preparation for your big day, its wonderful you are doing this, do do do post often and come here when you need support.

[Doggygirl]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Pie;910841 wrote: Only real difficulty doing without AL on Day One was trying to get to sleep. Took about two hours. Is this normal? I'm used to just passing out! )

Pie

Unfortunately, it does seem to be pretty common to have sleep troubles. I did. But waking up tired was a whole lot better than the daily hangovers I used to endure. It WILL get better with time. Sometimes less time, sometimes more time, unfortunately.

I like keeping a gratitude list going. That way I have something positive to look at when I encounter rough patches or "negatives" along the way. (even if they are very minor in the grand scheme, and very short term in the grand scheme!)

I started just getting up frightfully early and making the best of that quiet time of day before the birdies are up! Whatever you figure out works for you, I bet it will be better than a hangover!

One day at a time and easy does it,

DG

[one2many]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal



I just wanted everyone to see this Pie.....

What a serious and brilliant commitment this picture portrays.

Good on ya xx

[Pie]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Hello wonderful people!

Oney, I want to put a count in my siggy just like you said, but am waiting until I have 72 "free" hours behind me. Thanks for posting my prep pic! The best I could manage was a link.

Hi Wanna, I see you're doing the Af and NF quits together as well. I'd like to support you in staying strong too!

DG, do you mean you got up earlier so you'd feel sleepy earlier? I'll look at starting a gratitude list. Hit a big negative patch today when I got home and realized my a/c had quit cooling. Luckily, repair guy came and fixed quickly. Think his name will go at the top of my list!

Thanks again all,
Pie

[mollyka]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Pie, I had major issues with sleep, but like DG says tired IS way better than hungover. It will regulate itself in time. I don't know if it's a good idea but doc gave me a weeks sleeping tabs, I took a half one for 4 nights and then stopped and it seemed to work.
Molly

[Pie]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Thanks for the idea, Molly. Was tossin' and turnin' again last night trying to fall asleep and wondered about the possibility of using a sleep aid. May give it a few more nights to see if it gets better.

[papmom3]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Hi Pie,I had horrible sleep troubles the first 2 months of being AF. Even the 2 times I relapsed I didn't sleep!! What comes around.....
I tried every natural aid on the shelves. If you're in the US I'd be happy to send you my left overs if that's legal!! I ended up getting a script for Ambien CR for 10 days which I had to pay for myself as ins. wouldn't cover it. I took 1/2 tab for 20 days and it worked like a charm!! It broke the vicious cycle for me and now my sleep is much better. I have to watch what I eat at nite and how late as that really affects my sleep patterns. Molls is so right-waking up tired with only a couple of hours of sleep was WAY better than waking up hungover!!
I truly hope your sleep problems go way in the normal 2 weeks that most people have to suffer through. Try the natural remedies first-exp. those with L-Tryptophan in them. If they don't work, then ask your doc for a an Rx. Ambien CR is great because it's timed release so it works throughout the whole nite and with very little "hangover" the next morning.
Good luck!!
:l

[Meech]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Hi Pie,

It's great that you are doing a journal that helped me tremendously to stay accountable and record my thoughts, triumphs and struggles to reflect on.

You are doing great! Keep up the great work.

On your gratitude points - sometimes it's the simpliest things that are positive that have the most strength.

I will keep checking in on your journey and have a great day! :goodjob:

[KatieB]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Pie,
You are doing so well giving up both at the same time! keep on keeping on.. i will be back to the no-smoking thread soon - please reserve me a seat!
katie xxx

[Pie]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Hi Pap, Believe I'll try to get some Ambien tomorrow if I don't sleep tonight.

Meech - aren't you the originater of the journal idea? Great strategy.

Katie - I appreciate the encouragment. Will head on over to the butts thread to check on our seats.

Thanks all,
Pie

[sk8punk]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Hey Pie, journals are great tools. I never had trouble falling asleep when I quit. But my body was so beat up from binge drinking its no wonder. I also did some heavy workouts during the first few weeks to help tire me out.
Now I do notice I wake up several times during the night but its no big deal. Except the fact I wake up at 6:30 every morning. Weird same time almost everyday. Oh I don't have to get up til 7:30.

[Pie]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

100 Days! Way to go, Sk8!!

[Meech]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Thanks for the compliment. I have a journal but certainly was not the first here. Many have done journals over the years here at MWO.

So I can't take the credit, I can only appreciate them and encourage others to do it if it can help!

Have another great AF night. Sober head on the pillow.

[Pie]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

Yep, sober head on the pillow. Took an OTC sleeping aid last night and it helped. Keep expecting to wake up in the morning feeling fantastic, but that hasn't happened yet. I feel good, certainly better than hungover, but not as wonderful as I'd hoped.

So far I'm glad to be tackling both AL and cigs at the same time because the cigs are so difficult, it's distracting me from the AL. Other than the sleeping issue, it doesn't give me too much grief.

Pie

[papmom3]

Pie's AF and NF Journey Journal

HI Pie, I think one of the things that happens when we begin this journey is that we have all these expectations that our lives are going to change dramatically. It happened to me too. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Some people do feel an amazing change in their energy and outlook and sleeping patterns. For others its more subtle or none at all. I'm in the latter group. No fireworks, horrible sleeping (still not sleeping through the night), eating frenzies. But truthfully, there are improvements in my skin, my GRD is much better and I do have a bit more energy. These small improvements are worth so much more than how I feel after downing a bottle of PG. If the OTC sleep aid helped, I would stick with that before asking for Ambien. Some of the OTC stuff takes 2-3 days to really really work so they say on the bottle. Hang in there and try not to get discouraged. You really do need at least 30 days of being AF to get the AL totally out of your system and then maybe you'll see some big changes in how you feel.