Anyone over 50?

meister · Post by **meister** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 7:19 pm

I was talking to my Doctor on Friday and he mentioned that it has been documented that folks over 50 don't sleep as well as younger folks do, for a number of different reasons. He said that many have either physical or emotional pain (leading to anxiety or depression). He also mentioned that older patients rarely get into Stages 3 or 4. He was recommending a nightly Advil or Tylenol to help with pain. So are there folks who are over 50 and who have noticed a decreased in dreams?

Just waiting for a snide comment from Liam asking ... Wet or dry?

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 7:25 pm

Boy, you're just asking for Liam-abuse, aren't you? (aren't we all?)

Well, I'm not 50 yet, but it's fast approaching!!! I can't wait to hear the answers to your questions. Thanks.

Linda

mommaw · Post by **mommaw** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:11 pm

Wow Meister,

You got some nerve asking a woman to tell her age . I will have to confess to being (cough) 58 and yes the amount of sleep I seem to require and the dreams I seem to have are not nearly as much as when I was younger. I have also become a very light sleeper . When I went for my sleep test, they gave me a sleeping pill so I could finally go to sleep and they said I got less than 30 minutes of "good sleep".

So in my case, the answer is yes.

Gilda, Who is not really 58, just wanted to join in the discussion.

nodding off · Post by **nodding off** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:18 pm

I'm 54, and I put on my cpap between 10:30 and 11 and sleep like a rock until about 3am. I unhook my hose, get up, go to the bathroom, rehook and sleep like a rock again until 6am when I get up. I don't remember too many dreams, but do have some. Now, if I could retrain my bladder to sleep the night.....

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:23 pm

nodding off wrote: I'm 54, and I put on my cpap between 10:30 and 11 and sleep like a rock until about 3am. I unhook my hose, get up, go to the bathroom, rehook and sleep like a rock again until 6am when I get up. I don't remember too many dreams, but do have some. Now, if I could retrain my bladder to sleep the night.....

Just think tho, lot better than being 74, and sleeping til 7am and you still went to the bathroom at 3am.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:49 pm

Man, this topic scares me. I'm not-quite-40 (under a year now, though) and haven't been sleeping well for a very long time. To hear that it might get WORSE in the next 10 years... More than I want to consider tonight.

Liam, who wonders how life is different as an octegenarian. Depends, he guesses.

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:53 pm

Liam1965 wrote:Man, this topic scares me. I'm not-quite-40 (under a year now, though) and haven't been sleeping well for a very long time. To hear that it might get WORSE in the next 10 years... More than I want to consider tonight.

Liam, who wonders how life is different as an octegenarian. Depends, he guesses.

Depends would have helped the 74 year old...

Scout · Post by **Scout** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 9:09 pm

I was looking through the posting looking for what people do when they have no power to plug in their cpap. I found it interesting about the issue about needing to get up in the middle of the night for a bio trip. I had to until I started taking “desmopressin acetate”, not and antidepressant but designed to control urine generation. Thought you would want to know.

sthnreb · Post by **sthnreb** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 9:16 pm

50? I was 10 years ago. I use a bipap pro II. Usually I put my nasal mask on and toss and turn for at least 5 minutes and the lights go out. The bipap seems to put me to sleep. Dreams? Of course. I must get the REM sleep because i still dream quite often. My sleep pattern is I sleep solid for 5-6 hours and will wake up. Either to go to the bathroom or turn over and find a more comfortable position. You know the mask limits positioning and you have to work with it. I usually go back to sleep but a much lighter sleep and according to my Encore I average real near 8 hours a night, sometimes more or less. So, that should be what some of you have to look forward too. Sleep well!!

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 9:19 pm

Over 50 here as well, I do sleep light and rock and roll all night, thus my handle but I dream just as vividly as when I was 16. Maybe different subject maner but just as vivid. The only difference I can tell as I got older and heavier is I developed sleep apnea (snoring) and eventually had to get help.

tater pie · Post by **tater pie** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 9:50 pm

I'll be 54 in a few days and I do sleep a lot lighter than when I was younger but since cpap treatment, I dream almost every night, get up once to go to the bathroom and then back to sleep until about 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. As far as anxiety and depression, I'm having the best time of my life. Our youngest left for the Air Force last September and my husband and I are like kids again! Just because there is snow on the roof top doesn't mean the fire is out in the fireplace. It's great having the whole house to ourselves too. My sleep has been so bad the last 7 years before cpap that I think just waking up once a night is great!

It's like a commercial for Clairol once said, you're not getting older--just better.

unclebob · Post by **unclebob** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 9:59 pm

Yeah, I'm over 50 too. Sure don't get as much sleep as I used to. But I do know the reason for this and it's nothing to do with Apnea.

Seems when I was younger I could get my lovin over with in minutes, now it takes me hours. Us oldsters just need more time!!!

Toss in a bit of Apnea and it could damn well take all night - thank God for Canada - the days are shorter up here! Come visit!

Love ya all,

Bob F

melody · Post by **melody** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:36 pm

Like tater pie said, sending the last kid to the Air Force makes all the difference. I got my CPAP prior to 50, but am over 50 now. I'm also the one who doesn't wash her mask--BUT EVERYONE has converted me, and I will start tomorrow.
I had apneas walking, sitting, sleeping in bed in my 20's but didn't know to see a doc. Finally when I was too scared to go to bed unless my husband was home (to pound me on the back), I saw an ENT doc who said it was all in my head. Many years, many docs. Finally I saw a new Psychiatrist who send me (do not pass Go) immediately to a sleep center. My CPAP # is 13, so I hadn't been kidding all those years. I hate doctors as much as many folks seem to dislike their DME reps.

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:40 pm

Melody,

Your message made me remember my opinion and wish.....that our forum should be required reading for all young doctors or interns, and as remedial study for older doctors.

Linda

gailzee · Post by **gailzee** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:41 pm

ask the dr. for a copy of the actual study or studies, you'll see some foot work dancing around the +50 subject. They are too concerned with age bias related questions/patients, than in care issues.
He is generalizing re: physical and emotional pain. Everyone has SOMETHING, if we scratch the surface.

Liam go for this one..

sign me: gailzee who's watching it snow.

meister wrote:I was talking to my Doctor on Friday and he mentioned that it has been documented that folks over 50 don't sleep as well as younger folks do, for a number of different reasons. He said that many have either physical or emotional pain (leading to anxiety or depression). He also mentioned that older patients rarely get into Stages 3 or 4. He was recommending a nightly Advil or Tylenol to help with pain. So are there folks who are over 50 and who have noticed a decreased in dreams?

Just waiting for a snide comment from Liam asking ... Wet or dry?

Anyone over 50?

Anyone over 50?

Meister

Thought I would respond

Re: Anyone over 50?

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