I swear the machine's making me sleepier!

I did say "fairly vigorous exercise". Biking does not have to be that vigorous. Walking doesn't have to be "race walking". A stroll for a block and then home. After a week or so of that you maybe can go a little farther. I'm not suggesting you do a marathon. For all those conditions you mentioned, walking would be good for you. That little walk in the fresh air will also help you sleep.

I know that with Rheumatoid Arthritis, if I don't move some every day, I will not be able to move at all soon. I either go for a walk, sometimes not a very long one but a walk. If I am unable to get out because of the weather I have a stationary bicycle. I "go for a ride" on that and it helps my joints, as the walking does, as well as helping my sleeping.

Hawthorne wrote:I did say "fairly vigorous exercise". Biking does not have to be that vigorous. Walking doesn't have to be "race walking". A stroll for a block and then home. After a week or so of that you maybe can go a little farther. I'm not suggesting you do a marathon. For all those conditions you mentioned, walking would be good for you. That little walk in the fresh air will also help you sleep.

I know that with Rheumatoid Arthritis, if I don't move some every day, I will not be able to move at all soon. I either go for a walk, sometimes not a very long one but a walk. If I am unable to get out because of the weather I have a stationary bicycle. I "go for a ride" on that and it helps my joints, as the walking does, as well as helping my sleeping.

I can not ride a bike at all. Even a stationary bike just kills me. I have no padding on my behind and I get bruises. Plus my Dr. told me that a bike is the worst thing for my bad knee. I have tried my dad's recumbant stationary bike. I can do it very slowly. So slowly that everybody laughs at me. I just have little strength in my legs because of the leaking veins. The blood can't get to the muscles. After about a half an hour on the thing I have gone 1/10th of a mile. And I am stiff and sore for days afterwards.

I can't walk very far either. After about 30 steps, my legs begin to give out. I can walk with a shopping cart to assist me, so I do some walking in stores. When I go to a store, I try to walk up and down every aisle even though I don't need to. As for the fresh air, you won't find it here! What you will find is pollen laden air and that's bad for my allergies. I also have an extreme dislike for being outside. There is no WAY I can walk for a block and then make it back home again. I can get to the mailbox and back, but that's about it. Mainly I have no balance due to the neuropathy. So trying to walk outside without assistance is not a good thing.

Ditto with Wulfman...you need 7 hours ( the newest sleep study found that people with 7 hours of sleep lived longer...it was an exhaustive study)...http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2002/02_08_Kripke.html
I USED to sleep 12+ hours with naps and STILL felt bad and was nodding off. How is your iron level?
(are you anemic). Your thyroid level? Your B's level...ALL of these REALLY affect a women. Also, is your bedroom ABSOLUTELY dark? I mean LEDs, ANY light?

sagesteve wrote:Ditto with Wulfman...you need 7 hours ( the newest sleep study found that people with 7 hours of sleep lived longer...it was an exhaustive study)...http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2002/02_08_Kripke.html
I USED to sleep 12+ hours with naps and STILL felt bad and was nodding off. How is your iron level?
(are you anemic). Your thyroid level? Your B's level...ALL of these REALLY affect a women. Also, is your bedroom ABSOLUTELY dark? I mean LEDs, ANY light?

My blood labs are all in range. As for the light, I have to have one on. I can not sleep in the total dark. Not ever.

If you can walk with a shopping cart, maybe you should get a walker. Has no one ever suggested that to you? You need to move or soon you will not be able to.

That's the problem..."within range"! You should work to get all your "ranges" at the top! The medical community is full of it when it comes to these tests and their recommendations as to what is "normal". As for the light...turn it off! Try it for a week...total darkness and I guarantee you'll sleep better ( get a GOOD flashlight for next to the bed ). The reason you'll sleep better? Our ancestors...think ancient man slept with ANY light? NO! I mean...use blackout curtains for your windows. NO light whatsoever! No clock light from the LED, no TV standby light....nothing!

Just my 2 cents, but when I first started, the haze and mental confusion went away once I started, but I felt sleepier and had a harder time fighting the sandman.

I think there is a period of adjustment to get use to being on the hose. But I also think is like when you're running a long distance and stop. You can't quite pick it up again. You're body collapses and starts to go into 'wind down' mode. And you feel worse than when you were running. Sort of a makeup period.

Hawthorne wrote:If you can walk with a shopping cart, maybe you should get a walker. Has no one ever suggested that to you? You need to move or soon you will not be able to.

I had a walker. My dad has it now. Ever tried to walk with one? Especially carrying a purse? That damned thing slowed me down so much it wasn't funny. Just lifting it with each step was exhausting. It doesn't work on steps and it doesn't work well going down hills. And forget about the type with wheels. For me that would be super dangerous on hills.

I have had mobility problems for almost 10 years now. Things have only gotten better. I'm not worried.

sagesteve wrote:That's the problem..."within range"! You should work to get all your "ranges" at the top! The medical community is full of it when it comes to these tests and their recommendations as to what is "normal". As for the light...turn it off! Try it for a week...total darkness and I guarantee you'll sleep better ( get a GOOD flashlight for next to the bed ). The reason you'll sleep better? Our ancestors...think ancient man slept with ANY light? NO! I mean...use blackout curtains for your windows. NO light whatsoever! No clock light from the LED, no TV standby light....nothing!

I can not try the total darkness for a week. Not even for a night. I get too frightened to sleep in the total darkness. Also, I have gastroparesis and never know when I might need to leap out of bed to throw up. I need to be able to see if I have to do this.

We had a power failure for about a week when I lived in NY. So it was pitch dark at night. All I could do was lay there and listen to my heart pound. I could only sleep during the day.

You said to me - have I ever tried walking to walk with one? - when I suggested a walker. What makes you think I don't know how it to walk with a walker?

Yes, I have had to walk with one! I have Rhuematoid Arthritis and have had joints replaced.

Yes, I have tried to walk with one. I have had to walk with one for periods in my life and will have to again soon.

Hawthorne wrote:You said to me - have I ever tried walking to walk with one? - when I suggested a walker. What makes you think I don't know how it to walk with a walker?

Yes, I have had to walk with one! I have Rhuematoid Arthritis and have had joints replaced.

Yes, I have tried to walk with one. I have had to walk with one for periods in my life and will have to again soon.

I feel sorry for you then. It is something I just can't stand to do. I can get around far better without one!

john_dozer wrote:Just my 2 cents, but when I first started, the haze and mental confusion went away once I started, but I felt sleepier and had a harder time fighting the sandman.

I think there is a period of adjustment to get use to being on the hose. But I also think is like when you're running a long distance and stop. You can't quite pick it up again. You're body collapses and starts to go into 'wind down' mode. And you feel worse than when you were running. Sort of a makeup period.

That could be!

Juliebove wrote:
I have had mobility problems for almost 10 years now. Things have only gotten better. I'm not worried.

That's wonderful.

O.