Sleep is a healer, or is it?

[swissie]

A good nights sleep is a healer. Or not?

 

Every morning I wake up with all kinds of aches and general "weakness". Every physical activity is strenuous during the day. I am just "weak", can't put it in any other way. 

 

Come evening, I am getting better. So I do "strenuous" household work between 9 PM and 11 PM. During this time, I am at my "physical-peak" of the day. (To activate my vacuum cleaner at 11 PM has not made me any friends in the house).

 

I suffer from COPD. Could it be, that during sleep I don't absorb enough oxygen? Making my mornings/days miserable? What else?

 

I know this is contradictory to "standart medicine", generally declaring sleep as a "healer". Unfortunately, for me sleep is something that messes up my day.

 

No, "stop sleeping" is not the advice I am looking for.

 

[Sheryl]

Have you always been like this ilor is it of more recent onset?

 

Have you had recent evaluation of your respiratory function? 

 

Are you taking steroids or using a steroid inhaler? If so what is the scherule? 

 

And are you naping during the day?

[swissie]

28 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Have you always been like this ilor is it of more recent onset?

 

Have you had recent evaluation of your respiratory function? 

 

Are you taking steroids or using a steroid inhaler? If so what is the scherule? 

 

 

a) For the last 5 to 6 years.

b) Annual lung function test at the hospital, 2 weeks ago. Blood oxygen saturation a bit less than last year (no problem).

c) I inhale 3 pumps of "Spiolto-Respimat" daily. I don't know if steroids are part of it. = Olodaterol/Tiotropium, manufactured by  Boehringer/Ingelheim.

 

The medics have no answer. But I am scheduled for a "Heart-Echokardiolagrophie" and a Thorax CT by the end of the month. Scrapping the bottom of the barrel, as the surface offers no clues.

[swissie]

4 minutes ago, swissie said:

a) For the last 5 to 6 years.

b) Annual lung function test at the hospital, 2 weeks ago. Blood oxygen saturation a bit less than last year (no problem).

c) I inhale 3 pumps of "Spiolto-Respimat" daily. I don't know if steroids are part of it. = Olodaterol/Tiotropium, manufactured by  Boehringer/Ingelheim.

 

The medics have no answer. But I am scheduled for a "Heart-Echokardiolagrophie" and a Thorax CT by the end of the month. Scrapping the bottom of the barrel, as the surface offers no clues.

I forgot to mention: Yes I am napping during the day.  After eating something, I fall asleep, wether I want it or not.

[scubascuba3]

Maybe sleep apnea? 

[daveAustin]

I’m naturally more likely to be dehydrated and lacking electrolytes when in Thailand, and often suffer in the sleep dept. 

[ChrisKC]

I am speculating!

 

What is a good night's sleep?

 

Is it how long you are asleep? Is it how you perceive your night's sleep as it just seemed to be?

 

It is possible that your sleep patterns are erratic and the quality is lacking in some element resulting in the following bad day,

 

The attachments are of my personal sleep pattern from last night that show the various aspects of sleep that are important for the overall effects of a good night's sleep.

 

I have been using the Huawei Health app (that you can download for free) for a few years and measures my sleep automatically while wearing my smart watch that syncs with my tablet to show the previous nights sleep details. Before I was using the App, I had no idea about the importance of quality of sleep, believing naively that total sleep time was the main factor.

 

I can recommend the APP as it also monitors all my exercise and other important aspects of my health, every hour of the day and night.

 

Hope you can find some benefit from this post!!

[Sheryl]

11 hours ago, swissie said:

a) For the last 5 to 6 years.

b) Annual lung function test at the hospital, 2 weeks ago. Blood oxygen saturation a bit less than last year (no problem).

c) I inhale 3 pumps of "Spiolto-Respimat" daily. I don't know if steroids are part of it. = Olodaterol/Tiotropium, manufactured by  Boehringer/Ingelheim.

 

The medics have no answer. But I am scheduled for a "Heart-Echokardiolagrophie" and a Thorax CT by the end of the month. Scrapping the bottom of the barrel, as the surface offers no clues.

Spiolto-Respimat does not contain a steroid, however one of its known side effects is insomnia/nervous system stimulation which may be why (along with naps)  you feel perked up in the evenings. I do not know if it would be feasible, and you should not change without consulting your doctor, but you could ask if it might be possible to alter the schedule of it a bit so as to get more doses earlier in the day.

 

A sleep study, to check for sleep apnea, might also be helpful.

[Andyfez]

Sleep apnea?

[Tropicalevo]

21 hours ago, Sheryl said:

A sleep study, to check for sleep apnea, might also be helpful.

 

I agree with Sheryl. Try a sleep test.

I have COPD and also suffer with sleep apnoea.

Sadly, a CPAP machine was of no help as prostate and bladder issues make sure that I still wake up every 2-3 hour for the bathroom trek.

 

On 3/20/2025 at 12:40 AM, swissie said:

Annual lung function test at the hospital, 2 weeks ago

 

Not sure what this covers, but for my breathing issues, I had a full pulmonary function test carried out at Bumrungrad Hospital.

The nurse there certainly knew her stuff.

It was a major test taking almost half a day.

Lung function tests at the local hospital here were pretty much a waste of time.

Very basic equipment.

 

You can monitor your oxygen level at home with a finger pulse oximeter.

Lots on Lazada.

[swissie]

On 3/20/2025 at 6:13 AM, Sheryl said:

Spiolto-Respimat does not contain a steroid, however one of its known side effects is insomnia/nervous system stimulation which may be why (along with naps)  you feel perked up in the evenings. I do not know if it would be feasible, and you should not change without consulting your doctor, but you could ask if it might be possible to alter the schedule of it a bit so as to get more doses earlier in the day.

 

A sleep study, to check for sleep apnea, might also be helpful.

I always thought that Sleep Apnea is when you stop breathing during sleep and wake up in horror. That would not be the case concerning me.

 

[Sheryl]

29 minutes ago, swissie said:

I always thought that Sleep Apnea is when you stop breathing during sleep and wake up in horror. That would not be the case concerning me.

 

People with sleep apnea often have no awareness of it. While they awaken several times a night, it is just a partial awakening and by morning it's forgotten.

 

Waking up in horror is unusual.

[swissie]

20 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

People with sleep apnea often have no awareness of it. While they awaken several times a night, it is just a partial awakening and by morning it's forgotten.

 

Waking up in horror is unusual.

I diden't know. I wake up once to go to the toilet. Conciously.

 

PS: For the last 10 years, I have always gone to sleep with the radio on. Radio stays on all night. I choose boring "talk-radio-stations" at a very low volume. Any relevance?

[Sheryl]

On 3/22/2025 at 10:17 PM, swissie said:

I diden't know. I wake up once to go to the toilet. Conciously.

 

PS: For the last 10 years, I have always gone to sleep with the radio on. Radio stays on all night. I choose boring "talk-radio-stations" at a very low volume. Any relevance?

I don't think so.

 

Agsin, suggest slerp study.  Most hodpitals offer them.

 

[jvs]

Maybe a strange suggestion but could it be the environment?

A different mattress can be life changing.

Air con on or off?

Even your pillow could be a factor.

Maybe change the sound you are listening to?

Thunder,rain? Many options.

Are you sleeping alone?

[jas007]

On 3/19/2025 at 11:08 PM, swissie said:

A good nights sleep is a healer. Or not?

 

Every morning I wake up with all kinds of aches and general "weakness". Every physical activity is strenuous during the day. I am just "weak", can't put it in any other way. 

 

Come evening, I am getting better. So I do "strenuous" household work between 9 PM and 11 PM. During this time, I am at my "physical-peak" of the day. (To activate my vacuum cleaner at 11 PM has not made me any friends in the house).

 

I suffer from COPD. Could it be, that during sleep I don't absorb enough oxygen? Making my mornings/days miserable? What else?

 

I know this is contradictory to "standart medicine", generally declaring sleep as a "healer". Unfortunately, for me sleep is something that messes up my day.

 

No, "stop sleeping" is not the advice I am looking for.

 

Your body needs an adequate amount of the right kind of sleep, for sure.  But if you're looking for a "healer," look into fasting. 

 

As for sleep?  It's possible that you're not getting the right kind of sleep, even if you "sleep" all night.  For example, people with sleep apnea never get a good night's sleep.  That's why they have to wear special equipment when they sleep. 

 

Maybe you need some sort of device for tracking your sleep.  Not only the duration of the sleep, but the type of sleep.  I have a watch that tracks sleep and a couple of apps on my phone that analyze the data.  You might be surprised at how thorough it is.  And how much they can tell about the quality of your sleep and your  overall health.