About 50-50. Sometimes its because I didn't get sleepy and didn't realize how late it was before having to get up at 0530, sometimes it is because of a flareup of pain from my neck injury that keeps me from getting to sleep or wakens me, sometimes because something else woke me (amazing because I've learned to sleep through the freight trains only 5 houses away, and the small jets flying into the university airport.)

During menopause was the worst. Often had to go to my 12 hour shift on 3-4-5 hours of sleep because of waking at odd hours.

No!!!!! Never.

:(

And I have tried it all. Everything you can think of. Wonder what kind of person I'd be if I got 6-8 hours a night? hm?

;)

I think so. I get 7-8 hours a night but occasionally I will have trouble falling asleep 6:and it's usually because I'm stressed about something.

I get up between 6 and 6:45 and the first thing I do (after a cup of coffee and a banana) is head to the gym for a strength/cardio class or go for a trail run for an hour with friends. I have switched to having a cup of sleepytime tea instead of coffee after dinner which feels nice and I'm ready for sleep by 10 pm.

I feel sorry for those who have trouble sleeping because I know how awful I feel on those occasions when I do have trouble.

I can sleep pretty much any time, anywhere so yes, I get plenty of sleep :-) Since I am more or less retired, I can keep my own hours but naturally wake up very early. I like the solitude and peacefulness of a predawn household so use that time to get 'work' done :-) I do wake up several times a night - often to make a quick trip down the hall - but can drop back off as soon as I get back into bed. And I have absolutely no issues about an afternoon nap if I feel so inclined........AFAIC, that is the height of indulgence!!

Adequate sleep is essential for good health. Poor sleep can lead to many problems, not the least of which can be damage to the heart muscle (which one of my friends unfortunately experienced and is now having to deal with). Napping is a sign of poor sleep.

Sleep isn't a mysterious phenomenon. Many people have sleep problems of all kinds. Fortunately, there are medical doctors trained in sleep medicine and they have a variety of tools to help.

Anyone having sleep problems, which may include one or more of these: feeling tired or sleepy during the day, trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, or waking up feeling not rested - should see a sleep doctor. It's a medical problem and as with so many others, it can be effectively treated. I'm one of many visitors to this forum who've previously spoken of our own experiences with treatment by sleep doctors.

For me, something I acted on more than 20 years ago, it's been nothing short of miraculous, going from being a troubled sleeper always feeling tired to now being a great sleeper and NEVER feeling tired or sleepy. Go see a sleep doctor, they can work wonders.

I feel my best after seven hours of sleep. Less and I feel tired, more and I feel sluggish. I've never had a problem getting to sleep, usually dropping off within moments of hitting the pillow. When I was working, I'd often have trouble staying asleep as work related issues would invade my mind and wake me up. Since retiring, I no longer have that problem and wake up feeling rested and refreshed most mornings.

I really feel for those of you who do have trouble sleeping. It can be a really miserable and frustrating experience.

Elmer: What does a sleep doctor do??

When the kids don't have school, yes I get enough sleep. Most of the school year is a frustrating fight through exhaustion.

One of my kids is like me and she also struggles.

Our natural cycle is basically night owl. We both don't get tired until late in the evening and, if allowed to follow our own normal routine, wake up between 9-10.

Doesn't really mesh well with societies idea of 8-5.

Yes....I get plenty of sleep. Routinely 8 to 10 hours a night. Hardly ever do I have trouble falling asleep. They say fresh air helps and maybe it does. I am outside 4 or more hours a day. Plus I started using a pedometer and in my daily routine....not walking for exercise alone....I walk 2 to 3 miles a day. Sometimes more.

Yes, and it feels great. I remember all the years I worked several jobs as a single parent to make ends meet and how miserable I felt. Now I'm retired and sleep enough, even a nap sometimes.

Usually yes. Exception is when I change my routine and go to bed later, I feel over tired and have trouble falling asleep.

Contrary to what "Elmer J Fudd" indicates, it is not as easy as seeing a 'professional' to alleviate a sleep disorder! Elmer, unfortunately, is not the person to give great advice.

It happened in 1972, a car crash. I was knocked out and spent 99 days in a hospital. Have not slept well since. My current physician has poo-pooed my complaint. I got to taking alternative remedies. Those did not work. I uncovered an on-line pharmacy that will allow me some 'special' medical things and I sleep up to 4 hours a night! Not all in one stretch.

He (my physician) is not pleased with me. However, since he won't do anything for me, I will continue with my 2-3 times per week taking that medication.

Yeah, I have done two of those sleep studies. Big deal. They indicated that I wake up a lot! I knew that!!!!! So, at age 72, how many more years of this do I have to put up with?

Well, a big Howdy and my best wishes to you too, Jim. Have you been to a sleep doctor at a medical school and had an in-clinic study done? The result you describe seems half done.

How long do you want to put up with it? That's up to you.

"Napping is a sign of poor sleep."

No it's not........or it doesn't have to be. In fact, many reputable medical sites as well as any number of sleep specialists encourage napping and report significant benefits to be achieved by napping. You just want to avoid napping for too long (90 minutes max....30 minutes ideal) and too late in the day. 2-3 pm is the "sweet spot".

I retired last year, so I usually sleep 9 hours a night. There was 3 of us that retired around the same time. Last month we were all at a coworkers retirement party and everyone kept saying how well the 3 of us looked. I don't know about me, but my retired coworkers looked 10 years younger. They asked what we were doing differently than before to look so well. We answered, "Sleep".

always, I'm a patient who can share experiences, not a physician with medical knowledge.

There are a number of things I've learned and I'm sure there's lots more. There are many people with what they call poor "sleep hygiene". Things that a person does or doesn't do through the day and into the evening, the physical layout and habits in the bedroom, and other habits can affect sleep patterns. A first appointment may review some of these things.

The main diagnostic tool is a "sleep study". You get wired up like a Christmas tree with brain sensors, heart sensors, breathing and other muscle sensors, and then spend the night in the sleep clinic with your vital functions being monitored. For many patients, the quantitative information so obtained helps diagnose factors causing sleep problems.

My sleep study disclosed two problems. The first was leg twitches about once an hour that woke me up. That's called Restless Leg Syndrome. It's very common, and often easily controlled with safe medication. I've been taking the same thing for nearly 20 years - the problem is gone and I have no side effects. My second problem is obstructive sleep apnea. This can be treated a variety of ways. I use a CPAP machine and sleep well and through the night every night, as well as I did as an active young kid. Other means, including dental guards and others, can also work.

It's a medical field like any other. Docs without the specialty training (Jim's doctor sounds to be one) don't fully appreciate the depth of knowledge and understanding the experts have and the tools they have that are so effective.

Give it a try, it's usually covered by most insurance plans. Good luck to you and others, poor sleep can be remedied, it isn't something to suffer from. .

gardengal, regular napping can disrupt evening sleep patterns and shouldn't be necessary if one gets a good night's sleep. So I've been told by the specialists/researchers at the medical school sleep clinic I've been going to for over 20 years. I'll give you their phone number, you can call and tell them the information you found on the internet

We enjoy 7.5 hours continuous sleep and we do not nap because our bodies are well rested when we awake. We never get sleepy during the day.

I can attribute our good sleep to proper mattress configuration, proper pillow and neck alignment, diet, exercise, fresh air and other personal activity.

Yes, we make sleeping a priority. I used to work strange hours and never got enough sleep....not any more.

If I get 6 hrs, I'm doing good. It's the rare night that I get more than that...and when I do, I feel groggy the next day. I usually feel pretty good on 6 hrs. But 4 or less and then I'm a basket case.

function---I remember the same thing when I worked. When the retired people stopped in for a visit, they always looked so good, rested, relaxed.

I am in the sleep deprived category. I start my day at 540 which fights what my body wants. Some times it is allergies/sinus's and or body aches which are minor but irritate me and keep me from falling asleep, I can't sleep if its too warm. I wear ear plugs at night because noise bug me. Mind you none of these things bother me during daylight hours. But insomnia caused by my stupid brain not shutting up, keeps me awake all the hours. Im aware of it and have tried different things but usually if I have not dropped into sleep by midnight Im done. Most nights I will wake up several times, on bad nights I will sleep a portion of each hour, those days suck. I can really notice a difference in myself when I get a good nights sleep. Mom is the same, and I think the behaviour rubbed off, but I wonder if there is a genetic component to it too. Mom and I have very different personalities. Im a night person she is not, I am normally not a worrier mom is, my sister who grew up in the same house sleeps through the night without problems. I am envious of folks who can just fall asleep at night and stay asleep.

"I haven’t been to a doctor for more than 12 years."

I think that's probably more worrisome than not sleeping well. Faith is not a substitute for medical care. Good luck to you.

I do best with 8 to 9 hours per night. When I was working and needing to get up early, I'd go to bed early too. Earlier than my parents sent me to bed when I was a little kid, lol. In retirement, I stay up later and get up later -- but still 8 to 9 hours.

I've never been able to sleep for more than 9 hours at a time.

Every once in a while I'll have a hard time falling asleep, or wake up in the middle of the night and have a hard time getting back to sleep. I've never been able to nap, so I'm just grumpy on those days.

I get enough. I work 12 hour night shifts. I get home around 5:40 in the morning. When i get home, I cook breakfast, clean the kitchen, and am in bed and asleep by 6:30, 7 at the latest. I sleep well unless something wakes me up. It is either SO calling or texting me, which he rarely does unless its important, or the fur heathens barking their heads off at something right outside my window. Yesterday, AT&T was working on something on one of the power poles that happens to be directly behind where their fence ends. They FINALLY left after what seemed like forever, then the dogs quieted down. Back to sleep, no problem. I get up at 3pm.

Sometimes, i worry that I sleep to much. On my off days, i can and will stay in bed and sleep all day, wake up to eat, then go back to sleep all night. SO wanted me to go to the doctor on one particular week when i was spending 20 hours or so asleep each day,but i was TIRED!!!!! I do make an effort to get up after so long. Once i get up and start doing things, I am not tired anymore. Its just so tempting to keep laying there.

amylou, you are fortunate to sleep as well as you do.. When I worked nights (also 12 hours) I could never ever sleep well in the daytime, typically waking up every hour. But, your need to sleep so much on a day off probably indicates that your sleep is disturbed enough that you have a sleep debt -- so it is good to listen to your body.

Elmer, lack of sleep can be so much more complex than you seem to allow. Many have reasons for losing sleep that doctors can't cure. For example, menopause and chronic pain are common causes of poor sleep quality. In both of those examples the "cures" are either nonexistent or worse than the problem.

Elmer, I'm confused. Its taken 20 years for your sleep doctor to obtain results for you? Think I'd be seeing another doctor or is it ongoing treatments you receive in order to sleep well?

Mamap, I read that Elmer first got treatment 20 yrs ago and has been on the same med for restless leg syndrome for nearly 20 yrs.

Sometimes, I work odd shifts through the week. Weekends and holidays are 12.5 hour days shift, and weekdays are evening shift till 1 am. So, on the weekends I work it's harder to get to bed at a decent time and wake early in the morning, when most other days are spent getting to bed early in the morning and sleeping till early afternoon. I'm going to schedule myself for all weekends starting next month and try and get up earlier on days I work during the week so there isn't such a big difference.

I am sleeping well and enough hours when my husband is traveling. Unless one of the dogs has to go out. If he is home, not so much. You would think I could ignore the snoring after almost 30 years.

Jim and Tennessee and Raee, my heart goes out to y'all, unable to sleep due to pain. I hope the future brings some relief and better rest.

Iris S, try separate bedrooms. We have been married for 43 years. My snoring was waking him up and his moaning and groaning in his sleep due to chronic pain was waking me up. So 3 years ago we decided if we were going to get a full nights sleep that separate bedrooms were the answer. At first it felt weird sleeping by myself, but to tell you the truth now I love it.

No, some nights it's really bad. Maybe 3 hours total. And never more than 6, and that's broken up. I wake up every hour or so. VERY annoying. I'm so envious of people who can sleep so well.

I never get a full night's sleep due to a little cat who wants snuggling and loving from his mommy, but I wouldn't change a thing.

Funktionthenlook, even though my older daughter is 25 and is just here for some holidays, hers is the only spare room. My younger one is still in College but here often on weekends. I did use that room in the middle of the night a few times, but it didn’t really work. Can’t fall asleep with earplugs. Looks like a lot of people here have it far worse, so I am going to start complaining in earnest once he retires.

Raye, I'm not sure what you're saying. Lots of things in the world are complex and that's sure true in medicine, where so many medical problems have compound and sometimes not even fully understood consequences. So what? Something more than 25% of people have treatable but untreated chronic sleep disorders and the percentage increases with age. The adverse health consequences can be serious and extend far beyond how you feel during the day and whether you take naps. It caused one of my friends to have a heart attack. Someone who's been to a sleep doctor and told the cause is outside of their expertise is one thing. Someone who doesn't go because they think "this stuff is complicated" or "doctors don't know what works for me" or "the cure is worse than the condition" are fooling only themselves.

Dolly, yes, exactly. I went for treatment over 20 years ago, when the specialty was still very new. And to a medical school where a number of the faculty are pioneers in the field. I was diagnosed and treatment began immediately. It's more than 20 years later, I still see them for a brief office visit annually and the exact treatments started all those years ago continue to be very easy and very effective for me.

I have been for a sleep study and now wear a Somnodent mouthpiece at night. I have mild to moderate sleep apnea and monitor activity with an app. It changed and helped my sleep a lot. I do feel more rested. While I didn’t have the best of experiences with the actual sleep study itself, that’s another story, and it still worked out.

I still have nights, like last night, where I will wake up because of excessive wind or storms and can’t go back to sleep for a while. So I will read a bit and finally go back to sleep. I still managed almost 7 hours and took a short nap this afternoon.

Sometimes something might be on my mind and I might have a restless night, or maybe something I ate. MSG can do it, I think, and sometimes I believe it isn’t disclosed in food.

We're retired. If my DH got any more sleep he'd be comatose. LOL!

It's 1:23 am. I need to get up at 5:45 at the latest. Enough said?

We're retired. If my DH got any more sleep he'd be comatose.

Sleeping too many hours may be caused by a medical problem.

Not enough. I get up at 6:30 for work and often don't go to bed until midnight. I nap sometimes but I can't sleep past 4 or I won't be able to sleep at night.

I had a sleep study done and I have mild apnea but the insurance company said that it wasn't bad enough to treat. Which doesn't make sense because I would think you'd want to treat it before it becomes serious.... I even tried to challenge it when I was pregnant and they wouldn't budge, and we have great insurance normally.

brushworks is correct, someone who regularly sleeps more than what's considered adequate (maybe 7.5-8.5 hrs per night but I'm not sure about the numbers) could indeed have a sleep disorder. More isn't better from a health standpoint and the body trying to sleep longer regularly may be sending a message.

As with the other problems, a trained physician can address the irregularities. But nothing will happen to those of you with sleep problems unless you check out what's available in your area (medical schools are best when available within a reasonable distance) and make an appointment.

Brushworks and Elmer is right, there are many things related to excessive sleeping, some that cause it, some for which it seems to be an early indicator. See if you can get him checked out.

There is also a correlation between sleep apnea and blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes. If you have it, and have some trouble controlling blood sugar despite being strict with diet, exercise (always the first 2 and best treatments) and medication, look at whether you have undiagnosed SA.

I try to get 8 hours every night. Some nights I'll lay in bed and read Facebook (bad habit, I know) and I'll get about 7. Other nights I'll go to bed early to get that extra hour sleep and I'll wake up early. Last Saturday I slept almost 10 hours, which I haven't done in about 20 years. I'm fighting off the beginning of a cold, so I think that had something to do with it. And the threat of a lay off is waking me up almost every night now. We find out Monday who gets to stay. I want to be 100% sure I am, but I can't.

I did forget to add on my post that I never sleep straight through the night/day. Usually wake up to use the restroom at least once. Or get woken by the dogs barking at something outside or scratching on the door to go out. I've been telling them to go back to bed lately, thinking they were just wanting to chase rabbits, but woke up to a mess this afternoon. ) :

Best of luck on Monday Debby. Sending good thoughts your way

Thank you everyone. Sad and interesting how many of us struggle with sleep at different times. I admit I am fortunate that when I do sleep my 6 or 7 hours I sleep right through. And I don't hear DH's snoring which isn't very bad anyway.

No matter when I go to sleep, I am fully (brain on) awake at 5-5:30am, so I try very hard to be in bed by 10pm. I use an Ohm white noise machine to reduce distractions like my husband's snoring or making noise in our home (he goes to bed anytime between 11pm-3am).

The things that seem to affect my sleep are full moons (no kidding), screen time before bed, and anxiety. I'm also very sensitive to caffeine, so have to watch what I consume after 2pm.

I have learned that if I am anxious and can't sleep, I need to get out of bed and read for awhile to change my focus and then try to rest on our couch. If I stay in bed, I just get more anxious about the cause and then I start to feel resentful. I'm working on the anxiety with a counselor, so maybe there is hope for better nights in my future.

Here is something that I heard, where I can't remember, but it does help. If I have something on my mind that is keeping me from sleeping, write it down. It allows your brain to "release" that concern.