Hi guys,
I suffered from insomnia. I tried to abstain from taking sleeping pills a few days before any match days. This created havoc to my concentration and, of course...my scores.
Does any one knows whether mild transquillors, like valium or ativan are permitted under ISSF rules on doping?
By the way, sleeping well helps my performance but not the usage of such medications.
Andre
.41184.0
Insomnia
Moderators: rexifelis, pilkguns
-
Don
Re: Insomnia
: Hi guys,
: I suffered from insomnia. I tried to abstain from taking sleeping pills a few days before any match days. This created havoc to my concentration and, of course...my scores.
: Does any one knows whether mild transquillors, like valium or ativan are permitted under ISSF rules on doping?
I have problems with cramps in my legs when I sleep, so I have been taking a combination of a mild sleep aid and aspirin about an hour or so before going to bed. It takes that long to begin working. I still wake up early, but at least I sleep sound most of the night. Might be worth a try. The sleep aid, by the way, is similar to the anti-histamin? that you take for hay fever, etc.
Hope this helps.
: By the way, sleeping well helps my performance but not the usage of such medications.
: Andre
bawilli-at-attglobal.net.41185.41184
: I suffered from insomnia. I tried to abstain from taking sleeping pills a few days before any match days. This created havoc to my concentration and, of course...my scores.
: Does any one knows whether mild transquillors, like valium or ativan are permitted under ISSF rules on doping?
I have problems with cramps in my legs when I sleep, so I have been taking a combination of a mild sleep aid and aspirin about an hour or so before going to bed. It takes that long to begin working. I still wake up early, but at least I sleep sound most of the night. Might be worth a try. The sleep aid, by the way, is similar to the anti-histamin? that you take for hay fever, etc.
Hope this helps.
: By the way, sleeping well helps my performance but not the usage of such medications.
: Andre
bawilli-at-attglobal.net.41185.41184
-
Mako
Re: Insomnia
Try Melatonin ... that is what your body produces to "tell" it to go to sleep ... completely natural ... makes one drowsy ... no after effects ...
You should be able to find this anywhere where they sell herbals and vitamins, etc. Local drug store should have it ...
makofoto-at-earthlink.net.41192.41185
You should be able to find this anywhere where they sell herbals and vitamins, etc. Local drug store should have it ...
makofoto-at-earthlink.net.41192.41185
-
Gaines Blackwell
Re: Insomnia
Did you discuss this with a physician? All may not so helpful but my opthalmologist told me to bring my 10M rifle to his office....with targets to help me work out a focus problem....great fellow. You might explain your problem with your physician and find a non-habit forming legal way to help your sleep problem. Our state medical school runs fre sleep clinics for research...on occassion. Joe Matusic, that post here is an MD and may have some ideas, he has helped many a shooter........
: Hi guys,
: I suffered from insomnia. I tried to abstain from taking sleeping pills a few days before any match days. This created havoc to my concentration and, of course...my scores.
: Does any one knows whether mild transquillors, like valium or ativan are permitted under ISSF rules on doping?
: By the way, sleeping well helps my performance but not the usage of such medications.
: Andre
gtblackwell-at-charter.net.41200.41184
: Hi guys,
: I suffered from insomnia. I tried to abstain from taking sleeping pills a few days before any match days. This created havoc to my concentration and, of course...my scores.
: Does any one knows whether mild transquillors, like valium or ativan are permitted under ISSF rules on doping?
: By the way, sleeping well helps my performance but not the usage of such medications.
: Andre
gtblackwell-at-charter.net.41200.41184
-
RFW
Re: Insomnia
Although this train of though is only loosely related, it may apply to your situation or help others.
I was diagnosed a couple of years ago with sleep apnea. The only symptoms were easily falling asleep while driving, and the wife kicking me all night. I thought the fitful sleep was due to job stress.
A one night stay in a sleep clinic under the watch of a specialist showed I was waking every 30 minutes or so because my heart was stopping! The prescribed cure was sleeping with a small air pump and mask. The filtered, hydrated air yields the most relaxing, drug free sleep I've ever had in my entire life. And the low level white noise generated by the pump lets me sleep great, even in strange motel rooms.
Apnea is one of those health issues that didn't exist 10 years ago. Few GPs understand it. There are also many misleading urban folk tales. Apnea is not a problem of the old and obese. I am neither.
Glad to talk more with anyone, or search "apnea" on the web.
rfwhatley-at-earthlink.net.41207.41184
I was diagnosed a couple of years ago with sleep apnea. The only symptoms were easily falling asleep while driving, and the wife kicking me all night. I thought the fitful sleep was due to job stress.
A one night stay in a sleep clinic under the watch of a specialist showed I was waking every 30 minutes or so because my heart was stopping! The prescribed cure was sleeping with a small air pump and mask. The filtered, hydrated air yields the most relaxing, drug free sleep I've ever had in my entire life. And the low level white noise generated by the pump lets me sleep great, even in strange motel rooms.
Apnea is one of those health issues that didn't exist 10 years ago. Few GPs understand it. There are also many misleading urban folk tales. Apnea is not a problem of the old and obese. I am neither.
Glad to talk more with anyone, or search "apnea" on the web.
rfwhatley-at-earthlink.net.41207.41184
-
Joe Matusic, MD
Re: Insomnia
There are so many possiblities here that they actually have sleep clinics for this type of thing. If you have found something that works for you, has no side effects or potential long term effects and is ok by the "rules", then your ok. Taking the medicine that long before a match should negate any effect by the time of the match. Those who are trying to improve their scores are often taking medicinal doses with peak effect at the time of the match.
If you can't take the pills for a match, then you shoud find a cure that you can shoot with. Of course this could take a lot of time to figure out unless you have a specialist to help. I am a pediatrician (both a primary care doctor and a specialist in pediatrics). While I handle sleep issues every day, adult sleep issues and pediatric ones are quite different. My adolescent cases and parents I send to a sleep pathologist. I would bypass the PCP (primary care provider) unless that one has a particular interest in this area.
It take me 5-10 minutes of intensive questioning just to figure out what is going on in kids. It could take a while to figure it out in an adult. We generally break things down to trouble getting to sleep, trouble maintaining sleep, night time awakening, sleep apnea, sleep duration, etc. If its just trouble getting to sleep, exercise, relaxation techniques, melatonin, turkey, etc, can help.
Joe.Matusic-at-Camc.org.41215.41184
If you can't take the pills for a match, then you shoud find a cure that you can shoot with. Of course this could take a lot of time to figure out unless you have a specialist to help. I am a pediatrician (both a primary care doctor and a specialist in pediatrics). While I handle sleep issues every day, adult sleep issues and pediatric ones are quite different. My adolescent cases and parents I send to a sleep pathologist. I would bypass the PCP (primary care provider) unless that one has a particular interest in this area.
It take me 5-10 minutes of intensive questioning just to figure out what is going on in kids. It could take a while to figure it out in an adult. We generally break things down to trouble getting to sleep, trouble maintaining sleep, night time awakening, sleep apnea, sleep duration, etc. If its just trouble getting to sleep, exercise, relaxation techniques, melatonin, turkey, etc, can help.
Joe.Matusic-at-Camc.org.41215.41184
-
Sean
Re: Insomnia
While not a doctor (nor pretending to be one) I would like to attest to the effectiveness of a certain recommendation made by Dr. Matusic: Exercise. In my experience (male, 29 yrs. old and in good physical shape) exercising (particularly heavy (for me) weight lifting) has consistently shown a dramatic improvement in my ability to quickly fall asleep, sleep deeply throughout the night and have much more energy during the day (less afternoon sluggishness). I have the weights at home in my basement (a nice setup--next to my shooting range) and typically workout at about 7PM or later with my wife while the kids play. My wife also has noticed the difference in both her ability to sleep hard as well as a multitude of other benefits (increased metabolic rate, less prone to injury, much better motor skills (with respect to improved accuracy when throwing balls), improved self-image, feeling generally healthier, etc). She also includes running 3-5 mornings a week.
It really seems to be that the human body was designed to stay most healthy when it regularly has to physically exert itself to accomplish tasks. If you're new to exercise, take some time to learn how to target the different muscle groups in your body correctly and always use good form to prevent unwanted injury. A good basic whole body workout 3 times a week (1 hour a session, maybe more) is a good place to start.
Please understand I do not mean to treat your situation with contempt--It could be that you have a serious problem that needs professional attention. Nevertheless, unless you have extenuating physical circumstances to prevent exercising, working out provides many benefits that should justify the effort and time involved.
I hope things improve for you as sleep is a pretty essential need for the human body.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
: There are so many possiblities here that they actually have sleep clinics for this type of thing. If you have found something that works for you, has no side effects or potential long term effects and is ok by the "rules", then your ok. Taking the medicine that long before a match should negate any effect by the time of the match. Those who are trying to improve their scores are often taking medicinal doses with peak effect at the time of the match.
: If you can't take the pills for a match, then you shoud find a cure that you can shoot with. Of course this could take a lot of time to figure out unless you have a specialist to help. I am a pediatrician (both a primary care doctor and a specialist in pediatrics). While I handle sleep issues every day, adult sleep issues and pediatric ones are quite different. My adolescent cases and parents I send to a sleep pathologist. I would bypass the PCP (primary care provider) unless that one has a particular interest in this area.
: It take me 5-10 minutes of intensive questioning just to figure out what is going on in kids. It could take a while to figure it out in an adult. We generally break things down to trouble getting to sleep, trouble maintaining sleep, night time awakening, sleep apnea, sleep duration, etc. If its just trouble getting to sleep, exercise, relaxation techniques, melatonin, turkey, etc, can help.
seanh-at-huscointl.com.41231.41215
It really seems to be that the human body was designed to stay most healthy when it regularly has to physically exert itself to accomplish tasks. If you're new to exercise, take some time to learn how to target the different muscle groups in your body correctly and always use good form to prevent unwanted injury. A good basic whole body workout 3 times a week (1 hour a session, maybe more) is a good place to start.
Please understand I do not mean to treat your situation with contempt--It could be that you have a serious problem that needs professional attention. Nevertheless, unless you have extenuating physical circumstances to prevent exercising, working out provides many benefits that should justify the effort and time involved.
I hope things improve for you as sleep is a pretty essential need for the human body.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
: There are so many possiblities here that they actually have sleep clinics for this type of thing. If you have found something that works for you, has no side effects or potential long term effects and is ok by the "rules", then your ok. Taking the medicine that long before a match should negate any effect by the time of the match. Those who are trying to improve their scores are often taking medicinal doses with peak effect at the time of the match.
: If you can't take the pills for a match, then you shoud find a cure that you can shoot with. Of course this could take a lot of time to figure out unless you have a specialist to help. I am a pediatrician (both a primary care doctor and a specialist in pediatrics). While I handle sleep issues every day, adult sleep issues and pediatric ones are quite different. My adolescent cases and parents I send to a sleep pathologist. I would bypass the PCP (primary care provider) unless that one has a particular interest in this area.
: It take me 5-10 minutes of intensive questioning just to figure out what is going on in kids. It could take a while to figure it out in an adult. We generally break things down to trouble getting to sleep, trouble maintaining sleep, night time awakening, sleep apnea, sleep duration, etc. If its just trouble getting to sleep, exercise, relaxation techniques, melatonin, turkey, etc, can help.
seanh-at-huscointl.com.41231.41215
-
Joe Matusic, MD
Re: Insomnia
The exercise will also help your heart rate, muscle control for shooting.
I am a big believer in trying simple things first, spend money or test only when necessary. As doctors we always tell people to exercise and routinely see this ignored (well here in WV, the most obese state in the union anyway). I am 30-40 pounds over for my height myself. I have hypothyroidism and, although my levels are ok, I blammed a lot of my muscle aches, etc, on the hypothyroidism. I started that Power 90 exercise program a few weeks ago. I did one week of the intensive exercise before quiting when I went on vacation. I was amazed that I slept better, had almost no muscle/joint aches and just felt better overall. That effect wore off after about 4-8 days of not doing the program. The best time for me to exercise is 4:50-5:20 in the am and its just too easy to keep hitting the snooze button. I too am guilty of the putting it off thing. All the good reasons to exercise seem less appealing than 30 minutes of extra sleep. Tomorrow I start again (said the same thing Sunday).
Joe.Matusic-at-Camc.org.41232.41231
I am a big believer in trying simple things first, spend money or test only when necessary. As doctors we always tell people to exercise and routinely see this ignored (well here in WV, the most obese state in the union anyway). I am 30-40 pounds over for my height myself. I have hypothyroidism and, although my levels are ok, I blammed a lot of my muscle aches, etc, on the hypothyroidism. I started that Power 90 exercise program a few weeks ago. I did one week of the intensive exercise before quiting when I went on vacation. I was amazed that I slept better, had almost no muscle/joint aches and just felt better overall. That effect wore off after about 4-8 days of not doing the program. The best time for me to exercise is 4:50-5:20 in the am and its just too easy to keep hitting the snooze button. I too am guilty of the putting it off thing. All the good reasons to exercise seem less appealing than 30 minutes of extra sleep. Tomorrow I start again (said the same thing Sunday).
Joe.Matusic-at-Camc.org.41232.41231
-
mike p
what will turkey do?
: There are so many possiblities here that they actually have sleep clinics for this type of thing. If you have found something that works for you, has no side effects or potential long term effects and is ok by the "rules", then your ok. Taking the medicine that long before a match should negate any effect by the time of the match. Those who are trying to improve their scores are often taking medicinal doses with peak effect at the time of the match.
: If you can't take the pills for a match, then you shoud find a cure that you can shoot with. Of course this could take a lot of time to figure out unless you have a specialist to help. I am a pediatrician (both a primary care doctor and a specialist in pediatrics). While I handle sleep issues every day, adult sleep issues and pediatric ones are quite different. My adolescent cases and parents I send to a sleep pathologist. I would bypass the PCP (primary care provider) unless that one has a particular interest in this area.
: It take me 5-10 minutes of intensive questioning just to figure out what is going on in kids. It could take a while to figure it out in an adult. We generally break things down to trouble getting to sleep, trouble maintaining sleep, night time awakening, sleep apnea, sleep duration, etc. If its just trouble getting to sleep, exercise, relaxation techniques, melatonin, turkey, etc, can help.
.41250.41215
: If you can't take the pills for a match, then you shoud find a cure that you can shoot with. Of course this could take a lot of time to figure out unless you have a specialist to help. I am a pediatrician (both a primary care doctor and a specialist in pediatrics). While I handle sleep issues every day, adult sleep issues and pediatric ones are quite different. My adolescent cases and parents I send to a sleep pathologist. I would bypass the PCP (primary care provider) unless that one has a particular interest in this area.
: It take me 5-10 minutes of intensive questioning just to figure out what is going on in kids. It could take a while to figure it out in an adult. We generally break things down to trouble getting to sleep, trouble maintaining sleep, night time awakening, sleep apnea, sleep duration, etc. If its just trouble getting to sleep, exercise, relaxation techniques, melatonin, turkey, etc, can help.
.41250.41215
-
Richard
Re: Insomnia
What is the Power 90 program?
: The exercise will also help your heart rate, muscle control for shooting.
: I am a big believer in trying simple things first, spend money or test only when necessary. As doctors we always tell people to exercise and routinely see this ignored (well here in WV, the most obese state in the union anyway). I am 30-40 pounds over for my height myself. I have hypothyroidism and, although my levels are ok, I blammed a lot of my muscle aches, etc, on the hypothyroidism. I started that Power 90 exercise program a few weeks ago. I did one week of the intensive exercise before quiting when I went on vacation. I was amazed that I slept better, had almost no muscle/joint aches and just felt better overall. That effect wore off after about 4-8 days of not doing the program. The best time for me to exercise is 4:50-5:20 in the am and its just too easy to keep hitting the snooze button. I too am guilty of the putting it off thing. All the good reasons to exercise seem less appealing than 30 minutes of extra sleep. Tomorrow I start again (said the same thing Sunday).
.41251.41232
: The exercise will also help your heart rate, muscle control for shooting.
: I am a big believer in trying simple things first, spend money or test only when necessary. As doctors we always tell people to exercise and routinely see this ignored (well here in WV, the most obese state in the union anyway). I am 30-40 pounds over for my height myself. I have hypothyroidism and, although my levels are ok, I blammed a lot of my muscle aches, etc, on the hypothyroidism. I started that Power 90 exercise program a few weeks ago. I did one week of the intensive exercise before quiting when I went on vacation. I was amazed that I slept better, had almost no muscle/joint aches and just felt better overall. That effect wore off after about 4-8 days of not doing the program. The best time for me to exercise is 4:50-5:20 in the am and its just too easy to keep hitting the snooze button. I too am guilty of the putting it off thing. All the good reasons to exercise seem less appealing than 30 minutes of extra sleep. Tomorrow I start again (said the same thing Sunday).
.41251.41232
-
JLK
I have to agree with the Doctor
Thru the thrills and spills of my youth I suffer from many aches and pains. Some required surgery...removal of disks at C4 thru C7 with fusion with donor bone and titanium plating, orthoscopic (sp?) surgery in both knees, rotator cuff problems, severe tendonitis that required me to stop shooting back in '90, broken fingers, wrist, arms, nose (with 90% blockage of my left nostril, on and on...
Anyway, about a year ago I started working out at a health center. I do a combination of Nautilus type machines, free weights and eliptical transporters 3 times a week. There have been a couple times I have missed for a couple weeks at a time but I have always gone back. I cannot tell you the difference it makes in relieving my aches and pains. It almost feels like I am welding armor plate on when I have kept it up for months at a time. The regulars are always very supportive as well. I can highly recommend this time of exercise. The fact that I have to get out and go some place to do it helps as well.
Now if I could just get people to stop calling me "Ah-nold"!
(just kidding)
.41254.41232
Anyway, about a year ago I started working out at a health center. I do a combination of Nautilus type machines, free weights and eliptical transporters 3 times a week. There have been a couple times I have missed for a couple weeks at a time but I have always gone back. I cannot tell you the difference it makes in relieving my aches and pains. It almost feels like I am welding armor plate on when I have kept it up for months at a time. The regulars are always very supportive as well. I can highly recommend this time of exercise. The fact that I have to get out and go some place to do it helps as well.
Now if I could just get people to stop calling me "Ah-nold"!
(just kidding)
.41254.41232
-
Joe Matusic, MD
Power90
Its one of those infomercial exercise programs. I am a very jaded viewer of those snake oil salesman, but this one followed everything we doctors tell people to do without trying to sell you health in a bottle / pill alternative stuff. It is an easy to follow exercise program, can be tailored to your fitness level and includes the common sense right method for how to curtail your food intake.
Joe.Matusic-at-Camc.org.41257.41251
Joe.Matusic-at-Camc.org.41257.41251
-
Joe Matusic, MD
Typtophan
Turkey contains tryptophan and this helps induce sleep. They used to sell pills of L-Tryptophan, but in high doses it was linked to a liver or blood disorder 9can't remember which). This chemical is what makes you sleepy after a turkey dinner at thanksgiving.
Joe.Matusic-at-Camc.org.41258.41250
Joe.Matusic-at-Camc.org.41258.41250