More on sleep, aching arm and pinging tablets

 Thank you for all the comments and suggestions about sleeplessness, it all made very interesting reading.  However, I'm not sure I agree with the theories about the '2 sleeps', or about not using modern technology (mobile phones, internet, blue screen etc) to help with sleep.  

Re the '2 sleeps' of the Middle Ages - I don't have just one period of wakefulness between two distinct periods of sleep.....I have several waking periods, almost every night, always have.  As for not using phones or internet in the period before sleep - all I can say to that is that I've suffered with insomnia my entire life, and obviously there was no internet or mobile phones etc years ago, so it's not my use of them now that keeps me from falling asleep - I didn't have them years ago, but still didn't sleep.  And my Mum made sure we had a sensible wind-down routine each evening - bath, quiet reading, small cup of warm milk with honey.  Nope, still didn't work.  I think that family doctor of years ago was probably right - overactive imagination.  Although he clearly wasn't right about the 'growing out of it' part.

I've tried meditation apps on my phone - they're soothing yes, and I do drop off to sleep fairly quickly.  But then I usually do anyway....although there are nights when it takes me ages to get off to sleep.  My main problem has always been waking up several times during the night, and often being unable to get back to sleep quickly, if at all.  But the meditation apps don't seem to work as well during the night for getting me back off to sleep, for whatever reason.  My mind is always on the go, that's for sure, so it seems likely that's the root of the problem.  I know some people say, well put the light on and write down your worries, or list of things you need to do the next day.  Yep, tried that too.....as I said before, I've tried pretty much everything.  After all these years, I think it's just a case now of accepting the wakefulness, not worrying about it, quietly reading or going downstairs to make myself a cup of hot milk, and knowing I will eventually, even if it's a few nights later, get a half decent night's sleep.  I also know to be kind to myself and not expect to do too much (especially any computer work or banking) on the day following a very bad night.

We had our flu jabs first thing this morning.....last week following the Covid jabs, neither of us had any reaction to speak of, a mildly sore arm and that was it.  Today though, nearly 3 hours after the flu jab, my arm is beginning to feel quite achy, as if I'd been punched.  Hopefully it'll wear off soon, and if that's the extent of the side effects, then I don't mind at all.  

Once home, we had a coffee then sat at the table and did husband's tablet sorting into his daily medication box.  Not fun, but it has to be done, it saves the uncertainty of him missing out some dosages - and of him pinging the tablets all over the place, as he often did! (I'm the one who now gets them out of the packets).  It always worried me when he dropped the tablets - he wasn't very good at finding them and was prone to giving up.  The worry being not only that it was a med he might not then take, but because of the possibility of Betty finding them on the floor and her eating them.  Now that could be very dangerous.

I made a veggie & cheese tart yesterday, using a grated butternut squash, finely sliced shallots, a whole pack of crumbled Feta, a handful of grated Emmental, lots of sage, all bound together with 3 eggs beaten with some single cream, in a shortcrust pastry base.  Cut into 8 portions, we'll have 2 for lunch today and tomorrow and the other 4 slices I've frozen.  For dinner tonight husband's having bbq ribs and spicy rice, I'm having scampi, we'll have salad on the side.  Dinner tomorrow is roast chicken again for husband (his choice) and the usual roast and green veggies for me.