karens

My husband cannot understand my problem of not sleeping well away from home. He is one of the lucky ones who can sleep anywhere! I think I am spoiled by my suburban cul de sac, very QUIET location. I used to tolerate noise - I lived in college dorm for 4 years and for a year lived on a major street in center city Phila. with a bedroom facing the street. Now hotel room noise bothers me, and keeps me from falling asleep sometimes.

I have tried Ambien and Ativan with some success. But I wish I could sleep whenever/wherever. Does anyone know how this leopard can change its spots?

LoveItaly

karens, this is funny (not funny haha but strange) because I cannot sleep when everything is too quiet.
Isn't life great?
Have you perhaps talked to your doctor about this. Not a big fan of medicine but maybe there is "something", a very light "something" he could prescribe that would help you sleep while traveling.
Also, do you walk a lot and get a lot of fresh air while on your trip? One of my daughters has a problem like you do but if she walks for about an hour after dinner she does find that she sleeps better. Happy dreams!

Anonymous

Start by making your preferences known at check-in: A room far from noise sources such as icemakers and elevators. The end of the hall is also good for avoiding the conversations fo people walking by. Higher floors, and facing away from the street, will be quieter.

White noise helps -- no need to bring gadgets, usually you can make do with the room's own ventilation (airconditioner, etc.), or perhaps the TV (a station with no reception) or radio (just tune in some soft static).

My sister swears that it helps to bring her own pillow from home, or (if not traveling by car) at least a familiar pillowcase.

You could even practice by making your own home environment noisier - fall asleep wtih the TV on!

Tandoori_Girl

I sleep well if it's dark and hotel rooms have those heavy draperies so it's rarely a problem. But if there is noise or if it's bright (such as a room with windows next to a door with an exterior light) then I'm a mess. One thing I've learned over my years of insomnia is to put a pillow over my head. Don't know why it works but it often does.

Diana

I can HIGHLY recommend this travel radio/alarm from Brookstone:

http://www.brookstone.com/shop/produ...pe=subcategory

It's expensive, but I can't tell you how many times the different soothing noises it plays have lulled me to sleep and it has allowed me to sleep like a baby through the night in hotels with noisy neighbors, TV sounds, music playing, husband snoring, etc.

(You can buy it cheper on Ebay.)

I also have the full size version and both are lifesavers!

A cheap version (what I USED to do) is to put the TV on to a whoite nose channel or to turn on the fan full blast on the A/C with the heat or A/C off - just run the fan.

Also, make sure you don't sleep in in the morning, and make sure the drapes are fully closed and that you KNOW the door is securely locked. (For peace of mind.)

The only "drug" I ever rely on is Valerian - a root derivative available in drug and chain stores.

OldSouthernBelle

I have several "remedies", since, after any evening social activity, I'm wired. Other reasons throughtout the years (53yo) also caused me to find these.
1) Yes, exercise can help, but don't do
it too close to bedtime. Afternoon
works best for me.
2) Benadryl works great, but I had to
stop that when I was put on Allegra
for allergies. Benadryl is the
"active ingredient" in Sominex and
Tylenol PM ( the PM part of it).
Too much antihistamines can cause
constipation, so drink your h20
and eat your fruit/fiber!
3) Vallerian Root can help. It's an
over the counter herb. Pharmacist
says it's not habit forming, and
that's held true for me and a few
of my friends.
4) Ear Plugs ( I like the foam type ).
This is a MUST for me since living
noisy hubby/teenagers ( now grown).
5) My own pillow ( I have taken it to
France with me!)
6) A small glass of red wine( don't do
#7 if you do this).
7) Last resort for me: Xanax (1/2 tab)
This is usually what I resort to
after the major evening social
events that leave me wired (rare),
if not asleep after 20 minutes, I
take this and am asleep, in about
10 or less. Habit forming if
abused ( daily, regular use).
Hope you find something here that helps!
OSB.

karens

Thanks all. I already do the ear plugs, and I get upset when I see that our room doesn't have a bathroom fan - I love those! I'm also a sleeper with the pillow over my head!

I'm an exerciser who tries to do at least one run while on vacation, and haven't noticed anything different.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one with this problem! This is my biggest travel issue and I'd really like to get over it.

yesu39470

I agree with all of the above, especially about bringing yur own pillow. I never leave home without mine. Also, try a warm bath with a glass of wine OR (not and) Ambein or Valium.... you should be sleepy by then!
Good luck.

Scarlett

First, let me say that I love your Screen name, OldSouthernBelle

karens,
It takes me a while to fall asleep in a new bed, wherever we are, but it does help me if I have been walking all day (sightseeing) a glass or two of wine (red) with dinner, a hot bath then straight to bed.
My husband can sleep anywhere, sometimes I lie there and glare at him, willing him to wake up and keep me company in my insomnia..noooo , he sleeps right through it all.
Some things I have learned over the years, red wine and too much chocolate will have your heart pounding and keep you awake.
Some people (myself) react adversely to over the counter drugs like Benadryl and end up lying there wide eyed all night..
Do not take a nap!
Hope this helps. If not, get online, someone else will be awake too LOL

bounty

I, too, have problems with sleeping away from home. We have buckwheat hull pillows that are a godsend for me. My husband can sleep on a picket fence, but I am not that easy. However, I find that the buckwheat pillows allow me a restful sleep( I take mine with me)wherever I lay my head!

Scarlett

LOL, bounty, "sleeping on a picket fence" brings to mind such a funny picture ( with my husband in it!)

shaz60

I hate to admit this and really don't recommend it but......any nighttime liquid cold/cough medicine puts me out for the night. Probably the 10% alcohol. Unlike regular alcohol though, you don't wake up in the middle of the night and toss and turn. The trick is to convince myself that I have a cold to avoid the guilt of using medicine that I don't really.

Scarlett

shaz, I knew someone who took Nyquil to sleep, regardless of not having a cold

Anonymous

NyQuil, like Tylenol PM, relies on the side-effects of an antihistamine for the sleepiness factor. No need to take all those other ingredients, although a hit of Tylenol (i.e., acetaminophen, present in both NyQUil and Tylenol PM) might make you more comfortable by easing hte day's minor discomforts. But NyQuil also contains a cough suppressant which IMHO is a bit much.

Mary2Go

Another natural sleep aid you might try is melatonin. My husband says it does the trick for him.

OO

Tylenol has made a product called Simply Sleep. Same as Tylenol PM, I'm told, but without the pain reliever aspect. I know quite a few people who take it successfully. I've tried it too and 1 will do the job for me with no side effects in the morning. For me not being able to sleep in a new place has nothing to do with noise or light...it's simply the surroundings being alien. Usually by the 3rd night I'm OK.

Right now I've got a bum knee which hurts enough to wake me up during the night so took 2 Tylenol PM the other night. NEVER again, at least not two! I woke up the next morning feeling like a zombie. Didn't really get my engines started until sometime mid afternoon and even then felt drugged!

ChristieP

A white noise generator may do the trick for you. You'll have to use it at home to get used to it, but once you are used to it, just turning it on will make you start to feel sleepy!

Tandoori_Girl

I was told that Tylenol PM is Tylenol with an antihistamine. The antihistamine is what knocks you out.

Anonymous

Yes, indeed - Tylenol PM consists of acetaminophen (AKA Tylenol) plus Diphenhydramine HCl, more commonly known as Benadryl. So if you're buying a product that is Tylenol PM without the Tylenol, you're just buying Benadryl under a different name. And probably a different price. Just check the labels next time you're at hte drugstore.

OO

I have both here so checked the labels, and yup anonymous, you are right. Interesting. Simply Sleep isn't terribly expensive...don't know what I paid now, but it would be interesting to compare prices of Benadryl and Simply Sleep.