Just in case anyone was wondering, it's still September. Oh, and today might feel like Friday, but it's not. Today is Thursday. You're welcome.
I've been having some trouble sleeping lately. I haven't been tired at my usual bedtime (between 9:30 and 10), so I've been laying awake in bed trying to fall asleep - because of my early work schedule, I don't want to stay up doing other things or else I'll be a total zombie at work the next morning. (Brains... er, I mean coffee. Coffee...). It's been really frustrating - in addition to having trouble falling asleep, I also have been waking up in the middle of the night.
Not cool, body. Not cool.
Last night was particularly awful. I made one of my favorite dinners - chicken and taco rice. I cut up a chicken breast and season it with taco-related seasonings and saute it. The taco rice is just one of those Lipton "Rice Sides" dishes. Super easy to make, and not bad tasting, either. Add some "taco" cheese (you can buy shredded taco cheese at any store) to the mix and it's a delicious meal!
However, around 1:00 AM, disaster struck. I woke up with the worst acid reflux attack I've ever had. I also felt like I was going to be sick. Naturally, I start to panic. Did I not cook the chicken all the way through? Had it gone bad? Everything tasted ok at the time, but this feeling was not good at all. Far from it. I kept telling myself over and over again not to throw up. When something I eat makes me vomit, I can't eat it again for years. (Those of you who went to college with me - remember how much I hated frosting? That incident that brought that on happened when I was about 11, and I only just started eating frosting again a few years ago). I don't want that to happen with chicken and taco rice. I especially don't want it to happen with something I cooked myself, because I don't know if I'd be able to trust my own cooking.
I ate a few saltines to try to calm my stomach. I took deep breaths. I swallowed a lot. I drank some water.
Eventually, things started feeling normal again. Eventually I was able to lie down. After about an hour, I was starting to fall back asleep.
Of course, my alarm starts going off at 5. Duty calls.
Commence zombification...
Movie Joker
5 years ago
Posts
I suffer from acid reflux and there are a few things you can do. Try to eat your last meal at least 2 hours before going to bed. Don't lie down after eating. Sleep propped up on 2 pillows, even better, raise the head of the bed by 6 inches, put it on blocks or something.
ReplyDeleteOh, I already do that (except putting my bed at an angle, don't think I could sleep that way), but thanks for the tips. I also take Zantac daily. (At least I think it's Zantac - I get the generic from the pharmacy). This wasn't like typical heartburn. I'm pretty sure it was sent directly from hell.
ReplyDeleteAmber and I have found that a small dose (I think we buy 3mg pills) of melatonin 1/2 before bed works pretty well to get us to sleep without the nasty side effects associated with sleeping pills.
ReplyDeleteEven though it's naturally occurring I still try not to take it every night but if I'm having issues falling asleep I'll take it for a few nights and it usually resets my sleep cycle for me pretty well.
It's available in the vitamin section of most stores, we've bought it at both Target and Whole Paycheck in the past
Yuck! Sounds like you had an awful night! One time I ate a ton of a bean dip and got so sick I have never eaten anything even close to it ever again. Hope today you make it through the day!!
ReplyDeleteYuck. My reflux/heartburn is often stress related, and so are my sleep troubles. Could it be that?
ReplyDeleteOr have you ever been checked for apnea. Chris recently did (he's had sleeping and reflux issues) and sure enough he has it. Waiting to get his machine to help him sleep.
I remember well the frosting aversion. Ryan recently had Polish sausage for the first time since an unpleasant incident several years ago.
ReplyDeleteI might have called in sick after a night like that! Glad your stomach calmed down.
- Lizz