[Guest]

I am a nurse, and work 3 12 hour night shifts per week. I have worked this way for 20+ years. I am finding it harder and harder to remain asleep. I will go to bed at around 0830 and wake typically at noon, and sleep fitfully after that until about 2pm when I can no longer go back to sleep. I keep the room dark, turn off the phone, have tried Benadryl, sometimes melatonin, but nothing works. When I asked my doctor for a mild sleeping medication, you would think I asked for heroin! She went on and on about becoming addicted. I don't want to go from doc to doc in search of medication and get some kind of rep as a drug seeker, but I really need relief.
It is so very hard to sleep in the daytime. I cannot control neighbors' lives. People will mow their lawns, children will play next door, and life will go on even if I am trying to sleep. What is the harm in perhaps taking an Ambien on the days I am trying to sleep, or do you have some other suggestion for me?
I do not have trouble sleeping at night at all.

[Guest]

Shift work does become more difficult as one ages. The use of hypnotics such as ambien on a chronic nature is very controversial. Some people will offer it for the first one or two nights after switching from day to night, it does help. Sleep hygiene issues such as avoiding caffeine during your night of work may help. Avoiding sunlight on your drive home (sunglasses) might help. Taking the phone off the hook, perhaps a sign on your door. White noise might help as well. Bright light at night before work might help. Do not exercise right before bedtime, but upon awakenig.
[quote] I am a nurse, and work 3 12 hour night shifts per week. I have worked this way for 20+ years... [/quote]