I usually only sleep a couple of hours each night too. I was on the low side in the lower grades too. They used to let me read during nap times in Kindergarten and first grade since I was reading on the second or third grade level before I started and I rarely slept then. I read at night too starting that early. I came with allergies and congestion problems that will most likely be with me for the rest of my life. The meds that worked best for me are not available anymore since the illegal drug manufacturers liked them as ingredients. My mother's father died young basically from allergies and secondary pneumonia before much was available in the way of antihistamines or antibiotics.
If I get really upset about something I can be up up to 96 hrs. We have a monitor here. My blood pressure will go way up too. I have systolic BPs in excess of 200 at these times instead of in the 130s. Yeah, I usually have to have blood pressure retaken later during doctors apts since I usually get up around 150 early in the apt and drop back down. I started doing this at Brain Injury recheck apts, but it has continued on. Major hi stress GI signs too, so I don't eat at these times.
I had lost weight before my brain injury because of a medical problem, and I was down to 96 # when I came out of the coma. I still had a transtracheal tube for about another three weeks. I had marked dysphagia for almost a year and still have chokes to deal with. At least my veterinary background gave me a starting point in dealing with it, so I knew to start walking during episodes and yes I have had to get up at restaurants and go walking in the parking lot for a while a couple of times too. This has been going on 25 yrs now so it's nothing new to friends and family.
Unfortunately, sleep disorders seem to be linked with extra body weight and snacking. I try to keep around a little raw broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots (they have bags in most stores and they are not real expensive). I also like edamame (soybeans in the pod), snowpeas , waterchestnuts, and bamboo shoots. I like raw cabbage too. I also eat some of my container produce including grape tomatoes, broccoli and whatever else I am trying that year when it is in season. I get to use some of my herbs I grow in food prep too. That way I have some low calorie snack food around. I keep some bags of frozen vegetables around too. If there is no fresh, frozen will often do after a bit of microwaving. At least it is something other than sweets or overprocessed carbohydrates. Everyone has to find out what works for them.
I do a fair bit of walking and stairs with animal care, gardening and lawn care. Any regular activity does seem to help. A cat deciding to sleep on me seems to help sometimes too. I guess purring vibrations and being kneaded have that affect on me - as long as I am not too congested. Antihistamines do not put me to sleep like they do my brother and some other people. Everybody is different.
Edited by: SDANLSON at: 3/6/2017 (01:33)