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I have a very demanding job that requires me to work long hours. I usually get off work about 9 pm and I have an hour commute home.
During the beginning of the drive home I am still pretty "pumped" from work, but as the drive wears on, I proceed to get more and more sleepy. The last 10 or so miles I have a LOT of trouble staying awake.
I do all the standard "things" such as leave the window open (or this summer, crank up the air conditioning), and play music loud and sing a long and chew gum and all that stuff, but it is getting harder and harder to stay awake. To be honest, the past few nights I have been frankly surprised that I made it home without dozing off.
I do not eat anything before leaving work because I know that would only make it worse, so I have my dinner when I get home at 10 pm and then go to bed. I realize this is not a good option, but I know if I ate my dinner earlier it would only compound the sleepy problem. This schedule also prevents me from taking anything that would help keep me awake, since I would not be able to get to sleep when I get home.
Caffeine is useless. I have no sensitivity to it. I can drink four cups of coffee and go to sleep immediately. So, don't suggest that route. I get 7.5 hours a sleep a night, so I am not sleep deprived. I am simply dead tired from working 12 hours and that long drive in the dark makes things much worse.
I have thought about pulling over when I get sleepy and doing some physical exercise, but it is a VERY narrow two-lane highway, and there are no shoulders. The only place to pull over would be private driveways, and the idea of a car pulling into a driveway after 9 pm is not attractive to me as a lone woman. Not only do MOST of the rural homes along the way have large dogs on property, but I am thinking that quite a lot of people might meet me with a shot gun or other weapon. Not to mention the fact that there just might be some kind of psycho that would do me harm.
This is becoming a very big concern for me and I am desperate to try to find a solution. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas?
Have you tried Red Bull? Or, you might actually need more sleep. I know I'm useless without my 9 hours.
I have tried Red Bull in the past and it doesn't do anything for me. I love the taste, but no zing.
I do need a lot of sleep - more than the average person, but I can usually function on 7.5 hours. There isn't any way for me to get more sleep, unfortunately. I have to be at work by 9 am and I don't get off until 9 pm with an hour commute either way. I get up in JUST enough time to take a shower and dress and then come home, eat, and go to bed.
I have tried Red Bull in the past and it doesn't do anything for me. I love the taste, but no zing.
I do need a lot of sleep - more than the average person, but I can usually function on 7.5 hours. There isn't any way for me to get more sleep, unfortunately. I have to be at work by 9 am and I don't get off until 9 pm with an hour commute either way. I get up in JUST enough time to take a shower and dress and then come home, eat, and go to bed.
20yrsinBranson
Wow- that sucks. I have no other useful (legal) suggestions for you. You live in Branson, right? What city do you work in? Springfield?
Wow- that sucks. I have no other useful (legal) suggestions for you. You live in Branson, right? What city do you work in? Springfield?
Yes, Springfield.
I have thought about trying to get a prescription for Provigil, but I am afraid that it will keep me awake when I get home (even though it is not supposed to affect sleep).
I have thought about trying to get a prescription for Provigil, but I am afraid that it will keep me awake when I get home (even though it is not supposed to affect sleep).
20yrsinBranson
That drive is better now that the highway is 4-laned all the way, but it's still a pretty long haul. I know there are very few options for employment in the Branson area... that pays a decent wage and is not seasonal. I understand why you have to make the drive everyday. A prescription med might be the answer. Have you talked to your dr about it?
That drive is better now that the highway is 4-laned all the way, but it's still a pretty long haul. I know there are very few options for employment in the Branson area... that pays a decent wage and is not seasonal. I understand why you have to make the drive everyday. A prescription med might be the answer. Have you talked to your dr about it?
I don't go down highway 65. I drive through the country because I live west of Branson about 17 miles. I would be driving 30 miles out of my way if I went down highway 65.
We have a business in Springfield, that's why I have insane hours. Eventually, we will hire someone to help out, but for now, until we are established, we have to run the show ourselves. LOL Seven days a week!
There is no time available for me to visit a doctor. I am of the opinion that Provigil is not a controlled drug, so you can buy it over the internet, which is what I might have to do.
I don't go down highway 65. I drive through the country because I live west of Branson about 17 miles. I would be driving 30 miles out of my way if I went down highway 65.
We have a business in Springfield, that's why I have insane hours. Eventually, we will hire someone to help out, but for now, until we are established, we have to run the show ourselves. LOL Seven days a week!
There is no time available for me to visit a doctor. I am of the opinion that Provigil is not a controlled drug, so you can buy it over the internet, which is what I might have to do.
20yrsinBranson
I didn't know that. I'd never heard of Provigil, so I thought it was prescription.
I understand about not taking the main highway. The "Branson" area has grown so much over the last twenty years!
I totally understand about starting a business too. My husband is in between his clock-job and his own business right now. There are some weeks he has to work 80 hrs just to get everything accomplished.
I wish you all the luck with your business and finding a solution to stay awake. That is scary to be so sleepy when you are behind the wheel. I would also recommend drinking plenty of water throughout the day and taking a multi-vitamin.
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