My prediction - nothing's wrong. You need more sleep. I always go for the most logical explanation.

Any chance you are you are drinking alcohol in the evenings?

Are you suggesting that it's better to dronk during the dae? I alwaes prefer to have a bvey at tnightime, hic! Sorry it's laet hear!

1) Doc
2) Dietitian
3) Don't listen to yourself, be positive and outgoing!
4) Where the Red Wine is?

<edit>
Sorry, didn't see the "Merlot" post!
</edit>

maybe you're just getting old

HOWEVER... at that point when i feel just when im about to fall asleep, i shake myself awake becuase i feel like im about to stop breathing... and i have to shake my body back to life...

Sounds like Sleep Apnea to me, a visit to the doc would be in order I think.
[en.wikipedia.org...]

If your doctor doesn't find anything, then I would try discontinuing the tea. Unless it is caffeine free, then you are getting plenty of caffeine. The same thing happened to me in college. It turned out to be the caffeine in the Diet Coke that I was drinking for lunch. Some people have the opposite response to caffeine - it makes them tired. I've been 100% no caffeine for 20 yrs and never had the problem again. A psychiatrist friend told me that this scenario is well known. Just like the stimulant Ritalin (methamphetamine) is paradoxically helpful in slowing down those with ADHD, the stimulant caffeine can slow down some others.

Any family history of narcolepsy? You're around the age that it could be showing up. My honey has narcolepsy and his dad had it too. His kids might get it in the years to come. A sleep center doctor could find out if that's the problem.

The day shift might just not be what your body wants if you feel otherwise healthy regardless of your diet. I was like you until I switched to working either swing shift or graveyard. Now I go to bed when my body decides it's time and wake up naturally. Haven't used an alarm clock in many years. In my case it could be a result of having arrived on this planet late at night, which was the start of my first day of life. Night is naturally my time of day to be awake but I do try to be awake in the afternoons and see some sunlight.

If you do need the caffeine, try coffee instead of tea unless you just can't stand the taste. Personally, I can't stand the taste of tea and especially what is sold as green tea.

well here is another strange tidbit...

in most cases, not all..

you would think that anyone who drinks 3 beers, and takes 2 tylenol PM's before bedtime would sleep for 3 moons..

but i woke up twice in the middle of the night....

something is wrong with my sleeping pattern i believe...

You could have a variety of health issues, but sleepy in the afternoon can indicate low blood sugar. I'd get a full work up if I were you.

Lovejoy

It still sounds like sleep apnea to me. Waking up in the night sometimes happens when you stop breathing then your body kicks back in with a huge breath. I would at least talk to your Doctor to eliminate that possibility.

>>you would think that anyone who drinks 3 beers, and takes 2 tylenol PM's before bedtime would sleep for 3 moons..

No, I wouldn't. Drinking before bedtime can be pretty disruptive to sleep patterns.

I aways wake up when the booze has worn of ;~)

No, I wouldn't. Drinking before bedtime can be pretty disruptive to sleep patterns.

This is what i said many posts ago ... when you have alcohol in your system, you WILL NOT go into REM sleep. Hence the reason you are waking up. Also, being a man in my later 40's, i will wake up in the night to use the washroom because of the beer i drank before going to bed.

So it could just be you are getting older and the things you could do as a young man no longer work with you. I had lots of trouble sleeping up to a few years ago, walking around all day like a zombie. Then i changed a few habits (no caffeine after noon, less beer in the evening, going to bed earlier, no sugar filled desserts, taking antacid tablets before bed. Now i get a solid 8 to 8 1/2 hours a night and i feel great.

tonynoriega, I'm shocked this has gone this far in this forum. Your behavior and the advice you have been getting is mostly misguided.

#1 GO TO YOUR DOCTOR - DO NO TAKE ANYONE ELSE'S ADVICE BEFORE YOU DO THAT!

#2 This is what I suggest, but discuss it with your doctor first. You are not my patient and I've never met you or seen even a photo of you. I don't know your family history etc.

Here are some good overall guidelines:

Don't eat ANY transfats. Period.

Regarding alcohol, I'd cut it out entirely for now until you feel like you have energy and even then go easy and don't drink right before bed.

Get fresh air - try to open windows, spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Exercise, try to get at least 30 mins of cardio a day or if that is too difficult at LEAST dedicate 3 days a week to at least 30 minutes of cardio and do some other exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks... stretch your legs, arms, and back.

Don't take sleep-aids unless prescribed by your doctor.

Eat more often, but smaller meals.

Make sure you get plenty of vitamins from a variety for fresh food sources.

Check out the visual eating and exercise program at [lookcut.com...]

I use it and it's great for seeing how large a portion should really be and it helps you pcik foods that are right for you based on a questionaire like E-Harmony.

Hope you feel better soon!