Full-Timer’s Primer: To Sleep, Perchance To Dream

Discover whether your sleepless nights might be the result of a sleep disorder; advice on selling your motorhome; a warning about new identity theft threats; and more.
 
By Janet Groene, F47166
 
February 2013
 
Motorhome travelers, especially those who are full-timers, have a sleep advantage over travelers who must rely on hotel beds, their friends’ guest rooms, or couch surfing. We can outfit the motorhome with the right bed, pillows, and bed linens.
 
However, we can’t always control the changing sights, sounds, and smells of a new campsite. Every time we move on, we could encounter new challenges to getting a sound night’s sleep. We have been bombed by falling acorns, serenaded by coyotes or sirens, and awakened by roosters and thundering trains. In time, these sounds become part of the rhythm of campground life, but the first few nights can be a challenge.
 
It’s even worse for those who are afflicted with sleep disorders. A report from the National Institutes of Health indicates that at least 40 million Americans each year suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders, and another 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems. Whether you’re staying overnight in a free truck stop next to a roaring interstate or in a national forest as silent as starlight, here are things to know and do to assure a great night’s sleep.
 
According to the University of Florida’s Leilani Doty, Ph.D., women are more likely to experience insomnia than men. Insomnia may be caused by health problems such as depression, thyroid disease, pain, and breathing issues, or it could be the result of a habit that needs to be unlearned.
 
Sleep apnea, a condition in which a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep, afflicts more than 18 million American adults. To treat this disorder, it must first be medically diagnosed. If health or lifestyle problems are linked to sleep apnea, exercises or a sleep mask usually are prescribed. Dr. Doty suggested that anyone experiencing sleeping problems first should undergo a thorough physical exam. Then avoid bedtime stimuli such as scary TV shows; disagreements; caffeine; or heavy, sweet snacks.
 
According to www.ResMed.com, a Web site for people who have sleep apnea, 80 percent of those with high blood pressure also have sleep apnea, and more than 70 percent of people who have had a stroke have the disorder. The problem also has been linked as a contributing risk factor to auto accidents, type 2 diabetes, and depression. People who have sleep apnea usually have no idea that they stop breathing in their sleep. They may be constantly tired in the daytime. In time, more serious problems can occur.
 
A medical diagnosis is also important if your sleeplessness is caused by a bedmate who snores, grinds his or her teeth, or flails about. However, persuading him or her to seek help could be a roadblock. A sleep clinic can determine the problem and recommend a specialist (doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or over-the-counter remedy) to treat your partner’s problem.
 
If you have a weight problem, lack of sleep could be one of the causes, Dr. Doty pointed out. When you sleep soundly, the hormone leptin is released in the brain, which reduces a craving for foods high in fat or sugar, she said. You also may need more exercise to increase fatigue. Avoid long naps in the late afternoon, and try to establish a routine for getting up and going to bed at about the same times each day, she advised.
 
Also try to expose yourself to at least 30 minutes of sunshine daily to train your body’s day-night cycle. Dr. Doty said that sunlight helps the pineal gland hold back melatonin, the hormone you’ll need tonight to get to sleep. The bedroom should be dark. Because many campgrounds have bright security lights, you may need blackout curtains. If the brightness is inside your own motorhome from, say, a partner who reads into the wee hours or needs a bright night-light in the bathroom, try a sleep mask.
 
Many travelers use a “white sound” machine to blot out campground noises or street sounds. These devices are available from travel specialists such as www.Brookstone.com and sleep specialists including www.Sound-Oasis.com. Prices range from approximately $40 to more than $400 for a system that includes special sound therapy sessions. These machines offer features such as a choice of sounds (waterfall, surf, and nature noises), and time duration settings, and one even hides inside a teddy bear. Some models incorporate an alarm clock.
 
A programmable thermostat is helpful if you want to go to bed in a warm room and then burrow under the covers as the temperature cools. Some thermostats can control both the furnace and air conditioner. Unless you’re handy, installation is a job for an experienced RV technician. A company that specializes in dimmers, sensors, programmable thermostats, and other automated energy managers and security devices is Nexia Home Intelligence. Go to www.NexiaHome.com for more information about the company’s offerings.
 
Many RV heaters and air conditioners have remote controls. These are a plus, because you can turn them off and on without getting out of bed. Of course, you have to wake up long enough to use the remote. Dr. Doty pointed out that for some insomniacs the problem isn’t falling asleep but getting back to sleep after awakening.
 
The Better Sleep Council (www.bettersleep.org) offers a wealth of solutions for getting a better night’s sleep, including how to choose bedding and where to find help or products.
 If your campground doesn’t have designated quiet hours, see whether clear guidelines can be issued and enforced. If the problem is not the campground but outside sounds, you might also become a community activist in setting noise regulations for the city or county.
 
Motorhome Selling Tip
Buying a new motorhome? Reader David Hildman suggested taking a simple step that can be a great help when it’s time to sell your current motorhome. Keep at least one copy of a brand-new brochure showing the make and model. Then keep track of all your upgrades. He also wrote, “Keep it as clean as new every day. We have sold all of our motorhomes ourselves. People like the fact that they are clean and well taken care of.”
 
More About Identity Theft
Identity theft has gone viral. Full-timers must guard against ordinary identity theft as well as sophisticated schemes that don’t steal your identity but rather your children’s. Other crooks steal only your medical identity. When you’re on the go, it can be harder to keep up with such things. You’re in special danger if you use Internet access that isn’t secure. A password alone is not enough.
 
According to the Florida Division of Consumer Services, childhood identity theft is a unique problem, because records may not show up for months or even years. If you have minor children, visit www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt08.pdf. This official Federal Trade Commission page provides advice on this topic.
 
On The Mend
Make your own mending kit. Thread several needles with black or white thread — and more colors if you wish — and stick them in a ball of steel wool (plain steel wool, not soap pads). The steel wool serves as a pincushion, while also keeping the needles honed and sharp. Keep everything handy in a lidded plastic container. Other items to add to your mending kit are iron-on mending tape, iron-on fusing tape, duct tape, and a pair of small scissors.
 
Weather Or Not
Weather awareness is more important than ever when you live in a motorhome. In addition to your favorite weather radio, weather channel, and weather Web site, it’s always fun — and usually surprisingly accurate — to consult the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It’s fascinating reading in hard copy and now it’s online at www.almanac.com.
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