Evening Pipes and Sleep

[pauls456]

Last night I was up for hours, slept poorly, and had nightmares. I had enjoyed a large bowl of Royal Yacht after dinner, after having laid off the pipe for a couple of days. I should have smoked something less potent, but that's what I craved. I had slept quite well the previous few nights.

My impression is that the quality of my sleep has declined since becoming a pipe smoker 5 or so years ago. Unfortunately, the best time for me to smoke is the evening, and that's when I enjoy it the most. So, I will think about becoming a weekend only smoker.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I cannot get to sleep until I have smoked one of the strongest blends in my arsenal. Strong blends deplete you sugar reserves in your blood, giving you that heavy lid feeling. I used to have to take sleeping pills to go to sleep for decades, till I found that a really strong blend can set me off to la la land.

It is not like cigarettes. Cigarettes give a fast punch of nicotine that just teases your blood sugars and gives the illusion of a rush of adrenalin, but really nicotine doesn't work as either a stimulant, nor a depressant. It just plays with blood sugars.

But, you may have something off in your chemistry, making you different. YMMV
But, you might play around with a strong blend before bed... but, I don't consider Royal Yacht to be even close to strong for me. Maybe try Nightcap or a rope.

 

[pauls456]

I've read about it having both stimulant and depressant effects, which could vary with the individual or the dose.

I cannot get to sleep until I have smoked one of the strongest blends in my arsenal. Strong blends deplete you sugar reserves in your blood, giving you that heavy lid feeling. I used to have to take sleeping pills to go to sleep for decades, till I found that a really strong blend can set me off to la la land.

It is not like cigarettes. Cigarettes give a fast punch of nicotine that just teases your blood sugars and gives the illusion of a rush of adrenalin, but really nicotine doesn't work as either a stimulant, nor a depressant. It just plays with blood sugars.

But, you may have something off in your chemistry, making you different. YMMV
But, you might play around with a strong blend before bed... but, I don't consider Royal Yacht to be even close to strong for me. Maybe try Nightcap or a rope.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I cannot get to sleep until I have smoked one of the strongest blends in my arsenal. Strong blends deplete you sugar reserves in your blood, giving you that heavy lid feeling. I used to have to take sleeping pills to go to sleep for decades, till I found that a really strong blend can set me off to la la land.

It is not like cigarettes. Cigarettes give a fast punch of nicotine that just teases your blood sugars and gives the illusion of a rush of adrenalin, but really nicotine doesn't work as either a stimulant, nor a depressant. It just plays with blood sugars.

But, you may have something off in your chemistry, making you different. YMMV
But, you might play around with a strong blend before bed... but, I don't consider Royal Yacht to be even close to strong for me. Maybe try Nightcap or a rope.

A nightcap answers so many questions! Wee dram, half glass of 2%, all good.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Prior to going to bed I'd usually have a smallest bowl of strong kentucky fired tobaccies such as G&H Dark Birdseye shag , generally I avoid smoking larger bowls prior to bedtime, after all nicotine is a stimulant same as caffeine

 

[spike]

I always have a final bowl followed by a little ice cream before retiring, and then fall asleep soon thereafter. Unless my wife’s in the mood, and then sometime later.

 

[simong]

Last night I was up for hours, slept poorly, and had nightmares. I had enjoyed a large bowl of Royal Yacht after dinner, after having laid off the pipe for a couple of days. I should have smoked something less potent, but that's what I craved. I had slept quite well the previous few nights.

My impression is that the quality of my sleep has declined since becoming a pipe smoker 5 or so years ago. Unfortunately, the best time for me to smoke is the evening, and that's when I enjoy it the most. So, I will think about becoming a weekend only smoker.

Overthinking things will affect your sleep more than a pipe. I & many others prefer a 'stronger' bowl before bed time. A good whisky, a bad woman or complete abstinence of both are your only alternatives. Lighten up & set sail for Bedfordshire in the company of the Royal Yacht.

 

[MacMarty89]

I have never really done well on smoking a pipe before taking to bed. But with a babygirl on the way, I suppose I will have to suck it up more often than not.

 

[pauls456]

Maybe if I smoke my evening bowl with a shot of whiskey? I doubt that would help much.

 

[simong]

Maybe if I smoke my evening bowl with a shot of whiskey? I doubt that would help much.

I doubt it, too. Maybe a warm glass of milk & some nice cartoons instead? FFS!

 

[MacMarty89]

Maybe if I smoke my evening bowl with a shot of whiskey? I doubt that would help much.

Research has shown that people who drink alcohol before going to bed are often prone to delayed sleep onset, meaning they need more time to fall asleep and are also more likely to experience sleep disruptions and decreases in sleep quality.

 

[mso489]

I don't smoke my pipes just before bed, but I do earlier in the evening. By the time I get in bed, it's been a hour or more. I don't notice any effect on my sleep pattern. If I drink liquor before I go to bed, I tend to wake up about 3 a.m., not in a good way. So far in life, I've slept reasonably well.

After sleeping in a warship stacked three high with other crew members, some having to play a radio quietly to sleep, and the ship pitching, rolling and yawing, with a strap to hang onto and latch your leg under, most sleeping situations seem fairly benign to me. Fortunately, I was in my twenties.

 

[cigrmaster]

Tobacco has no affect on my sleeping as I take medication that would knock out a Rhino. I have a combination of meds and they are not Ambien or any Benzo like Halcyon which are addictive as hell and work for shit. I take my pills at 10. I am asleep by 10:30 or so and don't wake up till 10 -11 am. I have dealt with insomnia for decades and my doctor came up with this cocktail that works great. If anyone would like the name I would be happy to provide it. You have to see a Psychiatrist to get it as regular doctors cannot write it for you. It has been a total game changer and life saver. Anyone who started would not need the second pill until some years later.

 

[Bushido]

Could just be getting older. My sleep became much worse as I got older, and that's pretty common. I found being consistent with my workouts helped quite a bit, and no screens at least 1 hour before bed.

 

[justscience]

I started smoking cigars and pipes in college to stay awake studying. Years later, restarted cigars while having to drive at night. I never understood the Nightcap tin art. Definitely a stimulant for me.

 

[bullet08]

Nicotine, caffeine and alcohol all help me to sleep. Usually have a smoke right before sleep.

 

[warren]

Just before bed it's a last bowl and a wee bit of port.

 

[Briar Lee]

From the time I wake up until I go to sleep I constantly keep endless pots of black coffee and smoke a pipe whenever I can, and I can more than I can’t. I couldn’t sleep without a last pipe and cup of coffee, nor am I too long in the morning before a pipe and coffee.

I know I have two faults, I smoke too much and talk too much.

I hope neither is the death of me, but so be it.

If you take enough caffeine and nicotine you get immune to it, like some old drunk who downs a 12 pack a day.

 

[vosBghos]

Maybe change up your blend ? Dark Fired Kentucky the depth of it if smoked slow calms me down way down, if smoked fast I get heart palpitations. I can hang out on half a flake for 45 minutes with a cup of red wine and I‘m ready to hit the hay and sleep like a dog, but as always YMMV…I hope you get some rest…

 

[anotherbob]

nicotine is both stimulating and depressing. Several factors effect this. Dose and rate of absorption. Snuff is very stimulating. It's little bits of nic rapidly absorbed. So maybe try different blends or even different amounts of smoking and also focus on slower smoking and see what happens. In fact more potent blends might be more relaxing then a VA blend.