I can count on one hand the number of times this past year I’ve slept straight through the night.

 I keep getting up to go to bathroom and often lie awake and toss and turn. I’ve done nothing about it, except occasionally leave the bed and sleep on the couch or back room because I know I’m keeping my wife awake. And yes, at times I snore loudly — so loud my wife has taken to wearing ear plugs.

My wife and several friends have been pushing me to do something. I finally am.

This week, I’m going to a sleep disorders seminar offered at a local hospital. In addition, I’m scheduling a complete physical to see if I need medication for my prostate or if there’s anything else I’m missing.

Talking to friends, I’m amazed to find out how many other middle age guys are suffering from the same or similar problems. Some are on medication, some use meditative techniques. A couple of guys I know have been diagnosed with full-blown sleep apnia and wear a mask and have a special machine giving them a steady stream of O2 while they sleep.

At this point, I think it’s a combination of things for me. My wife keeps pointing out that I go on the computer and often do work right before I go to bed. It’s also a well-known fact that alcohol can screw up your sleep patterns. However, last Thursday evening after having a few beers with my horseshoe-throwing buddies I slept well that night, only getting up once.

I’m convinced that one factor is my propensity to angst over the smallest of things. Laura has told me repeatedly that if I don’t have anything to worry about, I tend to make things up. I worry about the kids, I worry about work, I worry about our finances. I worry because I worry too much.

My lack of sleep has also resulted in me drinking more coffee — often 2-3 cups every morning to get myself going.

Meanwhile, Laura sleeps next to me every night like a stone.

The literature is clear on this. A persistant and long-term inability to get a good night’s sleep can wreck your health and shorten your life. It’s nothing to mess around with.

That said, I’m doing some homework on this and am committed to making some serious changes. Stay tuned.