Get
two people over 60  together and very soon there will be talks of
health, illness, doctors, aches and pains, so imagine what happens when
5-6 of us, over 70, get together on the breezeway in the evening. Not
only do we solve all the worlds problems but we talk about
getting/being old and the things we weren't old about when we are
younger.

I know I've heard
and read that older people don't need as much sleep as when they are
younger. So far I haven't found out this to be true but I have noticed
that patterns of sleep have changed.

I
use to go to sleep around 2-3 AM, after reading in bed for an hour or
so, and would wake up at 10:30-11. Now I find myself  getting sleepy
after reading for 20-30 minutes and I wake up 2 or 3 times a night, go
to the computer, play Free Cell and Hearts for a half to an hour  and
then go back to sleep.

As
a younger person I don't recall being a 'napper' but now I find myself
around 2 or 4 in the afternoon wanting to take a nap for 10-20 minutes.

I
don't recall being much of a dreamer and I certainly know that I didn't
have nightmares. Now I find myself literally jumping up in bed being
scared. The other night I was in a car being kidnapped by a Russian
couple!!!! After playing a few games on the computer I went back to bed
worried that I wouldn't be able to fall asleep keeping that picture in
my mind but it didn't happen.

How much is this due to getting old? Does any of it have to do with the aorta valve replacement surgery?

The
'big' tests going around today are sleep pattern apnea tests usually
experienced by old/older folks but I don't know if these are necessary
or just a sign of old age--just another change to get use to.

Curious
as to whether others, over 60, have seen their sleep patterns
change--oh, that's right--no one who blogs is over 60!!!  LOL