Insomnia/Sleep Disorders.

[britishbandit]

Does anyone else here suffer from insomnia/sleep disorders? I can't stand it! For as long as I can remember, I've had trouble falling asleep, and staying asleep. I rarely get more than 4 hours of sleep, and broken up sleep at that. Usually waking up at least every 1-2 hours.

About a year ago, I started getting really into reading (which I'd never done much of voluntary before), which helps most of the time for getting me to sleep within an hour (not all the time though, like tonight). But I still have the problem of staying asleep, or getting a decent amount of it. About 2 years ago my doctor put me on prescription sleep meds, which I never wanted to become dependent on, so I'd only take them once in a blue moon. But even when I take them, it only helps me fall asleep, I still have the problem of waking up numerous times during the night, and still get up feeling unrested.

I've looked into numerous other things too. I smoke, but try not to light one up for at least one hour before bedtime and have cut down the amount I smoke during the day also, as I've heard that can cause sleep issues too. I've tried having a warm drink, eating or not eating before bedtime (numerous things), having a bath.......and whatever else I could think of or have had suggested by doctors, friends and family.

I guess I'm hoping there's others here that have suffered from this, that might have some suggestions to try that have worked for them. Cause I'm getting really "tired" of this!

[muggsmom]

I know exactly what you're going through. I haven't closed my eyes since 5am Fri. morn. I also get up several times through the night, sometimes after only 10 -15 mins. of sleep. I also smoke, and insomnia doesn't help, because I smoke all night because I don't sleep.

My doctor also put me on meds, but they are not actually a sleeping pill. Technically they are an anti-depressant, but one of the side effects is they make you sleep. They are not addictive, and I'm not groggy in the morn. They help keep me asleep as well. I don't like to take them either, can't really say why. Usually by the time I decide I need one, it's 3am and I figure there's no point in taking one now. I also read and it relaxes me.

Have you had a physical lately? Are you on any other meds, some can affect your sleep patterns. No caffeine after dinner. Exercise. Keep your room dark. Don't stay in bed getting frustated because you can't sleep. Get up, watch TV for a bit, do some housework, read, knit, anything but lay in bed.

There is a doctor in my town that teaches a stress/pain reduction class that includes meditation and yoga. I was very skeptical about taking it because I'm not into that type of thing. However, he teaches breathing, relaxation exercises that really helped. He teaches how to breathe properly (apparently there's a right and wrong way to breathe), slowly relaxing one part of your body at a time.
Eg: Breathe in, feel the breathe go right down to your toes, breathe out, relaxing your toes. The next breathe take to your feet, then ankles, then calves, then knee, etc. Several people would actually fall asleep in class while we were doing the exercise. He was happy when that happened, it meant they were getting it! This is the only thing, other than the pills, that I've found to help.

It might be worth looking into to see if anyone holds yoga classes in your area. If there is a holistic store in your area, maybe they have a natural sleep aid that isn't addictive.

Sorry I don't have a magic cure, wish I did. It's a vicious cycle that's so hard to break. Believe me, you are not alone. And it's so frustrating when other people can't understand. And if you say you don't want to do something because you're 'tired', they look at you like you're lazy. They don't understand that you can be so tired that you can't function, but you can't sleep.

Good luck, let me know if you find something that helps (it's now 4:33 am)

[Rivsky]

If you've truly exhausted all your other options - diet, smoking, exercise etc I think muggsmom's suggestion of looking into the anti-depressants with your GP might be worth considering BB.

While I don't suffer from insomnia I am currently taking anti-depressants for migraine prevention (weird I know but it works!!!) and as was mentioned before a nice deep sleep is one of the side effects of them.

I'm only taking 1/2 a tablet each night before bed (when the recommended dose is actually 2 tablets so you can start off only trying small amounts at a time) and the only other thing I noticed other than no more migraines and a great nights sleep was I had an increased appetite for about a week after I started taking them. That soon settled down though and I've been on them since October last year and have noticed absolutely no other side effects from them and don't feel that I'm addicted to them in any way.

[britishbandit]

I looked up the name of the sleeping pills I was given, and apparently they are also used as anti-depressants. Lorazapan. But not only did I not want to take them as far as becoming dependent on them, I've heard stories that long term, they can cause damage too. And since it only puts me to sleep, I've pretty much given up on them. Although I can't deny now and again, I'm just so exhausted I give in and take one just to get me on my way.

I've tried the physical activity too, I'm always out and about with the dogs or biking. I have Maya for the weekend and took her accompanied by CdnRottieMom and Neyla for a LONG walk last night, we left my house at around 7:30pm, and didn't get back until 10pm. I was POOPED....LOL, but I still couldn't sleep. Some days are always worse than others, no matter what I do, but it's sooo frustrating when your body and mind are tired, and still no success.

It sucks cause I really feel tired too. It's not that I'm just not ready for bed yet. I'll shut my eyes, but it almost feels like they aren't really shut, like I'm staring just staring into the darkness. Oh, I also have cardboard up on my windows so no light comes in at all. If I can't sleep, I do get up and try again later, problem is, if I don't eventually just try and stay in bed, I'll end up being awake all night. Oh, and I heard having a clock that you can see in your room doesn't help, cause it forces you to keep staring at it if it's in view. So my alarm clock is actually kept in the drawer of my night table so I can't see it.

I haven't had a physical in a while, but have had a few long since I can remember this all starting. I wonder if it has anything to do with my endometriosis as well? Can't recall ever hearing that was a problem associated with it though. I did have an accident in the hospital when I was a junior in highschool though, after having an allergic reaction to penicillin, I fainted while having blood taken and fell face first into the ground. I broke my nose in 3 places and had to have reconstructive surgery. While they managed to straighted out my nose, it left me with a deviated septum, where sometimes I cannot breathe in and out through my right nostril. So it's likely that isn't helping matters any.

Maybe I'll try aromatherapy. I've heard there are specific scents than can help you sleep, I just don't remember what they are. Worth investigating though. And I'm always trying to cut down on the cigarettes. I rarely ever drink caffine either, usually I only have a tea first thing in the morning, and drink juice or flavoured water throughout the day. I also rarely drink alcohol.

And I know exactly what you mean muggsmom, about even friends and family thinking your just lazy or uninterested in doing something. That's not it at all. I only ever seem to want to get involved on the very rare occasion I can squeaze out 6-8 hours sleep. Making sure to get the dogs out and exercised takes up just about all the energy I can muster up for the day.

[Swiftwind]

I have mild insomnia, which means (for me) that not every night is a struggle to get to sleep, but I get insomnia about 1-2 times every week (my sister used to have insomnia pretty badly, and was prescribed Stilnox, which has recently been taken off the shelf, if I'm correct, due to bad side effects). Insomnia is SUCH a pain. You can feel extremely tired but not be able to get to sleep. I don't really know what helps... I've tried exercise (taking the dogs for a long walk at night), breathing exercises and stuff like that. I remember one night I had insomnia so bad. I planned to go to bed at 11pm and I didn't get to sleep until 6am the next day, and this was a school night! It's really funny, since I couldn't get to sleep I thought I'd use that time to exercise instead of just lying there doing nothing! I've tried listening to calming music, but that somehow makes me stressed and doesn't make me tired at all, and I read every night but very rarely does reading make me tired. I know this sounds strange, but the time when I have the most trouble getting to sleep is when it's a full moon. I need my room to be pitch black and when a full moon is out I can make everything out in my room because of the light.

Pretty much every single night I wake up constantly. Some nights I wake up every 1/2 hour, other nights it's every 2 hours, and some nights I wake up at exactly (to the second) at 3am.

I wish I could offer some solutions, but unfortunately I'm on the same boat as you.

[borzoimom]

Britishbandit- I have found that taking a B complex at night helps alot. It helps the body to relax and also helps to stabilize the addrenal glands. ( also why it works for other things as well- stress, worry, woman situations etc..)
Another thing, if you are getting so little sleep, it becomes a downward spiral. Due to lack of sleep, the adrednal glands are working over time, keeping the body up. Same things as when you read of someone having a tramatic event, up for several days, and first day to rest- they cant.. SAme thing.
Take a glass of milk with a b complex. I forgot what is in milk that induces sleep- but you get the point.. lol. ( humms- 'go too sleep, go to sleep, just relax little bandit.. go to sleep... )

[Swiftwind]

Originally Posted by borzoimom

( humms- 'go too sleep, go to sleep, just relax little bandit.. go to sleep... )

Hahaha!

The bad thing for me is I think I'm lactose intolerant. The majority of times when I have milk I end up feeling like I'm going to be sick or faint, and I lose my hearing (it's scary!). For that reason (and the fact that I hate the taste) I don't drink milk, but I hear a lot of people say it helps them get a good night's sleep.

[britishbandit]

Originally Posted by Swiftwind

Hahaha!

The bad thing for me is I think I'm lactose intolerant. The majority of times when I have milk I end up feeling like I'm going to be sick or faint, and I lose my hearing (it's scary!). For that reason (and the fact that I hate the taste) I don't drink milk, but I hear a lot of people say it helps them get a good night's sleep.

LOL Borzoimom!

Yes, I have a simlar probelm. Although I'm ok if it's just a drop of milk in say a cuppa tea, a full glass puts me in agony and I usually get sick. Not sure why, but chocolate milk I can drink a glass of and be ok, more than a glass, and the pain starts up. It can make me feel sick, but with chocolate milk, unless I really overdo it, I don't actually GET sick.

Oh, and I do take B-complex already, come on now, don't you remember talking about that in chat? LOL I don't take prescription meds, but do take B-complex and calcium pills.

[muggsmom]

I looked up the name of the sleeping pills I was given, and apparently they are also used as anti-depressants. Lorazapan.

I have taken Lorazapan before, as an anti-depressant, they did not make me sleep. I take Trazodone. I don't take them regularly, just when I can't sleep, so no addiction. I don't think that's a problem anyway.

Aromatherapy is definitely worth a try. Nothing to lose. How's your diet - lots of fruits & veggies, little processed food. Lots of stress in your life? Like not sleeping isn't a big stressor. Just throwing out thoughts.

Might be time to go back and have another talk to the Dr. You might need a sleep clinic.

If you're lactose intolerant, maybe you have other food allergies.

[borzoimom]

Okay- take a calcium vitamin if intolerant..

[Ilovemypup]

Hmmm.. I have no info on this at all.. sorry to hear that you can't sleep very well!

Happy dreams!

[britishbandit]

Originally Posted by borzoimom

Okay- take a calcium vitamin if intolerant..

I never said I was intolerant. I said I had a similar problem with milk. And milk alone. I don't seem to have the same problem when eating cheese, yogurt....etc. Just drinking milk, and typically only or more so with white milk. Maybe there's something in it other than lactose that makes me get that way, I have no idea.

[Swiftwind]

Originally Posted by borzoimom

Okay- take a calcium vitamin if intolerant..

I take calcium supplements but that doesn't get me to sleep!

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

I'm with Muggsmom, a sleep clinic might shine some light on an underlying problem. Can't hurt!