Can't Sleep

[PTL]

I have been having terrible trouble sleeping lately, sometimes I don't fall asleep till 4 or 5 am and sleep till 11 or 12. I have tried to adjust my schedule to wake up at 8 am and not nap, but still can't sleep. I even take meds (RX) and they are not working. Any suggestions? My DH thinks it is insane that I can't have regular sleep hours, but when I lay down I can not go to sleep. I am thinking of Melatonin, anyone ever used this?

I have to get this straight because when school starts I will be in trouble.
Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.
P.S. I am a graduate student (at age 41) with an 11 and 13 year old and hubby. Lotsa stress going on, and I am not a pleasant person when I am tired!

 

[jeanneg4of4]

Melatonin works great. it really helps me stay asleep.It does have a side affect of very vivid dreams. Lets just say I hope your dreams are pleasant. I really have not had a problem with it however, my oldesy son had nightmares and could not take it. I take a RX that makes me very sleepy when I take it but I only get about 3-4 hours if I do not take it with the Melatonin. Another thing I learned is to sleep when you are tired. Who cares what time it is. If I can be awake at 3am than I can sleep at noon.

 

[jackie101]

Valerian is an all natural herb that you can buy at cvs / walgreens that works great

 

[wbn36]

First, TRY not to stress. This is temporary and will get better. Melatonin should help. Try to keep a regular schedule. No naps. Get up at the same time yada yada yada. Also good to look at what you are eating prior to bed. I know that ambien works much better on a empty tummy. Are you going thru a stressful time?

 

[Muushka]

I have a great medical combo. Difficulty falling asleep and chronic (365 days a year) allergies.

Benedryl 25mg at bedtime takes care of both.

Also, I found that when I did a lot of exercise, about an hour before bedtime, I would fall asleep before I got my benedryl.

Sams Club has the generic for the drug (no Rx) for about a penny a tablet.

 

[branv]

First, have you seen the doctor? Some medical issues can cause sleep disturbance (definitely the ol' thyroid...been there, done that).

If nothing is wrong there, I'd assume your stress is weighing on you. I've noticed that I may not even be aware that I'm stressed per se, but what I do notice is that I can't turn my brain off. It's just spinning while I'm trying to go to sleep, or if I wake up in the night it's automatically working so I can't get back to sleep. What's worked best for me is deep breathing. But you really have to concentrate on it: imagine your breath as it moves into your body, imagine it moving all the way into your feet, then again as it comes out. You'll find you keep losing focus, but that's sort of part of it, just keep refocusing when your mind wanders. And all of a sudden your brain is not focused on anything really and you end up dropping off. I would have been the first to scoff at this, but my goodness it works...and it even works during the day when something hard to deal with is going on.

Another thing that has helped both DH and I is light yoga (anyone can do it: trust me, we are NOT fit people and DH is about as flexible as a concrete pole). We do a beginners beginners yoga video on on-demand cable, and if you do it about an hour before bedtime, things seem to unwind. There are even DVD's we've gotten from our library that offer short sessions for night time. Just try not to do one that is too much of a work out, as I've personally found those tend to energize me more than calm me and then I want to go move around rather than sleep.

I'm glad the Benadryl works for a PP, but just be aware it's not for everyone. I had a physician prescribe a benadryl and then later meclazine for an inner ear issue, and yes I slept VERY well. I slept too well and couldn't get up the next day...like I was drugged. I was sleeping from like 10 pm to 10 am. Even taking the pill earlier didn't work. So just be aware.

Best of luck to you OP.

 

[Taja]

I second checking with your doctor before experimenting too much on your own. There could be an underlying medical issue that needs to be addressed.

After that:

1. Develop a "decompression" routine. You DH will need to be on board for this to work--you need to consider this your bedtime and he needs to be on call every night until you're able to re-establish healthy sleeping patterns. One hour before you plan to be in bed, begin destressing and relaxing. It can be meditation, yoga, Pilates, reading or just clearing your mind and floating--but not in bed!

The objective is to send a signal to your brain that this is the end of your day. I usually do about 10 minutes of platform Pilates, remove my contact lenses, wash face, brush teeth and then settle in to read for about 30 minutes or so. My eyelids usually are drooping by then! *LOL*

2. When my internal clock gets completely out of sync with the world and I'm not able to re-establish my routine effectively within five nights, I use a product called "NightTime" by Andrew Lessman. You can check it out on HSN.com. A colleague uses "Sleepytime" tea--it's readily available in stores. If you have any medical issues, I would discuss them with your doctor before trying them.

I'm a natural night owl who lives in a world of daytime people! So I periodically have to reset my natural clock to align with the people in my life (not to mention my job!). For me, it is natural to stay up until 2 a.m. and rise about 8 a.m. When I notice that I'm getting too far off kilter (aka grumpy!), I reinstate my decompression routine, moving it 30 minutes earlier every 2 or 3 days. It usually works--and when it doesn't, I try option 2. So far, so good!

 

[KTSMOM]

I use Melatonin quite a bit. I have no side effects at all. I usually fall asleep within 30 minutes of taking it and I wake up feeling refreshed in the morning, no hung over feeling at all.

I'm sorry you're going through this. I had a week or two with insomnia issues a few years ago. I remember how miserable I was. Just try to keep the same schedule every day.

Good luck!

 

[dznyacct]

I've been a light sleeper ever since my DS was born almost 21 years ago . I have had great success with melatonin. I used to take it on and off, but a few years ago I was having a horrible time sleeping due to work stress (one job eliminated after 23 years and a new one with a 30% pay cut ). I would wake up several times a night and my night would race all night long with work related issues. It was sooooo frustrating and I was so tired every day. I called my doctor and he said that it was fine to take melatonin every night as well as a Tylenol PM if needed. I have been taking a melatonin nightly now for about a year and a half and my sound sleep is much better .

 

[hugabearjo]

I second the things previously stated, also wanted to add, the old wives tale of warm milk really does have enzymes that promote sleep in it.

Also chamomile tea, peppermint tea or any of the sleepy time teas can help as well.

I am not a great sleeper and use all the things mentioned here at one time or another and have to mix it up for it to keep working.

Hope you feel better and stress subsides soon.

 

[wasnotafan]

Best wishes. Been there done that and it isn't any fun. Hope the previous suggestions help. I would say your stress probably has a lot to do with it.

 

[eatsleepdisney]

You might have delayed sleep pattern syndrome,DSPS. It basically means your internal biological clock/circadian rhythm is later then most people. So like instead of being programed to go to bed at like 11 and wake up at 7 your body's programed to go to bed at 2 and wake up a 10. It's like even if you go to bed late one night then wake up early the next morning you still can't fall asleep till late that next night.
I've never seen a Dr because I'm pretty sure I have it but I can manage mine fine, but if I were you I'd google it and if it sounds like you have it def go see a Dr, and it's prolly not insomnia since your able to sleep 8 hrs or whatever.
Anyway I'd def do some researching on DSPS!
Good luck!

 

[PTL]

Wow, it was nice to see so many great suggestions! I went to Walmart this morning and bought Melatonin- Just took it so I will see what time I go to sleep.
I actually have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, but anyone who has it, knows the c-pap machine is no fun. I don't even wear it now because I would basically wear it and be awake and restricted to the bed. For about 20 years I have had insomnia and have taken various meds (restoril, tylenol pm, benedryl, trazadone, and currently clonazapam).

I do think it is stress induced, as I mentioned earlier I am a grad student and will be graduating in Decemeber I am also a big worrier.

It really means a lot that each of you took the time to respond. I am going to keep trying until I get my answer.
Will let everyone know how my night went.

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

I did the exact same thing! I wasn't really tired during the day, but could only sleep about 3-4 hours a night! Usually I had no trouble going to sleep or staying asleep for at least 7-8 hours, just like branv suggested it was my thyroid, a couple of days after being on the med and I was back to normal! Get your thyroid checked it is a simple blood test. Good luck!

 

[dreamin_disney]

i feel ya. I'm in the same boat. I really need to get this under control because i go back to work next month. Seems like i get tired around 2pm or 6pm and dose off because i'm so tired. I try going to bed but my head starts thinking of bills, things to do, whats going on during the week, the weekend, things that havent happened etc. Right now I'm up because i couldnt go to bed. I just drank 2 cups of coffee so i can stay up the rest of the morning and have a family day. Hoping i can stay up wihtout taking a nap so i can go to bed early.

My neck has been bothering me so not sure if it has something to do with my body being out of alinement along with my body and mind-lol!

 

[mrsklamc]

Yes, the thyroid is definitely responsible for all kinds of evil!

And they can go undiagnosed for a LONG time, so even though you have had insomnia for years, it could still be your thyroid.

 

[PTL]

Took Melatonin at 3 went to sleep shortly after, woke up at 6, went back to sleep pretty quick and slept til 12. I think this may be the answer. FYI the only reason I took Melatonin so late is because yesterday was my birthday and we went to casinos and had late nite. Tonight I will try for around 10 or so.

I had my thyroid checked within the last year or so and they said it was okay, I wonder if it can change? I do know many times those results are inconclusive, one time it seems you have a problem and another it says you are okay.

 

[SunnieRN]

Also think about asking for a hormone test as you could possibly be pre menopausal. I have had trouble sleeping all my life, but when I became pre menopausal my insomnia increased!