Having Trouble Staying Asleep

[ladydancer]

I have had this problem off and on for a few years. For the last couple of months I can't seem to stay asleep. I normally sleep about 8 hrs.

Most nights I seem to fall asleep ok but wake up after sleeping 3 or 4 hrs. I toss and turn and try to go back to sleep. If I don't fall back to sleep with-in an hour or 2, I will either turn on the TV or come down and get on the internet. Sometimes I will fall back to sleep for another hour or 2 near morning.

Normally I go to sleep about 9:30-10:30 and get up 5:30-6:30. A couple of weeks ago we were out late and I didn't get to bed until 1:30am. We had gone out dancing and usually when I do go dancing I have no trouble sleeping because I am exhaulsted. Woke up about 5:00am and could not go back to sleep. DH slept until 9:00 that morning.

We are leaving for WDW the first week of Oct. and I'm afraid if this pattern continues I'll never be able to survive the trip.

Does anyone have a solution? I need to stay sleep.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have the same problem. The only way I can get a whole night's sleep now is by using Ambien. Prescription sleep aid. I take 1/2 a tablet every other night. That way I get a good night's sleep some of the time. If I do wake up, and I do at my advanced age of 55, to use the 'facilities', I can get right back to sleep. To me, Ambien is the nector of the gods!!

 

[powellrj]

I have had this problem for many, many years. I could barely stay up in the evening, go to bed at 10 then I was up again at 2. I would be wide awake until about 4:30 only to be sleepy again when it was time to wake up. I was so tired, people were telling me how bad I looked all the time. I tired every know remedy. I went through many sleep studies I have had bi-pap and c-pap machines and nothing worked. Finally I asked my Dr. for ambien and have been sleeping about 6 hours a night since. I know that didn't solve my problem, but I do feel much better and can now function during the day. Go to your Dr. and see if he/she has any ideas before you ruin your health.

 

[Abracadabra]

Definitely talk with your doctor. But be careful in using prescription sleep aids... it is very easy to become dependent on them. I know ... been there, done that. Ask your doctor about taking melatonin -- it can be purchased over-the-counter at any drug or health food store. As we age, our bodies produce less of this hormone making it harder to get a good night's sleep. Taking a 1 or 2 mg. tablet of this might help more than a prescription sleep aid.

 

[HisEllyNelly]

Ugh I have the same problem every night! I wake around 2-3 in the morning and cant get back to sleep. I recently started taking simply sleep (by tylenol) it seems to have helped a bit. If it keeps up though I will need to see the doc. I just dont have time over the next month so it will have to wait.

 

[my3kids]

I often take Benadryl at bedtime to help me stay asleep through the night. Its' ingredient is what the PM in Tylenol PM is, without the added pain medication. Doctor says it is not habit forming in the least.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I would strongly suggset a sleep study, very common today, very helpful. My best.

 

[ladydancer]

Originally posted by my3kids
I often take Benadryl at bedtime to help me stay asleep through the night. Its' ingredient is what the PM in Tylenol PM is, without the added pain medication. Doctor says it is not habit forming in the least.

I have tryed the Benadryl in the past but it makes me groggy for most of the next day.

I'll go to the doctor and ask her about the Ambien. Hopefully that will work. When you use the Ambien are you groggy the next day and do you have trouble getting up. Also do you have any idea what a prescription for that would cost? My ins. doesn't cover prescription. I always ask the dr. if she has any samples and sometimes yes and sometimes no.

Thanks

 

[meandtheguys2]

Ambien made me groggy after the first day. I maintain *o.k.* with melatonin. But for me it has to be pure melatonin. No vit B, calcium or what - not. Good luck.

 

[Lorix2]

depression can do this to you. Hope that's not the case, but this is definitely one of the symptoms. Hope you get some much needed rest real soon.

 

[SetzKitten]

I've always had intermittent sleep problems. The things that work best for me are not drinking alcohol (it makes me crash for a couple of hours, then stay up all night), not exercising at night, drinking chamamille (sp?) tea before bed, and believe it or not, changing the bed linen, even if I just did it the night before. I hope you find a solution that works for you.

 

[Parkhopper]

I agree with Lorix2, I also had no problems falling asleep, but could not stay asleep. My Dr. diagnosed me with mild depression and anxiety and prescribed Zoloft. It has been lifechanging for me in so many ways. I no longer feel like I am at the end of my rope all of the time. I realized within a few weeks that I was dreaming while I was sleeping and I hadn't dreamt since I was pregnant with our son almost 10 years ago.

I now sleep very well and find that I have more patience and am generally a nicer person to be around.

Suzi

 

[elismom]

asking the same ?
Is Ambien the same as over the counter stuff I have tryed that and it makes me feel depressed the next day.
For about 2 years now this has been happening to me I usally go to bed between 10 & 11 (if I go any earlier its worse)
I then wake up at about 5.00 Ive been off work for the summer so up would just get up and have a cup of tea and then go back to bed at about 630 and sleep till about 9.00.
But my kids are back next week ( I have a Homedaycare) and I know its going to hit me hard

 

[hydster]

Nothing is worse than not sleeping and I've gone through it for years (since my 2nd baby was born with sleep apnea). I tried everything herbal and behavioral before I tried prescription drugs. I started taking Ambien and it was amazing BUT then it became very addictive and trying to get off of it was a living hell! I didnt sleep at all for 4 days straight, had hot flash type sweats, my mind was racing 200 miles a minute and I was very emotional. Once I finally got over that it wasn't so bad and I started taking the Melatonin and Valerian Root from an herbal store. Worked for awhile but then I added in 2 potassium and a benadryl. Then my doc suggested I try Sonata. Sonata is awesome! It's a prescription drug but it only works for 4 hours so it is great if you fall asleep ok but wake up and can't go back on your own. It's a hypnotic though so like Ambien it's pretty addictive. www.sonata.com I take one every other night or every 2 nights if I can stand it. Also yes depression can cause you to not sleep BUT some anti-depressants can also give you another condition that will affect your sleep called Restless Legs Syndrome. My dh has that so bad with Lexapro (but it's the only A-D that works for him) so we now have to counteract the leg twitching and aching with Dilantin.

Good luck but I'd talk to your doc about one of those 2 pills. They however are NOT cheap! About a dollar a pill usually.

Heidi

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Extended release melatonin is good for people who tend to wake up too early.

 

[my3kids]

If Benadryl makes you groggy the next day, try Clortrimeton, another old, safe antihistimine. It might react differently, and it is only pennies a day, if it works.