Ugh I am ready to cry, sleep related

[MoniqueU]

I have really bad insomnia. I have tried everything under the sun it feels like. Excersise, holistic stuff,over the counter meds. I have been through ambien,dithromax, seroquel and ristoril. The latest one I am on is lunesta. It worked for a couple of days. Now I fell asleep sometime after 11 and was up at 3 30. I can usually fall asleep ok but wake up. I went so many days in a row with no sleep last week that finally I was in the shower and these rageful voices just started screaming through my head. I promised my kids I would take them to the beach today. So no Dr for me as I already have the reservations at the beach club and friends are invited.

Any advice on other things I can ask my dr about?? He agrees I have done all the usual home remedies, toughed it out etc and that it is really really bad for me to not get enough sleep.

 

[ericamanda01]

OMG I am going through the same thing. I have no problem falling asleep, but forget about staying asleep. I woke up around 4:30 this morning and I just know I will drag all day. My Dr and I are looking at a medication that I am on for my migraines that could be the cause, but so far no luck. I'm sure you've looked at the amount of caffeine your drinking. My dr said to not have any after 5 pm, now I am trying not to have any after noon in the hopes that it helps. If I find a solution I will let you know. I don't have any real advice, just wanted to let you know your not alone. This sucks.

 

[dizluvah]

I am so sorry you have trouble sleeping. I know how debilitating that can be.

Ask your doctor if you should have a sleep study. Have you tried cutting out all caffeine or at least no caffeine after a certain time of day (say noon)? I used to have terrible insomnia, my brain would not "shut off" - so I would lay awake thinking about anything and everything. After beginning to take anti-anxiety medication, my sleep improved.

Are you under increased stress? Big changes at work or home, anything that might be causing you to have trouble .

Not sure, what else to recommend as you stated you do fall asleep but can't stay asleep. My problem was always not being able to fall asleep.

Best of luck - you and your doctor will figure it out together.

 

[vettechick99]

So none of those remedies work for you anymore? What if you up the dose a bit - just for now? It sounds like you need to figure out why you are waking up and staying up. Is there a sleep clinic you can make an appt at after your trip? Or maybe if it's stress related, you could talk with a therapist or hypnotist.

I loathe insomnia and don't wish it on my worst enemy. I hope you get it figured out soon!

 

[Mommy2three]

my doctor prescribed Xanax for my insomnia. I was on ambien but had really bad hallucinations that I ended up at the ER. Xanax works wonders, but i don't take it every night, only when needed. It is highly addictive, that is why I wont use it every night.

 

[MoniqueU]

I haven't tried a sleep study no. I thought that was more for sleep apnea. I used to snore but lost a lot of weight so I don't any more and I am not sure that is what it is but at this point I am willing to try.

I do take anti anxiety meds. 4 mgs of xanax a day.

I am not sure if I can up the dose of stuff, I will look at my lunesta and see if he has me at the highest dose, if he doesn't that could be a big problem as I usually take the max dose of things to have them work.

The caffeine thing I don't think is an issue as I can fall asleep, just not stay asleep.

I have had no real life changing events. I am relatively happy in my life, I could use some more money but who of us couldn't?? No extra stress beyond what is normal for me.

 

[redrosesix]

I feel your pain.

I've had really bad insomnia caused by anxiety which only worsened when I hurt my back. Sometimes it would wake me up, sometimes I couldn't get to sleep at all -- and once I was awake, the stress would kick in and keep me awake. It reached a point where it was really dangerous for me to drive.

However, the things that I did for my back helped my sleeping so much. Massage was great, but the acupuncture treatments were so relaxing I practically fell asleep while I was having them -- I hadn't felt that rested in years. I've heard they have some great massage therapists at AKL -- maybe you could treat yourself while you're at BC and see if it helps. It's worth doing even if it doesn't cure your insomnia.

 

[MoniqueU]

my doctor prescribed Xanax for my insomnia. I was on ambien but had really bad hallucinations that I ended up at the ER. Xanax works wonders, but i don't take it every night, only when needed. It is highly addictive, that is why I wont use it every night.

I take that during the day 4mgs. You can take up to 10 a day so maybe he needs to up my dose. If I take xanax during the day and the house is quiet or I am in my room with the shades drawn I can sometimes fall asleep, but again I don't stay asleep for long. I have taken my xanax at night before when I didn't need it during the day and it does help shut off my mind so I can fall asleep I just can't stay asleep. I am going to try and google something about not staying asleep, that must be some specific kind of insomnia, I can't be a special snowflake.

Luckily I am a SAHM and don't drive and have older kids and my mom lives with me so I don't have a ton of things that "have" to be done. I mean they do but if I am not up to them that day I have other people to take up the slack.

 

[tomthebarncat]

I used to suffer from horrible insomnia and was using all the usual traditional methods. I started dating a young doctor who noticed this the first time he slept over, yes, I was a big slut, back then, just kidding. He suggested that I request a sleep study to determine what was officially going on. It turned out to be nano second seizures that were so small but still keeping me up at night. The doctors were able to prescribe the right medication and a few hours later, a pill, a hot bath and off to bed I went. I noticed an improvement fairly quickly as a definitive diagnosis was a great relief to me. Just something to think about! acupuncture also has a really good success rate!

 

[happywanderer2]

Ooh, I feel your pain. I couple of years ago I went through a bout of insomnia due to (I believe) stress at work. I'd go to bed but my brain would be spinning around so I just couldn't get to sleep. I finally went to a therapist who specialized in sleep anxiety. We went through visualization of putting all my problems behind a steel door, chained and with a metal gate slammed shut on them. It sounds silly, but it worked. Don't know if this is your problem or not, but just thought I'd throw this out.

 

[MoniqueU]

I will ask my doctor about the sleep study. It can't hurt. I have tried acupuncture. My last treatments were just a couple of months ago.

I have had alot of different kind of therapy over the years. I can shut my brain off to go to sleep and it is not like I wake up with my mind going a mile a minute I just bolt awake.

There are a few more details I am not really willing to go into on a public board like the dis where I don't want to scare people off LOL. But the usual diet, excersise, melatonin, benadryl etc have all been tried worked for awhile then it has gotten progressively worse til the really bad shower incident last week. My doctor agrees I can't go on like that.

As soon as my mom wakes up I will check my dose of the Lunesta and make sure I am at the max dose.

 

[DizBelle]

I don't know if this will help given the severity of your case but I take an herbal supplement called Snooze-In from the Vitamin Shoppe. The have brick and mortar stores as well as an online store vitaminshoppe.com. I find that this help my "brain gears" slow down so I can relax more.

I have no idea if this would help you but I wanted to make you aware of it.

 

[Buckalew11]

Monique, I'd try a sleep study.
It couldn't hurt and you have tried so many things. If I took 4mgs of xanax, I would not be able to hold my head up!

DH and I were listening the MJ news last night about his meds and his insomnia and my DH couldn't believe he'd go to such extremes for sleep. What he and his doctor was doing was very dangerous and wrong but I can see why he was so desperate. I told DH that until you've experienced insomnia, you cannot know how terrible it is.

I took Lunesta for a month and got what I think was decent sleep. It scared me though, to take meds to sleep every night so I stopped taking it. After 30 days I had terrible withdrawl symptoms.

I wish you the best in finding the right course of action to help yourself. (((hugs))) cause I know this is tough.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I haven't tried a sleep study no. I thought that was more for sleep apnea. I used to snore but lost a lot of weight so I don't any more and I am not sure that is what it is but at this point I am willing to try.

I do take anti anxiety meds. 4 mgs of xanax a day.

I am not sure if I can up the dose of stuff, I will look at my lunesta and see if he has me at the highest dose, if he doesn't that could be a big problem as I usually take the max dose of things to have them work.

The caffeine thing I don't think is an issue as I can fall asleep, just not stay asleep.

I have had no real life changing events. I am relatively happy in my life, I could use some more money but who of us couldn't?? No extra stress beyond what is normal for me.

Get a sleep study, it sounds like it is time to figure out if they can provide you with some info so you can treat your insomnia better.

You shouldn't be drinking any caffeine.

And you are on meds and they can have side effects.

I would certainly take it serious and go get that study!

 

[PollyannaMom]

...The caffeine thing I don't think is an issue as I can fall asleep, just not stay asleep...

Actually, that's my exact problem with caffeine too late in the day! - I fall asleep fine, but wake up in the middle of the night. (I don't really understand the delayed reaction. - I wonder if maybe it makes me dream more?) Anyway, I try not to have it after about 3:00.

Wishing you the best of luck in getting things solved!! Sleep does affect so much else.

 

[MoniqueU]

Monique, I'd try a sleep study.
It couldn't hurt and you have tried so many things. If I took 4mgs of xanax, I would not be able to hold my head up!

DH and I were listening the MJ news last night about his meds and his insomnia and my DH couldn't believe he'd go to such extremes for sleep. What he and his doctor was doing was very dangerous and wrong but I can see why he was so desperate. I told DH that until you've experienced insomnia, you cannot know how terrible it is.

I took Lunesta for a month and got what I think was decent sleep. It scared me though, to take meds to sleep every night so I stopped taking it. After 30 days I had terrible withdrawl symptoms.

I wish you the best in finding the right course of action to help yourself. (((hugs))) cause I know this is tough.

Thank you for understanding. Yes I think of MJ and ANS. I go to ONE Dr. I have for 5 years, I trust him. I go to one pharmacist. The desperation factor is so bad. It seems with each fresh bout of the insomnia it is worse then before. The shower incident last week scared the living daylights out of me, it is so much worse then I described.
I have decided my mom can take my kids to the beach. I need to get this taken care of before it escalates out of control. My DH had plans for the garage today but either he or my son may have to take me in. MY Dr last visit said this is becoming dangerous.

 

[Buckalew11]

I think you are making a wise decision then. I hope your doctor can offer some help and relief. I'm sure your mom wants you to have relief also and will be happy to help you today.

Chin up, this doctor will offer you some relief or direct you for some much needed help with your insomnia. Keep positive.

 

[Piecey]

Just offering sympathy as I am the same way.

I can't fall asleep, though. That is my problem. No drugs, over the counter remedies, etc. work for me either.
The past few nights the last time I remember looking at the time was 1/2 hour before my son woke me up crying.

I'm at my wits end and actually on hold to try to get in to see a doctor. I haven't tried the meds for a few years so maybe they'll help this time around.

 

[mickeyboat]

Good choice to skip the beach. Sounds like you need to see your doctor pronto. I hope he can help you.

Denae

 

[MoniqueU]

Just offering sympathy as I am the same way.

I can't fall asleep, though. That is my problem. No drugs, over the counter remedies, etc. work for me either.
The past few nights the last time I remember looking at the time was 1/2 hour before my son woke me up crying.

I'm at my wits end and actually on hold to try to get in to see a doctor. I haven't tried the meds for a few years so maybe they'll help this time around.

Shoot, I thought I had it bad. With a new baby you are in a very tough boat. If you do find something to help you sleep what if you don't wake up? I guess your DH would have to do it. That would just kind of freak me out, also isn't the risk of PPD heightened with lack of sleep? I had insomnia sort of but was really more bone tired when I had my kids. It has just been the last 5 years that it has gotten so out of hand.I think all the years of waking up with kids and stuff and never getting a full nights sleep for years at a time did me in. I have other issues as well so the baby thing probably doesnt have anything to do with it.

I checked my Lunesta dose and I am at the maximum reccomended dose, I don't know if that is the max you can take but that seems reccomended. I didn't think my dr would start me off slow knowing my track record of being med resistant.