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Insomnia

I have dealt with insomnia on and off since I was a teen. Lately it's just "on". I use Enhanced Natural Sleep from Life Extensions. It is a combination of time release and immediate release melatonin and some other minerals. It works well and keeping me asleep and letting me get back to sleep in the middle of the night. I still have trouble falling asleep and I do take a Xanax regularly. They don't seem to have an addictive effect on me personally and they help a lot with that falling asleep thing.
Liz
 
I just stick with Benadryl. It won't put me to sleep but it takes the edge off enough that I fall right back to sleep if I get up in the night. I really hesitate to take anything stronger. OTOH, if I don't get 8+ hours of sleep, I am a wreck. Peri-menopause is certainly not making it easier.

Deb
 
First encountered sleep issues when I traveled a lot for business. I'd hear every room door slamming shut, noises down the hall, next door, etc. Eventually I learned to leave the TV on low and that seemed to work. Then DH started with his snoring, so I started using nighttime TV at home.

Sadly, I've become conditioned to it so almost have to have a TV on nowadays to fall asleep. I really hesitate to start taking some sort of drug for this, but I'm sure the TV on all night isn't good, either.
 
A glass of red wine does it for me.
 
Do you exercise on a regular basis? I mean aerobic exercise that keeps you in your Target heart rate zone for 20 minutes.
 
Up most of the night again. Part of the problem is two drugs I take for different forms of cancer, extremely hot during the night,even though the room is at 66 degrees, and now i am itching all over. I am afraid I have an allergy to my thyroid medicine. 4 hours of sleep seems to be the most for me. exercise - do what I can, but need knee replaced and rotator cuff operated on too.
 
Wow! At least I know I'm not alone with current insomnia problems.

I use a CPAP, and although I hate it I was at least keeping in on most of the night...then, the sleeping problems started. I have to use 10mg Ambien to get to sleep. Unfortunately, for the last several weeks I wake up and find I've taken the CPAP mask off sometimes for almost the whole night. I don't remember anything. I'm also experiencing memory issues. After spending this evening doing some online research, I"m finding both the CPAP and Ambien can cause memory issues. The Ambien warnings indicate it shouldn't be taken unless you can expect 7-8 hours sleep. Lots of luck (for me). I go to bed at about 10:30 and wake up at 5:30. Or, I should say get out of bed at 5:30 an several other times each night. I'm sure I get less than 5-6 hours sleep total (if that). I've taken Ambien sporadically for several years, but it's advanced to every night for the past 2-3 weeks. I tried stopping for 4-days, but 4-days without sleep didn't work so well.

As I write this, I'm trying to figure out how to lick this problem. My sleep Doctor requires appointments almost 2-months out. I'm scheduled to see him late November. I'm also experiencing severe depression associated with the memory issues. I've had to edit this three times, so I'm also having concentration problems. I have to find the answer somewhere.
 
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Wonka,
Call your sleep doctor's office and tell them what you've written here...that the Ambian use is daily now, and you sometimes take off the C-Pap unknowingly while on the pills. Also that you still aren't sleeping and you have been losing chunks of memory. I think they will try to get you in sooner than later. If they can't, then make an appointment anyway, and ask if they can list you for any cancellation.

Fern
 
I take melatonin. I also have Dalmaine that I keep by my bed and take ONLY if I can't fall asleep . If I wake around midnight I can take it (with 6 more hours to sleep)

If I wake at 3 am, I take 3 Advil - crazy as that sounds - they put me back to sleep.
 
Wonka, so sorry to hear about your problems.
I have tried so many of the remedies mentioned here, nothing works, last night I was up from 1:20 til after 5. I have been put on steroids, and they are increasing the insomnia.
 
What about a little exercise? Maybe a walk after dinner to tire out the body, anybody try that?
 
That is good plus I'd ask for the doctor to call you back re problems, as sometimes office people don't get the information given to them correct.

Fern Modena said:
Wonka,
Call your sleep doctor's office and tell them what you've written here...that the Ambian use is daily now, and you sometimes take off the C-Pap unknowingly while on the pills. Also that you still aren't sleeping and you have been losing chunks of memory. I think they will try to get you in sooner than later. If they can't, then make an appointment anyway, and ask if they can list you for any cancellation.

Fern
Click to expand...
 
dmharris said:
What about a little exercise? Maybe a walk after dinner to tire out the body, anybody try that?
Click to expand...

Some folks find its just easier to take pills. Sad really. No, I'm not talking about those with limitations, but there are very few physical handicaps that won't allow some type of exercise. just ask a Vet with no legs and one arm.
 
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Swimming is a great way to exercise, your body weight is not a burden, a heated pool makes if feel 'cozy' and there is a wonderful sense of freedom for me in the water.

Prayer also helps me focus on things besides my problems. Cutting out sugar, caffeine, alcohol all those things we know we should do, but don't might help. I wonder if generations ago where more manual labor was done, did they have trouble sleeping as much as we do today?
 
For many, late-day exercise has the detrimental effect of increasing metabolism and actually inhibiting sleepiness. Most people get maximum good from exercising early in the day, increasing energy, reducing hunger, and helping them sleep well at night.

'Course, all you have to do is look at me to tell that the above is purely anecdotal and not from personal experience. :)

Jim
 
Try meditation

I have the same problem with waking in the middle of the night and then not being able to get back to sleep. I was reluctant to take pills because they tend to have side effects. So I've found focusing on something simple, as you would in meditation, works to calm my racing mind and relax me enough to get back to sleep. Also, Amazon has some relaxation/meditation type CD's that some people found very effective to put them off to sleep.
 
Wonka,
I know my dad had major trouble with Ambien - turns out it's quite the drug. I would call the doctor with an emergency on this one with the memory loss. I get waiting 2 months for a regular appointment. Sending good thoughts and well wishes.
 
Another angle

Ever considered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture? I'm a bit of a fan and over the years have successfully used it for hot flushes, hayfever and acute back pain.

Here is a link, I chose it because I rather liked the simple explanation provided.

http://www.holisticbynature.com.au/?p=62
 
CarolF said:
Ever considered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture? I'm a bit of a fan and over the years have successfully used it for hot flushes, hayfever and acute back pain.

Here is a link, I chose it because I rather liked the simple explanation provided.

http://www.holisticbynature.com.au/?p=62
Click to expand...

Not seriously, but I would consider it if I thought it might help. I did have an acupuncture treatment on a cruise once, it didn't do very much of anything from what I could tell. But, I'm sure that's not much of a test. Does Medicare cover Acupuncture?
 
dmharris said:
What about a little exercise? Maybe a walk after dinner to tire out the body, anybody try that?
Click to expand...

I've excercised 3x day, 1/2 each on a recumbant...pretty heavy exercise since March. But, I did stop for the last 3-weeks because of back pain. So, there certainly might be a relationship to the Insomnia in my case. I've decided 1x a day will have to do and substitute an additional hour of sleep (or trying to) with an occasional 2nd visit to the club each day. It's also a 20 min round trip for me (10 min each way)...that adds a lot to the time commitment. It's hard when you're working.
 
Passepartout said:
For many, late-day exercise has the detrimental effect of increasing metabolism and actually inhibiting sleepiness. Most people get maximum good from exercising early in the day, increasing energy, reducing hunger, and helping them sleep well at night.

'Course, all you have to do is look at me to tell that the above is purely anecdotal and not from personal experience. :)

Jim
Click to expand...

Yes, my sleep Doc said not to excercise before bedtime.
 
I've made it to 5 a.m. 2 times this week already. :zzz:

Not sure if it's the Dramamine or the new Phillips Blu Light, but something is helping.

I had no idea so many people have the same issue - seems to be something people don't talk about unless someone else brings it up.
 
Wonka said:
Not seriously, but I would consider it if I thought it might help. I did have an acupuncture treatment on a cruise once, it didn't do very much of anything from what I could tell. But, I'm sure that's not much of a test. Does Medicare cover Acupuncture?
Click to expand...

You would need to find a properly qualified practitioner. Our TCM practitioners often spend quite a bit of time working in Chinese hospitals as part of their training. Medicare covers it here but I don't know about your health system at all.
 
DH goes tonight for his sleep apnea testing. He was tested a several years ago and they said he had it, but not too bad. It's got to be really bad now, given his symptoms. We are both hopeful that he'll be able to use something (CPAP, etc.) to get him some sleep relief. He's in a very stressful job and trying to function on 4 or less hours of sleep, day after day, week after week, is killing him. I am afraid often that my use of that word is not figurative.
 
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