Insomnia.

[wsu12]

Hi all,
I have had insomnia (to some degree) for as long as I can remember. I honestly have memories of being 11 or 12 years old and struggling with falling asleep. Fast forward, now I am 29 and it is no better. I am a very healthy, active young woman. I workout 5 days weekly (in the mornings), eat healthy/fresh food 99% of the time, do not consume excess caffeine, non smoker, social drinker (4-5 glasses of wine weekly-Friday thru Sunday only), do not take any other medications, no illegal drugs. I have tried everything:
Melatonin
Tylenol PM
Lunesta
Sonata
Ambien
Sleepy time tea

The RX''s usually get me to fall asleep but I fear taking them long term so I only take them for 1-2 weeks at a time and then do not take another for 6-8 months. I have lived with this for so long and it is miserable. I feel like some sort of leper...If I take no stimulants (i.e. tea, OTC aids) I will be up all night long. The sun will be coming up...

I have asked different doctors for help and I get the same answer, try this new drug. Tonight I took a new type of Ambien CR? I took one pill over 3 hours ago...as you can tell I am not asleep, not even slightly sleepy.

Has anyone else gone through this? I don''t know what to do? I feel like I keep getting the same outcome with my physicians....Any home remedies? At this point I would be willing to try anything.

 

[MagsyMay]

I''m sorry you''re going through such a bad time with insomnia. I too go through bouts of it. Are your episodes constant, or just occasional or situational? I know mine always occur when I am much too stressed/busy and just cannot get my mind to stop thinking. When my FI was in Iraq for a year, I slept horribly, I really think mostly because I could just flip and flop and flip and flop until I fell asleep. I used to lay awake for 2-3+ hours, sometimes only getting 4 or less hours of sleep a night. I tried staying up later so I would be tired, but that always backfired in just further delaying the eventual time I would actually get to sleep.

When he came home, I was more conscious of my movement, so forcing myself to stay still because I didn''t want to wake him made me fall asleep more quickly. Not to say my brain stopped thinking, but it made me stay still and "try" to fall asleep at least, whereas previously I never did.

I think probably the most important thing I can think of is to identify what is going on, bothering you, stressing you, etc. I''d say for me, 9/10 those are the things that create "insomnia." Is it work, parents, financial problems, etc. Ya know? I''m by no means a psychologist/psychiatrist, but in my experience, my insomnia is always related to anxiety/depression.

As far as aids go, the only thing that ever did me any good was valerian root. I''m sure others will tell you why this is bad, ineffective, harmful, but it worked for me at the time. Who knows, maybe it was a placebo effect.

 

[wsu12]

Date: 12/12/2009 1:42:33 AM
Author:fsu1227
Hi all,

I have had insomnia (to some degree) for as long as I can remember. I honestly have memories of being 11 or 12 years old and struggling with falling asleep. Fast forward, now I am 29 and it is no better. I am a very healthy, active young woman. I workout 5 days weekly (in the mornings), eat healthy/fresh food 99% of the time, do not consume excess caffeine, non smoker, social drinker (4-5 glasses of wine weekly-Friday thru Sunday only), do not take any other medications, no illegal drugs. I have tried everything:

Melatonin

Tylenol PM

Lunesta

Sonata

Ambien

Sleepy time tea


The RX''s usually get me to fall asleep but I fear taking them long term so I only take them for 1-2 weeks at a time and then do not take another for 6-8 months. I have lived with this for so long and it is miserable. I feel like some sort of leper...If I take no stimulants (i.e. tea, OTC aids) I will be up all night long. The sun will be coming up...


I have asked different doctors for help and I get the same answer, try this new drug. Tonight I took a new type of Ambien CR? I took one pill over 3 hours ago...as you can tell I am not asleep, not even slightly sleepy.


Has anyone else gone through this? I don''t know what to do? I feel like I keep getting the same outcome with my physicians....Any home remedies? At this point I would be willing to try anything.

Forgot to mention that my husband snores rather loudly every night, which makes sleeping that much more of a challenge.

 

[radiantquest]

I have had problems sleeping for years. I used to take Ambien and Ambien CR when it came out, but it was so expensive and I would lose my memory. I would wake up in the morning and not remember conversations and once I woke up in the morning and every towel in the house was in a pile on the kitchen floor and there was a butcher knife out on the counter. After that I decided to stop taking it. Now I take generic tylenol pm. It works for me most of the time. I take it at 9pm and usually go to bed around 11pm. I don''t feel sleepy when I go, but I turn on the tv and close my eyes during the commercial breaks. I don''t try and force myself to sleep, but I find that closing my eyes even though I am not trying helps me fall asleep quicker. My DH snores too and I am very light sensitive so sometimes even the light from the alarm clock will wake me. So, to sum it up I take two generic pm pills with my vitamins at 9pm, go to bed at 11, turn on the tv and set the timer and close my eyes during the commercials. I keep my ear plugs and sleep mask on my nightstand and every morning I wake with them on.

I took me years to get a system that works, but the sleep mask and earplugs saved the day, or night I should say.

 

[MsP]

Are you tired during the day because of a lack of sleep? Or do you just have difficulty falling asleep during normal sleeping hours?

I recently had a discussion with colleagues (professors, professional researcher, or PhD students... all generally high achieving and successful people) about sleep. It seems to be quite common trait among us to sleep very little and function quite well--not walking zombies at all. My regular sleep schedule right now is going to sleep around 2 or 3am and waking at 7am. This seems to be about the norm around the office.

Martha Stewart revealed that she routinely sleeps like 3-4 hours (maybe even less, I don''t recall) as have many many famous successful people. Is it possible that you just don''t need the amount of sleep that you think you do? I''m no doctor AT ALL... just a thought.

I do use a white noise machine and an eye mask... perhaps try ear plugs for the snoring or better yet, address the snoring issue.

 

[wsu12]

Date: 12/12/2009 2:12:02 AM
Author: MagsyMay
I''m sorry you''re going through such a bad time with insomnia. I too go through bouts of it. Are your episodes constant, or just occasional or situational? I know mine always occur when I am much too stressed/busy and just cannot get my mind to stop thinking. When my FI was in Iraq for a year, I slept horribly, I really think mostly because I could just flip and flop and flip and flop until I fell asleep. I used to lay awake for 2-3+ hours, sometimes only getting 4 or less hours of sleep a night. I tried staying up later so I would be tired, but that always backfired in just further delaying the eventual time I would actually get to sleep.


When he came home, I was more conscious of my movement, so forcing myself to stay still because I didn''t want to wake him made me fall asleep more quickly. Not to say my brain stopped thinking, but it made me stay still and ''try'' to fall asleep at least, whereas previously I never did.


I think probably the most important thing I can think of is to identify what is going on, bothering you, stressing you, etc. I''d say for me, 9/10 those are the things that create ''insomnia.'' Is it work, parents, financial problems, etc. Ya know? I''m by no means a psychologist/psychiatrist, but in my experience, my insomnia is always related to anxiety/depression.


As far as aids go, the only thing that ever did me any good was valerian root. I''m sure others will tell you why this is bad, ineffective, harmful, but it worked for me at the time. Who knows, maybe it was a placebo effect.

Magsy,
It is constant. And sadly, I don''t feel stressed about anything. There have been times when I was experiencing stress that I could have blamed the insomnia on but within the last few months (6 or so)I have been stress free.

 

[Tuckins1]

Go see a neurologist. Do a sleep study and see what they say. Perhaps they can do something called a "sleep advance", where they keep you up longer and longer periods of time, essentially "re-setting" your internal clock. I also have sleep troubles, and this was something that was suggested to me. I didn''t do it because I have sort of gotten a better hold of my sleep, but it is a viable option for me if I slip back into my extreme insomnia.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

I''m not sure it would help, but have you tried cutting out all TV & computer usage a few hours before turning in? Choose pre-bedtime activities that are relaxing, if not a bit boring. Sometimes reading a dull book does the trick for me. (If it''s too good, I push bedtime back just to finish the story!) There are a few "bedtime yoga" DVDs out these days. Perhaps meditation would help?

Are you flat-out not sleepy, or are you the type of person who cannot turn her mind "off"? If you''re just not tired... I don''t know... maybe your body functions well on only a few hours of rest?

 

[PinkTower]

I think you live in FL? I live on the GA/FL border, and I think it is hard to sleep here because of the heat.

Last month I went to a seminar on challenging children in the classroom, and one of the sleep aids suggested was weighted blankets for children who are unable to sleep. Apparently the weight is very soothing and induces sleep. Well, how are we supposed to take advantage of that, I was thinking?

 

[wsu12]

Date: 12/12/2009 7:42:47 PM
Author: PilsnPinkysMom
I''m not sure it would help, but have you tried cutting out all TV & computer usage a few hours before turning in? Choose pre-bedtime activities that are relaxing, if not a bit boring. Sometimes reading a dull book does the trick for me. (If it''s too good, I push bedtime back just to finish the story!) There are a few ''bedtime yoga'' DVDs out these days. Perhaps meditation would help?


Are you flat-out not sleepy, or are you the type of person who cannot turn her mind ''off''? If you''re just not tired... I don''t know... maybe your body functions well on only a few hours of rest?

I need to shut all the electronics off in the evening, I do feel that is making the situation worse...definitely not better. I think out of boredom I stay on the laptop late into the evenings (hence my original post time).

I do believe I fall into the latter category, I have a hard time relaxing.

Thank you ladies for the feedback, it is nice to know that I am not alone

 

[lyra]

I''m now on meds that have the blessed side effect of putting me to sleep. I was an insomniac from before I was 4 years old and vividly recall the many, many nights where I lay awake or went to look out windows for hours while everyone else slept. One night I saw some kids light a fire in our alley, so I woke my parents and they called the police and everything. Good thing I was awake staring out the window for that one.

What helped me (non-pharmacological) most was a white noise machine, and meditation. Clearly these are healthy choices. It''s also better to learn to live/sleep with noise and light in the room. Once you have conquered both of these typical "issues", it''s much easier to stay asleep longer. I used to be the hear no/see no sleeper too, but then any light/noise would always wake me. Learning to sleep with distractions is a good thing.

Even to this day, several times a week I will be wide awake until 3-4am. Being able to get to sleep and stay asleep is something I actually treasure in my life. My insomnia was just that bad.

 

[kama_s]

Fsu, I am you to the t. I''ve had trouble sleeping since I was 7 or so. It was amazing during university, because I could easily function 100% on 3-4 hours of sleep. For me, I find it hard to switch my brain off. I tend to think, analyse, plan my next day etc. Even now, when I''m essentially at home with no committments! I''ve actually never tried any medicinal, but I have a strict night time schedule, just like you, that includes no caffeine past 5pm, no TV/work in the bedoom, nothing that excites me too much past 9pm etc. The BEST thing that works for me, without fail, is sex. I kid you not. Having an ''O'' REALLY relaxes me, so when I''m having difficulty sleeping I just nudge my hubby (who, btw, fall asleep in less than 30s

). If he''s away for work, I use other devices - ha!

 

[JSM]

I have similar issues, but luckily ambien works well for me (I have no idea how I would function without it).

I seem to have the same problems sleeping as my mom and all of her brothers. Unfortunately, while they can function on 4 hours a night, I can not! I need a good 6 hours at least to make it through my day. I''m worried about addiction, so I''ll rotate between ambien, Nyquil, benadryl, and melatonin.

I do not drink caffeine (at ALL, ever), I do not watch TV in the bedroom, I am active, I eat healthily, but still I can''t fall asleep. Once I''m there I can usually stay asleep, but getting there is a problem!

I''ll be watching this thread hoping for some good tips!

 

[Christiana]

I''m so sorry to hear that. Insomnia is indeed awful. One of my best friends suffers from it. Hot milk works for her, I''m not sure if it does wonders for everyone, though.

 

[wsu12]

Date: 12/13/2009 1:48:36 PM
Author: kama_s
Fsu, I am you to the t. I''ve had trouble sleeping since I was 7 or so. It was amazing during university, because I could easily function 100% on 3-4 hours of sleep. For me, I find it hard to switch my brain off. I tend to think, analyse, plan my next day etc. Even now, when I''m essentially at home with no committments! I''ve actually never tried any medicinal, but I have a strict night time schedule, just like you, that includes no caffeine past 5pm, no TV/work in the bedoom, nothing that excites me too much past 9pm etc. The BEST thing that works for me, without fail, is sex. I kid you not. Having an ''O'' REALLY relaxes me, so when I''m having difficulty sleeping I just nudge my hubby (who, btw, fall asleep in less than 30s

). If he''s away for work, I use other devices - ha!

Hahaha! I just read your post to my husband, he likes the idea. Thanks!

 

[Hest88]

I''m sorry. You''re not alone, though. I''ve slept badly since high school. If I go to bed too early, no matter now tired I am, I end up drifting in this weird alpha state for hours. Even if I go to bed at a normal time I may not fall asleep for while as well. I wake up during the night constantly as well. I''ve tried meditation, all the relaxation techniques out there, the getting up out of bed if I can''t fall asleep, the milk, the melatonin, the chamomile, the Tylenol PM, etc. Yes, I follow a sleep routine strictly, and all the stuff that''s supposed to work. I have not tried prescription drugs, though, but I''ve never reacted typically to drugs, and, like you, I''d hate to be dependent on something. Anyway, so no advice, just sympathy.

Oh, and for the record, Kama, sex doesn''t work for me either.

It just makes my heart rate go up and it takes so long to come down that it keeps me up.

 

[EricaR]

I have terrible insomnia, too. I know that the key to me sleeping is consistency, consistency, consistency. Oh, with a bit of consistency thrown in. I have a bedtime routine:
Off computer at 9pm.
Turn off TV at 9:30.
Put on pjs, brush teeth, climb into bed by 9:45.
Read.

If I follow the above steps I can fall asleep about 80% of the time without any trouble. I can''t do any caffeine (maybe a diet coke in the morning, once or twice a week, but that is IT), and if anything is exciting (one of my cats being a brat, late night phone call, etc) it throws me off.

If I''m afraid I won''t sleep sometimes I''ll stay up on the laptop late and that is seriously the worst thing in the world for me.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

I used to, since childhood, then something changed my life.

How soon after waking do you have breakfast, are you eating it at a consistent time if you are having breakfast every morning, and MOST IMPORTANTLY what do you eat for breakfast each morning?

 

[wsu12]

Date: 12/13/2009 8:04:42 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis
I used to, since childhood, then something changed my life.


How soon after waking do you have breakfast, are you eating it at a consistent time if you are having breakfast every morning, and MOST IMPORTANTLY what do you eat for breakfast each morning?

I eat breakfast every morning. I typically eat breakfast within 10 minutes of waking. It is more often than not Kashi Go Lean dry cereal, Light Vanilla Soy Milk on top and fresh berries (strawberries/raspberries/blueberries which ever is in season). Also 1 cup of coffee with splenda.

 

[y2kitty]

Do you ever sleep better anywhere else, like say on vacation?

 

[wsu12]

Date: 12/14/2009 9:24:33 PM
Author: y2kitty
Do you ever sleep better anywhere else, like say on vacation?

Funny you should ask that. I sleep like a baby when we are on vacation (staying in hotels). Luxury hotels have the ability to cure almost all the "issues"...No idea.

We leave for Scottsdale and Vegas this Friday. Hooray for sleep!!!

 

[Phoenix]

fsu,

Have you had your thyroid checked yet? Sometimes, insomnia can be a sign of a thyroid disorder.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Date: 12/14/2009 9:15:40 PM
Author: fsu1227

Date: 12/13/2009 8:04:42 PM

Author: fleur-de-lis

I used to, since childhood, then something changed my life.



How soon after waking do you have breakfast, are you eating it at a consistent time if you are having breakfast every morning, and MOST IMPORTANTLY what do you eat for breakfast each morning?

I eat breakfast every morning. I typically eat breakfast within 10 minutes of waking. It is more often than not Kashi Go Lean dry cereal, Light Vanilla Soy Milk on top and fresh berries (strawberries/raspberries/blueberries which ever is in season). Also 1 cup of coffee with splenda.

Okay, first off, it''s great that you''re eating breakfast soon after waking every morning. You''d be surprised how many people don''t, and then shocked when you do an impromptu survey of the non-breakfast eaters and nearly all of them will report sleep problems.

As I mentioned earlier, I share your history of difficulty falling asleep. I remember it from as early as age 6 or so, as well as being so frustrated by it as a high school student who was going to bed at 11pm, laying awake until 2am, and yet still had to wake up at 5am each day. I ate breakfast upon waking, and for me it was typically milk/cereal and juice. A few years back, I was introduced to a new food regimen and figured I''d give it a shot for a couple of weeks. Not only did my stomach become flat again, but... suddenly I was a superstar sleeper, who was falling asleep within 5-15 minutes of going to bed, sleeping well then... gently waking up without an alarm clock nearly exactly 8 hours later!

The "secret"? Eggs and a breakfast meat for breakfast. No sugar. No carbs. No fruit. Just starting with a hearty meal of proteins and fats, eaten as soon after waking as possible. Save the fruits and carbs for later in the day; you want a zero carb breakfast.

Seriously, within a week the change in my sleeping pattern was profound. From what I understand, food can be a significant yet often overlooked Zeitgeber for the Circadian Rhythm of sleep. The fat/protein combo upon waking is a strong latching-on point for the body, so it will want to wake and get up for that if it expects that tasty/fatty/protein-rich meal upon waking. Then, the circadian rhythm *naturally* falls into place shortly thereafter, and the body naturally begins to want to go into its sleep period 7 to 8 hours before the expected breakfast.

[In any event, sorry I went on and on there; I guess I''m so sympatico that I couldn''t help myself. If you''re willing, it really could be worth giving it a diligent two-week trial, and if you don''t notice a change, go back to what you prefer (obviously). But fwiw, each and every person I know who did had such a massive improvement in sleep patterns that they stuck with it permanently.] HTH!

 

[radiantquest]

I am very interested in what you said fleur, but I have nausea problems in morning. I cannot stomache any food until at least 3 hours after I wake. No, I am not pregnant I just can''t eat in the morning. Is there something that I can do to fix that? It seems that most of the problems have a domino effect. Perhaps if we can fix one thing the rest will fall into place like you suggested.