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Posted 4/7/2005 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering if there are many of you that have difficulty sleeping? I didnt know if it was a symptom of depression or not, I am going to see the therapist in about 2 weeks, but I was wondering if any of you experience this sleeplessness and if you know of anything that helps?

I have tried OTC sleep aids and they dont seem to do anything, tried Nyquil (that always worked before), and Last night I tried a large glass of wine... None of those seemed to help at all. I laid awake most of the night, trying not to think about everything, and trying to relax.

Any ideas about how to stop this? any prescriptions that work well without a lot of problems?

Posted 4/7/2005 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
For me all of those "sleep aids" do exactly the opposite and keep me wired and awake. I know this is old fashioned but I live by it, a nice warm glass of milk and a warm bath does a lot to relax me. YAWNNNN!!! I'm getting sleepy just talking about it :).

Good Luck and hugs,
dbab
Posted 4/7/2005 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I am constantly tired and have a difficult falling asleep. I am taking ambien and it really helps. I don't wake up as groggy in the morning as the OTC sleep aids.
Posted 4/7/2005 4:33 PM (GMT 0)

Cheerdad,

You said you take ambien? I have heard that you need to be able to get at least 7-8 hours if you take the pill right? Youve never woken up groggy from it?

Just curious, is it something you take pretty regularly? and is it expensive?

I had been thinking about asking my doc for valum because I sleep like a baby with that stuff, but I don't think he would prescribe it for any long term use and sleep has anlways been an issue for me.

Posted 4/7/2005 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
D-Rule, Dbab, CheerDad,

I'm glad this string was started. I bet we could look back and find lots of questions just like this one because it is common in Depression or chronic illness. If any of us finds something good, lets paste it here or bump it up. I struggle with sleep too. Currently I am taking amitriptylene. I have been doing much better sleeping and my physical problems are healing much faster now as a result of good sleep. But, I do have nights (last night) when I just have a hard time. (Had a long day yesterday, couldn't fall asleep until 3 am and had to get up at 6 to take someone to airport . . . yikes) I am resolved to NOT nap today or it will just cause a new insomnia cycle.

I do have something to share with you all . . . I give it out frequently on the lupus forum . . . it is sleepy dust. You'll find it in your pocket . . . it is an endless supply. I used to toss it at my kids when they didn't want to go to bed. LOL it does often work!

Blessings!
Posted 4/7/2005 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I strugle a lot also, and i end up in an insomnia cycle where i can't sleep before 6 AM and can't wake up before 2 PM, i have tried xanax when i have panic episodes and that seems to help a lot.

But if i'm not sleepy nothing can put me to sleep.. lol so i just usually wait till i'm sleepy.. the eazy solution..

I can never seem to be able to fall asleep before 2 AM generarly, almost imposible for me i think that my Biological clock just doesn't work anymore, i don't nap in the afternoon except if my night sleep is shifted to the day, can sleep upto 5 PM at certain days. this has caused me to loose mu job more than once, and it has bin one of the things that keep getting me and keeping me on self-destructive behavouirs ; ;

I don't know if there is a simple cure i wish there is one i would take it right away..
Posted 4/7/2005 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Well . . . I just woke up from a three hour nap!!! I was just too pooped to wait for bedtime. If I'm awake tonight . . . I'll probably come here to the boards. sad
Posted 4/7/2005 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Rosie,

If I find anything out there that is worth trying I will let you know. Sleep is a difficult thing for me I think because I am nervous about my CD returning so soon after surgery. I had trouble sleeping after my surgery as well though, just from general discomfort. These days I pretty much need to pass out to get any rest. If I have any time to think before my head hits the pillow I will get all stir crazy.

I feel bad for my wife, I have been waking her up lately when I get up, so she seems to be suffering some with me.
Posted 4/8/2005 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
I usually have the problem of sleeping too much or feeling low energy but just recently my psychiatrist put me on seroquel to take at night and it has made a huge difference.  In the past I had always "thought" that I had slept well but in actuality I didn't sleep well at all.  I would wake up around 2:00 and my sleep was poor because I am one of those people whose mind is going 24/7 all the time.

The seroquel has stopped my mind from going during the night and when I get up in the morning I feel rested and ready to go in the morning.  I have only been on it for a couple of weeks and the doctor and I have been experimenting with it still but so far I am happy with how it has been working.

Oh by the way if you look up the medication it says that it is for bipolar and schizophrenia which I have never been diagnosed but it is also used for other disorders as well.

Hope this helps.  I know everyone's chemical balance is a little different.

Posted 4/9/2005 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
The only way I'm able to fall asleep at night is to watch something kind of boring on tv. For me, the history channel usually does it. There's always some narrator with a deep monotone voice. I just get in bed and set the sleep timer on my tv for an hour and it does the trick every time. This is kind of a problem sometimes, though. If I don't have a tv on to distract me, my mind just starts racing and it never stops--thus, keeping me awake all night. My boyfriend doesn't understand why I can never fall asleep at his house and then he comes downstairs in the morning to find me asleep on his couch.....infront of the tv.
Posted 4/9/2005 8:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Gretchen,

Yup, the Hitler channel will do that to a person. I don't know how they can stay on sometimes when they have done Hitler and WW2 documentaries in a million diffferent ways. I am having another lovely sleepless night. This really sucks. I havent had a good night sleep for weeks. I imagine I will probably fall asleep in a few hours and not want to get up until noon.
I need to go see my doc about getting another pill, maybe I will try that Ambien stuff. Im not too sure about trying something like seroquel, sound a little too potent to me- I know that Im not bi-polar or schizo... Maybe Im a little uptight, rigid, and jumpy at times- I think a lot of guys in my family are wound too tight.
Posted 4/9/2005 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Gretchen . . . been there, done that . . . with the TV and sleep timer!! Books on tape are another snoozer if your lying down. Yup . . .

D-Rule . . . good idea to talk to doc about this. I see by the time above your post that you WERE up in the wee hours. I had a hard time getting out of the cycle that causes. Am now taking amitriptylene 25 mg per night. I take it about 2 hours before I go to bed. It is intended to be an anti-depressant but it has that sleep effect. I am the type that wakes easily and can't fall back asleep . . . it has been working very well for me.

Blessings!
Posted 4/9/2005 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
I did finally end up sleeping, not very restful though, it is hard on the body- I know because I feel like trash when I wake up in the morning. Too bad I have to wait until monday to get a hold of my doc. Grrrrr...

Oh yeah, I stayed up until at least 3am watching fight club. He was a crazy insomniac too.

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