CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for sleep/does it work for bartonella?

In the last year, I've probably felt sleepy 5 times. Sleep never gets to my eyes and I can't even nap.

I've not liked that I'm on zolpidem and have tried everything to get off of it. One time I went four nights with no sleep without it. Tried herbs, muscle relaxants, etc.

I was shamed by my new PCP for being on it and she will not rx it when this rx runs out. By means of MyChart, she could see a sleep doctor had advised CBT a year ago.

I had checked it out back then, and tried some youtube videos and didn't think it would work for me. I think that bartonella and headache are my problem.

I'm going to do it to show I tried. I'll have to see a psychologist and wondering if he will recognize that my insomnia is disease related?

I didn't have continuous insomnia until lyme.

Maybe it will work?

I would recommend that you start tapering the ambien so that your body can learn to start up regulating GABA on its own, the neurotransmitter that ambien works on.

Some people do liquid titration and slowly taper the amount over the course of a month or two depending on how much you take. I was on an anti-anxiety med for sleep which worked much like ambien. Stopping it cold turkey will be torturous.

I'm off it now and since I've been treating Lyme, my sleep has improved. I still have sleep issues, but it's gotten better. Unfortunately, your brain has to learn how to make neurotransmitters that the ambien replaces.

If you never feel sleepy, you might want to get your melatonin levels checked. I just got mine tested by Dutch labs, and apparently I am really low. I'm going to start doing a "melatonin challenge", to reset my circadian rhythms in a couple weeks.

Hope this helps! Sleep is one of my biggest Lyme issues.

This new PCP was pretty heartless which makes it all the worse. I've been hard on myself about the issue anyway feeling weird that I can't do something that's supposed to be natural. Fortunately had doctors starting with LLMD who said I need to sleep to heal.

When I went to sleep doctor a year ago, I went expecting him to help me with the titration/ substitution. Turned out he only recommends CBT. Doesn't Rx drugs. I would not have gone if I knew that.

This was the third time I saw this MD and it was because she had only Rxd 10 pills and she asked me to see her.

The first time I saw her, I mentioned a doctor I talked to after a sleep study way back,who was not concerned that I was on ambien regularly when I told him I was concerned.

That somnography was not on MyChart and my new PCP thought I lied because she had my more recent sleep docs notes. She launched right into me reading his report where he said I should do CBT.

When she finished chewing me out, I handed her the sleep study report, but she didn't apologize and didn't say anything about it. Lectured me about losing cognitive abilities on long-term ambien.

I just ordered some time-release 5htp. It's supposed to lead to serotonin and melatonin production.I think a long time ago I tried it and it made me hyper, but hoping time-release will make a difference.

It helps to know others are here who understand.

I found Dutch lab testing. Expensive but might be worth it. Does it have to be ordered by a provider?

Thanks!

Hi,

I had this exact issue, but a Dr. gave me Xanax for sleep. NOT good. Ended up in a terrible place of having to take it in order to sleep. I did get off and it was horrible for a while. I am finally able to have a decent night of sleep with only melatonin. I was on Benadryl for a while in between.

Your brain will adjust. BUT, it will take time. One thing that has really helped me is Magnesium, Vit D3, and turmeric at night. Make sure you get 95% curcuminiods with the turmeric. The turmeric has also helped my daughter. The sleep issue is largely due to cytokines. Leads to inflammation, leads to insomnia. We have to take care of the inflammation. I wish you the best! Good Luck.