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I am tired of not sleeping

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Posted 9/18/2013 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
I woke up at 1:47 a.m. today after sleeping 4 hours. This is no longer exception. This is the rule. Melitonin does not work. Benedryl does not work. I worked 16 hours on 4 hours sleep. Argh!!!
Posted 9/18/2013 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
You need to talk to the doctor and try something else. That will wear you out fast.

Tony
Posted 9/18/2013 5:39 AM (GMT 0)
Ah,
And I got the one eye open thing. My Metallica moment. Enter Sandman?

Tony
Posted 9/18/2013 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Todd - been there - done that - you have so much on your plate , your subconscious and conscious self are working overtime ( and draining you in the "now" time). Two suggestion - positioning of pillows and such to keep airway open for breathing - more easy breathing - better chance at deeper sleep .. and of course, meditating before sleep - putting the worries and anxiety out there in the ether and allowing yourself a vacation ( sleep vacation) from it all... ZZZzzz...

gentle hugs,
Bronson
(who wakes up every 2 hours to pee / take CPAP mask off / put CPAP mask back on / but I do go back to sleep /ZZZzzz...)
Posted 9/18/2013 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Todd,

I know how you feel. Last Aug/Oct, I was having so much problems sleeping (only sleeping about 3-4 hours at best) and didn't know why. Being DX with PCa, and starting on HT the first of Oct, the extreme pain in my lower back and right hip/butt, got better after a few weeks and I was able to sleep a little better.

Last night, I was awake around 11pm, so much pain, but after an hour or so, I fell back to sleep until 6:15am. I think I over done it as we're still working on our house (spraying the den/breakfast/kitchen). I made a trip to the home store and purchased two 40 lb of popcorn spray. I also lifted it out of my truck into the house! I really do pay for doing things like that, but a man has to do what a man has to do!! One of my wife's younger brothers did the spraying and my wife and I helped get everything ready.

I'm taking it a day at a time.

Very much enjoy your blog!! Still thinking about starting one.

Hope you get some much needed rest!

As always, praying for you and everyone here on HW.

Dave in Bartlett, TN
Posted 9/18/2013 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Todd,

Lack of sleep is a lifetime problem with me since I have been an adult, it seems to be a family thing on my side of the family. My PC journey, chronic fatigue and chronic pain has only made it worse.

I know you are not real fond of some types of meds, but I would suggest a short run of something like Ambien. Sometimes if you are on it for 5-10 days, not only will you sleep, but it can trigger you back into normal sleep patterns. Many PCP will even give a weeks sample for the asking.

In short term and occasional use, not much chance of getting "hooked".

In my case, since insomnia was such a chronic problem, I was put on it with long term intent back in year 2000 after my other cancer bouts and when I went through radiation the first time. Of course I would be considered "addicted" to t hem after 13 years, my doctors feel that the sleep it helps me get is more important than that risk. If I ever had to come off them, there are safe ways to withdraw.

They use to be expensive, but since they became generic a few years ago, I pay like 4 bucks a month.

They never make me feel groggy, always can wake right up with a clear head, and even 13 years later, they still have the ability to put me to sleep within 10-15 minutes.

Just a suggestion, as with as hard as you work, you need the sleep, especially with your PC issues too.

I have tried Lunesta, but found it to be much weaker, and it gave me headaches.

Hope you find a solution that works for you.

David
Posted 9/18/2013 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Todd,

I've been there. Back before my diagnosis I used to joke about insomnia. I said that I had trouble getting any sympathy for my insomnia because it was acute but not chronic -- in the two or three minutes it took me to fall asleep I would suffer terribly. Then I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and *wham* I couldn't sleep more than four hours a night. I had no trouble falling asleep at bed time but I would always wake up three and a half to four hours later and not be able to get back to sleep.

I got my doctor to prescribe sleeping pills -- not sure what kind (I'm at work the bottle is at home) some kind of hypnotic -- but I struggled with them. I took the pill at bedtime and I slept really heavily ... for four hours then I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. The doctor doubled the dose to two pills at bedtime. That let me sleep for four and a half hours then I woke up.

What finally worked (although I could never get my doctor to buy in) wasto drop back to one pill a night and to set my alarm clock to wake me up at 1:30 AM to take my sleeping pill. In theory that was too close to my morning commute (thus my doctor's disapproval) but I was actually much less sleepy during my morning drive after getting a better night's sleep.

And, of course, since I am confessing that I disobeyed my doctors orders, I don't recommend that you do the same thing with your prescription sleeping drugs. But you might try setting an alarm to take your Benedryl. It pretty much wears off after four hours -- just work backwards from your morning drive to decide when to take it.
Posted 9/18/2013 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Todd,
My wife liked Lunesta, heard too many horror stories about Ambien, ex. sleep walking, changing the oil in your car or cutting the grass at 3:00am, etc. I know David said it works for him but that IMHO.

Good luck

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 9/18/2013 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
I think tatt2man nailed it... Try to start relaxing a couple of hours before bedtime...

Going to bed an hour or two EARLIER than normal is a good way to attempt to "catch up" on sleep if you can... It's better than rtying to force yourself to sleep longer.
Posted 9/18/2013 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
Ambien works very well for me. I only take it maybe four times a year, often when I am hurting physically. I find it gives me a deeper, more healing sleep.

Mel
Posted 9/18/2013 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Todd,

We have an interim pastor at our church--trust me, you'd sleep nono

Seriously, hope you find some relief.

Tom

Posted 9/18/2013 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
lost in never never land
Posted 9/18/2013 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Isn't sleeping on the job an option?

That's what I do...
:)
Posted 9/18/2013 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
I was taking 5mg of Ambien daily for about two years, up until 6 months ago.  I found that 5mg wasn't cutting it anymore and I really did not like the idea of having to rely on pharmaceuticals just to go to sleep.

So I quit the ambien cold-turkey.  Surprisingly, I did not see that much of a difference.  I still went to bed each night at 10:30 and tossed and turned for a couple of hours till I finally fell asleep.

I hate having to rely on pharmaceuticals for anything and it's important to me to avoid them as much as possible.  Heck, I don't even like taking Tylenol if I don't have to (causes liver damage).

I recently stumbled upon a 'natural' sleep aid.  Tart Cherry Juice.  I fall asleep sooner and I tend to stay asleep longer.  And after a nightly bathroom run, I tend to fall back to sleep easier.

Try it out; you might be surprised!

Posted 9/18/2013 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Todd I am of the mind that you have to do what you have to do in a situation like this. Lack of sleep affects your mood, your relationships, your work and even your health. Hope you talk to your Dr. to see what is out there that can be of help.

Michael

Posted 9/18/2013 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
The last few months I began having the same problem. I would wake up at 1:30am and stay awake for several hours. Recently, I started taking  a generic over the counter sleep aid, Diphenhydramine 25mg. This is the same sleep aid in Tylenol PM and is totally non habit forming. It has worked great for a few weeks to get me back into my old sleep pattern.  I am now getting  7 hours of uninterrupted sound sleep at night without being groggy in the morning. Walgreens sells this and calls it "Night Time Sleep Aid" Try it before going to some prescription drugs.

 

Terry


Posted 9/18/2013 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Todd, one word my friend, Ambien.

It is amazing.Get it from your Doc. Make sure your jamies are on before you take it because it will take effect in a matter of a few minutes for it to kick in.

I believe
Posted 9/18/2013 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Todd,

Have the doc set you up with something, Ambien etc.

Posted 9/18/2013 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Bill in FL:

Many of the horror stories associated with Ambien are with people that purposely misuse the drug. There are those that take it, with no intention of wanting to be asleep, and yes, being a hypnotic class drug, it could lead to some odd behavior, including doing things in your sleep. You are not suppose to take it, unless you are laying down ready to fall asleep.

Other abuse is when people take the Ambien, and then jack up on high caffeine beverages on purpose, so that they can hallucinate. Others grind them up and snort it for the same effect. Both in the idiot class.

I can only speak from my 13 years first hand experience, I have never had a negative episode with Ambien, ever. And while it doesn't have the ability anymore to keep me asleep for more than a few hours, it still has the ability to knock me out each and every time, which is the help I need, the getting to sleep part.

Both different meds certainly work in different ways with people, for sure.

David
Posted 9/19/2013 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys for the suggestions and for the humor andrew. Sorry I was busy the last couple days and could not log on. I may have to get a sleep soon. Anyway thanks again. I will say that after working 16 hours on 4 hours sleep I slept like a baby. Todd
Posted 9/20/2013 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
It's a tough one. Nothing worse than sleeping poorly or not not sleeping enough. I averaged 4 hours a night for years when setting up our Indian office. It took its toll for sure. I got the cancer diagnosis right at that point but know my lack of sleep and stress wasn't the cause.

When I was in graduate school I went through a brutal period in which I would stay up all night and then crash during the day. I had become a zombie, it was awful. I went to a doctor for it. He suggested avoiding pills, told me to manage my stress and to exercise more frequently and more intensely, and then, told me that the truth is that there are owls and there are larks in this world.

When i struggle to sleep I find that turning the tv and laptop off is the first thing to do. Hope you resolve it.
Posted 9/20/2013 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
A glass of red at 9:00pm, 5mg of Melatonin at 9:30pm, a sweet hug and kiss from Lee at 9:45pm and by 10:00pm I am out until 5:00 am. Then it's hi ho hi ho its off to work I go. The exception is when the urge to pee at 3:00 am overwhelms the dreams!! But I always seem to get back to sleep.
Posted 9/20/2013 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Todd,

There is also an all natural sleeping aid called Theanine if you want to stay away from the stronger medications.

Zimac
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