GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Hi,
So I have been sleeping lightly lately. On a day off, the first four hours are very light sleep, and then the 8-10 hours after are so deep they are practically a coma.
But on the days I work, I only have about 8-9 hours a day, available for sleeping.
At least half is super light.
Because of that, I am exhausted and also very sore. I feel like my body is not having restorative sleep.
I am seeing my doc on Friday and I am hoping I can get a sleeping pill to take to put me in deep sleep right away.
Things I have tried: Melatonin 3mg Benedryl 50mg ValerianHeel Sleepytime Tea Sublinox 5mg Sublinox 10mg
Hypnosis White Noise Blackened my windows-my room is very dark
Does anyone have some suggestions for sleeping medications?
I literally scraped the side of my car today trying to leave the parkade. Too tired, not alert, and in too much pain to turn the wheel quickly.
Need some help Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
well I tried melatonin and valerian. both drove me up a wall with jitters.
some say hot milk or bath. didn't work.
bought chamomile tea, nope..
doc gave me 20 mg of elavil and it seems to work. takes at least 4-5 hours to work and the weight gain is horrendous.
might try dyphahydramine. its in that tylenol sleep aid stuff. stay away from the alcohol stuff tho.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Bless you Randibear Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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desertwind
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Member # 25256
posted
Gabapentin really helped w/ sleep. Would take just at night and would help w/ nerve pain and neuropathy as well as deep sleep.
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
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steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
I can't remember the one I took a few years ago, I'll try and find it.
Maybe take a look at these, but make sure they don't interfere with any other meds you are taking.
Herbal sleep aids: There are several herbs thought to help sleep, including chamomile, valerian root, kava kava, lemon balm, passionflower, lavender, and St. John’s Wort.
Many people drink chamomile tea for its gentle sedative properties, although it may cause allergic reactions in those with plant or pollen allergies. While there is some data showing valerian to be useful for insomnia, at high doses it can cause vivid dreams, blurred vision, changes in heart rhythm, and excitability.
Tryptophan and L-tryptophan as sleep aids Tryptophan is a basic amino acid used in the formation of the chemical messenger serotonin, a substance in the brain that helps tell your body to sleep. L-tryptophan is a common byproduct of tryptophan, which the body can change into serotonin. Some studies have shown that L-tryptophan can help people fall asleep faster. Results, however, have been inconsistent.
Sleep well, Steve
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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2roads
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4409
posted
Hey Greta,
We are right there with you.
Looking for a deep sleep and REM sleep is what I think my son needs. He is starting to complain of stiffness in his legs and feet. I too feel it's due to lack of restorative sleep.
We are seing a sleep neuro in three weeks to review his 24 hour EEG. No doubt I will ask about something for this issue. I will let you know if I find anything out that may be helpful to us.
hugs
Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Thank you Desertwind, Steve and 2Roads.
I will ask about gabapentin. Something that would help with pain would also be most welcome for me. When I drink tea before bed, I end up getting up a few times in the night to pee. I have to limit my beverages at night, which is sometimes tricky, as I am thirstiest in the evenings.
I have today off work. Slept a solid 12 hours.
Woke up and feel worse than when I went to bed.
Surely there is a coinfection whose tell tale symptom is feeling worse after sleep, rather than better?
I hope the sleep neuro has some good ideas to help your son, 2Roads.
Thanks so much you guys, I greatly appreciate your input.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
ahhhh. the getting up to get to work anxiety is a true wrecker of sleep.
I'm not proud of this but, ambien changed my life. my dr. wants me to do a sleep study... I think she is uncomfortable still prescribing it.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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posted
Ambien has been fine for me. I would rather have a good night sleep than no sleep
Posts: 366 | From Kalamazoo, Michigan | Registered: Jun 2008
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Sorry you are having sleep issues. My LLMD suggests taking small amounts of melatonin like 1mg which he says is often more effective than higher doses, so you could try that. I take Source Naturals sub lingual melatonin tablets which are 1mg each.
I also find an epsom salts bath works well and makes me very sleepy, but I use more than a few cups of Epsom salts - I use 4 lbs in my tub which is a large soaking tub. I sleep like a baby after one of these.
Another idea is to try Flexeril, which is a muscle relaxant. It is used to help those with fibromyalgia who also have sleep issues as it has an effect of the sleep cycle.
I used to take Flexeril and it is very sedative but is not addictive like sleeping tablets. The up side is that it might help with pain too.
I am not sure which co-infection can make you feel worse after sleeping, but I have read that if you have Babesia, you can feel very fatigued with it and can feel tired even after a good night's sleep.
Hope you get some good zzzz's soon!
Posts: 187 | From Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2013
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
Low dose Seroquel or elavil with kava root and Mountain States brand Alka-C.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
Trazodone here. Helps with depth of sleep. Also Benadryl. That helps with sleep onset.
Posts: 922 | From Philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2012
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posted
I tried about everything under the sun, and the best thing for me's been Ambien.
I took it for about 2 weeks solid every night, just to get my sleep back to some kind of normal schedule. Then I kind of weaned off of it, and can use it as needed.
Trazodone was great for me until I started getting the twitching from it Posts: 306 | From Brownsville, PA | Registered: Jul 2007
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Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149
posted
Adrenal herbs have helped me the most. I did a saliva test to find out when I needed them. Am finally hitting that deep restorative sleep I so desperately needed. It took a while to get there though. Now I can get up and use the bathroom and fall back to sleep (a huge accomplishment for me).
I also take my sublingual b-12 just before bedtime, and occasionally some melatonin, gaba, or tryptophan (energy test them).
It's good to find out what else you're low in too. I was low in pregnenolone. Preq is the queen--if she's low, nothing works right.
-------------------- --Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together). Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Thank you so much for sharing what works with you everyone.
I am nearing wits end with the fatigue and sore bones.
Kudz-exactly! Knowing I have to wake at 4:30/5 the next day adds more pressure to have a good nights rest.
JCarl, lostlyme and ladycakes-Ambien. I think it is the same ingredient as Sublinox. Is Ambien little blue pills? Sublinox is white sublingual, bitter pills to dissolve under the tongue. But years ago I was taking a little blue pill, swallowing with water. Is that Ambien?
VV-I've borrowed Trazadone before from someone to take. It did make me sleepy. Does it affect the brain during the day? Does it help with pain?
Oceangirl-yes! Epsom baths make me so relaxed too. It's nice to get out of a tub and then go straight to bed. Is Flexeril a prescription? I would love some help with the pain also.
CD57-haven't heard of seroquel. Thanks for the tip! I'll wiki it
Elavil-I've tried that before also. I chuckled with the mention of weight gain. So true!
Catigrl-this Sunday I am supposed to collect my saliva for the hormone panel. I didn't know about pregelone (sp?). It would be great if a cause (aside from bart) for this insomnia was found.
I wish it was the 1920's, and I could get a nightly injection from a doc to put me out instantly. Sigh.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
"VV-I've borrowed Trazadone before from someone to take. It did make me sleepy. Does it affect the brain during the day? Does it help with pain?"
It doesn't seem to effect me during the day. I take a moderate dose, so maybe more would give a hangover of sorts.
I haven't noticed it doing anything for pain. Trazodone was originally an anti-depressant I think.
The main effects I have noticed are: more vivid dreams extended sleep time less episodes of insomnia (I have had only one or two and they were not nearly as bad- it used to take hours to get to sleep, if at all).
Posts: 922 | From Philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2012
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posted
Thank you for input but have done and tried everything mentioned and then some.
Salvia test and that helped with my dhea and cortisol levels etc.
My first symptom was a headache one morning then that evening completely Commatoast due to meningitis in 2007 from unknown tick bite . Since then insomnia started.
Posts: 238 | From Where | Registered: Aug 2012
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posted
I'm so ready to just have a pill to pop so I can have some restful sleep. So sick of insomnia.
I used to take
5-htp a liquid calcium magnesium supplement by Lifetime Vitamin D
These are all supposedly sleep inducing or good for your circadian rythem or something. I feel like there was something else I used that I'm forgetting…
I think I'll dig out the supplements and start using them again.
I'm going to make a pre-bedtime smoothie. I grew to hate the sweet taste of the cal/mag supplement so I stopped using it but it was the gentlest calcium for my stomach.
I read somewhere that cherries and bananas have sleep inducing qualities, cherries have natural melatonin, bananas have magnesium and potassium. I'll mix those with some sugar free almond milk which also has mag, and mix it up along with the cal/mag sup. And then use it to wash down the 5-htp, which is a tryptophan precursor i found very helpful, and vitamin D, a deficiency of D can mess up your sleep cycle. (though I just read it may be best taken in the morning as it can effect melatonin if taken at night so maybe take that into consideration ). I finally got my vitamin D level up to 60 after years of taking 10,000IU a day so now I'm in a good range.
I feel like no matter what, all the sleeping pills and supplements only help for so long and then your body adjusts back to it's deranged schedule and you're wide awake again just in time to stare at the ceiling for hours on end before dragging yourself off to scare people at work.
I've never tried any pills besides whatever the ingredient is in Benadryl. I can't imagine popping that every night would be good for my system though...
Posts: 154 | From Boston | Registered: May 2014
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
be careful asking your doc about anything. I got my rear chewed out jus trying to discuss weight.
drs are touchy...
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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So far it's working pretty well. It's only been a week but a week of decent sleep feels quite luxurious.
I haven't worked out the right dose of the kavinace yet. First I'll take two with the other sups. That'll put me to sleep till 3.
That's been when I usually wake up anyway but if I take a couple more Kavinace it sends me back to sleep till 9.
I'm on vacation this week. I'll have to work out the right combo to not have to re-administer as much in the early a.m. if possible so I can get up earlier for work.
For now though the restful sleep has been such a welcome relief.
Posts: 154 | From Boston | Registered: May 2014
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posted
i take the lowest dose of remeron. Just started a few months ago. It helps with sleep and some depression.
Posts: 908 | From Albany | Registered: Nov 2008
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
Flexeril is what helped me a lot.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- So many sleep Rx can be toxic to the ears. Some also toxic to the liver. Liver support can help but only to a point. Some good options here:
posted
Greta if you try the kavinace will you let us know if it helped you? I currently take 1 mg melatonin, sometimes 1/2 valium, or part of a cbd(cannaboid)capsule, and/or magnesium lotion.
sometimes I combine a few, but not sure if that's safe. Just trying to get some sleep.
Posts: 857 | From northern california | Registered: Dec 2009
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Lymedin2010
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34322
posted
I tried valerian root & chamomile tea both did not work as great as Lunesta. 1/2 pill 1hr before bed & it does the trick.
After the 1 hr it does make me hungry & as a result I have gained some unwanted weight. Sleeping pills are always tricky with liver & addictive, so I try to use them only when really needed.
Posts: 2094 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2011
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Hi Guys, Just wanted to update.
Was taking Tranquil Sleep by Natural Factors. L-tryptophan, 5 HTP and melatonin. Mixed that with 3 more mg melatonin. And 50mg benedryl. And 5mg Sublinox. (zolpidem).
Kept getting adrenaline rushes. As soon as I lay flat my heart goes a mile a minute and I feel wide awake.
So then last week I added in 10g red bali kratom for pain and also sleepiness.
It helped for two days.
Now back to the drawing board.
Trying seroquel tonight with melatonin.
Sure hope somethinng works.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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One thing that has helped me to an extent is flower essences. Might be worth reading about Bach Sleep Remedy and/or Field of Flowers by Energetix. It's a homeopathic product, designed to work on different energetic levels.
Posts: 13 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2014
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I used to take melatonin bc it did work to put me to sleep, but after a while I started getting paradoxical reactions from it. I seem to recall studies that show most melatonin OTC supplements are overkill and that we only need 1mg or even less.
Also note that both 5 HTP and L-tryptophan encourage serotonin which then may convert to melatonin.
I personally only take the 5 HTP and not melatonin directly with the reasoning that serotonin will convert as needed.
Posts: 922 | From Philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2012
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Thanks so much toneranger and VV.
Maybe I'll try half the melatonin tonight with the seroquel and benedryl.
I'm so cranky today because of not sleeping and probably bart agitation.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
I have been using silent night by nature's way along w low dose bendryl Working. Very well for me. Always have had sleep issues
Posts: 315 | From USA | Registered: May 2005
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
Hi Greta. I've been going through my own dilemma. Right now what seems to be working is a product called sleep tonight by enzymatic therapy. It's supposed to work on cortisol and stress. It has gotten me down to only 2.5m of ambien. I take a half a sleep tonight at 8 and a half of ambien at bed time 10/11. When I have time off I'll try a whole sleep tonight and no ambien.
posted
I have added Deep Sleep per my LLMD to my current Intermezzo (low dose Ambien) It comes in 3.5. I also take progesterone 200mg which helps. I often need 2 Intermezzo. I am sleeping better but still wake too early 4;30 -5 then struggle...
Posts: 97 | From Rockwall,TX | Registered: Apr 2014
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
Inositol or GABA. Didn't really work for me, but I have heard it is effective for some folks.
Good reviews on Amazon.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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