posted
I haven't been sleeping really well for months but the recent days have been especially bad... so bad that now I'm rocking some pretty ugly blood shot eyes from the lack of sleep.
Is this a direct symptom of Lyme, usually? I'm just hoping againts hope that once I start getting treatment next month this symptom will go away. I miss sleeping!
Posts: 256 | From Texas | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Nell, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, so don't shoot the messenger. Sleep dysfunction was one of my first sysptoms back in the fall of '05. As the desease progressed so did the ability to sleep. By May of '06 I had to be hospitilised because I hadden't slept for6 SIX days. I was truly out of my mind from sleep deprivation. In the hospital (18 days) the hospital shrink was the one who diagnosed me with Lyme. The tests proved me positive for Bart. Erlich. & Babisia. I got a GOOD LLMD from NJ and after cycling through just about everything but mephron & Flagil (8 mo. on a picc w/4mg Rocephin a day since I am now 98% well. BUT (and there is always but, right?) Now I'm hooked on sleep meds. I've tried stepping down dosages, eliminating 1 at a time, Nothing works. I can only continue to try quitting; but when I don't get 8 to 9 hours sleep, I start feeling exhausted and the chronic fatigue sets in. Damn this Lyme.
I hope and pray you never have to come even close to the horror story I lived.
Get a good LLMD refered by one of the frequent contributors in your area.Hit it hard and fast. God bless & help you, Buzz
-------------------- 5 yr. Vet. of the Lyme war. Helping and sharing are now my only objectives.I have nothing to sell & I no longer interfear with things I cannot control. But, I have learned many good things from my affliction & am a better person for it. Posts: 51 | From Northeastern PA | Registered: Jul 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Yes, this will get better but it will likely take a while and an excellent sleep hygiene plan is your best friend.
Lyme causes sleep disorders by attacks on many fronts: pain; toxicity; adrenal dysfunction; cardiac involvement; robbing us of nutrients; the stress of becoming a social and medical outcasts.
Also adding stress from all angles, is the lack of good doctors who are lyme literate and a plethora of doctors who are not LL, thereby making matters worse.
We loose our social connections (family, friends, coworkers) as this is very difficult to grasp unless one has personal experience.
Mostly, the toxicity makes our body tired but our brain so "wired" and sleep is a challenge, at best.
Lyme is a personal assault that hits us on every level and can leave us spinning, on our own. Of course, it going to hamper sleep - it seems the job of lyme to make life miserable at every turn.
Therefore, of course, treating all infection is the key.
Along the way, support can play a vital role. Liver support is absolutely essential. A healthful diet, too. Attending to nutritional deficiencies is important (magnesium is the number one helper).
As many sleep and pain meds are toxic and hard on the liver and kidneys, here are some suggestions for sleep support that can safely nourish & calm the body: ---------------
posted
I haven't had insomnia much with my Lyme, but I did just have it while candida was flaring up. It's gone again now that the candida has calmed down.
-------------------- Don't forget to laugh! And when you're going through hell, keep going!
Bitten 5/25/2009 in Perry County, Indiana. Diagnosed by LLMD 12/2/2009. Posts: 756 | From Inside the tunnel | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
I'm getting worse and worse by the day with my symptoms. Pain - burning - aching - no sleep... this is really crappy stuff! I keep counting down the days until my LLMD... I know my PCP is useless, so I feel pretty helpless just waiting until August 17th.
Posts: 256 | From Texas | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Nell, PLEASE hang in there? I know it's easy to say but hard to do, but don't let your own thoughts drive you crazy. Those night time "Monsters" Can kill you!
Maybe Try doing the things which take a little edge off the pain & burning. Maybe a bath or pool? Cold packs? Keebler's links? Talk to a friend or family member. Keep your mind occupied. If no-one to talk to and you can afford it; a shrink. Type to us here.
My heart and prayers are with & for you. Buzz
-------------------- 5 yr. Vet. of the Lyme war. Helping and sharing are now my only objectives.I have nothing to sell & I no longer interfear with things I cannot control. But, I have learned many good things from my affliction & am a better person for it. Posts: 51 | From Northeastern PA | Registered: Jul 2010
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massman
Unregistered
posted
As Keebler posted: "an excellent sleep hygiene plan is your best friend."
Access www.mercola.com and search sleep. Dr. Mercola has a great list on how to best plan sleep.
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
Try the herb Corydallis root. Zhang has it in his Herbsom but it is much more expensive bought from him. You can find it online. I have had insomnia all my life and it is the only thing that works for me. Puts me to sleep in 20 minutes with no hang over the next day.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
Thank you all so much for the support and help. Some days are much worse than others. Today wasn't quite as bad as the previous few days. I think I'm now in the stage of just being totally fed up with the way things have been. I'm okay. But just tired of how much my life has changed.
I can't hardly believe something SO small could do SO much damage to my body. I'm not afraid of nature, but I don't look at it quite the same anymore.
Nell
Posts: 256 | From Texas | Registered: Jun 2010
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
My insomnia improved when my LLMD addressed my hormone dysfunction.
I use bioidentical hormones.
I also try to get off the computer early in the evening, dim or turn off the lights, and find a relaxing activity: read or watch tv with low light and low sound.
I take some supps that can help: GABA, l-Tryptophan, l-theanine and SUBLINGUAL melatonin.
I think the l-theanine taken at night and sublingual melatonin at bedtime help the most with sleep of all the supps I take.
I started with 1 mg of sublingual melatonin under my tongue at bedtime and increased slowly until I found the dose that makes me drowsy....for me it is 15 mg. (I was told not to exceed 18 mg).
I also never go to bed with the tv on in the bedroom and I got room darkening drapes.
If I follow this plan I can go to sleep. I still wake up usually once nightly, but it's a huge improvement.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
it's pretty common... i go back and fourth between sleeping all the time and not being able to sleep at all.
Posts: 220 | From Kansas | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
LymeX-what's the difference between Magnesium citrate and Magnesium malate? or anyone who knows if LymeX doesn't check back in.
My LLMD prescribed Ambien- and I loved it-but became concerned about getting too dependent on it. So I had to stop taking it. I struggle with sleep-but not to the same extent. Also- even if your PCP doesn't believe in Lyme Disease-insomnia can be a stand alone problem and perhaps he/she will prescribe for insomnia.
I haD NO PROBLEMS WITH SLEEP PRIOR TO lYME dISEASE -sorry about cap malfunction.
Posts: 365 | From Sylvania | Registered: Aug 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
What Is The Source? Magnesium is naturally derived from limestone. Citrate is produced by corn dextrose fermentation. Aspartate, glyincate and malate are synthetic. Ascorbyl palmitate is derived from corn dextrose fermentation and palm oil.
posted
You should for sure talk to your doctor about the Magnesium, there is some concern taking it with certain medications, if you have kidney disease or are pregnant ( among others ).
Well Lyme is good for a person's education that is for sure, I am learning a ton about vitamins, supplements, immune function, adrenal function and on and on.
Just trying to look on the bright side !!
Posts: 448 | From minnesota | Registered: Feb 2010
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In any case-I have a bottle of each-citrate and malate- maybe I'll just alternate each night!
quote:Originally posted by LymeXtu: I found this description
What Is The Source? Magnesium is naturally derived from limestone. Citrate is produced by corn dextrose fermentation. Aspartate, glyincate and malate are synthetic. Ascorbyl palmitate is derived from corn dextrose fermentation and palm oil.
posted
I know what you mean- I recognize most of the meds mentioned on HOUSE !
quote:Originally posted by LymeXtu:
Well Lyme is good for a person's education that is for sure, I am learning a ton about vitamins, supplements, immune function, adrenal function and on and on.
Just trying to look on the bright side !!
Posts: 365 | From Sylvania | Registered: Aug 2008
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