LymeNet Flash: Please Help Me Sleep

This is topic Please Help Me Sleep in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :

I have been sleeping for 7 -9 hours per night but never uninterrupted. I seem to wake up at 2 to 4 hour intervals. I think sleep is essential in recovery and need help staying aslep......getting to sleep is not a problem. It is STAYING asleep that isn't working. I assume I am never getting to REM since I keep waking up.

I am taking so much between the abx and supplements that I am hesitant to add another drug. If anyone has some non-drug ideas please share them with me.

I use sleep CD's but that hasn't helped.....maybe there are some specific ones you can suggest. Also, I can try supplements or herbs......if I have to.....let me know what worked for you and at what dose.

Peace and Health,
robi

Posted by dmcbrayer (Member # 5296) on :

quote:
Originally posted by robi:
I have been sleeping for 7 -9 hours per night but never uninterrupted. I seem to wake up at 2 to 4 hour intervals.

Good luck.
I think most everyone here (including myself) has this problem

Posted by lymerx (Member # 1278) on :

Yep, we all have early wakeups; lots of them. I finally gave up on natural stuff and started taking something my doc says is old, reliable, and something that the body seems to throw off very well. I have no hang overs from it, and no side effects. It's called oxazepam and I take 15 mgs. I get good rest nowadays. be well, lymerx

Posted by MarieElaine (Member # 5408) on :

You might try melantonin.
Also, Tylenol PM sometimes helps my daughter.

In addition, there are neuro science tests you can do: www.neuroscienceinc.com

There are natural supplements you can take to balance the neurotransmitters, (imbalances due to lyme or chronic illness cause imbalances) although you need a practitioner well versed in neurotransmitters to prescribe the supplements. Our naturopathic doctor does it for us.

Good luck!
Marie

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

When I just coudnt take it any more I would take nightquill at least I could get some un interuppted sleep the old 3am spirochete manuver

Posted by krista (Member # 5687) on :

I am on Diazepam. It ws actually designed to be an antidepressent, but doesn't work all that well for depression. It will put you to sleep fast, keep you asleep, and is non-addictive. Krista

Posted by smiles (Member # 5635) on :

robi,
Sorry to hear you're having problems sleeping. I posted on this a few weeks ago about going to sleep - you might do a search to look at additional responses.

My biggest problem is waking up at 7am, exhausted, but my mind racing and trying to quiet it.

If you look on ELymeNancy's post about pain (somewhere on the past 3 pages), I wrote out a music-assisted imagery script I use on myself when I'm not feeling well or have difficulty sleeping.

For me the most effective - going back to sleep remedies, have been the imagery, deep breating (diaphramatic), and benedryl (except that can sometimes give me a hangover).

I've found the following CD's helpful:
Stephen Halpern - spectrum suite
Kim Robertson - she is a harpist any of hers are nice.

Some CD stores allow you to listen to CDs before you buy - that is what I'd recommend - look in the New age section.

I would probably look at CDs using harps, delta waves, guitar, strings.... Let me know if you have other questions about the CD thing.

Happy solid sleeping.

Smiles

Posted by danq (Member # 2126) on :

The recent discussion on "restless legs" is a must-read for you.

And I'd stay away from the benzodiazepines - temazepam and oxazepam are some. They are "controlled substances" because they are addictive, and the quality of sleep they give is poor for many.

Here's an info sheet: Medline Drug Info

Dan

Posted by jen13 on :

I disagree about the benzos--temezapem has been a lifesaver for me. I function much better with it. I think lyme disrupts the gaba receptors and that's part of the sleep disorder problems. A little dependency is better than the adverse health effects both mental and physical of chronic lack of sleep and exhaustion.

Also, I find they work better if you take them for fitful awakening, rather than to FALL asleep. Then you get some of your own sleep as well as assisted sleep.

Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :

Flexeril keeps me sleeping all night.

Krista, fyi, Diazepam (Valium) IS addictive and its a controlled substance. I'm on 2mg , 2x a day for dizziness.

------------------
Julie G.
___________
lymeinhell

Posted by nannie (Member # 5250) on :

We try to be very careful about what I take, because of past treatment failures/drug reactions/interactions liver function etc.

I use L-theanine in combo with Marnie's favorite-magnesium. I refer to L-theanine as peace in a pill.

On occasion, I will use 3mg to 4mg of promethazine (antinausea), it does casue a hangover, but, when used only occassionally, it can take the edge off of a sleepless cycle.

Posted by bd (Member # 3426) on :

I take benadril every 4 hours. When it wears off I go to the bathroom and take the next dose. This time of year it is also needed for allergies, but I cannot take it during the day and stay awake. Sometimes I take one pill 1/2 the normal dose every 4 hours during the day for allergies.

Posted by mikken (Member # 2276) on :

Robi,

Have you looked at your diet? I know that if I eat certain things (nutrasweet, doritos, etc.) even in the early afternoon, my sleep quality is for crap.

An elimination diet would help you pinpoint any foods that are problematic for you - if you have any.

Posted by breathwork (Member # 567) on :

remember that there is a keen difference between dependence and addiction.

Addiction is the abuse or misuse of a medication, substance or behavior. Dependence is a part of addiction, but they are not the same.

Dependence is physiological. Your body's developing a dependence on a medication is not the same as addiction.

Taking Vicodin for pain, not taking any more than is needed to relieve the pain, not taking it for the high or emotional numbness, is the proper use of vicodin. If you develop a physiological dependence, deal with that with your doctor after the need for the medication has lessened.

The key is determining why you are taking the medication. Are you taking it to relieve specific symptoms that are a part of your lyme scenario only? If so, that can lead to dependence, but this is not addiction.

If you take any substance or use any behavior in order to not feel emotional pain...to avoid life or responsibility...continuing to use it despite adverse consequences...that is addiction.

If you need sleep, and alternative methods are not working for you, discuss your concerns about addiction vs. dependence with your physician, and try the medication that he/she suggests to see if it works for you. Only use it when you genuinely need it, and addiction is not the result...perhaps physiological dependence, but not addiction.

Posted by EtherealGirl on :

Valerian helps me sometimes, but it's hard to get past the smell.

I am allergic to Benadryl, so that's out for me.

Flexeril did not help me sleep at all.

Since I seem to have a lot of anxiety while I'm sleeping, and can't seem to get into that deep sleep phase, plus my muscles jerk like a seizure, I do take .25mg of Xanax occasionally to get a restful night's sleep. It doesn't leave me groggy in the morning.

Actually, I am able to get up earlier, and feeling more refreshed when I take it. I didn't take one last night, and I'm dragging this morning.

Posted by mikken (Member # 2276) on :

EtherealGirl,

Have you tried magnesium before bed? It can really help with that twitching/jerking stuff.

Posted by krista (Member # 5687) on :

OH MY GOSH!!!! I said Diazepam, I am sooo sorry. I meant to say Trazedone. Don't know why I was confused about the two. Trazedone is NOT addictive and WAS developed as an antidepressent. The others are correct, diazepam is addictive - stay away from that. Again, I am so sorry about my mistake!

Posted by JillF (Member # 5553) on :

Amitriptyline has been a lifesaver for myself and my sister.

Flexeril did not help us get a full nights rest although it does help with spasms, pain, etc.

I take 15 mg of Amitriptyline and my sister takes 20 mg.

Posted by liz28 on :

NAC (supplement), valerian (herb), melatonin, green tea, saventaro.

Posted by curly (Member # 5739) on :

i used to wake up 4 times a night.all nerve problems (sciatica, restless legs). now i only wake up once a night. Neurontin is the drug and 600mg is the dose.With all the abx and supplements, and germs i doubt any of us will get a full nights rest.Good luck

Posted by HaplyCarlessdave (Member # 413) on :

Yogi tea company makes a blend they call "Bedtime Tea" which works incredibly well fo me. The only downside is the packaging- it's hard to buy very much because the packaging is totally non-recyclable, with all kind of plastic in it, which probably leeches into the tea.
But if I need it, I'll grit my teeth and buy it.
Another thing which is probably good is (real) Yoghurt, and real yoghurt contains acidophilus, which is also
very imporant to eat, to replenish probiotics in your body.
DaveS

Posted by breathwork (Member # 567) on :

HI gang...

Do any of you remember hearing that melatonin and lyme are not good pals?

I used to take it, then read somewhere, about two years ago, that melatonin was not a good thing to use while treating lyme...

Clearly, my lyme brain could have crossed wires here, but I thought I should ask...

Thanks,
Carol Ann

Posted by breathwork (Member # 567) on :

I did get my wires crossed...

The problem is the combination of melatonin and zoloft....not melatonin and lyme...

Silly me...

Sorry..

Posted by EtherealGirl on :

Mikken,

I take my magnesium in the morning. Would it really make a difference if I took it at night? If so, I'll switch

Thanks,

Holly