Insomnia has been part of my world for a number of years.
Since a major flare in November, I've bee unable to work, so my schedule is more around doc appts and a few errands like the farmers market or pharmacy.
I get more sleep, but I still have difficulty, usually, falling asleep.
That being said, I have days when I need a nap. This doesn't seem to bother me, except once or twice a month (like yesterday) when the nap extends into the night's sleep.
I am usally able to get 5-7 hours of sleep now, and when I was working I only got 3-6.
Anyone else have this happen where you have a couple of days when a late afternoon nap results in a sleep of 10-12 hours? My family won't wake me usually because they assume my body must require the extra sleep the one or two days a month when this happens.
Posted by MamaBear11 (Member # 25116) on :
I would literally sleep 16+ hours a day or more if I didn't have two little kids. No exaggeration. My body just craves sleep. No matter how much I get, I always feel like I am about to collapse from exhaustion & sleepiness.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
now that i am alone and in a quiet place i am finally able to listen to my body. for so many years i was raising kids and forced to work with lyme...dragging out of bed every morning...holding on to walls to stand until the hot shower water got me flexible enoggh to walk.
now for some reason i cant fall asleep til after 11-sometims as late as 3a.m. but ususally sooner. i take one antihistimine while reading at the end of the night and that gets me to rem sleep. but...i dont want to wak up til 9-10. and then i am slow til noon. but then i can do quite a lot til 11pm again.
i get very screwed up when i have to get up early for doc appt or labs...my whole day is shot.
so i am getting 10-12 hrs...and i feel i deserve it after all those years of 3-5 hrs.
i sleep better when i turn all electricity off in the house...well all near the bed-and most in the house.
ps-i was always an early riser and i do miss the sunrise...but am learning to love sunsets
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Do you take anything at night to help you fall asleep?
I have a set bedtime every night. I used to have to take a prescription of something to help fall asleep,
but I'm off all that, and find 2 mg of melatonin does the trick.
However, I can wake for the day very early. If I need a nap, and really it's a body rest on the couch where I go into a sort of meditative state,
it is in the early part of the day, away from bedtime
Maybe try to get a more set routine for yourself-
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- If you need to rest, or sleep, do so, no matter what time of the day. If your body is tellling you it MUST do that, listen.
On the other hand, of course, if you can have some kind of scheduele so that your circadian rhythm doesn't go haywire, that is of help.
Better to get ahead of fatigue. If you feel the need to rest, do so ASAP. Don't push it off. Otherwise you may then overtire way too much and require a marathon nap.
To put off a rest when needed can DAMAGE the adrenals, big time.
Topic: NATURAL SLEEP & ADRENAL SUPPORT -
Posted by Dove7 (Member # 39546) on :
Thanks for the replies so far. Keebler, I think you've hit something I do and have done for years-- I have pushed through the wall and ended up losing a day or two afterwards.
We do have a pretty regular schedule for our days, even those with early doc appts, but I used to go to bed earlier and get up earlier for so many years.
Now, it seems my body is almost rebelling and saying that no matter what, I must get at least 6-7 hours. I usually read before bed or sometimes watch a talk show until 11-12 at night. That would be okay if the insomnia didn't visit a couple of times a week.
I do take melatonin at night, and occassinally a benadryl. I do a few stretches for my neck and spine, say some prayers, and try some breathing exercises.
Sometimes I worry that my body just needs more sleep for repairing cells, fighting infectikns, etc.
Keebler, I am also concerned because my adrenals are shot, according to my doc. Taking Adr T9 to T10 (by Therazyme) and Adrenemax supplement as well as many others. Started magnesium oil spray this week, and I used it in the infra red sauna Ttuesday.
Don't want more pills, but sure would like this insomnia to go away. Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Pills are not the only way to address insomnia? There are many great suggestions in the sleep & adrenal links above.
Some may be surprising. And, still, we may have to just "adjust" the fact that we may be out of synch to some degree - taking it hour by hour as best we can.
Biggest problems: artificial light in the eyes after 9 pm (10 at the latest, maybe stretch to 11 but by then the body gets confused), and sleeping with electronic in our bedrooms, using electronics after 9 pm and even fluorescent lights at all during the daytime.
A stressed liver can cause all kinds of sleep disturbances, too. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Yeast/candida affects my sleep.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
since lyme i cannot sleep past 3 in the morning. taking sleep aids makes me so groggy and out of it next day i can barely function.
the worst symptoms is this dang insomnia.
i'd give anything to be able to get some good natural sleep.
Posted by Dove7 (Member # 39546) on :
Lymetoo, I do have thrush pretty severely, so I wonder if that is also contributing.
Keebler, I've been using a sunlight Happy light in the mornings, and at night I've dimmed the lights, but haven't turned off all electronics. I admit when it gets bad, my mind begins churning, or pain gets the best of me, I try to distract myself with old tv shows.
Hadn't thought of liver problems. My LLND said he thinks my digestive enzymes have caused some kidney problems, so new herbals for that plus two times a week in the infra red sauna right now.
I know you all can relate when I say I just want to feel normal agai n, even for just a little bit.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
That's why I mentioned it, Dove. So many people do not realize how many things yeast can do to us.
If you have thrush, you have it all the way thru your gut.
Randi.. don't your sleep meds wear off after about 8-10 hrs?
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Lymetoo,
I have the same problem with sleep drugs.
Either they don't work and I don't fall asleep at all, or they make me so groggy and woozy I can barely function (the worst of the groggy/woozy feeling lasts 12-14 hours after I've slept the recommended 8 hours).
I suspect methylation issues affect how our body processes certain types of meds...
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I can take the second half of my sleep aid at 3 a.m. and be wide awake at 6 or 7.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I found two things that help me to fall asleep and stay asleep longer. Although not foolproof, they certainly help.
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)