posted
seems most of my symptoms are nuero, and not sleeping is one of them. Does anyone have something they use for sleep that works? When I do get some, the next day seems better. thanks.
Posts: 32 | From Norristown, Pa. | Registered: Apr 2011
| IP: Logged |
Bluemoon
Unregistered
posted
I have tried many of the natural ones, and some help me getting to sleep, but don't really help me getting deep (stage 3-4) sleep. For that, I take Ambien (.3-.5 mg). I don't particularly like taking medicine for sleeping, but getting regular deep sleep has helped me the most in my recovery.
IP: Logged |
posted
once again, thanks for the replies. I was afraid an ambien type pill was going to be suggested, I too hate to take any sleep meds. I was hoping for an alternative. thanks again...
Posts: 32 | From Norristown, Pa. | Registered: Apr 2011
| IP: Logged |
Bluemoon
Unregistered
posted
FWIW, for me Ambien is very clean, as in no hangover, and I haven't developed noticeable tolerance and have been able to lower my dosage over time, though I do increase temporarily when needed.
IP: Logged |
nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I was using cordalis root for a couple of years with good success. You can get it in Zhang's Herbsom.
But when I boosted up my babesia treatment adding Bactrim Ds to the Mepron/zithro combo, I absolutely could not fall asleep at night.
The LLMD had given me seroquel, which I was reluctant to take because I tend to become addicted to sleeping drugs. I finally gave in and took half of one, which is about 12 mg. I was zonked. The next morning I could hardly talk.
I continued to use it because I need the rest. Now I do not wake up with such a hang over. It does take about an hour to work though so I have to take it earlier than I want to sleep - read a book or something for an hour.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
i take melatonin. it has really helped me. my llmd suggested it and also said to take a second one if i woke up in the middle of the night. i thought this was odd, but it works.
Posts: 236 | From Zionsville IN | Registered: Jan 2011
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- I am not a doctor. I have no clue. Posts: 606 | From somewhere out there | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged |
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
I tried natural stuff. My problem is insomnia. Melatonin made me want to clean the house in the middle of the night. I didn't read the label before taking it.
I'm hypothyroid. Do not take with thyroid disease. Tried other natural stuff and nothing helped.
I switch my sleep meds up. Everyone says Ambien is addictive. I slowly weaned myself off it and no problems.
Even if I try to take my sleep med at a decent time so I can be in bed at 11-12 forget it even a sleeping med will not knock me out UNTIL my body is ready to settle down.
I'm on Zolpidem now 10mg. Sleep like a baby for 7-8 hrs with it. I like to test to see if I can do with a smaller dosage, so I'm about to split it and see how I do on 5mg.
Maybe someday I'll be able to find the natural healthier sleep cure for me.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Dear Friends,
Some things that have helped me with sleep:
B Complex, minimum 50 mg, and 100 mg B 1. These help to turn off the compulsive thinking that often keeps me awake.
Recently, I've started taking Ornithione 500 mg 2-4 capsules about 30 minutes before I go to bed. These have really helped with the insomnia, especially the waking up in the middle of the night or being unable to get to sleep at all until 3-4 am.
According to some posts by GiGi, insomnia means your liver needs support. Not something Ambien is going to do, eh?
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
| IP: Logged |
Bluemoon
Unregistered
posted
Correction, my first post should be 3-5 mg.
There are many causes types of insomnia. I would also guess that some are not related to the liver.
IP: Logged |
posted
again, thanks for the input. I wrote some down and will run them by my LLMD at my appt. tomorrow.
Posts: 32 | From Norristown, Pa. | Registered: Apr 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have been having LOTS of trouble sleeping too. So much so that I was up the entire night fri - saturday, and even last night, when you'd think I'd be exhausted, I still wasn't sleepy!
I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried a supplement called "Rest & Restore" by NutriElements?? My dr. had given it to me a while back but I've been hesistant to try it. ( I looked it up on-line - REALLY bad habit of mine - and it made me nervous)
The ingredients are: GABA, Valerian root, Scullcap (Lol, k?), Passion flower, Chamomile, L-Theanine, 5-HTP, and Melatonin.
If anyone's used this product, or maybe one of these ingredients, I'd like your feedback.
Thanks (-:
Posts: 82 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
worked up to 175mg of trazadone right now.......insomnia was one of my first real clues that there was something wrong with me.....
-------------------- Oct 09 Positive CDC Western Blot Jan 10 Positive Babesia Duncani Jan 10 Cd57 28 Mar 10 EBV, IgM, IgG HHV-6 IgG Posts: 739 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
New Chapter "Tranquilnite Plus" has a good mix of herbs to help you sleep. Take 1-3 capsules. I've bought it online and a local health food store.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
I used a product with valarian root, skullcap, passion flower and some other herb. It was made by Enzymatic Therapy (I think!).
I have taken just plain Valarian Root and found that to be very very helpful BUT it always gave me a headache the next morning.
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
My problem isn't falling asleep--it's staying asleep.
I think I have hot flashes through the night that keep waking me up. They've increased since starting Lyme treatment 2 months ago. I wake up all sweaty.
Even before that, though, I was still tossing and turning all night long. It's miserable. I get up in the morning just as tired as I was when I went to bed.
Melatonin helps me to fall asleep, but not stay asleep.
Posts: 39 | From Traverse City, MI | Registered: Oct 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
again, thanks for the input..I tried time release Melatonin last night..I did get about 6 hrs. sleep, but woke up feeling groggy and still feel a little groggy..maybe it's the time release, I'll try the regular dose. thanks
Posts: 32 | From Norristown, Pa. | Registered: Apr 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
klt .. then try taking one melatonin at bedtime and one when you wake up in the night
I am really bad on this. I take 250 mg of trazodone, 6 mg of melatonin, and 2/3 of a 10 mg Ambien. I take the other 1/3 when I wake up in the night. Works like a charm.
I'm with Bluemoon. As long as I sleep 8 hrs, I have no hangover feeling from the meds. I would suggest the plain Ambien, not the Ambien CR.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
penguingirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28688
posted
I take 600mg Gabapentin and 0.25 mg Xanax (cut into 1/4 size now) and 3 Melatonin drops from a compounding pharmacy and wear an eye mask to bed.
Liquid melatonin is better because it hits your brain right away instead a pill that has to go through your stomach. nothing works for me with pill form Melatonin. I tried many brands too.
It has worked GREAT. This is coming from sleeping maybe 2-3 hours total for 5 months.. it was awful and now that I can get sleep (even if I wake up a few times to pee) I fall right back to sleep.
I'm going to try to cut out the Xanax next and just be on Gabapentin and Melatonin then wean off the Gabapentin to a lower dosage then eventually just be on Melatonin. that is our game plan for sleep.
FYI I did try Valerian root and it made me depressed for days and I cried so much. And it didn't help with sleep at all. But that is just my experience.
-------------------- Posts: 1204 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2010
| IP: Logged |
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Cass, I agree and realize the toxic part about rx. Prior to 99, I didn't even take pain relief for headaches. I just waited till they went away.
I was a one pill a day, synthroid. Then came the flu like illness from hell summer '99.
For 2-3 years I wouldn't take pain meds, sleep meds, or anything else my Intern doc suggested. Nope don't take meds.
Just took my abx and knew this nightmare was going to be over soon. Wrong!
When I literally went to my knees...I realized I could not go another night of insomnia, wake-ups 10-12 a night and then wide awake at 4-5 am.
I could not stand another day of pain. I refused anything addictive. I'm still not addicted, lucky that I can wean myself from anything.
I could not take another day of depression. I could not take any more staying home to avoid other people.....
Other people made me more ill. Being social is very hard work. Esp when they like to lay their crap on you and you have more crap than you can handle.
I was losing me, my ability to have fun, my ability to function. I don't consider my couch where I wanted to live.
I try my hardest to counter the ill effects of some of my meds. I know my body so well, I know when my liver is screaming for help.
I know when my spleen or gall bladder is over working. In the last year my kidneys gave me a lesson on how to know when they are struggling.
If I had Dr K within my reach believe me I would be there. I idolize Gigi and her help with her posts for years.
I have a copy of a Gigi thread from '02 that I printed out listing everything she had done to combat lyme & co. I studied it like it was the gospel. Gigi is my mentor. I'm not embarassed to say that. I'm blessed.
I'm not fortunate enough to have Gigi and Dr K. But I do all I can do.
My insomnia is bart's fault and as soon as I wipe him out....sleeps meds will be gone.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic