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» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » I would realy love to sleep....suggestions ?

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Author Topic: I would realy love to sleep....suggestions ?
mountainmoma
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Hi all

Of course I have been having lousy sleep for years, but when I went on Rocephin Nov-mid Jan, I got to know what no sleep realy means. I got literally no sleep one night, 3 hours maybe the next...and so on. No amount or combo of herbals helped, not melatonin, not my usual mix of poppy, valerian, kavakava, st johns wort,

So I went to urgent care and they gave me some ambian. And, I got 6hours of sleep ! But it afterthat helps some, but didnt work too well. The usual problem is if I take something chemical to get to sleep, I wake up at like 3am. So, maybe get 4 hours sleep.

The visiting nurse arranged a perscription for sonnata, which was pretty worthless. My doctor returned and gave me a prescription for Nerontin. Which I guess is not reallt a sleeping pill but calms brain activity. This was also somewhat helpful.

The doctor had me take three nerontin and the ambian. So, I would sleep, wake up way to early and be not with it to drive kids(not too far, fortunately) at 7am, which I must do. After effects from the drugs.

So, I have another stronger valium famly type pill and anyway, I dont want to take stuff every night, I dont want to be dependent, so I dont. And, even if I take it its not like Im going to get a full nights sleep. And I have to take quite a bit or a combo to get any help.

I thought this would go away since Im not on any ABX at all at the moment. But, it realy hasnt. I look and feel pretty bad. Im tired, but if I go lay down, I wont sleep.

Dont worry, tonite I will take the drugs. But what can be done for real relief ? what works for others ? Isnt there a more healing long term approach to solving this than becoming dependent on sleeping pills?


Posts: 222 | From Santa Cruz Mountains, CA USA | Registered: Nov 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
mlkeen
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My son and I have started taking melatonin this week to help us stay asleep. So far we are generally sleeping longer and better.

I typically woke up 3-4 hours after going to sleep and then stayed awake for several hours, basically until it was time to get up.

The melatonin isn't really helping me get past 4am, but I started going to bed earlier, 9-10 and am now sleeping thru to 4am. This has worked the past two nights, so it is really to soon to tell. I do seem to sleep better if not longer.

We are taking a low dose, 1mg. Meletonin is an amino acid manufactured by the pituitary gland. Production can be distrubed by illness and age.

We are both on abx and suppliments. No other drugs.

Others on lymenet have reported success with meletonin.

Mel


Posts: 1572 | From Pa | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
treepatrol
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NyQuil every once in while is what I used because its hagover effects were not as bad.

But


NyQuil� multi-symptom formula relieves all of your major cold symptoms at night so you can get the rest you need to have a good morning. NyQuil is available in two flavors: original and cherry.


Active Ingredients (in each 15 ml tablespoon):


Acetaminophen 500mg (pain reliever/fever reducer)
Dextromethorphan HBr 15mg (cough suppressant)
Doxylamine succinate 6.25mg (antihistamine)
Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 30mg (nasal decongestant)

Inactive Ingredients:

[original] alcohol, citric acid, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Yellow No. 6, flavor, high fructose corn syrup, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium citrate

[cherry] alcohol, citric acid, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, flavor, high fructose corn syrup, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium citrate

Back to top


Temporarily relieves common cold/flu symptoms including:

nasal congestion
cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation
sore throat
headache
minor aches and pains
muscular aches
fever
runny nose and sneezing

Back to top


Alcohol warning If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take acetaminophen or other pain relievers/fever reducers. Acetaminophen may cause liver damage.

Sore throat warning If sore throat is severe, persists for more than two days, is accompanied or followed by fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting, consult a doctor promptly.

Do not use:

with other medicines containing acetaminophen
if you are now taking a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, or Parkinson's disease), or for 2 weeks after stopping the MAOI drug. If you do not know if your prescription drug contains an MAOI, ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking this product.

Ask a doctor before use if you have:

heart disease
thyroid disease
diabetes
glaucoma
high blood pressure
cough that occurs with too much phlegm (mucus)
a breathing problem or chronic cough that lasts or as occurs with smoking, asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema
trouble urinating due to enlarged prostate gland

Ask a llmd doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking sedatives or tranquilizers.




Posts: 10564 | From PA Where the Creeks are Red | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Lymied
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Hi MM - The no sleep part of this disease is no fun at all...I know. It is interesting...I had horrible insomnia before my diagnosis then once I started treatment it went away except when I was herxing...after three months of treatment I was given a weeks vacation from meds and by day three was having insomnia again...it is getting better no that I am back on the abx. Are you finished with treatment? If not I would make sure that the abx you are taking if you are is a good one for you and that you getting rid of the bacteria.
Posts: 655 | From NC, Exit 88 on the Deer SuperHighway | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
DC
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The best way I've found to get to sleep is, relax your whole body totally. Focus on every muscle and just relax, especally the face. Let your whole body go lymp.

Then slow your breathing down to slow long breaths. Now clear your mind and maybe think of something peaceful or what I do, a dark room.
I'll toss and turn all night if I don't do this.


Posts: 96 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Ann-OH
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50 mg of Benadryl at bedtime have been very helpful for getting me to sleep and having a good night's sleep.

Hope you find what works for you soon.
Ann - OH


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JillF
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I have problems falling asleep and then staying asleep. I usually will wake up 1-2 hrs after finally falling asleep and then having a more difficult time falling back to sleep and, by then, it's time to get up.

I tried Ambien but it seemed to slowly stop working for me. And it did not KEEP me asleep. I still woke up after a few hours. I ended up having bad nightmares on Ambien and had weird memory problems when I didn't get the 6-8 hrs of sleep.

I went on Flexeril, which helped me fall asleep but did not keep me asleep.

So, I tried Amitriptyline and that helps me stay asleep. I can take 1-2 pills a night but usually 1/2 a pill will do great.

So, I take Flexeril and Amitriptyline for sleeping.

I tried all the different supplements and teas that have been recommended on here for the past year and nothing works for me.

I eventually weaned myself off of the Flexeril and Amitriptyline (took about only a week or less) and went w/out them for about 4 months. And I was fine. But then the sleeping problems started again, so I am back on that combo.

My sister also has the same problems - falling asleep and staying asleep. She also tried different stuff and Flexeril and Amitriptyline works for her too.


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Lymetoo
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trazodone, flexeril, melatonin, neurontin, and ambien if that doesn't work!

------------------
oops!
Lymetutu


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SteveInMinnesota
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I have become dependent on taking Night Time Tylenol before bed. If I take three, I can usually sleep from 10pm until almost 5am. It also takes the edge off the constant headache.

My wife is trying to get me to try Melatonin instead. I also have also tried Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline but they just make me feel drugged while I lay awake.


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mountainmoma
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Thanks for the ideas.

Generally, some of these various drugs I have tried and are somewhat helpful, at least for falling asleep, and a little more restful. A big problem for me is waking up at 3am, but too groggy to think to take something else, and I dont go back to sleep. I took something called Restoril (Temazepam) last night, and am still quite groggy. I fell asleep, but dont know for how long, Probably 5 or 6 hours.I know I was awake for quite some time before my daughter was up. And, I know these things are addictive.

So, most of these are addictive. And alot of them like ambien I very quickly build up a tolerance to. Neurontin worries me because I dont understand it, do I want something messing with my brain signals or whatever ? And, I have to take 300mg for any effect, and take something else with it, and can feel it all next morning.

lymied- Im not done with treatment, but I am not on any abx at the moment. I am taking 200mg of diflucan for antiyeast a day tho. I've been off abx for 3 or 4 weeks, since we pulled my PICC line from Rocephin. That time was so bad nuerologically, I just want to be, but I know I need to take something again soon. Dont know what it should be.

LYmetoo- what is trazodone, and flexeril ? Do you take these ? What are side effects ?

JillF- what is Amitriptyline, do you have side effects ? Is it addictive ?

I think a number of things will help with falling asleep--the trick is how to stay there for more than 3 or 4 hours.

Thank you all for your help and ideas, keep them coming


Posts: 222 | From Santa Cruz Mountains, CA USA | Registered: Nov 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
GiGi
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If more pharma drugs don't help and you really want to find some healthy sleep, have your heavy metals tested. Insomnia is on the top of the list for heavy metal toxicity symptoms.

I speak from experience. I also hardly slept, especially after starting treatment for Lyme which also mobilized some of the metals in my body. Now that I am rid of all of it, I go to bed, put my head on the pillow and sleep soundly without any pain until morning.

Neurotoxins disrupt the hormone producing glands (pituitary, etc.) doing from what they normally do. Heavy metals are the worst neurotoxins.
I posted the list of neurotoxins recently. You might want to take a look.

I remember the ruined days because of the ruined nights.

Take care.


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Lymied
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I would be careful with the Benadryl...I have heard that it affects the immune system but don't know if that is true...I forget where I read it...I just know it makes me hyper instead of relaxed. I drink Cat Nip Tea and Valerian root teat from Alvita. It doesn't cut it for me sometimes but it is soothing. I also practice Reiki on myself as I am falling asleep. At first I thought this Reiki stuff is voo doo but after taking a Reiki I class and starting to practice it I think there may be something to it...I always rest more peacefully when I Reiki. I also got one of those eye pillows that is filled with beans or whatever they are and rest that on my eyes. It puts pressure on pressure points in the face and relaxes me. Just some tips I have found work...it might all be in my head but it works for me...Take care and hope the sandman comes to visit and sprinkles his extra strength sleep sand on you
Posts: 655 | From NC, Exit 88 on the Deer SuperHighway | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
marblenose
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Hey Mountainmomma,
I have had luck with Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea. I have a cup an hour b4 bed so I can pee. te-he

When that doesn't work I take SOMA and/or Ambien.

I've been on IV Roc since early Dec. and have not had trouble sleeping. Good luck. Sleep tight!
Blessings,
Marblenose


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cmichaelo
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Momma,

I take 10mg Elavil.

Elavil is an antidepressant, but only in larger doses.

In small doses, however, like the 10mg I'm taking, it acts as a weak sleeping drug.

I can't even tell I'm taking it, yet I fall asleep in less than 30min now. I used to take up to 2hours.

I also don't wake up anymore. I used to wake up typically two times every night.

Michael


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NP40
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Doc prescribed Amytriptyline and Ambien for my son. 10mgs each before bed. The Ambien zings him around for a while, but eventually makes him tired. The Amytrip keeps him asleep.
Lately, he hasn't taken the ambien at all.

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vandeb
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the best combo for sleeping for me has been amitriptyline and klonopin......has made all the difference in the world for a good night's sleep with no drugged feeling in the morning......I take one of each about an hour before I want to go to sleep...hope something works quick for you.....it's hard to function during the day when you don't get good sleep at night.......God bless you

------------------
Debbie V.


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efsd25
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Sleeping in Seattle....

Certainly a lot of the medicines work, but usually after 2-3 nights, I am not getting the right sort of sleep and am not alert during the day.

The BEST Solution I have found is a sauna right before bed for about 15 min. Give it a week before you decide, as it takes some time to get the toxins out, then you can sleep. I also take one buffered aspirin with milk right before bed.

Try it.... it is a wonderful way to end the day!!! Then slip off to sleep

Hopes this helps,

Ernie


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firsttwin
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Mountainmoma,

Hello there. I will tell you what I have to deal with.

My family doctor is taking care of my pain management. Thank God.

But anyway, I told him that I have had people say to me, "You are going to get adicted". The doctor told me that I wouldn't be adicted, that I would be dependent. I hope he is right.

I have constant pain so I take the Ambien every night. Otherwise I would just lay there and just feel my pain and never get any rest.
I get at least 5 to 6 hours of sleep.

I feel that since I first started treatment, I am feeling some better. It is a slight improvement but none the less, it is improvement.

I hope that you soon will feel better too.

Take care.

Maria


Posts: 164 | From Rising Sun, MD, USA | Registered: Apr 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

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