posted
I was wondering if anyone's insomnia improved with antibiotic treatment? If so, how long did it take to improve?
I have been treating with Rocephin since November 2007 and I've had definite improvment in my other symptoms my sleep continues to be a big problem. I can fall asleep quickly (because I take Provigil during the day) but I can't stay asleep. I wake up six, eight or more times per night and get up exhausted and have to drag myself out of bed.
anyone have improvement in this problem?
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi Cat
the Insomnia thing seems to be one of the last symptoms to get better --
Only recently have I been sleeping a little better -- 3 yrs treatment for lyme- Babs-
I have started dreaming again sometimes and I am not twisting up in the blankets so much now
Before I got sick I used to think sleep was a waste of time-- Ouch
For years I just layed in bed and did not sleep at all -- Jay --
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
I feel sleepy, but once I lay down my anxiety goes up and my heart wigs me out. I usually fall asleep, but only with the light on and the comforter over my head. I tend to sleep better when I can fall asleep during the day, but again, I need something over my head.
I think it is better than it was - sleeping 2 to 4 hours before waking up. At one time though I could not sleep more than one hour every couple of days out of pure exhaustion.
Like you, I wake up frequently. I also don't dream - only nightmares. I had a nightmare last week that I had a bart rash all over me at some spooky party, went upstairs and begged them to take pictures, but by the time the people in white coats got the camera, my bart rash was gone.
posted
if you take provigil during the day, you probably need something at night to make you sleep better.
try some melatonin, it is all natural and wont make you sleepy, but helps KEEP you asleep once you fall asleep.
I take ambien. I am a shift worker and have no problem with taking it the rest of my life if I have to. i dont sleep without it. its great to just take a pill when its time to go asleep and not toss and turn for hours
i am going to look into the provigil. one of the uses said "shift work sleep disorder" that is too funny
Posts: 615 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Clarissa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4715
posted
I can't remember exactly at what point my sleeping got better...but it got SOOOOO much better and my insomnia never returned after Lyme treatment.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK on wood.
I feel your pain...that's why I don't want to jinx myself...it is SUCH a curse but NOT a permanent one thanks to your diagnoses.
posted
Did you try herbal solutions? Sleeping is one thing these are incredibly good for!
'celestial' puts out a tea called 'sleepytime extra' that has valerian in it. The regular 'Sleepytime' doesn't have valerian, yet I used to find it very helpful to sleep when I needed to.
'Yogi' puts out a blend called 'bedtime tea' that puts me RIGHT to sleep with capital letters. It may contain valerian, though. (Valerian is considered by many herbalists an herb powerful enough that you want to be careful about having too much)
(But I would bet that even a powerful herb is safer than pharm stuff...)
I hope you find the best possible solution to this!
DaveS
Posts: 4567 | From ithaca, NY, usa | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
thanks for answering. i've not had any luck with any of the herbal stuff (5 htp, valerian, camomile, hops etc). i've tried acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, psychotherapy, tons of exercise, etc. i've tried lots of medication including xyrem and nothing has worked so far. i have tried melatonin many times in different dosages and it really does nothing for me.
i am hoping the insomnia improves with antibiotic treatment.
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
I had the same trouble with sleep. After getting on the right doses of B-HRT hormones and treating Babs with Malarone + Zith I am sleeping better than I ever have in my life.
I'm still on enough meds to put down a baby elephant... Ambien CR, melatonin, 5-HTP, Valerian Root, GABA, etc. but my mind is no longer inflammed and racing all night long. My brain just never shut itself off.
One thing I did like was Bellaruth Naparstek's audio CDs on relaxation and guided imagery available on Amazon. The Delta Waves CDs were also helpful for getting some ZZZZZs.
Posts: 192 | From Dwight, IL USA | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
Thanks for replying. Unfortunately I've not had any success with melatonin. Do a lot of people with bartonella have insomnia?
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Yes!
After 18 months of abx, my sleeping is just now improving! I noticed in the past two weeks I have been able to (for now, hopefully continuing) give up any of the sleep aids I have used (mostly mild -- herbal like valerian or Hylands Calms tablets, calcium, small doses of ambien) and get a full nights sleep. Knock on wood
Is it possible that taking the provigil during the day could impact the quality of sleep? I do not know the answer to that. Or it could be that since you have only been in tx since Nov 2007 it is not long enough; I have been treating since July 2006!
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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thanks for responding. well i shouldn't say i have been on treatment only since november 2007 but that is when i started iv. i started bicillin shots in sept 2006 and was on those for quite a while and i did babesia treatment for 8 months or so. i also did a round of treatment with tindamax.
the rocephin is the only thing that i can really say i've noticed improvement with. but my sleep is still terrible. other things are improving but yeah the insomnia is not improving.
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
For me, my insomnia was gone within a month after abx treatment (doxy / mino). Before that I tried sleeping pills and antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs with no results.
When I finally got to LLMD for azithromax+rocephin, insomia was not a problem anymore...
So yes, it does get better with abx, but varies how soon.
Posts: 196 | From atlanta/norcross, georgia | Registered: Feb 2007
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savebabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9847
posted
I still use sleep aids to help me fall asleep, but my insomnia has improved since starting bart meds.
Posts: 1603 | From ny | Registered: Aug 2006
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