posted
this insomnia makes me feel so desperate. it is unrelenting. i cannot believe it.
why won't this insomnia die already??? die die die stupid insomnia.
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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i'm glad you've found something that at least puts you out for a while. for me i think it will have to be a shot gun (no i am not suicidal just being morbid). nothing will stop this insomnia. well nothing i've tried so far. it is unrelenting.
it's so unnatural in a way that i can't explain but that all you people who deal with insomnia every night know what i'm saying. it makes me think what the hell is the point? i can't read i can't drive i can't think anymore.
i just have to keep hope it will improve.
insomnia is my longest running symptom.
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
i think shotgun is one word. i really shouldn't joke about that. i am just feeling so miserable right now i just need to sleep one of these years.
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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Try B vitamins in the morning with pantothenic acid. Take calcium and magnesium at night. Also licorice root and siberian eleuthero can help. Also throw in plenty of vitamin C.
Could help. It helped me quite a bit, back when. Good luck!
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
i have insomnia too it SUCKS (ive grown immune to xanax) i feel you catwoman, i also take 10 mgs in the morning of cortisol, lymetoo. brian
Posts: 217 | From Everywhere | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
Ahhh benzos :-( i am tapering off them. maybe that is making my sleep worse? It's hard to say because my sleep is always horrible!!
thanks brian i feel for you too. insomnia sucks so bad.
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
my sleep is all wacked out too. Sometimes the neurontin and zanaflex do it for me, other nights they dont.
My AM and PM cortisol were high last time i got those checked.
I find I can stay up later and later each night.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
I'm on Ativan, and it's worked for a number of years, but it's gradually losing effect now that it's about 4 years later. It worked very well and I reached 2 mg per night. I could go higher but I'm trying not to.
I am told by a lot of people that Seraquel is a good option, but that you must take it much earlier if you expect to wake up at an appropriate time. This means going to bed earlier than usual. If you go to bed at 11, go at 9 instead.
quote: Ahhh benzos :-( i am tapering off them. maybe that is making my sleep worse? It's hard to say because my sleep is always horrible!!
Withdrawl from the Benzo family is a brutal experience, especially if you've been on them for a long time. Lower the dose slowly, and I do mean slowly. Regular psychiatrists say 1 month is fine, but for a Lyme patient? Try 3 months to taper off. Not only that, but you have to replace the Benzo with another medication or herb, or something you know is safe and effective for you.
Withdrawl is similar to a flare-up of Lyme, or a Herx reaction for some people. Some people can't even handle it and have to be hospitalized. So go easy.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
Yep, I had a bout with that last night. I woke up around 1:30 with hot flashes and did not get back to sleep till around 4:00.
I take some strong stuff at night too so I'm always surprised when I wake in the middle of the night. 25 mg Amitriptyline 600 mg Nuerontin 0.25 mg Clonazepam
Steve
Posts: 406 | From Rhode Island | Registered: May 2007
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Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
Insomnia is a very classic Bart symptom - and can get bad when you start Bart treatment for a while.
Have you been treated for Bart?
Personally I take a pill called Zopiclone (unsure if you have it over there) it knocks you out for 6-8 hours with no drag over whatsoever, although my LLMD says once bart is under control the insomnia slowly lifts - lets hope so!!!!
posted
I cold-turkeyed a 15-year benzo on my own in the throws of Lyme, and look how healthy I am today. ha ha
I was on Seroquel for a while, and I remember it did help my anxiety and helped me to sleep initially. I think it stopped working though eventually - I can't even remember.
What's really weird is that I can't sleep unless the lights are on.
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posted
i haven't been on benzos for years or anything like that. not even six months. for the most part i wasn't taking them daily. oh well in any event i'm sure it's worsening my (already awful) sleep.
no i haven't yet been treated for bart. i have a crazy massive yeast problem that is holding everything up. no idea how to kill the yeast!!!!
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
i can't take antidepressants i have a severe adverse reaction to all of them.
i have taken zopiclone out of desperation and it's not very effective. it makes me feel relaxed but i can't say it really helped my sleep.
wow so sounds like the bart could be the major cause of the insomnia? Here's hoping the bart is causing it AND it is treatable. Die bartonella die. (as soon as I can treat you bart you will die).
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
I have not slept in 20 yrs -j-
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Catwoman: I also tried antipressants in the past (low doses for sleep), and could not tolerate them.
I tried Elavil, though, and was pleasantly surprised. I have gotten a much better night's sleep on 1/2 of a 25mg pill, taken about 7 or 8pm.
It has also improved my PAIN and FATIGUE, and I had given up on anything helping my fatigue! I was so surprised, because it's cousin Nortriptyline did nothing for me.
I used to take Trazadone, which worked well for sleep only. But eventually the dose needed to be increased and it was making my chest feel really screwed up. So I had plateaued on that.
For anyone on the fence about trying another antidepressant, I hope they read this and give this one a try.
Posts: 175 | From SW PA | Registered: Mar 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
,,,
jay, i have you beat; haven't slept in 30-35 years out of my 38.5 years with lyme.
finally my sleep test showing i do have sleep apnea too showed twice; I GET NO DELTA SLEEP and rarely get to level 3 let more level 4 !! *******************************************
i wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy; so that's why i'm on here during the WEE AM HOURS!
i wear myself out, and have fallen asleep in my chair!
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the "insomnia of Lyme disease is often herpes viral in nature (EBV, VZ or HSV1, HSV II). As a diagnosis tool I often use 1000 mg of the medical antiviral drug Valtrex at bedtime. If there is a dramatic improvement, herbal antiviral treatment has to be considered for a long time".
He suggests that the "ayurvedic herb cocktail Indian Gooseberry, Chelubic and Beleric myrobalan which has given the most profound and lasting effect on the viruses of the herpes family" is worth trying.
This herbal combo is a bit difficult to locate, however, I found a source in Seattle and have just started this product. Will report back if anything improves on the insomnia front.
Maybe your problem is more about area cell phone towers and antennas? Exposure to electromagnetic and microwave fields interferes with sleep.
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