My sleep has been troubled since I got sick. It was my first symptom in fact.
My patterns have changed a lot in treatment.
Right now I fall asleep okay (didn't used to), but I am awake at 4, 5, and then really by 6am.
Are early awakenings a sign of any lyme or babs or bart? I have lyme and bart. My doctor wants me to start art for Babs even though I do not have symptoms.
-------------------- Severe neurological problems. Probably sick for years. Became chronically sick in Aug 2007. Undiagnosed for another 15 months. Started treatment for lyme and bart Sept. 2008. Improving, but very slowly. Posts: 515 | From washington dc | Registered: Aug 2008
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Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
I have the sleep disturbances too.
Right now I'm being treated for Lyme and ehrlichia, although he was also thinking at one point that I have babs too.
My sleep is still messed up, but I don't know what's causing it.
I fall asleep okay too, but I can wake up anywhere between 1 and 4, and often have trouble getting back to sleep.
My LLMD gave me a script for Elavil, but I haven't filled it yet (I'm afraid of those kinds of drugs and have had reactions to antidepressants in the past).
Hope you soon get some good rest!
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
I guess my question is - does one of these cause early morning awakening more than another?
For instance, does babs? I am suspecting lyme as it got worse after a flagyl herx.
I am trying to figure out whether to start treating for babs thinking it might help.
-------------------- Severe neurological problems. Probably sick for years. Became chronically sick in Aug 2007. Undiagnosed for another 15 months. Started treatment for lyme and bart Sept. 2008. Improving, but very slowly. Posts: 515 | From washington dc | Registered: Aug 2008
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
My experience with early morning awakening always seemed to coincide with other Bart symptoms.
So I attributed it to Bart.
But we are all different - so it could be something else, too.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
Certainly some of the tick-borne infections may contribute to sleep disturbance more than others but in can be hard to sort this out.
Just the toxic nature of tick-borne infections and also from required treatment, liver stress can cause lots of trouble with the ability to sleep through the night as well as the quality of sleep. You might check your liver support. Being sure the bowels move at least once a day also helps sleep - it keeps the toxins moving on out. The recirculating toxins interfere with sleep.
A "caster oil pack" over this liver can also be tremendously helpful but I'm too tired to go into detail. That is easily searched for instructions.
Also, low blood sugar can be a connection. Eating a tiny snack an hour or two before bedtime can help. An ideal snack would be 1/4 to 1/2 cup of quinoa &/or lentils, if not too spicy. Maybe a few blueberries. Keep it a tiny snack, though, as too much food will also interfere with sleep.
I also find that if I have a soothing CD nearby, I can turn on the music and track on that to help get back to sleep. Sometimes a simple Qi Gong exercise (while still lying in bed) helps me, too.
posted
Thanks cactus. I have always related it to bart as well. I have been treating that for 9 months. It had gotten better for a while after a big flagyl herx. After the last flagyl herx it became worse again.
Well, I guess I will try the art for babs and see what happens. Thanks, Kathy
-------------------- Severe neurological problems. Probably sick for years. Became chronically sick in Aug 2007. Undiagnosed for another 15 months. Started treatment for lyme and bart Sept. 2008. Improving, but very slowly. Posts: 515 | From washington dc | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
I fall asleep fine and wake up just before the sunrise. Then the restless legs start waking me up every hour or less. I was worse before Rife, nothing helped..
Now I get 4-6 hours at first. 5 mg valium, half ambien, hylands insomnia and hylands restful legs.
Posts: 111 | From Mid Michigan | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
I am exactly the same way, and take alot of meds just to sleep 6hrs.
Posts: 847 | From upstateNY | Registered: Dec 2007
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Same here. I sleep for 3 or 4 hours straight, then after that it is very broken sleep. I think sleep deprevation is one of the many reasons we have a hard time healing.
For me I think it could relate to Bartonella. Some of my symptoms are very typical for Bart.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
There is another possibility here. If this does not apply to you, just ignore me! ;-)
Many of us have a secondary depression, since this disease sucks and has taken away so much of our lives. I know I am depressed as he** after 24 years of this crud.
Depression is the most common cause of early morning awakenings. Alcoholism is probably the second most common.
I used to be a Psychiatric Social Worker before Lyme took me out of the work force, which is how I know this. I also studied Naturopathy for over 2 years, which is why.....
I do not think antidepressants are the answer. Treating the underlying disease is first priority, and meanwhile, supplements can help without the awful side-effects of anti-depressants, like depleted COQ10 stores and the death of neurons. Besides, most studies show they work no better than placebo.
I would try 5-HTP at bedtime, and if you wake up during the night, repeat it. However, do NOT take 5HTP if you have high blood pressure, heart disease or high risk factors for it. Use L-tryptophan instead. Start with 500 mgs. and work up as high as 3 grams if needed.
Magnesium, calcium, Melatonin, L-theanine, GABA, lemon balm, wild lettuce, valerian, hops and others can also help. The best thing of all is exercise, only to tolerance, of course. Sunshine doesn't hurt either.
To the person who mentioned restless legs: Calcium at bedtime can usually help that problem.
klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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posted
I agree that depression can cause the early morning awakenings. The problem is that with insufficient sleep, the body cannot heal.
I have to recommend Remeron as a good antideppressant to help with the sleep. Sometimes we have to treat the accompanying symptoms as well as the cause.
I tried Lexapro and ended up at the Psych ward of the local hospital. Remeron has few side effects and does make me sleep all night.
Posts: 114 | From New York | Registered: Jun 2009
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
I am treating babesia for the first time in my 2.5 yrs of treatment (had focused solely on Lyme/bart before) and this has started happening to me.
I did not have positive tests or overt symptoms of babesia, but most definitely have it as stuff has come out as we started to treat.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
I always have assumed it is Lyme for me. It gets much much worse when:
1. I have been too active,
2. Recently had a blood sugar crash (I'm hypoglycemic from the Lyme),
3. Had a night of externally-caused loss of sleep,
4. Have recently eaten something I shouldn't have. Sugar, gluten, and nightshades all have excitatory effects on my nervous system
5. Herxing.
I have been getting almost 100% better in this department with just Lyme treatment, but the last couple of days the early awakening started again.
A week + ago I was taking extra anti-Lyme herbs because I was treating a viral illness on top of the Lyme, and the herbs I needed to take had anti-Lyme effects as well. The herbs on top of the antibiotic I take was a 1-2 punch.
Three nights ago I stayed up WAY too late due to talking about important things with my husband, and had also eaten way too late that night, causing a lot of fallout from a blood sugar crash and the adrenalin response that follows.
Then the last couple of nights I ate a spoonful of some non-dairy coconut milk icecream that I had thought was sugar-free, but it had evaporated cane juice in it. This is probably a big culprit for me, now that I can't tolerate sugar due to Lyme.
So, in my case, it was definately a combination of things, but I believe that the damage and toxic state caused by Lyme is at the heart of all of these issues for me.
ping
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6974
posted
venus,
On Dr. B.'s Lyme Assessment, it says that early waking is attributable to Lyme. I'm sure all the other infections are chiming in as well.
ping "We are more than containers for Lyme"
-------------------- ping "We are more than containers for Lyme" Posts: 1302 | From Back in TX again | Registered: Mar 2005
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CherylSue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13077
posted
I can so relate. I can sleep the first 4-5 hours with .5 melatonin at bedtime. Around 3 am I'm up with racing brain or herxing. Liver toxicity? Parasites or spirochetes activating at night? Sometimes I wake up because I feel so sick. Lymph backup?
Who knows???
Posts: 1954 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2007
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That is pretty much what I say everyday - who knows. My LLMD treats lyme and cos so I am on drugs for all. Perhaps something will make it better.
Since I posted this almost a month ago, my sleep patterns have changed again. They aren't normal by any stretch of the imagination.
As you say, "Who knows."
KMM
-------------------- Severe neurological problems. Probably sick for years. Became chronically sick in Aug 2007. Undiagnosed for another 15 months. Started treatment for lyme and bart Sept. 2008. Improving, but very slowly. Posts: 515 | From washington dc | Registered: Aug 2008
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