Help! My insomnia is causing me to lose sleep!

[HYDROMAROC]

How about making an appointment with your Dr.?

[chenx15]

sports will answer the problem. play tennis or go swimming from 7pm to 9pm. take a nice shower. out like a light!

[rsg]

I've recently taken to writing things down on paper. Sometimes I'll wake in the middle of the night with all kinds of thoughts or feelings running through my head. I'll think of work, friends, family, did I turn off the water.......you get the idea.
I can get up, write everything thats on my mind down, then go right back to bed and sleep like a baby.
Works for me.

[Mosco]

Try watching 'She's Just Not That Into You' before bed. 15 mins of that bulls**t and you're out like vegan from a steakhouse.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

VTC,

Don't take anything because you read it online.

[jets]

I'd suggest going for a run and then a nice shower before bed. Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeep tight.

[GradyPhilpott]

Don't exercise at night. Exercise in the late afternoon. Drink a warm glass of milk before bed. See if that helps.

If not, it will be tough, but since you are finding that getting up and then going back to bed isn't helping, get up and stay up. This would be a good time to engage in some strenuous exercise, if you won't wake the household or get mugged doing a run. A couple of nights of this and you will probably get back to a normal sleep pattern.

If not, try some OTC diphenhydramine. It's a lot cheaper if you buy it in the cold remedy section in bulk, rather in the sleep-aid section in those bubble packs. Take only as directed.

If that doesn't work, talk to you MD. You should make sure that if your MD does prescribe meds that you fully understand any side-effects and contraindications. Ask lots of questions.

Good luck and sweet dreams.

Google Search

[HYDROMAROC]

Originally Posted by DARK_KNIGHT

VTC,

Don't take anything because you read it online.

Except my advice to see your Dr.

[TheVTCGuy]

I actually have asked my Dr about this, and (of course) he perscribed sleeping pills. I really hate taking medicine but give in once in a while and they work like a charm, I am out for many hours and sleep straight through. I've been on the same bottle for almost a year and still have a few left, shows you how much I fight taking them. It's a last resort, and it works, I guess I just wish I didn't need them!

[Титан]

Paul, sometimes for your own mental health you need to medicate yourself to sleep, or you will go nuts with insomnia. Keep in mind, your medical issues can cause you to have insomnia also.

[Mosco]

Hate to advocate this stuff, as it leads to terrible things (like Doritos binges and sudden pizza cravings), but have you tried a puff or two before bed? Just sayin'...

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Hate to advocate this stuff, as it leads to terrible things (like Doritos binges and sudden pizza cravings), but have you tried a puff or two before bed? Just sayin'...

Thanks Greg, appreciate the advice and you're probably right! It probably would help! But... afraid just not me.

[ParisDakarBmw]

Try the sleep meds for a month, and taper off. I'm not one who relies on them, but don't sleep well. My mind is so busy trying to solve everything going on.

Cutting grass, twins, husband, jewelry, watches, extra police jobs, laundry, regular policing, TRF, dogs, dishes.......

I just get my sleep with a little sleep aid, and that issue is not adding to stress.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

HYDROMAROC,

Great advice !!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by HYDROMAROC

Except my advice to see your Dr.

[brkb]

Take Advil/Tylenol PM... if you're afraid about the pain relief part of the pills take benedryll... its the "PM" part without the pain relief part

[diversified]

Paul you really should look into something. Speaking from experience there is nothing at all worst than driving while tired.

[brkb]

I would also suggest going to a sleep specialist... just to have them check you out. My brother had a horrible snoring problem as a teenager and he went and got looked at over the course of a night and the specialist was able to help him out (don't ask me how)

[ParisDakarBmw]

Originally Posted by brkb

I would also suggest going to a sleep specialist... just to have them check you out. My brother had a horrible snoring problem as a teenager and he went and got looked at over the course of a night and the specialist was able to help him out (don't ask me how)

My Doctor has been suggesting that for 2 years. What he doesn't understand is that I will be away from my wife, child, dogs, cellphone, computer, and chores.

I'll lay down and go into a freakin coma.

I'll sleep like a baby, and even suck my thumb.

If there is a sleep problem, they need to conduct the study in my house to get the picture. It's like sleeping in the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras!

My luck I'll wake up to some strange nurse touching me, and I'll go into an instant UFC fight for my life.......

I'll just stick with the pills...........

[TheVTCGuy]

Sleep specialist? Sorry for being so ignorant but I didn't even know such people existed Hey I'm very open minded and will try anything... is there a string of clinics or something?

Paul, man I know exactly what you mean... I just can't shut off at night! Well, I do, and fall asleep pretty easily actually, but wake up in the wee hours and my mind is going 400 miles an hour and it just won't stop!

I think I would have made a good vampire....

[Rolex Junky]

If you snor and are over weight you might have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). They'd need to do a sleep test to determine this.

[Dr. Jones]

I wish I had an answer for you as well. I suffer from the same problem. I will not take any of the current medication as I am not pleased with some of the side effects of the meds. I take a hot bath which causes me to relax a bit and I can sometimes drift off when I get out of the bath. I hope you can take a little peace from the fact you are not alone with this problem and I feel for you.

[Mosco]

Paul, my man - the meds you're considering putting in your body are way worse. Chemicals vs equivalent of tea - seems like a no-brainer to me. And forget legal vs illegal - that's just politics.

[brkb]

my docter has told me that Tylenol PM is not healthy to take everynight due to the pain killer that is also in pills.

He said that Benedryl is pretty harmless and could be taken every night.

[gettocard]

Originally Posted by chenx15

sports will answer the problem. play tennis or go swimming from 7pm to 9pm. take a nice shower. out like a light!

swimming ok,tennis no way. The last thing he need is adrenaline....

[pz93c]

Dunno.

I need about 6 hours a night..... usually 1AM to 7AM or so.

Best of luck, Paul.

[subject180]

Sleep finally, after years of insomnia I've had insomnia all of my life. Can't get to sleep, can't stay asleep and constant vivd dreams that keep me from reaching deep restful sleep. Now ambien gets me to sleep and nortriptylene keeps me asleep through the night. I have to take the combination or it doesn't work. I've been on ambien for a year and can't get to sleep without it. All of the doctors I've seen promote the value of actually getting to sleep as opposed to going off of ambien. It's not addictive in itself, just wanting it to sleep makes it feel like you're addicted, although not in a bad way. Just psychological instead of physiological. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Although you have to watch out for the side effects. GET IN BED BEFORE TAKING! You can black out on the drug and go about your normal routine without any recollection. For me, I was too honest if I had a conversation with anyone after taking. So it is kind of like taking away your inhibitions as alcohol does, but times 10. I guess it would be similar to sleep walking in the end. I turn off my phone and my computer so I don't send out any e-mails or call anyone. It has been a truth serum. Funny to me, but not always good results.

[Sose]

Subject180, welcome to the forum buuuuuut.... this is almost a year old thread.

[dbarberic]

Originally Posted by swatty

Thats happens to me as well Paul, but only if I have had an alcoholic beverage or 2(or more) before going to bed. Some body once told me it has to with liver function .

My sleep habits are very similar to the original poster and I've found the alcohol makes it worse. Alcohol helps make me crash quickly, but I still wake up in the middle of the night even more tired because the alcohol seems to produce a "drug induced" sleep that is not deep, restful, and restorative.

I've been attempting to use natural remedies rather than prescription medication. I personally am not a fan of using prescription medication to solve every health problem out there. I like to try natural methods first and only use presciptions as a last resort.

Currently, I typically take the following:
-One hour before bed time, I drink Yogi Bedtime Tea
-At bed time, I take 20mg of melatonin and one dose of Deep Sleep herbal sleep aid by Herbs Etc.
-I apply lavender oil to my temples which is supposed to be calming and relaxing
-I sometimes take a dose of Rescue Sleep homeopathic remedy by Bach

This usually knocks me out pretty well, but I still wake up sometime in the 2-4am time frame and toss-turn for 2-3 hours. I've started regular cardo and weight exercises about 6 weeks ago, but I have not noticed any improvement.

I was always a poor sleeper, but not as bad as I am now. It got worse once my wife and I had our first baby 7 months ago. I'm now hyper sensitive to every noise made by the baby. I had to travel once for business since the baby was born and during that time I slept much more solid. I suspect that the source of my insomina is the new baby.

[unitas12]

I blame it on the interweb and being self employed. Hard to turn off the head.

[Rolexcess]

Paul, you are suffering from a transient condition known as MNA (Middle of the Night Awakening). Desyrel (available generically as trazodone) is a non-narcotic medication that can help correct your sleep hygiene. The sleep center often gets out of sync and trazodone works well, without the hangover effect of true "sleeping pills". Once you start taking it you can get "re-synced" and you will be fine, without any dependancy. Ambien, Restoril, Sonata, and a few more can lead to trouble and should only be used 14 days or so. Unfortunately, many doctors prescribe Ambien for far too long, and the sleep center in your brain becomes "lazy" and a dependence develops.

Good luck with this! Again, it should be transient and will eventually clear up on it's own.