I try and I try and I TRY

[galaxygoddess]

But sleep won't come ><

God kill me, i'm going crazy.

This started about 3 weeks ago. I just started staying up later and later and having mroe and more difficulties sleeping. AT first I though it had to do with a bunch of stories swiming in my head. I got most of them down (like 6 unfinished stories floating around) and still sleep won't come.

I've tried pills (god dammit I fucking hate pills) and I've tried sleepy music, I've even tried to tire myself out as much as possible. Still very very little sleep. Severe insomnia.

not last night, but night before I climbed in bed, in my usual toss and turn. I tried my back, I tried my left side, I even tried my belly, but to no avail. I felt nausesous (another major problem everytime I lay down) so I thought "ok, it's been a WHILE since my surgery, and I'm finally walking straight, maybe I could try laying on my right hip tonight." SO I carefully, oh so very carefully turn over and position myself on my right side. "Huh, not too bad... ok let's wiggle a little, ok still no biggie... ok let's move the leg in pos--AAAAGHHHHH" I am shocked I didn't wake the whole house with my scream I pulled my hip, BADLY I'm still not sure how, oh for the love of God I felt like I had pulled the muscle from the bone. And I was stuck. Stuck in this horribly painful positon. I tried screaming for mom to no avail. Finally, after much heming and hawing and figuring out, I managed to pull myself out of said position and on to my left side (no sleeping on the back now, hip in too much pain). I cried myself to sleep. I dare not get out of bed for a pain pill, I wasn't moving. So fuck it all I'm limping AGAIN.

I have been feeling achy for several days and have cold and flu like symptoms, but nothing more than mere complaints. This morning however I woke up horse. My head hurts, my ears are draining, my nose is running, I feel like I have a brick in my skull and for some damn reason I swallowed a brillo pad. Mom thinks it's strep. I tried going on to bed at 10:00 only to toss and turn and snot all over my pillow for awhile before getting back up. I played on the computer for a bit and tried to lay down again. Well now it's 3 am and I still can't sleep.

Love of God pleeeeease help me ;.;

Anything! I need sleep *clunks head on the desk*

 

[English Lady]

Lavender either dried in a little cloth bag or in oil form on or under your pillow -promotes sleep it does

Also, a bit of vicks on your chest (methol rub for colds) might work now 'cos it sounds like you've got a bit of a cold -easing the breathing problem might ease you into sleeping

hope you find sleep soon,

 

[galaxygoddess]

Lavender either dried in a little cloth bag or in oil form on or under your pillow -promotes sleep it does

Also, a bit of vicks on your chest (methol rub for colds) might work now 'cos it sounds like you've got a bit of a cold -easing the breathing problem might ease you into sleeping

hope you find sleep soon,

VICKS! AMg I have some of that! I must try! you

 

[rgraham666]

Gentle *HUGS*

You've been through a tough time. One that's caused you a lot of stress. It's not surprising that's affected your sleep.

So something that reduces your stress levels will help a lot.

My $0.02.

 

[Vermilion]

Gentle *HUGS*

You've been through a tough time. One that's caused you a lot of stress. It's not surprising that's affected your sleep.

So something that reduces your stress levels will help a lot.

My $0.02.

get a massage? If you make sure you find a really well-qualified therapist then they may help with some of your pain as well as your stress levels.

x
V

 

[galaxygoddess]

Thank you so much for suggesting the Vicks. It got my sinuses to calm down long enough for me to get some sleep.


Oh, I would give anything for a good massage. I go back to the doctor the 17th, maybe they'll clear me for some therapy and I can start that. I've been trying to stay unstressed, but part of what has me stressed, is the fact that I feel like I am back to normal, and then I do things normal and I pay the price for it. I can't stand this.

Another thing that I need to work on, and we're supposed to start work on today, is the fact that, I'm sit living here like I'm just crashing for a week or something. My room isn't MY room yet. All my things are still in storage and I'm not on a regular bed I'm still on a futon in the bedroom. Maybe when I finally get my room set up like I actually live here, I can start to sleep better.

 

[tickledkitty]

Sleeping on a futon can't be good for your back. Maybe you'd be able to sleep better on a regular mattress?

Also, chamomile tea is good for sleep. Celestial Seasonings has one called Sleepy Time and another called Tension Tamer that have chamomile and some other stuff in them. Might be worth a try.

Try not to be so hard on yourself. Not only were you in an accident, you've gone through some major life changes as well. All this stuff is going to take time to resolve.

 

[3113]

Melatonin. No kidding. It did wonders for my insomniac husband. Try some Melatonin .

 

[MagicaPractica]

Getting out of your sleep patterns can be a killer but you've got the aches of your body to deal with and now apparently a cold. *hugs* I, too, keep a jar of Vicks on my bedside stand. When I'm stuffed up, I dab a little just beneath my nose. Easier than keeping a cloth with the stuff on my chest.

Can you prop your head up a bit with a couple pillows? Definitely helps me when I'm sick. One pillow lying the normal way then the other lying down it like a cross so the bottom rests just beneath my shoulders.

Then some deep breathing and try telling yourself a story. I've found it helps me get to sleep. *shrug*

Also, ginger is a very good anti-inflammatory for your throat and sinuses. 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger to a cup of hot water with a big squirt of lemon and a spoonful of honey or a packet of sweetener. The honey tastes wonderful and adds it's own dimension. The sweetener makes it taste like spicy hot lemonade.

As for the nausea, are you on medication still? That might be causing it. Otherwise, perhaps you've changed your diet since you're staying with your mother?

Hope you get some good sleep soon.

 

[Vermilion]

Valerian is good for getting to sleep, too. Either an infusion made with fresh leaves or you can buy pills of it.
x
V

 

[galaxygoddess]

I'm more apt to try herbal remedies than man made things.

I've actually been eating a heck of a lot better since being at mom's since she actually cooks, instead of being force fed that preprocessed crap my exhusband lived on. If he didn't like to eat it, I wasn't allowed to buy it, so I was limited to what foods I can eat.

Unfortuneately, when I moved in, my mattress from home was basically unsalvagable (long story) and the only thing mom had were hidabeds in the couches, which weren't in very good shape and she had to go get a real matress to put on the couch downstairs just to have somwhere I could be comfortably. Once I was able to make it up the stairs relatively easy, mom migrated the matress to the hidebed upstairs but it didn't fit, so we scoured everywhere trying to find something suitable, (cause the couch downstairs can't come up) and were found a futon mattress to fit on the upstairs. I've been on it ever since. We're working on getting that room situated so I can get a real bed in there. But at the moment, the futon is all I got and all I can tolerate.


I'm going to try propping up tonight. I'm so tired ><

 

[Just-Legal]

No suggestions, just gentle, tender *hugs*

Want a laugh? My little Warrior is about to try tanking Deadmines, I'm so used to being DPS/Caster its bound to be... interesting

 

[SlickTony]

GG, I'm very sorry to hear you've been having sleep difficulties. I've been having them myself, but that's mainly, I think, on account of my age. The doctor who prescribes me antidepressants and Strattera also prescribed me some sleeping pills, and they work, it's just that when I do take them, I feel all draggy-assed in the morning. In addition to that, he also gave me a printed sheet about Sleep Hygiene. You know, the stuff about not drinking caffeinated drinks or doing anything mentally stimulating before bedtime, and how your bed should only be for sleeping and sex. Thing is, I don't have any problem with falling asleep--I am just apt to wake up at 3:45 and be unable to get back to sleep again.

It is certainly a shame about the hideabed couches. It is a rare, very rare hideabed that doesn't have that nasty bar that catches you across the back. I'm convinced that even GOD'S hideabed has it.

Be careful with the valerian, if you choose to take it.

 

[fifty5]

No suggestions, just gentle, tender *hugs*

More of those from me - with stroking where you like it.

I just want you to know that we're all up for you. There are lots of people here that care.

 

[SeaCat]

Galaxy,

First off try the teas, while avoiding the Melatonin. (At least until you talk with your Doc. Some people have had bad experiences with it.)

Next, the bed. Are you comfortable on the Futon? (I know I have slept on the futon we have in the living room and find it more than comfortable, but some are not comfortable at all.) If the Futon isn't comfortable have your parents make you a bed with Plywood and several mattresses. (Use the Plywood and something like Cinderblocks to raise it off the floor high enough so you can get in and out easily.)

Third and perhaps the most important, find a local highly recomended Mike the Psych who has dealt with PTSD. What you have gone through and are still going through is going to leave a mark. Now maybe you don't need help dealing with this, but on the other hand it may help tremendously.

Another thing to try, which has been advised above, is the use of massage.

Last of all, do talk to your doctor about this when you see him next. Lack of sleep and the stress it is causing you will slow down your healing.

You have my respect for your strength, both physical and mental. Keep fighting and know that many here are with you.

Cat

 

[galaxygoddess]

Mom got me some teas, and I'm going to take the sleepy time one in a little while to try to go on to bed.

About how the futon is, mom pulled out the hidabed and tried to put the mattress on it. too big. So she sent my brother to the hardware store and got a cut sheet of inch think plywood. They put that on the bed and put the futon matress on it.

It WAS comfortable, but now it's just not. I can't get a regular bed in there until we clean out the room. They just haven't had the time to fix it since the accident. It was supposed to be worked on this weekend, but both mom and I got bad sick. I'm the worst though. My bro and mom... little sniffles. Me, I'm miserable ><

Seriously, who snuck and put a brick in my head??? I'll kill you.

Also, how much liquid can the human head hOLD????

ugh ><

 

[Vermilion]

Mom got me some teas, and I'm going to take the sleepy time one in a little while to try to go on to bed.

About how the futon is, mom pulled out the hidabed and tried to put the mattress on it. too big. So she sent my brother to the hardware store and got a cut sheet of inch think plywood. They put that on the bed and put the futon matress on it.

It WAS comfortable, but now it's just not. I can't get a regular bed in there until we clean out the room. They just haven't had the time to fix it since the accident. It was supposed to be worked on this weekend, but both mom and I got bad sick. I'm the worst though. My bro and mom... little sniffles. Me, I'm miserable ><

Seriously, who snuck and put a brick in my head??? I'll kill you.

Also, how much liquid can the human head hOLD????

ugh ><

the answer to your problems is 'steam'.

A steamy shower or bath. Hot water in a bowl with a towel over your head - whatever suits you best, but lots of steam will help bring up the gunk w/o you having to cough too hard.
x
V

 

[galaxygoddess]

After forcing every hot liquid mom could find down my throat, a long hot shower, and several sleeping bags on my bed for extra padding. I finally had a decent night sleep and woke up kind of vaguely once, and then woke up a second time and blew the heck out of my nose, but prompty fell back alseep.

Vicks under my nose, chicken noodle soup, 2 cups of hot tea, 2 cups hot cocoa, a looong hot shower, a comfy bed and a good sweat.

I feel a LOT better. Still stuffy and achy, but waaay better.

Thanks for the help and suggestions. Maybe now I can work on cleaning out that bedroom (long story, but it's filled with piles and piles of clothes that need folding) so I can get a real bed in there ><

 

[Vermilion]

After forcing every hot liquid mom could find down my throat, a long hot shower, and several sleeping bags on my bed for extra padding. I finally had a decent night sleep and woke up kind of vaguely once, and then woke up a second time and blew the heck out of my nose, but prompty fell back alseep.

Vicks under my nose, chicken noodle soup, 2 cups of hot tea, 2 cups hot cocoa, a looong hot shower, a comfy bed and a good sweat.

I feel a LOT better. Still stuffy and achy, but waaay better.

Thanks for the help and suggestions. Maybe now I can work on cleaning out that bedroom (long story, but it's filled with piles and piles of clothes that need folding) so I can get a real bed in there ><

That's great!

Good luck
x
V

 

[xssve]

Try spending more time outside, leave all the lights off in the house except the one you really need - not getting enough natural sunlight can throw your biological clock off, it's probobly a combination of factors including stress, but this can help.

And sex, have sex, lots of it.

 

[lushlucid]

Valerian is good for getting to sleep, too. Either an infusion made with fresh leaves or you can buy pills of it.
x
V

Didn't do much for my insomnia.

Valerian and melatonin are supposedly better at helping you stay asleep once you're asleep but not so great for getting you to sleep.