insomnia

[OrgasmicleBunny]

I've had bouts of insomnia in the past, but lately have been sleeping really well, up until today....

I work nights, so on Tuesday I slept from 11am to about 1am on Wednesday, (I slept in because I was off Wednesday). I stayed awake ALL day and all night Wednesday.

Now it's noon on THursday, and Im wide awake, hell I dont even know how hours I've been up, I should be exhausted, not to mention Ive taken enough drugs to be unconscious!!

I have to work tonight and I'm going to go insane if I dont sleep soon

 

[w232]

One things for sure, when you do sleep....it'll be for days

 

[SweetErika]

Melatonin works for me if I take it and relax in bed until it kicks in. I was skeptical when my doctor suggested it, but it works really well.

 

[FFOTS4Life]

I completely get what you are going through...I have sleep apnea...so I understand the struggles.

If it keeps up you shoud seriously consider seeing a doctor about it...they can put you in a sleep study and pinpoint the problem.

I sleep like a baby now. Hope you catch some zzz's soon.

 

[Eilan]

Melatonin works for me if I take it and relax in bed until it kicks in. I was skeptical when my doctor suggested it, but it works really well.

It works for me as well.

 

[NightL]

I'm going to say the most obvious... but maybe the hardest thing of all to do... Stop working nights... I worked nights for over twenty years (hence NightL)...

There are always a couple days or more a week while you try to fit in with the rest if the world... so your sleep patterns are constantly stuffed up...

 

[OrgasmicleBunny]

Nights aren't really the problem for me, I rarely flip my schedule, I've always been a night person, I hate being awake during the day. When I worked days I just ended up staying up at night.

I did get some melatonin so I took that today,I sure as HELL hope I sleep today or I'm realllly going to FUCkING INSANE. I feel totally out of it. Like I could just go crazy any minute.

I've had a sleep study done, they found nothing wrong, except that I never went into REM sleep during the study, so they recommended repeating it, I didn't want to, it was a pain in the ass and quite tramautic really, especially for someone who doesn't sleep well to begin with and then to lay there with all this crap on you, no way.

Right now, I really just want to be knocked out unconscious for about 8 hours.

 

[FFOTS4Life]

Yeah the sleep studies aren't all that fun...I don't blame you. But I had to repeat a sleep study. I was definitly more relaxed the second time around because I knew what to expect...and was actually able to get some sleep.

I hope the Melatonin works for you! Good luck!

 

[Huffie86]

Might I suggest you look at some meditation or self-hypnosis as a way to relax and go to sleep. I use to listen to a self-hypnosis cd when I couldn't fall asleep and it worked wonders. Generally the more natural way you can cure sleeping the better.

 

[kinkypet]

i use melatonin as well

i have to take double the recommended dose for it to work... and it only works for a few days, then i seem to become immune to it and have to stop for a month or so before it will work again

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

I have the same problem.
I've always been a major night person, never being able to fall asleep before 1 or 2am.
So i took a graveyard shift job<bad idea apparently. Currently i work Monday tuesday wed and thursday on 3rd shift, fri and sat off and work sunday 2nd shift then go back to 3rd on monday. the 4 days on 3rd i have a hard time going to sleep, i can be completely exhausted, lay down and not be able to sleep for another 2-3 hours. Once i do fall asleep, i'm only out for about 1 -2. then awake till about 5-6pm then crash again till 930 and be completely exhausted the rest of the night. When i am awake, i'm too drained to do anything useful.

 

[OrgasmicleBunny]

FOrtunately the melatonin worked, along with taking the ativan and trazadone I did get some sleep, so I'm feeling better

I mostly just need the ativan and melatonin, Im thinking of trying ambien again, it worked pretty good for me for a while, but it quit working because I had been taking it for so long and I dont really want to continue taking this ativan for so long ya know

thanks for the support

 

[w232]

Glad to hear you got your Z's

 

[Jesuslovefor]

Insomnia Response

Some say they've tried it and it's no good, but I use it and I very much support it.
Melatonin is an Over-the-counter Sleep-Aide which is 100% Natural, I recomend giving it a try sometime.
(Use as Directed though)

 

[SassySheDevil]

Melatonin didn't really work for me. I take the generic ambien and I love the stuff. I'd marry it if I could lol

I worked graveyards for years and my body just has a hard time wanting to sleep now. I get 15 tablets a month and only use them on nights I work and I've never slept so good. I sleep all the way through the night now.

Husband also enjoys the side effect (doesn't appear to be a listed one though. Dr laughed when I told him).. Increased sex drive.

 

[littlebitshe]

Lately, I've had a really hard time falling asleep at night. I will lay there for hours trying to fall asleep. My problem is Mental Hyperactivity. All the ideas and thoughts just come to me and I can't stop thinking about all of it. Makes it really difficult to fall asleep!!

Will the Melatonin work for me?

Also, I've tried OTC sleeping pills and my husband told me it made me snore REALLY BAD and I would breath abnormally and scare the shit out of him. He thought I had stopped breathing a couple of times. So, sleeping pills are not an option for me now.... Does Melatonin have these side effects also?

Where can I get Melatonin to try it?

 

[SweetErika]

Lately, I've had a really hard time falling asleep at night. I will lay there for hours trying to fall asleep. My problem is Mental Hyperactivity. All the ideas and thoughts just come to me and I can't stop thinking about all of it. Makes it really difficult to fall asleep!!

Have you tried writing all of those thoughts in a journal or list to get them out of your head. If I have a lot to do, writing everything down and promising myself I'll let the list go until I wake up works for me.

If worrying is keeping you up, you might even try writing down all of your concerns and throwing that paper in the trash or tearing it up as reinforcement that you're not going to think about it until after you've slept well.

Will the Melatonin work for me?

It'll probably have some effect, but I'd suggest using it in conjunction with the writing and other things that help create a good environment for sleep.

I find it to be a gentle helper. If I have a ton on my mind or am not ready to sleep, it doesn't work. But like last night I was worried about not being able to sleep because I slept late, so I took the melatonin, relaxed in bed, read my book and I was out in 20-30 minutes.

Also, I've tried OTC sleeping pills and my husband told me it made me snore REALLY BAD and I would breath abnormally and scare the shit out of him. He thought I had stopped breathing a couple of times. So, sleeping pills are not an option for me now.... Does Melatonin have these side effects also?

This is something you should talk to your doctor about, as you may have an underlying respiratory problem that needs to be addressed. I don't know if breathing issues are a side effect of any OTC sleeping pills when the recommended dosage is taken, but either way, you should bring the name of the pills to your doc and possibly be tested for breathing problems.

If you do have an underlying problem, you may get the same effect with the Melatonin. However, like I said, it is NOT like a sleeping pill and it IS a "gentle helper," so side effects are far less likely. It just helps you get into the right rhythm/cycle for falling and staying asleep - it doesn't knock you out.

Where can I get Melatonin to try it?

Just about anywhere in either the supplement or sleeping pills section (although those "natural sleep formulas" are usually far more expensive than the plain old bottles of melatonin). I've found the best deal to be Costco (in the pharmacy area w/ the rest of the vitamins and supplements): it's like 300 tabs for $5 (Schiff is the brand name) and they're definitely effective.

I think I mentioned this before, but my doctor told me he's been taking melatonin nightly for 20+ years with no ill-effects. He uses a holistic approach to medicine and knows a hell of a lot about supplements, so I know he's kept up on the research backing this stuff and feels it's healthy.

 

[littlebitshe]

Thanks for all the info Erika!

When I say that things are going through my mind... it's not that I'm worried or upset about anything or need to get stuff done. It's just that I start thinking about what I did the day before or how much fun I had with a friend or different conversations I've had. It's really random and thoughts just go through my head. It's usually good things... sometimes sexual things as well. Just random and I can't turn it off. It's aggravating!!

I'll try the reading or journaling, but honestly I'm not a journaling type of person. But it's worth a shot to stop my brain from running on and on!!

I'm also gonna go get some of this stuff to see if it helps. I really hate taking sleeping pills as I'm a more natural type of person. I'll try it and see if it helps and doesn't cause the erratic breathing and snoring.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[littlebitshe]

Just wanted to report back on my experience with Melatonin.

I went and got some Melatonin and the first night i used it I took 6mg (2 pills) of it and I slept until 1:30pm the next day.... NOT my norm! LOL I took the dose down to 3 mg (1 pill) for the next night and I fell right to sleep and woke up at a more normal time I've taken 3 mg each night for the past 3 nights and it's works very well to help me fall asleep quickly and easily. This stuff is great!

Thanks everyone for your info on it and suggestions of it!

 

[Noor]

Nights aren't really the problem for me, I rarely flip my schedule, I've always been a night person, I hate being awake during the day. When I worked days I just ended up staying up at night.

I did get some melatonin so I took that today,I sure as HELL hope I sleep today or I'm realllly going to FUCkING INSANE. I feel totally out of it. Like I could just go crazy any minute.

I've had a sleep study done, they found nothing wrong, except that I never went into REM sleep during the study, so they recommended repeating it, I didn't want to, it was a pain in the ass and quite tramautic really, especially for someone who doesn't sleep well to begin with and then to lay there with all this crap on you, no way.

Right now, I really just want to be knocked out unconscious for about 8 hours.

I think you should repeat it. Nothing wrong??? No REM, no human growth hormone among other things. I hate to tell you the long term effects of no REM sleep.

I only get 1/3 of the REM sleep I should when I sleep 8 hrs and if I don't get enough hours in I am in bad shape. Today I had a phone interview that I probably totally blew because I couldn't think straight to answer some of the questions. The things I use for it aren't working right now. I am getting it checked out, but Friday I fell, today I blew the interview, it feels like you have lost your mind at times.

Yes, I know the sleep study is tramatic, and they are mainly set up for apnea, which is much less common in women and about the only thing they have clear treatments for, but at least see a sleep dr, or get a home test.