MARCH 31st: The last time I slept.

Day 16 of complete c/t.
(BUT, cut way back and started w/d 3 days earlier.....so really day 19)


WHEN WILL I GET SOME SLEEP AT NIGHT?????

[avisg]

Sarah , if you have not gotten any sleep in 19 days you really need to GO TO THE DOCTOR right away hun OK? that is wayyyyyyyyyy to long without sleep......
avis

[Penelope14]

Ouch, I know how that feels, you can try some over the counter antihistimines? I use atarax, only when I really need it, as it gives you dry mouth, but it makes me sleep at least 6 hours, so its worth it. Sleep will come back, this is usually the last thing in most detoxes that seems to take a bit more time to acheive. Penelope

[kimmieb]

are you getting no sleep at all?  or just restless sleep?  or chopped up sleep?  can you sleep for the first few hours at least.....or do you just not fall asleep until wee hours of the morning?  just curious....  also, i haven't tried this personally yet, although i may be doing it soon, since i will be tapering way down from ativan (which i've taken every single night for sleep for years now)....  anyway, i read on here a long time ago (maybe even an old post from FLADDICT? -- can't remember exactly), anyway, it was something about a magnesium/calcium liquid formula that she got at GNC....said she took it when she couldn't sleep and it made her sleep like a baby....i do believe it was FLADDICT....maybe she'll see this one and will post to your question....if not, maybe pm her and ask her about it....i know sleep is a BIGGIE

did you ever have trouble sleeping before?  i mean, before withdrawals set in?  or is it just something that's started since  you went c/t off the medication?

CONGRATS on day 16....wow....that's truly an accomplishment!!  be proud of yourself...

[cathy5841]

sarah, i have been there.  i am 4 months clean and sorry to say i still have sleep issues.  they are much better, but i still get very little sleep.  i went to gnc and they told me about an all natural sleep aid call sleep formula.  it works for me.  i had tried so many other otc things.  anything anybody told me about i tried.  nothing worked for me.  the sleep formula is great, no addictive and cheap lol.  give it try.
cathy

[Sarah231]

Before, I slept like a baby.

Now, I doze off and wake up within a very short time.
This goes on all night until about 4am. It seems then I finally fall asleep, but the alarm goes off at 6.   **sigh**

I do the Tylenol Simply Sleep and Melatonin.
Nothing seems to help.

Does anyone remember when the sleep thing returns to normal??

[kimmieb]

cathy, do you think that could be the liquid magnesium/calcium sleep aid that i was talking about that helped FLADDICT so much??  just curious....cuz you mentioned it was from GNC....is there a specific name of that stuff you take/took?  i'd be interested in in also, and sarah, i hope you can give it a try and it helps you a ton....i have had major sleep issues (not necessarily related to wd's) for about 10 years now, and believe me, i can totally relate....no sleep or sleeping badly can really ruin just about everything about your life....sarah, hang in there, and try this GNC product....hope it helps you....and blessings to you for getting this far!!

[Sarah231]

Four months and the normal sleep has not yet returned??

Oh dear.

[kimmieb]

sarah, don't get scared off yet....there IS something out there that will help you....you just have to find it....and someone on this forum (including cathy) will have ideas for you....things that helped them....every BODY (and brain!) is different....and i know from reading here that the sleep thing is one of the last things to completely return to "normal" but that doesn't mean it has to be totally crappy until then....there are things you can do/take to help in the meantime....just have to find them and try them....don't despair yet....you'll get there....you're in my prayers!

[kimmieb]

i found what i was talking about....looked on FLADDICT's amino acid protocol health page....she mentions that in the early days of her wd's, she took a sleep blend from GNC with L-theanine (a relaxing amino acid) and calcium/magnesium....and it was in liquid form....maybe check it out....she said she slept like a baby!  hope it helps.....

[Sarah231]

thank you so much. I will certainly try anything.

This lack of sleep is affecting my job (and everything else.)

[cathy5841]

KIMMIE AND SARAH,
IT IS CALLED SLEEP FORMULA.  IT HAS VALARIAN ROOT AND OTHER NATURAL SLEEPAIDS COMBINED.  the valarian root didnt help me.  but this stuff really works.  with no morning hangover:)

[mimi1313]

Hi Sarah,

You could try light exercise if you haven't already?

I really feel for you. I hate not sleeping.

Good luck!!
melissa

[spacecadette]

exercise, exercise and more exercise.  Guaranteed to work.  Try exercising for even a half hour for 5-7 days and i PROMISE you, you'll sleep like a baby....but it has to be exercise....continuous for a half hour....crunches, lunges, pushups, sit ups, jogging......it really REALLY works...all the best.  

[paul300]

Last time I quit, it took me several weeks, but eventually I began to sleep throughout the night. I took sleeping pills for a short period once my legs quit convulsing. I'm seeing my doc next week and will ask for Ambien CR for rare occasions.

Do you have time to workout? Can you physically? If you can, I would think that can help, but not too late in the evening. My sleep sucks too.

I really hope you get yours soon.

[jenny8575309]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my sleep problems were the last symptom to go away for me. It took me about 2 months to 'learn' how to sleep again.   Everyone is different.  Hang in there and keep fighting the good fight!  

[kimmieb]

thank you!  i'll have to check it out for myself, too....and i hope sarah sees your post....thanks for sharing that...it was driving me nuts....I KNEW i read about that somewhere! :-)

[Drea0001]

Tripple strength fish oil from GNC and melatonin 3 also from GNC / I was to the point of no sleep I felt crazy and anxious emotional mood swings and aggravated and the same night it actually worked! Only take Melatonin to sleep the fish oil might take a few hrs as it did for me but for others took some time to build up- I had no idea a supplement would have such a great result- less "need" for the proper use of controlled substance at moderate dosing and low dose of anti anxiety medication- the 4-5 hrs of sleep now external my first week now- feels like an extra couple hrs of sleep added to it and it replaced anxiety meds completely