Sleep issues

Hi again!  I have another question.  Does anyone else with a Chiari diagnosis have trouble sleeping?  I can't sleep past like 3 AM.  I'm a walking zombie.  I'm actually thinking about not driving anymore if this keeps up.  Is this normal?

Thanks again for all your feedback!

[rod44]

Hi
Most of my symptoms cycle,they may last days, weeks or months....I do have sleeping issues, I have times when I cant sleep, then maybe I get a few hours....this may last for weeks or months then I have times where I sleep for hours get up for one or two hours and go back and sleep.....

Ray

[selmaS]

HI Gina,

Yes, insomnia is a chiari issue and like Ray said the symptoms do cycle for most of us.Even after surgery I continue to have symptoms that cycle, but nothing like b4.

Prior to surgery I was a zombie as well : )
And I have not driven a car in 2 yrs....I am hoping to start driving for short errands soon.

"selma"

[pdxmomof3boys]

My problem with sleep is that I am ALWAYS tired and can fall asleep anywhere. I fall asleep before my head even hits the pillow, whereas I used to lie awake thinking the day over and planning for the next day. I am having a sleep study done on Dec. 18th, so hopefully that will give me some clues as to why. I also suffer with restless leg, but am only aware of those symptoms during the day, strangely.

Have those of you with trouble sleeping ever tried taking a prescription sleep aid -- the non-addictive, non-groggy ones that I can't remember the names of now. My mom used one when she had trouble sleeping before her neck surgery and it helped a lot (the meds she was taking caused her to have trouble falling and staying asleep). Good luck!

[selmaS]

Hi...I was always tired....even when I did get a few hours of sleep.I still can not get enough sleep, but am sleeping much better than b4.

I was on sleep meds...none worked....I was rx'd them by a dr at a sleep clinic.

But, I must say, I can not sleep newhere...I have to be home or in a bed......

I hope the sleep clinic is able to pinpoint the issues u r having and help u get the rest u need since u do sleep : )

Good luck
"selma"

[sheila53213]

I've had and still have issues sleeping. There are days when all I want to do is sleep and I can't but then there are days when I sleep with no problem. I do find myself noticing that this is a cycle issue with me. I do not take anything for it as I don't like taking too many pills. I can sleep only at certain places....like my mom's house when we go to visit or my in-laws house...but I ALWAYS have to fall asleep in the car. I don't know what it is with it, but I'm guaranteed to fall asleep ALL THE TIME.....sometimes within the first 5-15 minutes of being in it. Don't know what that is all about but at least I'm getting sleep.

[achyten]

Hi ginapooh,,,
I"ve been an insomniac from way back....I use to go to doctors and about my sleep problems and they were so mean to me. telling me to get a hold of myself.... well I went through total misery for years with maybe only 2 hrs sleep a night,, never could sleep during the day no matter how tired I was... I thought I was going to go crazy,,, with never sleeping...........till I finally found a dr. who put on something to help me... Now I"m on a very mild sleeping pill every night...and most likely be till I die..
Some of us just have to give in and take something for sleep,,,, I know had I not been put anything, I would've died ......I couldn't function anymore with 1-2 hrs of sleep for 5 yrs till I got help....
God,, I pray you will find something for sleep soon........

Hugs,,, Jennie

[Kim60]

Sleep?? What is sleep?? I had 2 hours last night. THANK GOD FOR COFFEE. I went to work today and was not good.   I have sleep meds but don't want to HAVE to take them every night.  When I was dx with a chiari and read the symptoms I wasn't surprised sleep problems was one of them.
I'll be taking my meds tonight and I BETTER get at least 6 hours.  NS in the morning so I'll probably be worried about that!  :( oh boy, I'm done venting.. I'm tired.
Sleep tight everyone.
Kim in NH

[selmaS]

Good Luck with ur NS appointment...post a update : )

"selma"

[Devin215]

I am now having sleep issues and am post op. I essentially have become nocturnal... I get tired at night but cant fall asleep and if i do I wake up easily sometimes just for no reason other times just for the slightest sound or weird dream....any advice anyone? Once I finally do fall asleep between 1 and 4am I sleep all the way till anywhere from 12-4pm... I dont know what to do this is not good because I am starting to get bags and black circles under my eyes. It all started once I went into the hospital for surgery...

[jorlex137]

I had sleep issues horrible and then just had my decompression srugery 11/24 and now I can't sleep at all!
I'm going to ask him when I see him Friday what the deal is!!  
I'm sleeping 3-4 hours!  
GRRR!
Jen

[ULMMom]

Before dd had surgery she would go days without sleeping. She was a mess. Since surgery she is now falling asleep till 2am but sleeps till 10:30 so that is just the college scene.  I was so worried about her preop never seen someone that could not fall asleep no matter how tired they where.