Insomina driving me nuts!

[Jadore_]

I had been taking medication for my fibromyalgia/cfs and some of those were for sleep due to the pain and insomina
now I am down to my one last restoril,and a few soma,flexaril,xanax..believe it or not it takes that much medication to put me to sleep and that won't even keep me asleep through the nite. I am almost  out of medication for sleep and pain that I've been on for 10 yrs now. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have had chronic insomina all my life but worse now thats why I took the meds. I stopped smoking,no caffeine before bed,and I still  cannot sleep anymore till around 5am and then when I wake up in alot of pain I'm more depressed since most of my day is gone by the time I do get up and still so tired and no engergy. Some days I feel so hopeless and in so much pain I feel those around me think its all in my head and make me feel so lazy. Anyone out there feel like that?

[dianerae33]

I take prescribed Trazadone (150 - 300 mg) for sleeping.  I get 8 - 9 hrs of sleep per night.  Without this I would not sleep.  I am also take 50 mg of Elavil which helps with FM pain and aids in sleeping.  Medication all depends if you live in the US or Canada.  Good Luck.

[Rhaquel]

I recently had a Dr. Check my adrenals.  Should start high in morning, gradual downhill glide, til low at night (this is cortisol levels I'm talking about).  Mine stay fairly low All Day, never drops off for the nighttime sleepies.  Means adrenals are fatigued.  They are important.  there are lectures on youtube, I think his name is Dr. Michael Borgen, teaching other health care professionals.  I am seeing a doc who does a lot of endocrinology work, she has supplements for many things, and yesterday, she said I should eat a couple of turkey slices, then go to bed.  Worth adding to the mix.

[Jadore_]

Yes I use to take trazadone as a back up when the other meds wore off which they do in a few hours unreal,,,but don't have any and going to try and get some,,the trazadone does help as a back up,,,Yes I was to marry on the 29th of this month also lol and now I may not do that! I have so much going on I think I may return to minnesota with my niece and kids and new great nieces twins 4 months old spend a few months there, and try to rethink my life and health and who knows maybe get some help from their state since cali seems to not want to help or do anything... I appreciate your feedback

Hugs,J

[VaBreeze]

Yes, I know it's difficult to get proper treatment with no insurance.  Even with it, it still cost quite a bit.  

Are you still taking the same medications?  I have restless leg and periodic limb movement disorder.  The only way I can get to sleep is with Trazadone and anti-anxiety med.  The anti-anx. allows me to relax and calms the legs and the Trazadone allows me to sleep deeper.  It may be something to check into for insomnia as well.  I know it's been helpful for me with my circumstances.  

It sounds like you've got many stressors right now.  One of the most important things you can do is insure ample time for taking care of yourself.  It may be difficult to do, but have someone else take responsibility for a while so that you can do something to get away and relax.  I'm so sorry to hear about everything this past year.  It isn't easy to go through all that.  I hope things turn around for you real soon.  Take care and stay in touch.

[Jadore_]

No I haven't had any sleep studies done, The doctor's have mentioned to have it but with no insurance will be so expensive.,,It was better for awhile but also having fibromyalgia and with alot of family stress my sleep now is gotten really bad any suggestions?

This last year was a double whammy besides my mother's illness,my step father had cancer and had surgery,my daughter married,my grand mother passed away,my uncle was just in the hospital few wks ago and now my step dads cancer is back and they feel it has spread. I'm the care giver for most of the people I mentioned  so I'm sure the stress isn't helping my sleep. I did however get a little time away and go to Mn to see my new great nieces took my mom so she could see them other then that this last yr has been a whopper,I pray I can survive whats ahead of me...

Hug,J

[VaBreeze]

Have you had a sleep study done?  This post is almost a year old, so what has happened with you in the past year?  Are you still having the same problems?

[Jadore_]

Sorry it's been so long since I was here and to reply,,illness within my family and me being the caretaker. Yes I know the side effects,and I know what not to mix,and your so correct they help only to a point,,,I have done all above you have suggested except for the eyelid movies. I pray daily that I won't need these pills,I have gone without them for a long period of time I just flat out don't sleep. I have gone as long as almost 3 days straight with no sleep. and this was before I decided I rather take meds then suffer without them. I don't want to depend on them,its awful. The doctors and recently a neurologist I seen besides my psychiatrist they all feel it's mentally inside of me.. so what do I do except pray and be very careful the amount I take,and yes times I take the required dosage and it does nothing,,I appreciate your comments and feedback ty so much..

Jadore

[luckydzack1]

I have been suffering with FM for the past 24 years, but was only properly diagnosed in Jan.08. I have been off of work since Feb. 08 as I could not handle it anymore. I could hardly walk, stand, think, etc. you know all the symptoms. I was only getting an average of 3 to 4 hours sleep a night & having to work for 9 hours & drive for 3 hours (1 1/2 hr. each way). My doc finally put me off of work in Feb.08  as I could no long function at anything. Anyway enough of the babbling, he started me on 20 mg of amitriptoline to help with my sleep and we worked it up to 200mg per night, that is how much I have to take to actually get a decent sleep, and that only works for about 3-4 nights a week. At least since I am off of work, if I have a rotten sleep I can sleep longer. I feel for you it is so hard to keep functioning. I sure hope you can get some help for this.
Best of luck

[emilynicole]

I swear by ambien

[CrellyBabes]

Dear one the meds you are taking are making your situation worse, and so many of us have been there. Many accidental deaths are due to taking a variety of drugs, not necessarily in large quantities, to facilitate sleep, and the darned things just don't work. They all do the first time, and maybe the second night as well; but the speed with which the body develops tolerance to these chemicals is mind boggling. There ARE things that really work, but they require effort on our part, not just tossing pills and capsules down the old gullet. Self-hypnosis works. Relaxation CDs work. Several breathing exercises work, and eyelid movies ALWAYS work. Do you have any drug manuals that explain the different side effects of your medications and the things they should not be mixed with? I have no access to medical care so I've had to become knowledgeable about my body and what I put in it. I've lived with massive amounts of pain for 40 years and have learned that only one person really cares if I sleep, if I hurt, or how my life goes...me. See if you can get into helping yourself, you'll become empowered!
Carol

[Jadore_]

ty for the link I appreciate it.

[PlateletGal]

Dr. Paul Cheney discusses medications and/or alternative medicine that he prescribes in his patients for insomnia:

http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/2926

[Melissa70817]

I'm so sorry to hear that you are running out of your medications.  I know how that feels.  I find that the restoril does nothing for my sleep.  I have to take the restoril and 2 soma's to even attempt to fall asleep and if something sends me over that "sleepy" hump, I can forget going to sleep.  Its funny, so exhausted but can't sleep....  Wouldn't it be nice to sleep like we did when we were 15 again?

[Jadore_]

I know its horrible. Sometimes when I see my husband sleeping snoring away I just wanna smack him or someone lol. I envy those who can lay their head down and fall right off to sleep and stay asleep not me omg I wish. I also find not sleeping and up and down all nite long I tend to eat more. I chose to take meds to make me sleep because like you I was doing the same. sometimes I would go to bed at noon at get up like 7pm was horrible. That is why I have been on sleep meds and pain meds for 10 yrs straight.

I go to bed in pain,move non stop in pain and wake up in pain. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.
You will probably find me on here more at nite since my supply of meds are running out and I will now have to go through the whole process of a new doctor to supply me with medication since my female  doctor will not just these few last times. My psychiatrist
was the doctor for the last 10 yrs who gave me my medication.

[Melissa70817]

Yes girl, I feel like this.  I cannot sleep either.  Today I think I went to bed at noon and woke up at 4:30.  I have a lot of trouble sleeping but these 4 hour sleeping patterns have been going on for over a week.  Its killing me. I wake up so disgusted because I feel like the day is gone.  Sleeping pills may as well be sugar pills.  I just can't sleep.  I will be up all night again tonight.........ugh...so, if you're ever up and want to chat look me up, I'll probably be here.