Insomnia....ahhh!

I seem to be experiencing insomnia more and more as the treatment goes on.  It's really difficult to get through a day at work when I have been awake for every hour on the hour during the night..tossing, turning, sighing, and cottonmouth on top of it.  I was using a couple of Tylenol Pms, then switched to Advil PMs, but I dont want it to become a habit so I try not to take something every night. Last night I didn't take anything, and *yawn* it sucked. Put a call into the dr today to see if they can prescribe something, but still waiting for my call back.  I'm actually thinking that a couple of tokes of pot might help. Any input?
"sleepless in southern Maine"

[FlGuy]

I went through several months of lousy rest (when I needed the rest the most) before the kind folks here got me off my butt and to Doc Referral for Ambien. Wish I had done it sooner.

Rested in South Florida.

[mikesimon]

Reefer might help but snook might also get really mad at us for endorsing it. I like it anyway.
I use Ambien for sleep - not the controlled release formula but the regular 10 mg. I've been using Ambien forever and it's worked great for me.
Mike

[sfbaygirl]

Ahhhh, welcome to the wonderful world of not sleeping. I almost started a thread about how to take a nap in the daytime.  I take sleeping pills, ambien now, and it gets me to sleep. I wake up 4 hrs later. I didn't have these problems before tx. The new sleeping pills seem to be good, because they aren't narcotic and don't make you feel groggy in the morning like the ones back in the day.

I sometimes wake every hour or so. I try not to think about it, so I don't worry about sleeping. But today I just want a nap!!!! I suppose I could take one of those ambien, but nah, not going to. I haven't heard about problems getting used to these sleeping aids. All I know is, thank God I have them! After this awful tx, I will worry about my growing drawer of pills I have aquired during tx.

I just figure them as a rescue drug, cuz' I know I couldn't keep going on tx without something to help me sleep at least a little.

Let us know what the dr. says! Hope he is not one of those stingy dr's.

Signed,
Sleepless in San Francisco

[Lady E]

Thanks guys.  I'm honestly hoping that they'll suggest Ambien for me too.  

[FlGuy]

Other folks here may have other sleep - aid suggestions too.  There are a lot of choices out there.

[Lady E]

psst! by the way...who is snook?
*looking around with shifty eyes* LOL
sorry, but I don't know.

[mikesimon]

Snook is a long time member and a great guy. He was born with HCV but is now clear and according to the reknown Dr. Schiff he's cured. But he gets worked up once in a while on certain topics and pot is one of those. I never disagree with him because he is so down on it. But, truth be told, I think it's fine. But, don't tell snook.  Mike

[anise]

I have mentioned this before about my serious insomnia post treatment.  My NP has me on Trazadone 50-mg.  I took it and couldn't believe it didn't work.  I live in a zombi state since getting off treatment.  My NP said that Ambien only works for about 4 hours.  However, she did mention that there is a Ambien CR that might work better.  I have not found a solution yet.  Thought about having hubby club me in the head before I go to sleep :)  He is way to good hearted to ever do that to me.

[GrandOak]

In the same boat here too.  I also notice a big difference if I do not take my Tylenol PM and have thrown concerns about possible dependency out the window for now in exchange for getting that hour, sometimes TWO, in a row throughout the night.

I figure the more sleep I get the better and doc agrees.

[NYgirl]

Dont let them SUGGEST Ambien tell them that you WANT Ambien.  It has helped me a lot.

The Ambien CR is extended release and it seems to help me stay asleep longer than the regular ones - which at most would keep me out for four hours on a good night. So if I took it at 9 or 10 I'd be back up again all night.


With the CR sometimes I sleep almost until morning straight through...and it gives you that cool "Ambien Amnesia" so if you DO wake up you really don't remember it!

[mikesimon]

I tried the Ambien CR and it didn't work at all for me. I think my problem is getting to sleep and not so much staying asleep. I had been taking Ambien for 4 or 5 years before my transplant. A few days after my release I was in my surgeon's office and he asked me how I was sleeping. I said that I was sleeping about like normal - 3 or 4 hours a night. When he asked if I always slept that little I toild him that I used to take Ambien but with my new liver I didn't want to tax it. His response was simple: Start taking the Ambien. I never looked back. I figure it's been 10 years and I still take the same 10 mg per night. Mike

[Forseegood]

hi Anise, good to see you, sorry that trandnizone or whatever you call it didn't work for you, I have heard it working for many on treatment...have you tried just tranquilizers? they kind of "relax" you into sleep...I too have suffered insomnia for years and they really help me if it's been days since I have gotten a good nights sleep...I just take a half of an ativan...they even say on their lit that they are supposedly the most "liver friendly" of the tranqulizers...people also take xanax, just a suggestion, glad youre off the drugs and youre doing okay....

[prettydamscared]

My study doc prescribed 50 mg trazadone for me today.  He said that's a really low dose and to double it if it doesn't work. I haven't gotten it filled yet. He also told me the nature of the peg is such that it causes us to wake during the night.  I'm currently taking restoril, generic is temazapam, and that works well until you build up a resistance.

[beamishboy]

i believe,if memory serves,that you are misremembering Rev's vitriolic posts about weed?
but then again i'm justa drug abusing outlaw with an illegal smil.e

[tulsatime]

Hi I know how you feel. I have been up till 3 in the morning every morning this last week. I am planning on asking for something too. Guess everyone thinks Ambien is the way to go. So I will ask for that too. I just hope it is not too expensive since I will be paying cash. Take care. Hope we both can get some sleep soon. Debi

[Pdilly]

I have not started Tx yet but plan to start on the 29th.  I have my shot class that afternoon and then I can give myself the first injection that night.  I guess I will only be giving myself one Riba dose that day.  From what I understand it will be riba twice a day after that.  I plan to do the morning one about 5:30 am and the evening one around 5pm.  Hopefully that will be early enough so I can sleep.  I love to sleep and I hate to miss it but it sounds like that will change from what everyone is saying.

[Algernon]

I used to occasionally take Ambien (not CR) before TX.  Worked great.  While on TX, the ambien had no effect on me.  Including the CR version.

Now off TX, Ambien barely affects me.  13 weeks out, major insomnia.

A CHEAP alternative is clonazipam.  An anti-anxiety drug my doc gave me during TX.  1 mg got me an entire night's sleep, maybe with 1 bathroom break during the night.  It's cheap because it's been around a lot time.  The Ambien is more expensive.

Wishing y'all some zzzzs.

Algie.

[GrandmaA]

When I was going to get in the clinical trial I told the Nurse Pracititioner that I wouldn't be able to sleep without my herbs and stuff. She said what are you taking? I said, melatonin. She said that's O.K. And I take Nightrest by Source Naturals. She said that's O.K. And herbsom by Dr. Zhang and she said fine. But I do wake up early then I meditate. Nothing puts you to sleep faster than meditation, when you are supposed to be awake. We cannot take valerian root or kava kava and many other things. So we do have to be very careful about these natural sleep aids. But I have found the most liver friendly. Make sure you are getting enough calcium/magnesium also. You can also take GABA 200 mgs. it is a natural relaxer and I'm off to dream land. See you in the morning. Of course, I haven't started tx yet. That will be quite a challenge.

[Lady E]

It turns out that (according to my GI) that I have to have it prescribed by my primary care dr.  They called and made me make an appt for this Fri, so we'll see what happens.
Again, thanks for all your responses.
E

[Lady E]

wow..you guys are awesome! I love having the support you all show.
I just hate adding another pill to my routine.
Sweet dreams to all tonight.
E

[Forseegood]

Just wanted to say HI CHARLOTTE!!!! May you sleep like a baby tonight...

[anise]

Nice to hear from you!  

I have tried so many things to get some sleep, that I am running out of options.  So I started walking around Greenlake (a lake around here that everyone uses).  today I did a 2 mile walk, whew, was I ever out of shape.  Barely made it around the lake.  Hopefully, this will get me to sleep better.

BTW, I am bringing out the Chondra tape while I walk.  I hope I spelled that correctly.

[Forseegood]

Good to see you Anise!!! Pema Chodron...she's wonderful, always helps me to get my head back together...

Kalio was talking about juicing the other day, here's some study on it that makes it sound pretty good!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060905/hl_nm/alzheimers_dc_1

[GoofyDad]

Thanks for the reminder. Maybe I'll do some juicing tonight.

[sfbaygirl]

LOL I bet you will!