Can you die from insufficient sleep?

[peggy64]

Well, I continue in my sleeplessness. I have tried it all, sleeping pills, ativan, and atarax , xanax, ambien, dalmane. Herbal remedies. I've tried the thinking ok, I will sleep all night long, I will sleep 4 hours. The doc office even gave me a shot to knock me out for a while. It lasted 1 hour.

Oh my heavens! I don't know what else to do. I am waking up every 1.5-2 hours. I can't sleep in the daytime. Can you die from no sleep? I am so exhausted, I just about am ready too.

For those of you out that are sleeping right now, "how wonderful"

I am trying to remain positive as I know that that is healthful in itself. But this is getting to be ridiculus.

[dai3symae]

I went through a time when I got up, ate, watched TV, etc. and never slept...was almost unable to function after about a year of this.  Now I also just lay and will myself back to sleep.  

I left you a post about my Rx journey trying to get some sleep so I won't repeat it here.  It did seem to get better after I finished "peri" menopause and just had menopause.

[peggy64]

no, I just lay there. I usually go back to sleep with 30 minutes.

[dai3symae]

What do you do when you wake up during the night?  Do you get out of bed?  

[peggy64]

AM,
Thanks for getting back. I know it is getting some better, as I don't wake up and my mind gets to work. I just wake up. I have not been able to function, I am so exhausted. I have taken the last few days to just BE> there is definately ESP going on, because sitting outside, watching my chickens, turkeys and goat is exactly what I have been doing for relaxation.

Last night, I was so sleepy, I went to bed at 8, woke up at 9:15, took ativan 1 mg and atarax, and it still took over 2 hours before I went to sleep.  I did sleep 5 hours, so that is such a blessing and I praise God for it. However, I am not wanting to get used to using meds. That is a big fear, but I am also at the point of saying oh well, It is better to be addicted and sleep than unfunctional and insomniac.

It has really made me more sympathetic to others who have this issue. You can never relate to someone, until you experience it. That is for sure.

[amtlmn]

hmmmm, severe insomnia is the pits. I was as bad as you before my hypothyroid was diagnosed and treated.

Now that I am straightened out, I still loosely follow the quiet-the-mind idea Kit mentioned as part of a maintainence plan. I don't EVER want to relapse into that insomnia mess again if I can help it. It scared the heck out of me and still makes me shiver just thinking about it..

Have you tried any of those soothing instrumental CD's that are sold everywhere now? How about sitting outside in your backyard in the evening letting the setting sun help get your circadian clock on track and enjoying the night air and sounds of the birds settling in for bed? Maybe you can make a deal with yourself and say that X amount of hours of laying there with your eyes closed in a relaxed state is as good as sleeping, and let it be. Who knows, if you can get yourself to the point of being able to relax, maybe you'll doze off for a minute here or there and it'll lead you down the right path. Do you get a dose of sunshine everyday? Maybe that would help a little.

I never took anything except an occasional benadryl to help me sleep so I don't know anything about helpful meds. I'd say prayer is what got me through, and I am convinced that that is what led to my diagnosis of hypoT.

[peggy64]

Hi Sky, Yes, I have tried that natural calm. I have spent a small fortune of natural remedies. Yet they have been ineffective.

Thanks for the suggestion.