Insomnia

[~Palomino~]

Hey Y'all! Its been a while since I've posted... I lurk every once in a while but don't ever really sign on or post! I hope some of you remember me but for those who forgot or are new Im Gage! I've been a member of the bored I think for 5 years now. WOW! I was 13 when I joined and now I'm 18. Crazy how time flies!

Anyway, A week ago today (well not its technically yesterday) I had surgery on my diviated setptums and now that I'm off all the pain killers I can not sleep. I am always a crappy sleeper and I have my days where Im just terrible and most of the time I usually can fall asleep around midnight, but these last two nights have been HECK! Last night I ended up taking FOUR tylenol PMs and I didn't end up falling asleep till 4 AM. I have to be up at 8 for school. All four of those tylenol were taken before midnight. Tonight I have taken SIX benadryl (first dose was around 5 pm) and a Xanax and I still can not sleep. WIDE AWAKE. What do you think is causing this? Last night I literaly broke down in the middle of the night. Tonight I'm in a little better spirits so Im ok tonight but I just don't know what to do! Anyone have suggestions? I also have pretty bad (not tremendously bad) and this time of year is always the hardest time for me so maybe that is playing a role into it? Or Maybe my body is just wanting those percasets to put me asleep. I don't want to be taking PM medicines and I know its not good for me, but I'm afraid if I didn't Id stay awake all night.

If anyone has a good idea PLEASE SHARE. It might save my life lol.

Hope Y'all are doing good and Im loving all your babies!

Gage

http://www.carlsenminis.com

 

[krissy3]

Hi, and sorry to hear that your having problems sleeping. I do not sleep well, I think too much, I was up at 1, 2 ,3 and 5 checking on the horses. Dont freak out about the 3 days of no sleep, your body will break down and finally sleep . The drugs from the surgury could have something to do with it , the stress physically and emotionally from the surgury too. Get you butt up at 8 for school , no matter how hard it is, and stay awake all day long. No coffee, no cola, diet drinks, just water , or herbal tee, limit your sugar toward the end of the day. Write in a book , or read before bed everynight for 10 min or so, if you feel stressed , write down your stressed feelings, this will get it out of your head. If you wake up, then get out of bed , and read , or do something, your body will get tired and fall alseep, just give it time. good luck and sleep well

Kristen

 

[Sue_C.]

I agree with Krissy, plus think that you are taking too many of the meds you have now. Taking more than the recommended dosage very often does the total opposite of what they are meant to do, so if they aren't working...don't take more...or mix them up with something else...go to the Dr, and tell him/her, and either get something else, or go without.

Your body doesn't know what it is expected to do...with all the crap it has been trying to function with. Are you eating properly? Many times, the meds take away appitite, and make things worseThe meds really are NOT your friend. A bit of pain or discomfort is preferable to the fog and miserable feelings you are having now...so try to do as Krissy has mentioned rather than going for the pill bottle.

 

[sfmini]

Gage, you are getting good advice. Look at your sleep hygiene as well. By that I mean is it dark in the bedroom? Did you take time to decompress? No tv in the bedroom, no caffeine at least none after 5 or 6pm. Force yourself to keep to the same time schedule on weekends and stop taking all of those meds! They may actually be keeping you up.

If you are still having trouble, go to a sleep specialist and get evaluated.

I am thinking you are now making yourself a bit nuts worrying about not falling asleep so you stress and that keeps you awake so you stress...... and on and on.

Back to those meds, an overdose could damage some of your organs, especially taking an overdose.

Good luck!

 

[Mominis]

Hello fellow insomniacs! As a night worker, insomnia is a fact of life for me. I completely feel your pain. My worst stretch was seven days with no sleep, despite my best efforts, so I totally understand how hard it can be.

Sue C gave you good advice. Don't overmedicate. If you do too many different pills, you risk a reaction. If you take too many of the same, as Sue said, they will not work like they are supposed to. Considering that you mentioned that you have Xanax, you may want to go to the doctor who gave them to you and ask for a stronger dose. That is much safer than self increasing a dose. If the doctor thinks your dose is high enough, he may give you a different medication.

I agree with looking at your sleep hygiene (never heard it said that way, but I like it). I am one of those people who just cannot sleep without a tv. That said, when we redecorated the bedroom, I did not put a tv in there, per my husband's request. I went to Target and bought a CD player/alarm clock and I got a CD of soothing music. Honestly, every once in a while if I really can't sleep and the CD isn't doing it for me, I will sleep on the futon in front of the tv. Also, I never liked to sleep in the total darkness. I liked the glow of the tv. But since I'ce gotten used to sleeping with no tv and therefore no glow from the tv, I find that I sleep better, I don't need as many hours of sleep to function, and I don't have vivid dreams anymore (usually).

 

[laughingllama75]

Hi Gage,

I remember you.....

I also lurk mostly, but do enjoy stories and pictures. I am sorry you are having trouble sleeping....I am almost 40, and have been an insomniac since I was 7. Had tests, medications and sleep tests....nothing has worked. for a while, I was self medicating....taking 3 tylenol pm with ibuprophin every night., along with sleeping pills(it helped a little, but mostly made me groggy the next day). Well, long story short, I about killed my kidneys. I am now on kidney medication full time, and after having 2 surgeries on the right one....I don't put anything in my mouth the dr. doesn't tell me too. PLEASE be carefull with what you take, please. I don't want you or anyone to have to go through what I have. Good luck with finding sleep.....I hope your body adjusts to the "new you" soon.

Alicia

 

[love_casper]

Hey there Gage!

Last year I got this awful illness, started as an infection, then turned into bronchitis and pnemonia. It was terrible. I couldn't say a single word without hacking 3 times between each breath, so I had to take a bunch of cough medicine. Problem is I'm allergic to the main ingredient in all over-the-counter cough supressants, so had to get prescription codine. That stuff is prescription for a reason! Once we ran out, I started having trouble sleeping. Of course I also had a job to get to at 8 every day. Dealing with children and horses, it was not easy. Like you, started taking other things to get to sleep, but they didn't work all that well. Eventually it just got worse. There was one point where even though I felt normal - like not sick anymore - sleep was just impossible. I'd literally stay up night after night with 0 sleep. And I mean watching the clock tick from 1 o clock to 7 o clock. Then time for work. Same thing the next night. Not one bit of sleep. The third night, I got 1 hour 45 mins of sleep, then was up for another 2 days straight.

By the end of that week where I got about a grand total of 3 hours of sleep - I had had enough. Someone suggested it's probably leftover side-effects from what I had been taking, and to drink a bunch of green tea to cleanse my body out. Did that (even though I'm no huge fan of green tea) over one weekend. It helped marginally, but I still couldn't stay alseep. Whereas normally I can sleep through trains outside my window, I'd wake up if the dog on the other side of the house jumped off the couch. At my wit's end... I decided I wasn't gonna take anymore sleep aids, but do the opposite...... Upon being so dreadfully tired but not able to sleep, at the first day of that week I drank 3 monster energy drinks within a couple of hours... and CRASHED!!!!

Got a nice pleasant 10 hours of solid sleep, took only 1 the next day, and haven't had much of a problem since.

I absolutely hate the idea of those awful energy drinks, they are so bad for your heart, but if there's one thing they are good at is giving you a caffiene crash. I wouldn't suggest it, if the green tea helps any (perhaps whatever they gave you for the surgery had the same affect on you as what I took did). But if you get really desperate, it worked for me. Sorry you're having troubles, I feel your pain!!!

 

[~Palomino~]

Hey Y'all, Thank you so much for the advise! I have been staying away from the sleeping pills the last few nights, and now Im off the pain meds I finally go to bed around 2 AM (which I'll take over 4-5AM) The last few nights I have not taken any meds really other then my depression pills and I do sometimes take a couple meletonins, Its just a vitamin that helps you sleep but I agree, I've got to get out of that habit. Love my mom to death but I think a lot of it is because of her. So its a little hard.

Also like some of you mentioned the Sleep Hygiene I am TERRIBLE at. In fact Im laying on my bed with my computer right now. I finally did move the charger to the other side of the room so I can only have it here for a few minutes before it starts to die and that has helped. I have a TV in here but hardly turn it on anymore. Its hard to be strict on yourself but I guess its time to do something...

Thanks for the advise on the green tea. I will try drinking a couple of bottles tomorrow. And yes those Energy drinks are disgusting! And caffiene does make me crash big time.

Thanks again, I know I need to do something cause like you said Alicia I do not want to harm myself. And once I get my nose back I think I will be a lot more active (I just get exauhsted doing anything that involves motion cause I can't breathe) Im planning on starting to run again and maybe that will help.

Thanks again.

Gage