can't sleep

Stupid insomnia's acting up again. Last night I didn't get to bed until 6am. Then I woke up at 11am, fell back asleep and got up at noon. Tried to take a nap at 4pm, couldn't sleep. Just tried to go to bed around midnight. Nope, no sleep for me. I hate insomnia.

Sorry you can't sleep I'm in the same boat.

I've been fighting the flu and night time is the worse for coughing and a runny or stuffy nose.

I went to bed around 10:30pm I think and read for a couple hours. I woke up a few times and for the last time around 5am.

I am taking Chynna to the vet at 10:30am for a follow up on her blood pressure, to get a new Norvasc prescription and find out the results of her thyroid test. From doing the research on the internet, I already know her thyroid test results though By the sounds of everything she does have hyperthyroidism. Looking at the symptoms, she shows most of them. Unfortunately I'm not in a position financially to have her undergo expensive treatments such as surgery. Later this year in the fall when I can hopefully get back to work, but not before then. So her health as been weighing heavily on me and interfering with my sleep.

I scrubbed my toilet. I put CLR in it last night because there was rust stains at the bottom...which I hate! Then went at it with an old SOS pad and now it's sparkling clean! And I'm debating about making some chewy granola bars and some lentil soup! But first I'm going to make myself a breakfast shake because I'm both hungry and have a huge craving for chocolate and it's only 6am!

I get insomnia I hate it. I get a prescription for ambien and it helps me alot. I get a good nights sleep and don't wake up groggy. I know it's not good advice but thats what I do.

This topic was brought up on Oprah yesterday. You should start having less lights on and the night progresses and make sure the room is cool. Also have a notepad by the bed in case your mind is actively working (thinking of stuff you have to do) write them down so you can relax more.

I'm one of those people who can fall asleep very quickly and sleep pretty well until of couse a cat hacks something up at 3 am!!

I've had a few bouts insomnia, surprisingly as an occasional PMS symptom - I don't get PMS like other women do so anything that falls into the "typical" range is weird to me.

Insomnia feels different, your body just won't sleep no matter how tired you are or what time it is. Normally I do stay up late and can very easily sleep during the day - I actually have problems staying awake during the day no matter how much sleep I've had. Any sort of downtime and I'm out. I suspect I have an odd circadian rhythm which is very very different from insomnia.

I hope you can get some decent sleep soon

I don't know that I could handle not being able to sleep when I want to It must be very hard.

Originally Posted by luvmycat1

Stupid insomnia's acting up again. Last night I didn't get to bed until 6am. Then I woke up at 11am, fell back asleep and got up at noon. Tried to take a nap at 4pm, couldn't sleep. Just tried to go to bed around midnight. Nope, no sleep for me. I hate insomnia.

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I've got some presciption pain medicine that will put you out like a light, and fast. DW says it makes me snore zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and I've neve done that before but I sure don't have a problem with insomnia. Oh, I'm pretty high right now, a couple more pills and it's goodnight for me.

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

I've got some presciption pain medicine that will put you out like a light, and fast.

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Which one is it? Of the narcotic painkillers I've taken lortab, darvocet (both did nothing for pain), and tramadol. None have ever made me sleepy, in fact the tramadol wakes me up a little and tends to make me chatty. Something as simple as acetaminophen will knock my husband out, so everyone responds differently.

(My parents hated that benadryl and cold meds had the opposite effect on me as a child, I'd get hyper. )

I have been having issues too. Since Easter I have been staying up till 3am (except last night) and sleeping until noonish. I hate getting up so late but I am just not tired enough to toss in bed and wake DH up.

Originally Posted by GailC

This topic was brought up on Oprah yesterday. You should start having less lights on and the night progresses and make sure the room is cool. Also have a notepad by the bed in case your mind is actively working (thinking of stuff you have to do) write them down so you can relax more.

I'm one of those people who can fall asleep very quickly and sleep pretty well until of couse a cat hacks something up at 3 am!!

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The notepad idea makes me laugh. I need glasses to see what I am writing and light. Light wakes DH up. So really all that does is wake me up even more.

Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

I have been having issues too. Since Easter I have been staying up till 3am (except last night) and sleeping until noonish. I hate getting up so late but I am just not tired enough to toss in bed and wake DH up.

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That's more of a circadian rhythm issue then insomnia, as you have no problems actually sleeping once you do get tired and go to bed.


No way would I dare try melatonin. Read the side effects on it. My body handles what it produces naturally, extra would be bad.
"Individuals who experience orthostatic intolerance, a cardiovascular condition that results in reduced blood pressure and blood flow to the brain when a person stands, may experience a worsening of symptoms when taking melatonin supplements"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin

With me it's I'll feel so tired but I just can't sleep. Then when I do manage to fall asleep I wake up constanly. Then I'm usually up for at least a hour before I conk back out.

Ahhh...insomnia. I've had problems with it for many, many years--most of my adult life, actually. Yet, I once slept through an EARTHQUAKE! Go figure.

Last week was brutal for me, sleep-wise. They put DH on a different set of hours at work; he had to be up around 4AM. We usually get up at 6:15 AM. He actually slept and adapted to it just fine. Guess who didn't? I was losing about 2 hours of sleep (at least) every night, all week. I tried hot baths before bed, warm milk, reading dull books.

I usually need 3 bad nights, before I finally get a good night's sleep.

Some tips:

1. Take a warm bath about 30 minutes from going to bed. Your body cools down, making you sleepy.

2. The room temp should be 65F.

3. Don't eat too close to bedtime--I think you're supposed to stop eating about 2-3 hours before bed.

4. Get rid of the ticking/chiming clock. You'll spend all night listening to it, thinking you need to get to get to sleep.

5. Smelling lavender is supposed to help.

6. No exercise later at night. May make you hyper (it does me), and you can't sleep.

7. I've read that insomnia can be a menopause/peri-menopause symptom.

8. Read a dull book, and try to stay awake reading it.

9. Establish a pre-bed routine, such as the bath thing, every night.

10. No alcohol before bed.

11. When I can't sleep, I go into the guest room. Usually works.

12. Try to identify what keep you awake/wakes you up: hot flashes? Partner snoring? Listening for a sound, such as your pets or a baby making a noise? Room too warm/cold? Itchy sheets? Matress? Pillows? Partner who gets up at night (bathroom, etc.), or tosses and turns, keeping you awake? Or is it a mental thing--worrying about something (apart from wprrying about not sleeping!)?

13.. Get up, if you can't sleep, try to read or do something. Supposedly, you'll get sleepy.

Yeah they do say if you can't sleep don't stay in bed because you will start to associate your bed with not being able to sleep. I do get back up most the time and get on TC'S but mostly I lay and bed and read my book. My biggest problem is not being able to shut my mind of. I don't necessarily worry about stuff. I just can't stop thinking.

I usually lay there for an hour or more trying to sleep. Once I'm out, I'm out for HOURS...lol I could sleep over 12hours if others would let me.

I know precisely how you feel. I suffer from insomnia too I hate those nights where you really want to sleep, you're really tired, but you just can't seem to be able to tip over that edge and fall asleep. Then you lie there and get more and more exhausted until you want to scream and cry and laugh all at the same time. I hate it too... but I can really recommend a pair of earplugs and sleeping pills. Even if you only take a half (I take baldrian as a herbal substitute for the sleeping pills) and it's just enough to send you off to sleep... you'll be so glad for a good night. Hope you get some rest soon.