Feeling like crud....crud....crud....crud....crud...

Ok... I admit it.... am feeling like crud. Embarrasing but here it goes:

I've been suffering from Imsomnia all over for months. I went to the doctor at first, but he said that taking an hour to get sleep is normal in many people and he was wary of giving me sleeping meds for my age. He also told me not to eat anything strong before going to bed (How about Yellow rice, Chicken, and red kidney beans for midnight snack?)

Now it has reached peak. I think I can count with one hand the amount of days in the past weeks that I've had a good sleep. Many times I am taking three and four hours to get sleep (which is horrible when you take into account that I go to bed at almost midnight).

Last night I was still awake at around three o' clock in the morning (Sleepy and heavy eyes, but can't get sleep), and when I fell asleep then at around 5 AM .... my allergies woke me up. And I didn't want to take another Claritin, as I already had taken one just before going to bed, and its a 24 hour pill.

To make matters worse, I am starting to get a cold... so I've got a sore throat, allergies, and sleepiness.

I am right now on perhaps two hours of sleep at the very most.... and the only thing that has me from falling asleep is two cups of coffee.

I think I will have to talk to the doctor again... this is intolerable.

I am feeling like crud, crud, crud.

Victor, Sorry you're having such bad luck getting to sleep, it takes me two or three hours as well(but I drink alot of coke )

Have you tried tiring yourself out physically, e.g., practicing some type of sport? Or, if you're a "no sports" person, how about walking, yoga, or tai chi?

I am black belt in Tae Kwon Do... the two teachers at the school are both ex trainers of the Puerto Rico national Olympic team, so they are bound to leave you tirer than if you had done the marathon. I also am one of the professor's assistants. So I am a "yes sports" person.

Most of the time I go to bed with the same tiredness as if I had been on a construction site... its getting sleep the problem.

I forgot to mention: I have tried the eating lightly... just that before I get asleep I get hungry and the hunger then lets me sleep less.


I am also having a splitting head ache... I have had migraine many times, so I hope it isn't that.

Have you tried melatonin? This has helped me, for years and it doesn't give you a sleeping pill "hangover". Its available OTC, in the diet supplements/vitamin section.

Stay away from those OTC sleep aids - they are all antihistamines and, since you're already taking an allergy med, it might not be a good idea.

Have your doctor prescribe you some sleeping pills.

I've never heard of melatonin. I will check it out on Vitamin World and Walgreens

Thanks katl8e, I had been thinking of the OTC things... but may I ask a question... if its antihistamine... then why on earth isn't the allergy med knocking me out?

Debby, that's what I am planning to do.

I have trouble with insomnia sometimes. My doctor prescribes Ambien for me though. I like it. It only stays in your blood for 4 hours and you don't wake up feeling drugged.

Or....

If you want something OTC then maybe try not taking the second claritin (which you probably shouldn't take anyway since it's a 24 hour pill) and take a Benedryl instead. We used to use that for our post open heart patients in the unit. But ask your doctor first. Claritin is an anihistamine but is one of the newer generation ones that don't make you sleepy.

Many people also swear by melatonin but unfortunately it doesn't work for me. My mom loves it though. It's very inexpensive too so that is another good suggestion that katl8e made!

Well, If tomorrow I am still alive, then I will persuade my parents to take me to the ball of a doctor (he's incredibly fat). Up to my understanding of what I read in the Mexican Scientific magazine "Muy Interesante" (Very Interesting) that its a long time for a tired person to fall asleep in 30 minutes...

If that's insomnia, then I wonder what is 4.5 hours to get sleep.... super insomnia?

Another OTC, "natural" remedy that works for a lot of people is valerian root.

Jcat, I don't mean to sound incredibly stupid... but what on earth is Valerian root? The only place where I've heard of something like that was in Anne Frank's diary (which I read in English) where she mentions that due to stress and depression she's been taking "Valerian Pills".

I've tried taking Claritin for my allergies, and it makes me extremely agitated and hyper. I can only sleep 2 or 3 hours a night if I take that stuff.

You should have a doctor do a full assessment of your medications and your situation. I would not recommend mixing any more OTC remedies without a doctor, or a pharmacist, having a look at potential combinations.

Try limiting your intake of stimulants (caffiene, sugar) by a certain number of hours before bed. I don't allow myself to have caffeine or sugar 4 hours before I intend to go to bed. Stretching half an hour before bedtime also helps relax me. A few months ago, I bought a "memory" foam pillow. It wasn't cheap but it really is comfortable and helps keep pressure off my neck. Lastly, PLAY with your CAT!

I've never had that problem with Claritin, but I only take it when I have bad allergies, which can be very bad for two weeks and then reappear two months. Although I don't find correlation between my taking Claritin and insomnia episodes, I better mention him I am taking Claritin.

BTW, I am not taking regular claritin, I am taking Claritin-D Extended Release. the regular one doesn't work for me.

As for stimulants... I am a chocolate addict... I cannot survive a day without a bar of Hershey's But I have been doing this: No caffeinated sodas, coffee, chocolate or such.

My mom is such a caffeine adict that she cannot sleep without a cup of coffee during the night.

I am sorry you are having so much sleep problems. It is terrible not to be able to sleep. I have a different sleeping problem, I usually fall asleep very fast, but I dont go to bed untill 3-5 AM, therefore not beeing able to get up in the mornings and always beeing tired.

Years ago, I took a course with some people with different problems (mine was anxiety and phobias, mostly agoraphobic). There was this psyciatrist that did that course, and he was very good. One of the people could not get to sleep at night, and after a few weeks, after following the advise of the psyciatrist, he went to bed and slept like a baby!
If you want, I can look in the back of my head and try to remember those advised, at least most of them. I have email and msn at the same address: [email protected]

Good luck!

Thanks for that, Sesselja, I am adding your address to my MSN list. Is the address a hotmail? Yes, please try sending that if possible.

Take a look at www.adrenalfatigue.com and see if you fit the symptoms. He has a book out too. I'll tell more about it another time.

AAAAHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the one for burnout:

*****
Burnout Questionnaire
Your Score for the Test is: 61

The interpretation is as follows:

0-25 You are doing fine.
26-35 Your stress is starting to show.
36-50 You are a candidate for burnout.
51-65 You are burning out.
over 65 You are in a dangerous place.

If you scored above 35 you need to immediately change your lifestyle to incorporate regenerative activities. Stress comes at a price; it accelerates aging because it overtaxes your whole body. It is very important that you do something now to help yourself. Burnout is only one part of Adrenal Fatigue. If you don't already have a copy of Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, get one and use it along with the contents of this website to start examining your lifestyle so you can get out of burnout and back to a life you love (pages 97-222 in the book will be of particular help). They may be the most valuable tools you've ever used.

****

Seems that the joke my mother makes that sometimes I act as if my head was a bon fire has more to it.

I put on the local talkback radio show on quietly, I used to have trouble sleeping but now I just drift off while listening to people debate about the worlds problems, it's actually quite relaxing.

Update on my feeling like crud....


Today I have been feeling horrible due to my allergies and cold... on top of the runny and stuffy nose I have been feeling my head as if it was about to explode... not pain or migraine, but like if it was swollen from the inside.

The only good news are that I've now got a bottle of Melatonin... 120 mg. I will try it as last night I slept less than the other night.