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Post by wendyjt on Sept 5, 2006 22:10:47 GMT -5
Hi all, I'm new and have only posted once before. I am concerned about my insomnia, and especially now with MAJOR night sweats! I have had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep for most of my life. (early teens)I am currently functioning on about 4 hrs sleep (total) in the past 3 nights. I am exhausted. I have tried several prescription sleep meds, but when I take them, I am usually a zombie the entire next day! This is not an option for me. I have a job that requires me to be on my toes, and a needy family!! lol! I am scheduled for an abd hysterectomy in 2 months, and will probably at least initially, use HRT. But for now, help! If I do fall asleep, I wake up in 30 minutes drenched! Any and all advise is appreciated! Wendy (who is starting to feel the fire for the 5th or 6th time today!!!)
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Post by ouchy on Sept 5, 2006 22:45:20 GMT -5
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Post by Wendy on Sept 6, 2006 6:19:37 GMT -5
Thanks Ouchy! I am going to look in to this! I'll let you know how it works. Thanks again! Wendy
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Post by ouchy on Sept 6, 2006 8:53:42 GMT -5
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Post by erzulie on Sept 6, 2006 9:40:16 GMT -5
There are also a lot of lifestyle changes you can make that help. It's so much easier just to take soemthing, but even something really effective like melatonin isn't likely to help if your lifestyle is contributing to insomnia. I have a lot of trouble with sleeping too, and I have learned that there are some things most people can do that I can't! These are the things I've read about or been told by a doctor that have helped me sleep better:
1. Stay on the same sleep schedule all the time. Don't sleep in on the weekends. You should always try to be up by 8 am. 2. Never nap for longer than 15 minutes during the day. It's better not to nap at all. 3. If you have a caffeine addiction, break it. If you're not willing to do that, at least don't drink caffeine past lunchtime. 4. Get plenty of exercise during the day, but stop at least three hours before bedtime. Closer to bedtime you should be doing more relaxing activities as much as possible. 5. Don't use your bed for things other than sleeping (sex is ok). Watching TV in bed, eating in bed, doing work while sitting on your bed etc trains your body to think that this is a place for activity, not sleep. 6. Don't watch TV, use the computer, or eat too close to bedtime. 7. Have a bedtime routine. 8. If you can't fall asleep at first, go read in another room until you think you are ready to go to sleep.
Of course, the night sweats complicate that, so you will probably have to get to the bottom of that problem before you can get any real rest!
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Post by Wendy on Sept 6, 2006 19:51:44 GMT -5
Thank you erzulie! I apologize if I am on the wrong thread. I am just figuring out the message boards! Kick me if I do that again! I will definately give this a try. As far as the night sweats, every time I have labs done, my hormone levels are ALWAYS very different. No one yet has an explanation. "Wow, your levels are so high, so low, barely there, normal this time...." Go figure. Anybody else have this going on? Last night, slept 5 hours straight with only one sweat. Felt so much better this am. Thank you all for being here. Even if I don't get an answer, I feel like I am getting it off my chest by typing it! Take care, Wendy
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Post by erzulie on Sept 6, 2006 20:51:20 GMT -5
No, there's nothing wrong with this thread! Ouchy just meant if you want to talk more in depth about the melatonin it would be better to do it in the melatonin thread, but to my knowledge this is the only thread about insomnia in general so it's ok.
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Post by ouchy on Sept 6, 2006 21:05:27 GMT -5
Yep! Great thread! Erzulie is right! I thought of another thing that might help!!! A hypnosis sleep CD! I bought one before from a British guy who specializes in medical hypnosis, and it's a pretty good CD. He has a website you can buy the CD's from, www.hypnosishealthcare.com/insomnia.html , but he also sells some of his CD's on e-Bay (And they can be cheaper on e-Bay, too). His name is Charles Vald.
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Post by wendyjt on Sept 6, 2006 22:09:15 GMT -5
Thank you! Going to E-Bay right now! You guys are Great! Thanks!
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Post by ouchy on Sept 6, 2006 22:28:08 GMT -5
I just checked e-Bay. Someone must have bought his Sleep Relief CD. He has it on his main site, though.
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Post by angelas on Feb 12, 2007 15:34:00 GMT -5
Hi there, This post is in response to Trish's latest on sleep deprivation. I wanted to say thanks for getting on that topic, I've been meaning to do the same for a while now. I have the same issues as you. I know for a fact that my pain is what causes me to toss and turn since no one way is comfy for me. For a while I was taking 2 advil migraine and a sleeping pill to sleep. That does work for me. The problem is that you aren't supposed to take the sleeping pill for more than 2 weeks at a time. Also, if you use them everyday they may stop working... Right now I am home on sick leave so its ok for me to get tired and nap during the day without having it ruin my patterns... however I too am looking for other ways to really relax and be able to get comfortable enough to sleep.
Any suggestions are appreciated
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Post by cherry on Feb 12, 2007 16:46:37 GMT -5
Re: Insomnia help needed « Reply #11 on Today at 21:44 »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have only been through small bouts of restlessness, nowhere near insomnia so i sympathise cos I thought that was hell! to help with my sleeplessness >I meditated a little, just to get any thoughts especially stressful ones, out of my head >watermelon has something in it, as does lettuce which induces sleep >camomile tea, cos it's warm and relaxing, although when I had hot flushes I stuck to a pint of water 90 minutes before my planned bedtime >like with erzulies list, making the bed a haven of sleep makes bedtime something so nice! By only sleeping there, and having a specific routine, comfy PJs and bedclothes, nice soft lighting and a nice bedtime read is good too! Good luck with that, I will be trying this stuff tonight, I'm so tired right now! xx
PS I find that having a really comfy pillow, and when you've got pains, a nice squishy feather pillow to hug or put between your knees can be very comforting. Also, a cool room, not cold or too warm, makes your bed so snuggly! xx
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Post by angelas on Feb 12, 2007 19:57:48 GMT -5
Quick question Cherry, when you go to sleep do you have a certain number of hours that you are usually able to sleep comfortable for?
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trish
Full Member
Posts: 157
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Post by trish on Feb 13, 2007 8:49:53 GMT -5
It just ruins the whole next day when I cannot sleep. I need atleast 8hrs that is what my body requires...wish I could live on less. But I just do not get good sleep anymore and it effects every part of my life.
I spend most of my nights flopping around there is no comfortable position. I have been taking Advil PM and most nights Darvocet also.
I hate taking all these drugs and wonder if that is doing more damage to my body also.
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Post by angelas on Feb 13, 2007 10:08:51 GMT -5
I'm the same as you Trish...I have to have 8 hours or else I can't function at all... mind you 8 hours doesn't include just laying there for 4.
I've also been taking what I feel is a lot of drugs just to get some rest... I find that the hot water bottle, camimile tea, warm milk, all those things don't do a thing for me. I was also dissappointed when I was perscribed naproxen rather than something that would make me drowzy. At this point I would take a good rest at any time of the day... beggers can't be choosers I guess..
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