Insomnia

EZLiving66 said:

I'm going to try Unisom.

I'm going to try Unisom. Luckily for me, once I fall asleep, I stay asleep (I credit the CBD oil for that) BUT that "falling asleep" might not be until after 3 a.m. or after! Around midnight, I become wide awake. My whole life I have been a night person. The best job I ever had was working 6 p.m. to midnight proofing environmental health reports for an insurance company. I worked that shift so we didn't need a babysitter but it felt so good. I remember how miserable I was when I switched to working the daytime. 

I woke up today at 1:20 p.m. If I lived alone I really wouldn't care but my husband is one of those people is up by 6:30 every morning! He needs very little sleep while I need at least nine hours. If only I could fall asleep by midnight!!  Hopefully, the Unisom will help because I've tried just about everything else.  I'll report back.

Love,

Eldri

Hi Eldri, im the opposite. I can fall asleep but just cant stay asleep.I tried unisom but it didnt help me. I only slept for an hour an half at best.

Thank u for your suggestion though. 

Warmly, Michelle 

MAbound said:

?

Eldri and others who have been dealing with this for so long....have you ever asked your doctor about or considered going to a sleep clinic? With all of the trial and error that seems to be getting employed looking for relief, I wonder if some are creating worse problems for themselves. Perhaps some guidance from a place that specializes in sleep disorders would give guidance to what would be a customized way to deal with insominia for an individual's particular circumstances. Sometimes you can exacerbate problems trying to figure this out by yourself. 

MAbound, good suggestion and article. I told my husband this very thing this weekend that my primary needs to refer me to a sleep specialist to help me with my insomnia. Instead of being prescribed anxiety medications that only last up to 4 hours. I couldn't get in with my primary this past week and I saw a PA and told her the med I was on doesnt help much leaving me with only a few hrs sleep and that I don't want to be taking a controlled substance.  She prescribed me a med that is made for depression but she claims they use it widely to treat insomnia patients. I picked up the prescription but haven't taken it. I'm not sure why there isnt something for insomnia itself  .yes I am anxious from this diagnosis but the help I'm asking my doc for is the sleep problem. I also learned this weekend from my Facebook friends that menopause and insomnia can often be linked together.  Many said since menopause they only sleep a few hours. Not sure why my docs arent considering the fact that due to my hysterectomy in June that I'm going to experience symptoms from being surgically induced menopause.  I already have the hot flashes so perhaps this insomnia is more to do with menopause.  I dont know but 1 thing for sure as soon as I can get in with my doctor in telling her I don't want these controlled substances and refer me to a sleep specialist who have expertise in the field . 

Thank you always for your wisdom and advixe.

Warmly,  Michelle 

MAbound said:

Complicated

Insomnia is such a complicated issue that it makes sense that it might take someone who is a specialist to figure it out for an individual. It's just a bit scary to see how some jump from one thing to another trying to find something that works for their particular circumstances. Because it's complicated, it might be a bit much to expect a primary to have the right answer. Having had a prolonged dance with no sleep during chemo, I sure can appreciate the desparation part of insomnia and just can't stand the idea of anyone dealing with it long term night after night. I threw the suggestion out there in hopes it might turn on a light bulb for anyone who hasn't considered it. I sure didn't think of it earlier.

I agree it might be a bit to complex for a primary doc and them grasping straws and trying different things for the patient is t any good.  Seeing someone whose is expertise in sleep disorders definitely makes more sense.