[Azalysa]

I used to be able to take a sleeping pill (Restoril) and fall asleep almost immediately then wake up about 6 hours later feeling absolutely refreshed. After awhile I developed a tolerance to Restoril and was switched to Ambien. Back to good sleep.

My pdoc prescribed 2 25 mg of Seroquel for sleep, but they give me horrible nightmares (and don't put me to sleep for quite awhile after taking them).

Which brings me to tonight. I took the 10 mg Ambien prescribed...that was about an hour ago...didn't get a bit sleepy...so I took the 2 Seroquel. Still not sleepy.

Has anyone else had this experience and if so, what do you do to get some sleep? I mean, if I'm taking meds to begin with...I darn well want them to do what they're supposed to...especially sleeping pills....Grrrrrrrrrrr.

(I'm tempted to drink a little wine which I do like once or twice a year...but with all the stickers on my pill bottles saying DO NOT DRINK WHILE TAKING THIS MED I'm a bit scared to do that!!)

truthfully...if i don't get out of bed and get on the computer or watch television, i lie there and worry myself sick about stuff that i can't do one thing about. lately, however, i've been taking a Xanax if i wake up and i go right back to sleep. i am so sorry you're experiencing this as it is most difficult to have a good day after a night of no sleep. xoxox pat

[Azalysa]

Thanks, Pat! That's basically what I'm doing right now...hanging on the computer waiting to get sleepy.

Ohhh, btw, have you ever taken Lunesta? I tried that one recently and saw "spider webs" draping my lamps (kind of like in old scary movies). My T said that was a hallucination. If it was, it only involved my lamp, but I didn't get any sleep with that one either so I dropped it, not wanting to see a spidery lamp again...lol.

[wi_fighter]

I get up and sit at the computer and then force myself to stay on it even when I'm ready to keel over from exhaustion. Once I do drag myself back to bed, it's back to being wide awake.

This makes absolutely NO sense, but sometimes I sleep better if I have just a little bit of light on in the room. Not enough to notice when I have my eyes shut, but it seems I fall asleep easier than when the room is pitch dark and it's just me and whatever daily thoughts are running through my head. I found a radio that plays nature sounds for $1 at St. Vincent de Paul to provide some white noise too.

I had good luck with Ambien for about a week and then it quit working, and I don't want to go on anything like Restoril or Seroquel because doc said it has a high incidence of weight gain, and I already have too easy of time putting on extra weight.

ambienCR made me nuts! i felt awful the next day. i took about 6 of them and then didn't get a refill. (not at the same time) i have to have absolute darkness. i sleep with a fleece cap pulled down over my eyes or a sleep mask. i use a "white noise thing" or a fan also. my gosh, we're all nuts!

[DaveyJones]

Sometimes, even a couple plain Tylenol or Advil will help me go to sleep...other times I take a Xanax and go to the 'puter. And then sometimes, I'll call someone who cares!

DJ

here's a quarter.

[Azalysa]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
my gosh, we're all nuts!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post"> Naaaaw, Pat, we're all not nuts - we're insomniacs I also have a sound soother that plays a lot of background sounds from white noise to the ocean to a babbling brook. Need to get the batteries for that.


Guess insomnia kind of comes with "the package" - time to ditch the package to the curb! WHO-AH!!

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
i sleep with a fleece cap pulled down over my eyes /quote] That reminds of the old Cosby cartoons (The Cosby Kids?) where one of the characters had a similar-looking hat pulled way down below his chin and only his eyes could be seen....lol.

[wi_fighter]

I'll admit I must be a little off the beam. I like bagpipes and banjos, for crying out loud!!

I stayed up until 1:00 this a.m., then couldn't fall asleep because I was cold even with a heavy comforter and another blanket, and the heater turned up high. What the heck?!

Now I'm and have to put in a full day's work with two kids home because of a snow day.

Tired, working, and two bored kids who keep "Mom, come here quick, you gotta see this.....oh, nevermind, it's gone now." If that isn't setting me up for a meltdown, I don't know what is.

Calgon, take me away.

[Azalysa]

Oh, man, Shirley...my hat's off to you...I don't know how you do it!!! Hoping you get some energy today to carry on!

[wi_fighter]

We'll just have to "carry on" and "make it work" (in the words of my favorite reality show).

They know if they interrupt me too much, I won't have as much mad money for when we go to the water park in three weeks. Bribery, it works every time.

So did you get any sleep last night? I'm doing OK so far. Cup of Morning Thunder tea and a protein bar.

[darkeyes]

When I saw the title of this topic, it was something, for lastnite, I couldn't sleep, last I saw the clock it was 430am, I use to take pills to prevent this, that pdoc prescribed, but over time I didn't like the effects . . . like them kicking in too late if at all, in the morning,grrr!
Making for a zombified day. It can be frustrating this insomnia thing, especially when most of the people in the world function by day and sleep at nite.
I need to try to re-set my circadian rhythem, I'm sure.
When I have found the way, I'll share the secret, ha!ha!
Till then, we can always come here when we can't sleep.
A former psychologist and my pdoc said, that when I resort to the internet at those wee hours, I make the problem worse, cause doing that just stimulates the brain more.
I don't know, if I do or don't go on the net, and can't sleep, sleepless nights still occur. I'm happy they don't all the time. I know I need to do walks,fresh air, and all helps me sleep better . . . maybe today I'll try that regimen again, it's been about 6yrs. since I did do that.
Never too late to try again.
To all of you, I wish y'all a restful night's sleep soon.
Take care now,
Roe

[Azalysa]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
So did you get any sleep last night?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I guess I was up and down so many times that I must have gotten one or two of those "elusive Z's" (Love that commercial)

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
I'm doing OK so far. Cup of Morning Thunder tea and a protein bar

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Ummm, sounds good. I used to stop at 7/11 in the mornings for a protein bar and Pepsi...great combo, eh.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
By DarkEyes: A former psychologist and my pdoc said, that when I resort to the internet at those wee hours, I make the problem worse, cause doing that just stimulates the brain more.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

My pdoc said the same thing. He said not to be on the computer or watch TV before going to bed. I like to take the sleeping pill, prop up in bed and read until I get sleepy enough to sleep. He didn't like that either.

I have a lot of stuff on my mind right now that is worrisome and plays over and over in my mind, so I know that's not helping.

Hey, DE - when you find the secret, please let us know!!

[JustBen]

If I can't fall asleep, I get up and do something else for fifteen minutes and then come back. I think lying there in bed trying to fall asleep messes with my head...after awhile, the bed is just someplace to sit around and think in. If you limit your activity to only sleeping there, then the bed itself becomes an aid in helping you get to sleep.

[Rhapsody]

Try doing a mild form of EMDR - that can help sleep come in 15 minutes or less.... just get ready for bed and lay down (lights out), relax and clinch your fist gentle, then starting with the left fist SQUEEZE it - then SQUEEZE the right fist.... repeat the action over and over again until sleep becomes your friend.

Good Luck....

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

P.S.
This same technic can be used to calm your thoughts or nerves while out and public and you become upset, anxious or panic....

[Azalysa]

Thanks, Rhapsody!

I used to do yoga years ago and that was one of the relaxation techniques. I haven't done them in years so I'll definitely try that!! (Better than more pills )