Really need ideas for sleep, getting a bit desperate

for the past month it's been 2, 3, 4 hours sleep a night. Last night none at all. I'm declining in thought process obviously due to not sleeping.

I really really pretty stubbornly do not want to rely on sleep meds for a few reasons. for one they throw my mood even further. I have had rapid cycling from zopiclone and mixed moods flare up when using ativan. They really don't seem to work with me too well. Two, I become dependent on them very quickly, and then I really cannot sleep with out them. I spent a lot of time getting myself off them and back to being able to sleep with out them.

Yoga isn't helping, meditation isn't helping, melatonin makes me wired. I'm at a bit of a loss, and if I wasn't so tired I would probably be able to figure out more things to try. My brain is just kind of ......... at this point.

Any ideas I will really appreciate, I am getting old and I cannot function like this. If all else fails I will probably try sleeping pills, but I'd like to try other things first.

I have a dr's app in 2 hours, do I have to get dressed, have to take a bus there, can't figure out when I need to leave my house. Never mind remember why exactly I made this app at all. I remember I have sun damage on my shoulders that looks like solar keratoses. Fair to live in one of the coldest countries and worry about sun damage. But there were more things I can't think of at all. Better just work on getting dressed.

I stayed up all night researching antlers, this can't be great.

Aww (((Anika))) yes you need to sleep.

Maybe ask the doctor for just a couple sleep pills, to get you some relief. And it might help set the routine back?

I didn't sleep last night either searched "cult church of scientology" for hours lmao. should've searched antlers instead for sure, ha... And I am out the door to pdoc right now. Still not sure what I want to tell her but w/e it'll be ok.

Good luck at doc hope all goes ok. big hugs.

taking hot bath before bed. use the baby lavender wash, NO tv or electronics other than a fan blowing. The sound of a fan may put you to sleep.

Valerian. Lemon balm. Mind. Lime tree leaves. Chamolie of course.

Do I make a tea with the valerian? Actually do I make a tea with all of the above suggestions? I'll stop at the health food market on my way home and grab some valarian. I rememeber making tea out of it years back, but I am drawing a blank if it was liquid in a bottle or root that I used. How do you use this for yourself?

Thanks Venus.

I'll trythe lavander, worked on my babies, thanks moremi! I am very guilty with the tv. But last night I had it all off and my mind gets busier.

yeah, you just make tea. not the tastiest thing but it works for me.

be careful if you have cats though to keep it out of their reach as they love the smell and go bit crazy after it

Haha i google them all the time. faciating and weird.

Good luck at the pdocs, I should ask him for a few in case all else fails and save myself an extra trip. Thank you Blue!

I managed to get dressed and get the mascarra on both eyes. Its looking up!

It was a pap test that i need to ask for and forgot. Maybe i can foget again before i get there.

Well I'm back lol - I had the wrong time! I was there early and everything, then another lady walks in at 10:35... I recheck my calendar book, and my appointment isn't until 11:30. She, the pdoc, just lives down the street luckily, it's out of her house (the back secret side of her house). The other lady was so sweet and apologized to me lol, now I'm fascinated like what's her condition she goes there for, she looks fit and kind and happy, wonder if she's on meds, which ones lol. Oh my, oh well ... doh! Fricken frustrating but I'm gonna roll with it.

Good job on mascara on *both* eyes! hahaha! I misplaced mine or my daughter borrowed it, could use it right now to help look less sleep deprived. When I was a child, my mom once put blue eyeliner on her eyebrows thinking it was her eyebrow pencil, omg still makes me lmao thinking about that day at the store with her

And glad to know you search them too, they are odd and somewhat fascinating (sorry and no offense to anyone here who might be a member :/). I was once in LA for visiting someone, and drove by their mansion, they were having an event and it looked like an amusement park haunted house. Just over the top fancy, with colored lights, huge gates, big burly security guys with microphones lining the street, and the limousines of course.

So what did you learn about antlers? Make an antler chandelier would be fun.

Anyway, yea... pap test ughh... I'm supposed to do that too but been avoiding it. Sorry for the rambling, hope you understand right?

Aaaand it is my birthday, I'm 39 today! Trying to roll with this one too, and stay positive!

Good luck with the pap, hopefully you can just get it over with and come back to report it's no big deal

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It's your birthday!!?! A very very happy birthday to you!! <3 I'm on the phone on the bus or this would become a mess of fire works and emoticons!! I hope your day gets better, any plans?

Hmm a back door side street secert door psychiatrist you say! Now that is interesting. She isnt involved with the science church is she?? Kidding, and that sounds more relaxing than a steril office.

I have put off my pap for a few years. My mom and sister both have had cervical cancer. So i know better. But see. I have dr. Handsom, and hes a man too. Neither do i feel like i want him doing a pap. I want to ask for a female and then feel guilty and afraid to ask. Kinda silly really.

Good luck at your next app!!

Oh Blue, I need the antlers for a headdress. Ill let you know what i need to that for when i remember found lots out, antlers are pretty neat..

And the bus smells funny

Anika

I have done the same thing. I have put it off for 5 years because I have a hot doc that I dont want down there. I just need to ask for a female but I dont want to hurt his feelings or feel silly.....

Try literally counting sheep. Like pituring them jumping over you. It does work sometimes. I know it sounds nuts, but i have tried it all.

Thanks loves loves loves!!! no plans except went to my pdoc (went really well - no meds changed or upped, see her in 2 months), my son has his first volleyball game this afternoon (he's 5th grade and made it on the 6th-8th team), then take my daughter to her therapist at 6pm, then my mom said she is giving me a fruit pie or tart, yummy. It's just another day really.. you know how it is we get older and it's the kids' bdays that are really most important. oh and bf brought me flowers this morning, that was sweet, sunflowers and daisies and he drove my son to school i was tired and spaced out.

Yea, my pdocs office is relaxing, and convenient. I love how it's in her back cabin, she runs a little wood burning stove in the winter, cozy lol.

Dr. Handsom is a man too, i never would have guessed, lol. Just ask for a woman if you're more comfortable, he probably hears that really often. For me, I had a mean lady Dr Gyno, and she wasn't even handsome, when I was young and in a crisis... and I havent gone back. So I personally would possibly prefer a male gyno. But I know it's good to get it checked because it can be treated right. Sorry your mom and sister had that, I hope they got it treated ok.

Another idea for relaxation and sleep, after or during your tea, try massaging or accupressure on the lung meridians. This I learned from a masseuse but have not done in awhile.

Hi Anika,

I would definitely try the lemon balm, can't hurt. Also there is an app called Deep Relax DM. Some days it helps and other days I find the guy's accent to be a bit annoying. Its free though and since you can't sleep anyway it can't hurt. I know you said that meditation wasn't really helping but worth a try. Sometimes I have a hard time meditating on my own so the guided thing kind of works for me.

A few other tips that may or may not work; I have only been sleeping because of starting the seroquel this week so obviously not the authority but maybe try: eating some complex carbs before bed-sometimes it will boost your tryptophan levels, the lavender is always a good idea- I have a lavender lotion that i actually put under my nose , I know you said the melatonin makes you weird but I wonder if perhaps it may be that it is synthetic? Don't know...But- I recently bought montmorency tart cherry juice (the one I got was concentrated), I take two tablespoons before bed. It has a buttload of melatonin in it. It tastes good, too. Just a thought.

I hope you get to feeling better. Sending positive vibes your way.

Happy Birthday, Blue...Hope the rest of the day continues to be kind to you. mmmmm.....fruit tart.......

I use a noise machine - bought in the baby section at Walmart. There are different sounds but I pick "Rainfall".

I did read about not electronics before bed, including the computer. I do think that surfing the net before bed does excite the neurons and make it harder to relax.

Happy to say my OBGYN is absolutely gorgeous and also has a beautiful accent. Ordinarily I would have asked for a female, but I know that he is gay and somehow that makes all the difference for me!

Thank you all,

Setso, I beat you too your deletion, thank you for your advice.

Treehugger, thank you too, I could try the complex carbs, I can't have gluten but I have some cream of rice cereal that is pretty good, I think that is a complex carb. I've tried melatonin a few times and wind up even more alert, I am not sure, but it was capsules, I'd have to check, that's a thought.

Moremi, i am so silly, I asked about seeing a women for the pap, he told me about a free clinic with a female dr, or to call the walkin and go when a female was on. He said that lots of his patients prefer a female and it's not a big deal. He also said that if I enjoyed paps then he would be worried and send me to the mental hospital. haha. So I think you should just go for it!!

Blue, the flowers sound really lovely, I love sunflowers! Yes when you get older it's different, but still a good different. I hope you enjoy the rest of your special day. You must be very proud of your son , what an accomplishment! That's awesome.

So bad news it that is developing solar keratoses. Good news no cancer, bad news could develop cancer, no more sun for me.

I got sleeping pills and valerian, stuff ain't cheap either. Hopefully it works cause I forgot to specify and he gave me zopiclone, I didn't look till I was filling it. I hate that stuff.

Other good news, I have not seen him in a long time, he was very supportive about my no meds thing, and what I have been doing, and he was really encouraging. That was really nice to hear from a medical professional. A new experience for me.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm going to have a busy night trying them out and then hopefully sleep. Blue hope you sleep too. Have a good days you guys!

Thanks Poppy, I tried an app on my phone, for nature sounds, but then the sounds just kept looping over and drove me crazy. But maybe if I look for something of better quality. Or maybe a cd even. They still make CD's right? hehe

Hey DR. has an accent too. Mine is not gay, I can see how that would make a big difference tho.

Try the app called white noise. It has a soft rain and all different types of noises. I have actually used it before its pretty good. I know they have it on the droid market. Do you have droid?

Yup I have a droid, I'll go look for the app now so I don't forget. Thanks!!

your welcome its a pretty good one. I used the rainfall.

I also use a sound machine on heart beat. I think it really helps. But I also use 30mg temazepam and 2 melatonins