[lorna]

My sleep patterns are all messed up right now. I do believe it runs in cycles. I am going to bed too late, and I am waking hourly, I have pain issuesand it intensifies at night and I have sleep meds to help me, but probably need them bumped up. What do others do to help their sleep, to help you not wake up so much. I know going to bed earlier should be my first step.

[Perna]

I'm retired so can go to bed/get up whenever I want so that causes some issues for me. Yes, consistency helps! I have trouble too if I drink too much late in the day, I'm more apt to have to get up and pee ;-) Lots of things like when one takes meds, how consistently one is taking the meds, what other helps one tries, what one eats and drinks/when, etc. all make a differnce. Sometimes I get all scientific and start recording things but other times it feels like the focus is part of the problem.

[Miss Laura]

Hey Lorna,

I am also an Insomniac. I was on sleeping tablets but they did nothing for me. Didn't even touch me. I thought they would make me drowsey etc nothing. I was ironically hyper. Anyways my Doctor only gave me 2 weeks worth but said to take for 5 nights 1 a night and then I can dip in and out of them when I need to. However I have had to go back and say they are not working. So I have to double up my remaining load (9 tablets) until they run out. AMAZING sleep having with them. I am still soooo tired though.

I have tried

Hot drink before bed
Alcohol before bed(not good but was last resort)
No food or drink after 6pm
Soothing music
Hot baths
Hot showers
No tv or other stimulants after 6pm
No caffine
Change diet
Writing thoughts that come into head during sleep in a notebook

I dislike tea and coffee so herbal tea is out the question. I am on anti-depressants so that doesn't help either as things are always on my mind(hence writing it all down)

I am unsure what you shoud do- ye defo try the early nights. Cause I was like you and had to be up for 630am it was agreed with my Doctor to go to bed at 1am and sleep till 630am. I wake up and cant get back to sleep, or sleep all day, or sleep a few hours and then I am awake. I need more than a few hours sleep as I am so sleep deprived I am crying when I am not sleeping as its SO frustrating

Sorry just thought I would say I know how your kinda feeling

[lorna]

I agree sleeping is a HUGE issue. I have lack of energy and sleep is definately impactiing this. The way you feel when you haven't slept a full nght is compounding and yes, it makes me feel like crying too!

[pammy72]

I can relate to all. I saw my counselor today she said you are going to have to set a bedtime and stay with it and dont keep breaking it.i've fought this sleep battle for 5 years.all kinds of sleep meds they work, then they stop.It's been horrible.like right now, i went to bed at 9pm in body pain woke up at 11pm tryed to go back to bed up again because i couldn't sleep. so it's 5:17am, i can't go back to sleep my kids go to school soon i have to be up at 6:15am. the counselor wants me to fight my sleep to get back on track for the next week til i see the new Dr.oh me i'm thinking today will be a fight foreal.I've done yoga,mediation, and med's,but now i think it's time forsure to end caffeine.I've had sleep test done said no it's Bipolar.I know i get so upset and frustruated to crying spell's when i can't sleep.But hang in there It;s tough but i hope you get help soon

[lorna]

Pammy thank you so much for sharing your experience with sleep, I know its so difficult, and frustrating and you aren't alone here

[darkpurplesecrets]

((((Lorna))))

I am so sorry that you are not sleeping. I can totally relate and have not slept much in a while now. If I go to bed I always wake up every hour which wears me out more than just staying up all night. Pain does play a role but also just thoughts and words that fill up my mind.

I did sleep during the day yesterday but then that keeps me in all day and I do not get out. Night is the worst and I have always had trouble sleeping. Maybe that is because I had to constantly be looking out for what ever could come in the night. I just do not know.

Meds do not seem to work for me or they will work for the first couple of nights but then something within myself kicks in and I cannot let them work. All I know is I am exhausted and then it makes everything seem even bigger. Not getting rest does not allow pain to calm down either.

I do hope you can figure out what is causing this for you so you can get some sleep. I know that sleep is important but I am beginning to think that it is something I just cannot do. Have you tried to tell your body good night starting from your feet and moving upwards to your head? Sometimes this will work for me and many times I am asleep before I get to my head. But I just cannot stay asleep even in times like that.

Know that you are in my thoughts. There were some good ideas that were said. I hope something will start working for you. Sending gentle hugs and loving thoughts. Always.

dps