Insomnia

[sonyat]

Hi Folks,

For those of you who have insomnia (I know many apneans actually have no problem falling asleep!), what's your favorite cure? My problem is that I'm TIRED, but my brain just won't shut all the way off when it should.

I have tried:
Ambion -- never again! I had the weird half-brain off, half-brain asleep experience. I'm lucky I wasn't one of those folks who tried to drive.
Melatonin -- Works for a couple of nights, then stops. My doctor says he doesn't like people to take it, because it's a hormone that can interact with other hormonal systems.
Rozerum -- Same as melatonin (it's in fact a melatonin-receptor stimulator)
Xanax -- works the best, but not every time.

Subliminal tapes and hypnotherapy tapes (hey, I'll try anything!)
White noise, ocean sounds, instrumental music (hit or miss)
Reading (never works, I just want to keep reading!)

It's also been suggested to me that I try cooling down the room. What are your favorite tricks?

[carbonman]

Sound sleep, sound mind
Barry Krakow

Sleep Dynamic Therapy

Day is done
SOLO technique(observe yourself) to quiet your mind
TFI(thought,feeling,imagine) balancing
Break the clock watching/calculating sleep killer

Requires work, practice and self-introspection.
These techniques work.

[OldLincoln]

I've had chronic insomnia as far back into childhood as I can remember. My typical night was (and occasionally still is) laying in bed for 3 or 4 hours before sleep comes. I have tried many prescription meds and the only one that works consistently for me is Sonata. I get it in the 5mg caps and take 1 or 2 depending on how tired I am. Often I try 1 and get up an hour or two later and take the second.

In addition, with the docs blessing, I alternate Kirkland's version of Benadryl 2 pills, Advil PM and Tylonal PM if I think I need it. If I take any of these more than 2 consecutive nights I am groggy the next day.

I love my APAP & even the mask so I always wear them when I go to bed. For some reason that helps lull me to sleep. In the USAF I was a crew chief and flew all the time but not the pilot so I got to sleep. I got very used to the sounds of the engines and perhaps the APAP reminds me of that.

This may not help you but you never know. If it's bad don't give up searching for meds even though several here run from them. All I know is I still have insomnia and after trying it all, 67 years later I'll take the meds.

[sonyat]

Carbonman, thanks for the book recommendation. I'm going to get it from my library today.

Old Lincoln, Sonata is one I haven't tried before. Does it work the same way as Ambien?

[Jaylee]

It sounds like you have tried a lot! I get insomnia occasionally and Melatonin always works for me. I can't take an actual sleeping pill, because it seems to have the opposite affect on me.

[scoutycat]

Things that help me are
-warm feet (usually wear wool socks if i start having trouble sleeping)
- warm milk (sometimes with anise or cinnamon) or hot tea with lots of milk
- no coffee after noon
- excercise
- no tv/puter near bedtime
- meditation or something to focus on, music orwhatever to let my brian let go - sometimes writing down the stuff i'm thinkng lets me drop it til tomorrow too.

[SeaPappy]

Damn, I forgot I had some Melatonin .....Just went through 4 nights of insomnia due to withdrawal from pain meds because of my recent back surgery...pure mind numbing hell. To all who suffer from chronic insomnia "May God bless you and the sandman soon find you."

[djr1215]

Cool room.
I do read - about 30 minutes, but I read something I've read before (and enjoy). That way I can stop without a problem when I'm ready.
Ipod with earplugs - R. Carlos Nakai "Earth Spirit" (turned down low). I prefer the earplugs to speakers because it when it's in my head it allows me to tune everything else out.
(I put the music on before I start my reading, that way it starts my relaxation.

[Rustyolddude]

Tried Ambien for a short while, the rebound insomnia was terrible.

30mg of Remeron 1/2 hour before bed. MP3 player tucked in the pillow with 80 minute tracks of meditation music & Dr. Thompson's Delta Sleep system that I alternate. Comfortable ear buds. The music really helps slow my mind down. All the other sleep hygiene steps you read about, limit caffeine etc.

[Uncle_Bob]

Sound sleep, sound mind
Barry Krakow

Sleep Dynamic Therapy

Day is done
SOLO technique(observe yourself) to quiet your mind
TFI(thought,feeling,imagine) balancing
Break the clock watching/calculating sleep killer

Requires work, practice and self-introspection.
These techniques work.

I've just started this book at the weekend based on carbonmans recommendation, I am impressed so far.

Sound Sleep, Sound Mind: 7 Keys to Sleeping Through the Night

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/047165 ... ss_product

[SleepingUgly]

Things that help me are... meditation or something to focus on, music orwhatever to let my brian let go -

Can you send Brian over to my house? And tell him to bring the socks...

j/k

Try reading sleep journal articles. Booooring...

[Jaylee]

Things that help me are... meditation or something to focus on, music orwhatever to let my brian let go -

Can you send Brian over to my house? And tell him to bring the socks...

j/k

Try reading sleep journal articles. Booooring...

Prince Charming would not be pleased.

[SleepingUgly]

Prince Charming would not be pleased.

Prince Charming would be thrilled if Brian would get up in the middle of the night and grind my pain medicine into applesauce for me. AND he would be forever indebted to Brian if Brian would get up in the middle of the night and make me a Gatorade slushie.

[Jaylee]

Prince Charming would not be pleased.

Prince Charming would be thrilled if Brian would get up in the middle of the night and grind my pain medicine into applesauce for me. AND he would be forever indebted to Brian if Brian would get up in the middle of the night and make me a Gatorade slushie.

Nonsense, Princy lives to serve.

[donnafowler]

I have no problem going to sleep, but I often wake up in pain after three or four hours and cannot go back to sleep. I have rheumatoid arthritis and am trying to get into a remission, but no luck so far.

Something that does help though, at least helps me take my mind off of whatever is hurting and sometimes get back to sleep, is music. Earbuds and my ipod, quiet music turned down really low so I have to concentrate on listening rather than on anything else sometimes helps me through the rough patches. Or a boring, nonfiction audiobook will sometimes lull me to sleep as well...many libraries let you download audiobooks and music to your portable device for free.