Topic : Struggling with Sleep Issues?

Just repeating a previous message....a sleep study is the only way to diagnose if you have a sleep disorder...there are over 200 sleep disorders known...get a sleep study if you are having problems with daytime sleepiness and/or problems sleeping.

 

Becky

I have bipolar disorder and am on several medications for that, plus Provigil for Narcolepsy.  When I was on and SSRI (paxil...similar to zoloft), my anxiety got worse. 

 

I have talked with others with OCD, which, for them, causes added anxiety.  Do stay on your meds until you talk with your doctor, but then tell your doctor about your symptoms...talk about whether a change of meds might be best, or whether, perhaps adding another med might help...look online for OCD...the NAMI website has been a good one for me, for the bipolar...they have a lot of info on many mental illnesses.  If you google OCD, you will see a lot of advertising for different meds and "natural" cures...I just ignore those.

 

I am so sorry to hear about your friend.  The loss of a loved one is so devastating.  When my mom died, I grieved greatly for about 2 years...the pain is still there...and that was in 1991.  Depression and anxiety are  a part of grieving, and I'm sure that the OCD doesn't make it any easier.  Anxiety seems to cause sleep problems for me, and then the lack of sleep causes more depression...it is a vicious cycle.  Again, talk with your doctor.  If the sleep problems are chronic, ask for a referral to a sleep specialist.

Try to wean yourself off the Xanex because I know that is definately the problem. Try  talking to your doctor about getting perscribed a non- habit forming sleep aid that doesnt make you feel groggy and sluggish the next day. In my past experiences, Xanex always made me feel half asleep the day after I took it.

I have bipolar disorder an am on a good combination of meds.  I am on a sleeping medication (temazepam).  Sleep disorders go hand-in-hand with bipolar disorder, even when the moods are stable.  Bad sleep can destabilize the moods.

 

I would suggest visiting a sleep specialist for a sleep study.  There are over 200 known sleep disorders, and there are medications and other measures for all of them.  I don't know a whole lot about hormone replacement therapy, but I've read that you can't do that forever...at some point, it has to be stopped.

 

Journaling is a good way to rid yourself of revolving thoughts and worries at night...write them down and deal with them during the day.

 

I don't smoke.  Does smoking or quitting smoking affect they way you sleep?  Does a bedtime hit of nicotine help you sleep?  Just curious...Becky

I would suggest seeing a sleep specialist for a sleep study for any sleep issues anybody may have that is not caused by outside disturbances like kids and snoring husbands.  (If your husband's snoring disturbs you, perhaps he should have a sleep study too.)

 

I take temazepam every night, and I take Provigil during the day, for Narcolepsy.  I too have troulble falling asleep at night, and was so tired during the day, I felt like a slug and had to take multiple naps during the day just to function.  With Provigil, I can stay awake during the day and sleep better at night as a result.  I still need the temazepam...bipolar issues, but without the sleep study, I'd still be feeling bad about my "laziness", which turned out to be a sleep disorder.

 

My husband has restless leg syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea...Requip and a CPAP...he still might have to start taking Provigil during the day...he is less tired and grouchy, but still very tired during the day...he will be going in soon for a daytime sleep study to see if he has Narcolepsy on top of everything else.

 

Our kids have sleep disorders too, diagnosed through sleep studies.  Two have restless leg syndrome, and one has narcolepsy.

 

So...get a referral to a good sleep specialist for a sleep study...you'll be glad you did.

 

I thought Xanex was for anxiety...they use it for sleep too?  Temazepam is helpful for nighttime anxiety and for sleep too...I guess there is a lot of cross-over in the use of those type of meds.

 

Good Luck, and keep us posted...Becky

When I was on SSRIs (tried all of them at different times), my anxiety levels were much higher...I have bipolar disorder, and I finally have a good balance of meds.  I no longer take SSRIs.  I hope that you have discussed your situation with your doctor by now...your original post was awhile ago...please let us know how you are doing.  Try researching OCD on the internet... nami.org is a great site.

 

Becky

     I have had sleep issues for at least two years. The doctor has prescribed all kinds of meds to try to help me fall asleep, because that is my issue. No matter how tired I am, and I feel like I am ready to sleep, as soon as my head hits the pillow, I am wide awake and my mind is racing. I have kept a sleep journal, and had an overnight sleep test done. The doctor said I am a "true insomniac". I have tried taking sleep medications, and the one that can get me to sleep is AMBIEN, however, it has not been good! At first, I would get up, without knowing and eat, prepare foods, make a mess in the kitchen and even get lost in my own bathroom, where my husband found me trying to get out through the wall. I gave the Ambien up at that time, as I was packing the weight on, and not getting the chance to enjoy the food I was partaking in, and I felt such guilt from waking my husband with my adventures. One night, I got up and painted the kitchen and fell off the ladder. I only remembered that I fell off the ladder, when I got up in the morning, and was very sore. Well, no Ambien, no getting to sleep. I have finally swore off of it, and am now going through my first week of withdrawal and getting very little sleep. My body actually hurts from not sleeping, and I am sooooooo tempted to go get a refill of the Ambien so I am not walking around in a fog, but, the experience I was told I had three weeks ago is preventing that! I actually fell again, and this time told my husband I broke both of my ankles in the fall. He took me to the ER, not because he thought my ankles were broken (I was walking on both legs!) but because he knew I had the Ambien in my system and was afraid that if he were to fall back to sleep, I would get in the car and drive myself to the hospital "under the influence". He falls asleep very easily, so I understand why he took me. I fully believe that my insurance is not going to find a reason to pay my $3000+ hospital visit that night, and I feel so terrible that I put my husband through this, and then he had to get up for work!!! He also told me that I was talking to people that were not here, so hallucinating. My opinion is, Ambien IS addictive, and I have a friend who is hooked on it, and my sister told me her friend just tried it and she also had hallucinations. You just don't know what this drug will do to you, or what it has already done to my brain, since it makes you forget. Right now, my sleep doctor has me getting out of bed, early (for me!) at a regular time each day, no matter how much sleep I got the night before. This morning, I am here typing and have not yet gotten to sleep in 23 hours. I went to bed several times, and couldn't sleep, so I gave up and got back out of bed. I don't know what to do, or what could help. I just know that I do not want to put anyone through my behavior on Ambien! I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience???

THANKS!

Susie

I have been having problems with Insomnia for the last 6 months, My doctor put me on Lunesta and Paxil to help me sleep, well come to find that neither one was working for me. I have been on Ambien CR for the last 2 months and that isn't helping. I sleep better during the day then I do at night, I tend to wake up and stay up for hours on end. I have taken myself off the Ambien and am still having problems sleeping. I have talked to my doctor and he has said there is nothing else they can do for me. Its hard to keep going all day long after having maybe an 1 hour of sleep in 2 days and staying alert when it comes to my 6 year old son.

I know how you feel!!!

Misty

Hi every1...My name is Liz.I have "MAJOR" sleep issues.Since I was 12yrs.old I have had sleep issues.The problem is I very sledom sleep.Don't get me wrong,I try real hard,sometimes (well most nights) I lay in bed 5,6,7 hours before I can get to sleep.I'd give anything to be normal.Or am I normal??? Do I just NOT require alot of sleep? I mean I know all the docs say every1 is different,but is 2-3 hours a night  normal,and or healthy?Becuz I don't  feel rested when I get up.And the slightest noise will wake me most of the time.I have been on Ambien,Halcion,etc...Now my  doc tells me it's ok to take benedryl,to help get to sleep.But since I have been taking benedryl so long now....It barely works anymore.

So.....I am at my witts end....Any1 out there with any suggestions,I would greatly appreciate them.........

                          Thx a Bunch...

                                                                    Sleepless In Ohio