Having trouble sleeping......

[Docsgirl]

I've had a sleeping disorder since I was a little girl (recurring nightmares starting at age 5) and have even been on sleeping meds before, but weaned myself off of them because I didn't want to get addicted to them and they'd make me feel kind of "off". I'll take one every now and then if it gets really bad and for the past couple of years, it's been pretty good.

Lately though...the sleeping situation is bad. DH loves it when I go to bed at the same time as him. He's a snuggly one when he sleeps. And the first couple months I was down here, I've fallen asleep almost right away, no problems. Even with our neighborhood having some sketchy things going on, I'd been fine.

The thing is....I haven't been having nightmares at all. I just can't seem to sleep! I'll lay there staring at the ceiling and will feel exhausted, but even if I keep my eyes shut, I'm wide awake. I stayed up sooooo late last night. Doing absolutely nothing. Finally drifted off into more of a daydream than an actual sleep and before I knew it, DH was shaking me to get me up. I didn't feel like I slept at all and figured I'd be soooo exhausted that I'd be able to take a nap this afternoon. Exhausted, yes. Tired, yes. Can I sleep.....no. :(

I'd go to the doc down here, but they don't cover this kind of thing with our insurance unless it's like something that is seriously affecting your everyday life. It's not ruining my days by any means, it just doesn't seem right or healthy. Barely sleeping and when I do, it doesn't feel like I've slept. I guess I could go back on the sleeping meds, but I'm not having any recurring nightmares, so it would probably be a moot point.

Anyone else experience anything like this or have any advice?

[HisDelightfulFaerie]

I would say this is affecting your everyday life. When you're not sleeping everyday tasks can be dangerous. I mean think about having to drive.

[gwenshack]

No sleeping probs for me, but I just wanted to wish you some restful zzzzzzzzzz's. :)

[Gertie]

You might talk to a doctor or someone about non-addictive sleep measures. I had a lot of trouble sleeping during the last weeks before my wedding, and the doctor suggested I take two Valerian Root tablets a little before bedtime. It's an herb used for centuries and helps you relax. In my case, it did wonders. At the time he mentioned if it didn't do the trick he had some prescription meds that wouldn't be addictive, though perhaps that was only in the short term. I never really found out more since the Valerian did the trick just fine.

[Docsgirl]

Well, I took a 5mg melatonin last night. It's a non-prescription herbal supplement that they suggest for jet lag, etc to help you get back on a normal sleeping schedule. They're what I used to wean myself from the addictive pills. Seems to have worked for the most part. I feel super drowsy today, but I don't think I slept it all off. I did get about 7 hours of sleep, although it was still an interrupted sleep. But at least I could count the seven hours off the clock from the sleep time rather than an hour!

I might look into that Gertie. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll probably just call or e-mail my doc though, instead of making an appointment, since usually when making appointments with her I have to wait a week or so. I really don't think it's stress that is keeping me up, but I don't know what is.

[mtigercat]

I have that problem too. The not sleeping part. Nothing really going on, just can't make that final leap into sleepland. I tried over the counter sleep meds, but I wouldn't even fall asleep on those either. Besides some of them make you really groggy the next day. I tried all of the advice they say about eliminate caffeine, only go in bed when ready for bed, etc. Nothing helped. I finally talked to my doc and she prescribed a different kind of medicine. Rozerem. It doesn't knock you out right away or anything. It is supposed to help you get back to a regular sleep rhythym or something like that. It takes some time to work like a week or 2 is what she told me. With all the other meds I take for my back pain and depression it was one of the few I could take that wouldn't cause problems. I have been on it for about 1 1/2 months and it really helps. It did work quicker for me because of a muscle relaxer i take that makes me sleepy. But i have noticed that i don't spend the whole night tossing, turning, or listening to him sleep. Some nights I don't even take it if I am tired enough to go to sleep. I feel fine the next day unless I don't get about 8hrs of sleep. The one night i took it later on forgetting i had to get up in about 5hrs and I was still really sleepy when I had to get up. It might be worth asking about. If you have any other questions let me know.