Re: PROBLEMS SLEEPING

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I was just wondering if this happens to anyone else? I do a bit of part-time

work one week on, one week off. It is only an hour in the morning and half an

hour in the afternoon. The week that I go to work I can NOT sleep at night.

Have to take sleeping tablets, otherwise, I will just lie awake all night and I

am sooooooo tired. Yet the week I am off I can go to sleep reasonably easier.

Help!!!

Nerida

wrote: I took Ambien

for 2 years (back when they still claimed it wasn't

addictive, (if you rely on anything for 2 years to make you sleep you

are addicted, period) But like any other sleep med, your body will

require more and more to get the same effect. I find that a good

combo for me anyway is Klonapin and a muscle relaxer like

Cyclobenzaprine 10mg.

[Guest guest]

Hi, Nerida,

I have found that whenever I am over-tired or over-stimulated, I cannot sleep. I

don't know if there's the same connection with you. But my mind just " races " if

I'm too tired.

I have been for a Sleep Study and have tried about five meds lately--supposed to

help me get restorative sleep. None of them have helped.

I also take Klonopin and have for many years--a very small dose at bedtime. I

haven't tried a muscle relaxant.

Theresa in TN

[Guest guest]

Theresa,

You really should try a muscle relaxant. I use Flexeril, and when I

don't have it, I can't sleep unless I've been up so long that I

generally just pass out or take an sleeping pill. It really helps a lot!

Hyacinth

>

> Hi, Nerida,

>

> I have found that whenever I am over-tired or over-stimulated, I

cannot sleep. I don't know if there's the same connection with you.

But my mind just " races " if I'm too tired.

>

> I have been for a Sleep Study and have tried about five meds

lately--supposed to help me get restorative sleep. None of them have

helped.

>

> I also take Klonopin and have for many years--a very small dose at

bedtime. I haven't tried a muscle relaxant.

>

> Theresa in TN

>

[Guest guest]

I took Flexeril for years which I loved but my rheumy just took me off and put

me on Deseryl which is an anti-depressant/sedative for sleep which seems to be

working thusfar.

Hyacinth wrote:

Theresa,

You really should try a muscle relaxant. I use Flexeril, and when I

don't have it, I can't sleep unless I've been up so long that I

generally just pass out or take an sleeping pill. It really helps a lot!

Hyacinth

>

> Hi, Nerida,

>

> I have found that whenever I am over-tired or over-stimulated, I

cannot sleep. I don't know if there's the same connection with you.

But my mind just " races " if I'm too tired.

[Guest guest]

I have found the same................my insomnia is increasing dramatically

since I was first diagnosed 8 years ago. I now take amitriptyline (50mg) to

help with the pain and sleep a little better. I just hate the thought of going

on anything stronger.

pm66443 wrote: Hi, Nerida,

I have found that whenever I am over-tired or over-stimulated, I cannot sleep.

I don't know if there's the same connection with you. But my mind just " races "

if I'm too tired.

I have been for a Sleep Study and have tried about five meds lately--supposed

to help me get restorative sleep. None of them have helped.

I also take Klonopin and have for many years--a very small dose at bedtime. I

haven't tried a muscle relaxant.

Theresa in TN

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have found the only tablet that helps is Tamaze and it only lasts for 4

hours so it just helps me go to sleep but does not leave me feeling like a

washed out rag in the morning. Trouble is like all sleeping tablets, if you

take them regularly they lose their effectiveness so the week I do not work I

try not to take them. It is crazy hey, you would think the more exhausted you

were you would just fall into bed and sleep. sigh. This CFS is certainly a

frustrating illness in so many ways.

Regards Nerida

Jane Luft wrote:

I have found the same................my insomnia is increasing

dramatically since I was first diagnosed 8 years ago. I now take amitriptyline

(50mg) to help with the pain and sleep a little better. I just hate the thought

of going on anything stronger.

[Guest guest]

Hyacinth,

When I was first, finally, diagnosed back in '94, the rheumatologist prescribed

Flexeril...it laid me out flat for several days. I've always been afraid to try

it again but maybe I should...Thanks!

Theresa

P.S. Do you have to have your liver tested every month? I seem to recall that

the dr. said that I'd need the liver tests monthly if I took Flexeril, but I may

have got that wrong...it was a long time ago..

[Guest guest]

Well, I'm seeing the sleep specialist this week so we'll see what he says. Maybe

I should go back to a rheumatologist...

Glad the Deseryl is working for you. I'm getting desperate.

Theresa in TN

Re: PROBLEMS SLEEPING

I took Flexeril for years which I loved but my rheumy just took me off and put

me on Deseryl which is an anti-depressant/sedative for sleep which seems to be

working thusfar.

[Guest guest]

I take Desyrel for sleep, too. The kind I take is called Trazodone,

but its alias is Desyrel. It works for me. I sleep more soundly,

though I still wake up a few times in the night, and I don't sleep more

than 5 or 6 hours total. But it somehow helps with my daytime fatigue,

and I get more sound sleep (used to wake up at every little noise).

Hope this helps.

K2

>

> Glad the Deseryl is working for you. I'm getting desperate.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Don't know if this would help anybody else, but I find antihistemines

do a pretty good job of knocking me out. I haven't had any major

allergy attacks for awhile, but when I do, the Allerest makes me quite

sleepy. I took a friend's prescription antihistmine once for a bad

attack, and I was out like a light! It's a trade-off in the case of

severe hay fever... feeling like you want to rip your face off, or

passing out.

Like I said, just a thought. And the antihistemines would probably be

easier on your system overall than some of this other stuff.

Marcia on

[Guest guest]

Hi Marcia,

The doctor tried me on antihistamines (plus I have had some massive allergic

reactions to fish and other things) but in the morning I feel like I was run

over by a Mac Truck several times and it takes ages for me to feel okay I find

the Tamaze does not do that. Glad it works for you though.

Nerida

Marcia wrote:

Don't know if this would help anybody else, but I find antihistemines

do a pretty good job of knocking me out. I haven't had any major

allergy attacks for awhile, but when I do, the Allerest makes me quite

sleepy. I took a friend's prescription antihistmine once for a bad

attack, and I was out like a light! It's a trade-off in the case of

severe hay fever... feeling like you want to rip your face off, or

passing out.

Like I said, just a thought. And the antihistemines would probably be

easier on your system overall than some of this other stuff.

Marcia

[Guest guest]

I take the Trazadone too. It is still taking me a long time to fall

asleep even when I'm exhausted, but I'm getting more restful sleep (my

fiancee says I've been snoring, lol), I sleep longer (8-10 hours, and

I have more energy during the day.

Until last night I was either sleeping thru the night or getting up

once to use the bathroom which was great, but last night I was up 5

times...I'm hoping it was just an off day...we'll see what happens

>

>

> I take Desyrel for sleep, too. The kind I take is called Trazodone,

> but its alias is Desyrel. It works for me. I sleep more soundly,

> though I still wake up a few times in the night, and I don't sleep more

> than 5 or 6 hours total. But it somehow helps with my daytime fatigue,

> and I get more sound sleep (used to wake up at every little noise).

> Hope this helps.

>

> K2

>

> >

> > Glad the Deseryl is working for you. I'm getting desperate.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I love Flexeril!!! It does knock you one your keester until you get

used to it so I would start with 1/2 (5 mg) and work your way up,

that's what I did...I was on it for 6 years and never had to have my

liver tested...

Hope this helps

Steph

>

> Hyacinth,

>

> When I was first, finally, diagnosed back in '94, the rheumatologist

prescribed Flexeril...it laid me out flat for several days. I've

always been afraid to try it again but maybe I should...Thanks!

>

> Theresa

> P.S. Do you have to have your liver tested every month? I seem to

recall that the dr. said that I'd need the liver tests monthly if I

took Flexeril, but I may have got that wrong...it was a long time ago..

>

[Guest guest]

I have off days with Traz too.

Historically, I never have problems falling asleep... just multiple

awakenings, or waking too early and being " wide awake " like I could

clean the whole house! In the middle of the night! So frustrating.

Then, by the time it really IS time to clean the house, I'm so

exhausted I need to sleep.

But, that's gotten much better since I strated on the Trazodone. I

have an occasional bad night, but all in all it has helped. It gives

me daytime energy too.

K2

> I take the Trazadone too. It is still taking me a long time to fall

> asleep even when I'm exhausted, but I'm getting more restful sleep (my

> fiancee says I've been snoring, lol), I sleep longer (8-10 hours, and

> I have more energy during the day.

[Guest guest]

i used to NEVER sleep! REALLY! i'd go weeks at a time

.. i used to take lots and lots of pills but now i'm

down to just ativan and an alergy pill. my doctor put

me on vitamin D and it has helped lots. i rarely use

ambien now but do wake a few times in the night....

tikva

--- K2 wrote:

>

> I have off days with Traz too.

>

> Historically, I never have problems falling

> asleep... just multiple

> awakenings, or waking too early and being " wide

> awake " like I could

> clean the whole house! In the middle of the night!

> So frustrating.

> Then, by the time it really IS time to clean the

> house, I'm so

> exhausted I need to sleep.

>

[Guest guest]

My (horrible) rheumy put me on mega-doses of Vit D, and 1200 mg of

calcium a day. I did the Vit D megadose for 12 weeks. She said it

would take my pain away (she also said I don't have FM or CFS, even

though I have every symptom of both syndromes). She said my pain was

due to calcium deficiency.

Well, folks, I was sicker than EVER on the Vit D and calcium. I was

having dizzy spells all the time, I was in constant joint and muscle

pain everywhere, my IBS was flared up horribly no matter if I took

the calcium with food, with extra food, etc. (I would take the Vit D

once a week, with no other pills. I would take the calcium twice a

day on the days I DIDN'T have Vit D.)

After the 12 weeks of mega-doses of Vit D. I stopped BOTH. I feel

better than I have in 3 years. BTW, I stopped going to that rheumy

and am still debating whether to report her abhorrent behavior to

authorities.

Funny story about sleep: my bf told me that last night in the middle

of the night he woke up because I was snoring. He said it's the

first time in 22 years he's ever heard me snore! I asked if I

stopped breathing or anything, choking, etc. No. (Good!) He said

it was like I was playing a symphony lololol!!! I guess the

Trazodone is working, finally. It means I am finally sleeping

soundly for the first time in decades. Probably in my LIFE, actually.

K2

> i used to NEVER sleep! REALLY! i'd go weeks at a time

> . i used to take lots and lots of pills but now i'm

> down to just ativan and an alergy pill. my doctor put

> me on vitamin D and it has helped lots. i rarely use

> ambien now but do wake a few times in the night....

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I'll ask my dr. about it.

Theresa

Re: PROBLEMS SLEEPING

I take Desyrel for sleep, too. The kind I take is called Trazodone,

but its alias is Desyrel. It works for me. I sleep more soundly,

though I still wake up a few times in the night, and I don't sleep more

than 5 or 6 hours total. But it somehow helps with my daytime fatigue,

and I get more sound sleep (used to wake up at every little noise).

Hope this helps.

[Guest guest]

I've heard/read anithistemines do help some people..it's worth a try and they're

a heckuva lot cheaper than some meds.

Thanks!

Theresa

Re: PROBLEMS SLEEPING

Don't know if this would help anybody else, but I find antihistemines

do a pretty good job of knocking me out. I haven't had any major

allergy attacks for awhile, but when I do, the Allerest makes me quite

sleepy. I took a friend's prescription antihistmine once for a bad

attack, and I was out like a light! It's a trade-off in the case of

severe hay fever... feeling like you want to rip your face off, or

passing out.