Hmm, I find I am connected to natural occurances like the meteor shower recently. Have you noticed a pattern> I also just have "episodes' as I call them. I am sure you have tried the many things to help ---may your dreams come soon.

I was just going to start a discussion on "sleep" when I saw this discussion. I had never made a connection with nature, like the meteor showers, but that' interesting. I was sleeping better for a few months, but within the past week it's been awful again. I fall asleep, wake up, fall asleep, wake up, etc...seems like 100 times per night. It's maddening. I've tried about everything with no success. Have any of you found an answer to help you sleep?

I've had to use eye mask and ear plugs and sometimes depending a book on tape or music.

Have you ever tried Melatonin supplementation? I take 3mg at night and it helps me sleep. I like it because it is something naturally found in your body and an alternative to sleeping pills which can be addictive. It is different than sleeping pills because I don't feel an uncontrollable urge to sleep, it just helps me drift off once I am relaxed in my bed with my eyes closed for awhile.

Having CFS and not being able to sleep is one of the worst ironies!! I used to have the same problem prior to Melatonin. It is interesting you bring up the idea about nature. Last night for no apparent reason I woke up on my own after only sleeping 6 hours. Now that I think about it, throughout the week I woke up on my own after sleeping less than 12 hours per night which is very unusual for me.

Still, Melatonin has helped me so much despite waking up early this past week. 8 hours of sleep is hardly anything to complain about :). It has allowed me to be able to count on getting sleep every night which is wonderful!

Yes I've had insomnia AGAIN since October, mine is always related with this illness to stressors. It takes one big emotional stressor and my sleep goes out the windown and even doubling my sleep medication doesn't give me 8 hours sleep. I'll still keep waking up all through the night and with bad dreams. Makes for a terrible next day. The only way I can get my sleep under control is by using sleep medication and keep my stressors as much as is possible (which it isn't) under control. I noticed when I'm worse I start to fall asleep later too, and then will have 2-3 naps the next day. I had a sleep study done and like most peopple with M.E/CFS have little or no stage 4 sleep, which is a very important stage of sleep and is why we feel like rat poo the next day.
I'm always astounded at people on here who can sleep without sleep medication. I could before I fell ill, but not now, I'd be awake until 7am otherwise. During the day if I nap I have to wear ear plugs.

I have to take (over the counter sleep aids) to get at least 6-8 hrs of sleep a night. Six yrs ago I was sleeping 1 hr a night! Every night I'd be so tired and the same thing for months & months. Was having panic attacks during the day. It was bad then.

I have to take (over the counter sleep aids) to get at least 6-8 hrs of sleep a night. Six yrs ago I was sleeping 1 hr a night! Every night I'd be so tired and the same thing for months & months. Was having panic attacks during the day. It was bad then.

I have to take (over the counter sleep aids) to get at least 6-8 hrs of sleep a night. Six yrs ago I was sleeping 1 hr a night! Every night I'd be so tired and the same thing for months & months. Was having panic attacks during the day. It was bad then.

Sometimes Benedryl will work in a pinch. I find that the full moon affects my sleep or lack of.

Hello Again, just woke up, it's 2:30 EST. I have a variety of sleep cycles and a variety of methods to help w/sleep also. When things are going well I sleep at night using Melatonin. When it goes a bit off course I take a prescription sleep med. I got a bug right after the holidays and had hypersomnia. Sleeping for crazy long periods of time. After a few days of that, I now found myself awake into the night.

It takes time to get off the insomnia train and back to a more regular pattern......so recently I have been waking up anywhere from early afternoon to late evening......awake at night anywhere from 2:30 am to 4:30 am to dawn......it is a problem for sure.

Still have the bug despite my wishes that it would let go and leave me be. It is better, no longer have head to toe freezies, now it is hands and feet w/ intervals of body aches & chills. Body temp is climbing some, that's a good sign......I'll get there. We heal much more slowly and have to just ride the slow train to better until it finally comes into the station. About the meteor showers, it makes sense to me, I don't know much about it, but knowing how much barometric pressure affects me/us.....it just makes sense that any major changes in the universe would/could have an impact on us.......think that our knowledgeable friend Al would know more.......thanks everyone!

P.S. hypersensitive to Benadryl

it makes me giddy, champagne punch drunk and I break out in hives...one small dose launches this giddy hives effect

family found it entertaining in a concerned caring oh dear sort of way, Mom cannot take Benadryl.

The recent full moon wanted my attention, so I gave in accepted there would be no sleep.

Benadryl makes me hyper and can't sleep. Taking Unisom 25