Ooooooooooooo, I so hear you. Have you called your doctors? Sleep issues seem to be a HALLMARK of this nasty illness.

No, haven't yet, but am seriously considering it. got appt. with the neuro coming up soon so will tell him, along with all my other newly accquired symptoms. Man, they love me down there =D

All things I've done: exercise before bed, turn on the TV in my room and listen to a boring channel, read a book, drink chamomile tea, warm bath, aroma therapy, a glass of wine, a massage, sex, and changing the side of the bed I sleep on. That's about all I have.

Yeah ... I've tried all that as well. Those things work for NORMAL bodies. We don't have those ...

Those are all the things I've tried for my "abnormal" body and sometimes the do work.... for me at least.... it was all I had... sorry.

Really?? Sometimes those things still work for you??? I didn't mean to be disrespectful ..

I'll try some of them again, believe me!

There are other sleep aids your doctor can prescribe for you on a short term basis to help you. When you talk too your neuro, he/she should be able to give you something else. I can think of three medications right off the bat, but don't want to misspell everything. Brain fog is really bad today.
Talk to the doc. They have sleep aids that really work, even if on a short term basis.

Yep, it sounds like its time to add some medication to your list. I know many of us do.

Try hypnosis- this has worked for me. you can download free insonia guided hypnosis at www.free-hypnosisdownloads.com
give it a try what do you have to lose? I have tried everything, including prescription medications and have gone to a sleep center. This has been the only thing to give me relief. Not only does it put me to sleep, but I get deep restorative sleep like I haven't had in the past 7 years since cfs started. Good Luck. If you try let me know if it helps you too.

You could try melatonin, or Rescue Remedy.

Dr. Teitelbaum also has a product out called the Revitalizing Sleep Formula, which is a combination of several natural sleep aids. If you've ever read his book, he recommends several natural aids, along with one prescription. Someone I know just got the formula last week and they say it is helping them.

Clanger

This quote is for you - I posted it last night on my status board. "Sleep is like the unicorn, it is rumored to exist, but I doubt I will see any."

I wish I had the answer cause I tell you I have the same issues going on and I wonder if I dont have an over active thyriod with my anxiety, hyperness, heart palputations and so on. It is like i start to feel sleepy around 8 oclock and then I lay on the couch and watch CNN and I just all of a sudden become wide awake......I am like you wanta get to bed and have a productive day.

I read about this med on the Fib dis board called xyrem that people say is working good. Have you heard of 5-HTP it is supposed to help you sleep and increase the seritonin. Magnisuim also helps induce sleep.

I have read that Melatonin is what our bodies use to determine sleep patterns. Melatonin levels decrease as we age. YOU are young so I dont know if a doc would recommend it. It said not to eat or exercise near bedtime cause it interfere with or decrease Melatonin levels and cause insomnia.
Did you know that chocolate has a tiny bit of caffiene in it. I didnt relize this until awhile ago. If you are sensitive to it maybe the hot chocolate is making it worse for you.

I havent found a remedy yet for my insomnia but I tell you I am searching and hoping. My body sorta takes over and does what it wants to.

i use melatonin right now to help with sleep..It puts me to sleep but I don't stay asleep I wake up usually between 4-6 and stay awake for a while ...It's frustrating for me as well ...
Mention this to your doctor maybe he can help good luck

This again, was ages ago... about 8 months.

Went through a few things, as well as the natural stuff i've tried melatonin - 10mg, and am now on amitryptaline, which doesn't really work for sleep but helps with pain.

I've just given up on getting my sleep pattern normal again for a while, 2am is just my normal sleep time now!

The only way i sleep well is if i've taken all pain meds!

Thanks all

Thanks all.

I went through a period of a few months having trouble sleeping. Either it would take me a long time to fall asleep, or I would wake up at 4:00 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleepand then I'd have to go to work feeling like a zombie. I found that L-tryptophan really helped me (Source Naturals is a good brand). Lately I've been sleeping better and now I just do some meditation before bed. I focus on my breathing and after a while I get sleepy.