Hi Wendy,

I feel sad when I think about what you are going through. I know God does allow suffering sometimes to help us develop perseverance and hope.

I see that you have a sleep study scheduled. I don't know what your sleep doc is but I do believe it is best to see a certified behavioral sleep doc (clinical psychologist that specializes in insomnia). I'm seeing one right now.....he works in a group with other sleep docs (MDs that have various specialties related to sleep) so they can work together. I too was only getting about 2-3 hours/night but now it's ground 5-6...much better....and I continue to improve.

I also wonder if your husband suffers from obstructive sleep apnea? If he wakes up not feeling refreshed + the snoring you mentioned, he may have that. It that's the case, getting treatment for him may help both of you.

Ok....you didn't ask for advice but I offered some anyway....hope you don't mind. I know that in support groups, typically people don't give advice unless asked.

At any rate, I want to welcome you Wendy. I know how tough insomnia has been for me.

hello wen. welcome to our online group. there are some lovely people on here who understand what you are going through, Im not good at giving advice, im normally looking for it lol. I too have chronic sleep problems , i think its a tough battle to win. I am having a relaxing day because i dont have to go to work . I hope you find the answers you are looking for but i just want you to know you are not alone x

Welcome aboard Wendy. I echo the comments about this being a positive group of people that understand insomnia and want to help.

Sounds like you have a good handle on what's underlying your sleep problems and are trying to constructively deal with them. Pain most certainly is a legitimate medical condition that can disrupt sleep. So can a snoring bed partner. And trauma can contribute to nightmares.

At least you can be assured that even if you have a nightmare that you are in fact dreaming while asleep. Insomniacs often underestimate how much sleep they actually get, a condition known as sleep state misperception. I suspect this may be going on with you as statistically very few of us could go 3 hours an night or less sustained over time. Some can, they're known as short sleepers, and are just fine with 2-3 hours a night. Amazing, but most of us generally need 7 to 9 hours to feel refreshed.

Your sleep lab study should help uncover the details. Will be interested to hear the results if you don't mind posting. I would also imagine they might suggest cognitive behavioral therapy specifically applied to insomnia. CBT is a very effective insomnia solution that has no side effects and requires no drugs of any kind to work.

Good luck, please keep us posted.

Seay,

Thanks for the welcome. My husband was tested for sleep apnea and he does need a surgery to remove loose tissue in his espohagus but he is putting it off.

My sleep study consultation is this Saturday at a sleep diagnostic and specialty center here in town. According to the website, he treats all forms of sleep disorders, from sleep apnea to night terrors. I looked at all of their recommendations for sleep therapies and I am frustrated because all of the cognitive/behavioral techniques they recommend I have tried and tried to no avail. I guess I will have to wait until Saturday and see what he says after the consultation.

I just have to believe that there will be relief coming here soon.

In peace and healing,
Wen

Kelandu,

Thanks for the welcome. I think this is going to be a wonderful support for me as well. I am glad to meet you and look forward to getting to know you as time passes.

In peace and healing,
Wen

Hi STS,

Oh how I wish i was getting more sleep.. unfortunately most nights I don't even bother going to bed until past 3:00 AM anymore, and my alarm goes off at 6:00 for work. On the nights when I am able to fall asleep earlier, I am generally awake within 2 hours and am then too wired to sleep further. I was talking to my mom about it and she said I have been that way since I was a young girl. I have limited memories of my childhood, so I don;t recall too much except that I suffered from persistent nightmares and sleepwalking even back then.

My counselor says I operate on "micro-sleep" throughout the day and that is the way my body continues to function. Since this latest bought of insomnia has been so persistent and so intense, I have to promise to do limited driving and to do what I can to stay safe. Sometimes I just get so tired and frustrated, the depression gets the better of me and I just want it to all go away. Yet, I know we just have to keep hanging in there.

I have done CBT in the past, and have a counselor that has seen me through some pretty tough spots with the abuse and the eating disorder, and now with the insomnia and subsequent depression. Actually, this sleep study comes at his 6 months of persistent weekly prodding! I had to say yes just to get him to stop bugging me..LOL. I have to admit, I don't have much trust for doctors, so I am very nervous. I find that most of them either want to medicate you, have their own agenda without listening to you, or tend to not believe the patient when discussing severity of symptoms. My biggest pet peeve is when nurses and doctors come in the ED or the office and tell me to smile because my situation could always be worse... ARGH! Like we don't know that.. and like that helps ease the physical and emotional pain at the time.

I'll definitely keep you updated on how it goes on Saturday afternoon. I also started acupuncture again this past Saturday and have an appointment with him Saturday morning. I am so grateful that my insurance company gave me a precert, no questions asked to cover my acupuncture in network..with no visit limitation, so hopefully we can schedule several sessions. he actually advocates it for insomnia and for chronic pain.. so here is hoping!

I hope this finds you well and getting some restful sleep..

In peace and healing,
Wen

IvyPhoenix, good luck with the sleep study, it literally saved my life. I was in a similar situation to you only sleeping 1-2 hours per night. My Dr kept upping my meds but I just felt worse because I didn't sleep and the drugs didn't have time to work so I was walking around in a daze all day and came out of it when it was time to talk the next dose. I kept telling the specialists I could breathe durng the night. In the end I demanded that I see a sleep specialist and as soon as I walked in the door he told me I had sleep apnea. He rushed me in to have a sleep study and found I stopped breathing 30 times an hour. I had similar symptoms, aches and pains in all my bones especially my left jaw, sore stomach basically sleep deprivation which the Dr's diagnosed as depression. Anyway a year later I get about 6-7 hours quality sleep rather than 2 mins of non quality sleep and I feel so much better. This doesn't mean you have sleep apnea but you certainly have a sleep disorder which hopefully they can diagnosed by the sleep study. Not sure if you've seen one before, don't panic, take all your meds with you and pillow etc and enjoy. Good luck and let us know when you get your results.

Tez,

I have never had a sleep study before but my husband has. My doctor referred me over and I trust him explicitly. I've been his patient for over 22 years and knows I can be a little "stubborn and "temperamental" when it comes to doctors. He said he picked this particular one before he was good, soft spoken and "tolerant".. I got a laugh at that remark. What was he trying to say about me? LOL

I'll definitely come back on and let people know how it went. Thank you for the encouragement and support

-Wen

Good luck with it and try to relax, they say you need to get about 5 hours of sleep to get some results. It is difficult with about 20 electroids stuck to your body and head and you can't move too much. The result normally take about 2 weeks to go to your sleep Dr. It was the best relief I have ever had after not sleeping properly for 49 years. Not sleeping properly can cause huge problems, I was diagnosed with depression prior to being diagnosed with sleep apnea but the lack of oxygen I was not getting to my brain and body in general was causing huge problems and can cause, heart attacks, stroke, etc. Once again good luck.

hi-my name is Bonnie
and i too struggle with insomnia-due to severe CP. i recently ha the sleep study done and the Dr. told me, "its just like you said-you fall asleep quickly, but you dont stay asleep" but he did say the good news was i dont have sleep apnea. hurray. i sleep in anywhere from 10-15 30 minute intervals-sometimes a wholw hour and a half. i am violently jerked awake with terrible pain, so they are trying me on halcion .25 at bedtime, and to take another upon 1st wakening-so far there is no change-i still awake shortly later due to pain. i am so tired but cant stay asleep for long to get rested. they also rx d a medicine called nuvigil i am to take during the day for the fatigue in hopes i will sleep better at nite-no luck so far-i really need to sleep-i am a fairly new pt to this neuro/sleep disorder specialist and they say they think they can help me-i pray so.