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I was doing good. Psyc. Dr. has my meds to the point the nightmares are suppressed and I started to take 5 mg of melatonin before bed. Was getting to sleep by 10:30 PM and sleeping until 6 or 7 unless I got a migraine at night.
Well neurologist is trying to prevent migraines with zonegran, an anti-seizure med. Started it Wednesday night and have not had a good night's sleep since. They have me taking it at bedtime- supposed to be sedating. HA- I fell to sleep at 11:30 and was up by 2 AM tonight. Was getting headache and took florciet and 1 mg of ativan. Still not sleepy. I am going to switch the zonegran to morning. Bad thing is I am not on a full dose yet. I don't want this to send me into a downward spiral. I was doing better with sleep but the migraines were becoming daily. It seems every med a neurologist has ever prescribed for me has been trouble. Topomax wiped out my short term memory while on it, triptans can't be taken with SSRIs, can't take older tricyclic antidepressants with my other meds. I am running out of options and the neurologist does not listen. I have taken my husband to visit to get the point across to them. At last visit, we even showed them a med that had been discontinued was being made again- midrin, is now named nodonol. My husband used it in the past and it worked well. But they ignored it and gave me a drug in the same class as topomax. Sometimes I just want to kick the doctor in the ass for not listening to the patient. Only problem is I might not stop kicking this one after no sleep for days.
Well neurologist is trying to prevent migraines with zonegran, an anti-seizure med. Started it Wednesday night and have not had a good night's sleep since. They have me taking it at bedtime- supposed to be sedating. HA- I fell to sleep at 11:30 and was up by 2 AM tonight. Was getting headache and took florciet and 1 mg of ativan. Still not sleepy. I am going to switch the zonegran to morning. Bad thing is I am not on a full dose yet. I don't want this to send me into a downward spiral. I was doing better with sleep but the migraines were becoming daily. It seems every med a neurologist has ever prescribed for me has been trouble. Topomax wiped out my short term memory while on it, triptans can't be taken with SSRIs, can't take older tricyclic antidepressants with my other meds. I am running out of options and the neurologist does not listen. I have taken my husband to visit to get the point across to them. At last visit, we even showed them a med that had been discontinued was being made again- midrin, is now named nodonol. My husband used it in the past and it worked well. But they ignored it and gave me a drug in the same class as topomax. Sometimes I just want to kick the doctor in the ass for not listening to the patient. Only problem is I might not stop kicking this one after no sleep for days.
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I feel so dirty and used I was drunk and passed out at a party when I came around some guy was on top of me rapeing me he covered my mouth and told me to shut up afterwards he got up and got dressed and said I better not tell anyone I found my friend and reported that I had been raped after having medical checks and them getting DNA I've taken the morning after pill IAM just so depressed and...
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Upon his departure, he remarked, "I am in many people’s pockets; no one will believe you." Have you ever grappled with the silence that follows sexual assault, where the perceived impossibility of being believed necessitates self-censorship?
So glad to see someone else up with terrible insomnia!!!
You just said the exact same thing I did in the chronic pain group.....trying not to kill the pain doc, LOL. We should make bullseye targets with their faces on it so when in pain we can put a dart on their head and THEY can experience the pain.
OH, I'm so bad :p
I also take Ativan and I'm out of course. Can't get a new script until next Tuesday. It's been an anxiety filled week for me with being behind at work, news of my father's cancer (rageaholic childhood), 2 new health probs and pain. So emotionally, physically, mentally I am spent. You would think I would sleep and I did crash and burn after talking all afternoon after the news of my father. I ended with an evening session with my therapist and just crashed and slept. But I had NIGHTMARES starting again and I think I'm afraid to go to sleep. I fight it for some reason. It's a horrible cycle.
I may have to bring out the Rozerem (yuk). I totally get the whole, can't take another med issue because it interferes with everything else. Have you tried other herbal remedies? I am thinking I am going to my Chinese Herbalist tomorrow to get something called "Calm". Accupuncture and that worked wonders for me before. Time to pull out all the stops.
I wish you "sweet dreams" and no more insomnia. Hugs, JP
For just sleep I take 5 mg. of melatonin before bed. Works well. I was going to take rozerem but insurance won't cover it and all it does is increase melatonin production, so I just take the melatonin instead. Going to sip my chamomile tea now as the sun is starting to rise and hope to get some sleep.
Good luck with the nightmares and hang in there.
Hugs
RR
I'll take 25mg of Benadryl along with an (extended-release) 5mg melatonin.
For me, the combo is much better than one or the other.
Sweet dreams :-)
You start out with what's been great for me the past 2 years "I was doing good. Psyc. Dr. has my meds to the point the nightmares are suppressed and I started to take 5 mg of melatonin before bed. Was getting to sleep by 10:30 PM and sleeping until 6 or 7"
So losing that as you describe following would be crazy making for me. Insomnia is my margin between coping and not being able to cope. Your psy doc must get this back under control asap. I totally get how you must be feeling. Eek.
I can put 50 milligrams in my morning coffee at this point.
I have spectacular allergies, so black coffee spiked with benadryl is a great way to start my morning off.
Doxylamine Succinate's another over the counter sleep aid.
Melatonin...well, you've probably tried it. If not, maybe worth a try. I like it.
I'm a walking chemistry project, though... Your personal results may vary.
Noting that Midrin has paracetamol in it. Tylenol toxicity is a worrisome concern.
How long were you on dopeymax?
Reason I ask...
I am on 100 milligrams of it, off-label, because it alleviates my depression.
It stopped giving me the stoopids after a few months.
Hmm...what about ergotamine nasal sprays?
Maybe y'all should make pain doctor voodoo dolls...
Muji- most psyc Dr. are really good about people taking melatonin I have found because it is a normal hormone found in the body. I am glad you found it. I would recommend people try it before other sleep aids since it is not going to interact with meds at recommended dose.
Also a reminder on sleep hygiene which we all fail to follow at times;
1. Turn off the electronics 1 hr before bed- the blue light they generate can cause a decrease in melatonin production.
2. Have a peaceful sleeping environment- limit noise and movement (on bed). If your partner is restless- sleep somewhere else. They need to understand that they are negatively impacting your sleep and you are doing what is necessary for a good nights sleep and not to punish them.
3. Relax before bed- what every you like. For me, stretching is a great way to relax my muscles and my mind follows.
4. If you do wake up during the night, only try to go back to sleep for 10-15 mins. If you can't in that time frame, get up and do something. Trying any longer than that can backfire and make you frustrated. Things to do should be relaxing- reading, light snack, pet your cat/dog, etc.
5. Avoid spicy or heavy meals before bed.
6. Take your meds 30 min to 1 hr before you want them to work. Taking your sleep meds and expecting to fall to sleep in a snap does not work. My rule is to take my meds by 9PM most nights so I am asleep between 10 and 10:30.
Good luck and hope everyone can get a good night's sleep
ryverrat, I too have insomnia and was awake for almost 80 hours a few months ago. Hang in there and as muji said, do what it takes to get sleep. there is a dark, cool room with many hours of sleep at the end of the tunnel. (I thought it would be weird to say a light at the end of the tunnel) Be well! Good work identifying your issues and confronting them!