That's Fit

Thought this might be of interest to you.

Reply

I would try most anything to avoid taking drugs to help me sleep. I just can't shake them the next morning, even the herbal kind. I think the idea of getting up the same time each day is smart, but what if that time is noon after having not been able to sleep until 5 a.m. I sleep OK when I get there, but for a person who isn't retired, that could be a problem. I seemed to be programmed on a permanent midnight shift, and that takes away my daylight. Depressing.

Reply

I suffered from insomnia for a few years. I tried every kind of over the counter sleep aid and a few prescription ones, only to find that when I took those, I would wake up feeling really groggy. I didn't like the effect they had on my mood in the morning. Then I read somewhere (probably on a late night jaunt online because I couldn't sleep) that stretching before you go to bed might help, in particular, stretching your feet and legs. It might sound a little kooky, but it works for me. I lay in bed and stretch out my legs, then I curl my toes towards me and then away from me. I do that about twenty times. It takes just a few minutes and I find that I sleep a hundred times sounder and deeper. I don't know why it works, it just does.

Reply

I've had insomnia all my life, and I've tried everything to combat it. That would include all the sleep preparations out there, both prescription and over-the-counter, and read every book. Finally I tried cognitive sleep therapy. It's been an absolute life saver for me. I recommend it to everyone out there. I no longer take sleep medications and have had a consistently good night's sleep for the last three months!

Reply

There is an over the counter product out there called Percogesic. It is similar to Tylenol, but has an ingredient that makes you ever so slightly drowsey. Whenever I can't sleep i take it and it does the trick and I feel great the next morning. Just make sure that you buy Regular Strength, because the extra stregth has a different ingredient and doesn't work the same.

Reply

I bought a lavender aromatherapy sleep mask from drugstore.com, it is so comfy and smells so nice I'd wear it all day if I had a seeing eye dog! I also bought some 32 decibel ear plugs, and it all takes some getting used to but it's like sensory deprivation with the sleep mask, and I sleep so much better! My dreams are more vivd, probably because I'm manufacturing more melatonin because of the mask.
I've always thought aromatherapy was a rip-off but the lavender scent is very relaxing.

Reply

Doctors have tried to treat what they determine to be my insomnia. I however have a different take on the whole thing. I sleep fine, as long as it is not at night. Maybe there are just some people who are truly destined to be daytime sleepers. When the sun starts to come up, I get tired, just like my husband does at night, and I can sleep. When I have tried to keep a "normal" schedule, it is horrible. The after effects of the medication leaves me groggy when I wake up and I am still tired enough to sleep MY normal schedule---from about 6 AM to 1 PM. After many long years, my husband has finally decided to stop the struggle to 'make' me sleep "normal" hours and has decided I am just his little vampire. Since our kids are both grown with families of their own, and I did do the "normal" sleep times with great difficulty when they were young, there is no problem with my sleeping the hours my body wants to sleep.

Reply

Hey, Joan #4, What is "cognitive sleep therapy"?

Reply

Talk to your doctor about Rozerem.

Reply

I suffer also from insomnia, I can't sleep worth noting. I have tried Lunesta that sure don't work. I tried Rozerem if that's how you spell that one boy that is not one to take it does not work at all for me anyway. I am now taking Ambein CR and that is not to bad. But I know I do not like to have to take anyting. I'm home on disability lots of pain in back and neck and have IBS which sure don't help things any. If anyone knows of anything over the counter that works good would love to hear from you.
E-Mail me at Nhope88204@aol.com put in subject No Sleep

Take Care Pat

Reply

I suffer also from insomnia, I can't sleep worth noting. I have tried Lunesta that sure don't work. I tried Rozerem if that's how you spell that one boy that is not one to take it does not work at all for me anyway. I am now taking Ambein CR and that is not to bad. But I know I do not like to have to take anyting. I'm home on disability lots of pain in back and neck and have IBS which sure don't help things any. If anyone knows of anything over the counter that works good would love to hear from you.
E-Mail me at Nhope88204@aol.com put in subject No Sleep

Take Care Pat

Reply

I suffer also from insomnia, I can't sleep worth noting. I have tried Lunesta that sure don't work. I tried Rozerem if that's how you spell that one boy that is not one to take it does not work at all for me anyway. I am now taking Ambein CR and that is not to bad. But I know I do not like to have to take anyting. I'm home on disability lots of pain in back and neck and have IBS which sure don't help things any. If anyone knows of anything over the counter that works good would love to hear from you.
E-Mail me at Nhope88204@aol.com put in subject No Sleep

Take Care Pat

Reply

I will look for that product and see if will help in some way, thanks for letting me know about that. I would love to join a study and see what they say. If they can check the brain wave to see if my mind is always going. Boy it sure feels like it's going all the time never stops. I hate not being rested I can't think straight I can't remember things good, seems like my sex life took a dive an I tell ya it is not a good feeling. You always feel like you never rested always tired. I never even feel like getting out of house I don't have the engery. But if that over the counter product will help I'm going to try it anything to sleep.
Thanks Pat

Reply

If you are a woman, go to a BHRT prescribing doctor and get bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. It is safe and makes you sleep like a baby. If you are a man, consider testosterone therapy.

Reply

I have no trouble falling asleep....my problem is staying asleep. I wake up every hour on the hour and eat. It is a miracle I do not weight a ton...but so far the weight has been manageable. After I eat..I go right back to sleep....until the next hour. Been doing this for 16 years.

Drives me crazy.

Reply

I am miserable with insomnia. I have been on prescribed Ambien for a long time. I try to do without it at times but I have not been successful. I 've had nights prior to Ambien that I WOULD BE UP THE ENTIRE NIGHT-----WIDE AWAKE. So I AM SO AFRAID TO NOT TAKE AMBIEN BECAUSE I FEAR LAYING AWAKE ALL NIGHT AGAIN OR EVEN JUST FOR HOURS. ------i AM SO AFRAID THAT BEING ON AMBIEN AS LONG AS i HAVE AND AM IS BAD FOR ME ALSO. i AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY PRINT SO i WILL CONCLUDE MY ISSUE. iF THERE IS ANYBODY WHO HELP ME OUT IN ANYWAY i WOULD APPRECIATE IT SO SO MUCH.

Reply

My partner, who is also the father of my 16 year old son, died early last mo. I cannot sleep at night at all, so many loose ends to tie up, worry, grief, etc... My therapist decided this was because I am "bi-polar", told me to get my but up in the a.m. & not sleep all day, prescribed a heavy duty manic depression med for me that has side effects such as sudden death, permanent facial twitches, etc... I think I'll just stay awake. My frineds tell me the same thing too, "get your butt out of bed in the afternoon" but this is the only time I can catch an hour or 2 if lucky of sleep. I wish I had the luxury above writer wrote of being able to sleep from 6 a.m. to 1 pm & an understanding hubby!

Reply

Have been abusing benadryl 50 mg. as a sleep aid for well over 20 yrs. Was a paramedic at one time and ...well...you know what we see...was driving me nuts.....especially the horribly mangled/deceased kids that we treated.

Am now literally taking 500 mg. each night and 200-300 mg. around 2:00-3:00 a.m. to go back to sleep. This constitutes 10-15 tablets EVERY NIGHT! Even thought the product info. inserts indicate that this drug is fairly benign, I can't help but wonder what really is going on inside.

Anybody out there this messed up with their sleeping habits? I'd genuinely enjoy learning how you beat the benadryl (diphenhydramine HCL) addiction, the length. of time it took, and how you're doing currently in getting a good nights rest.
Thanks so very much!

Reply

Judy you must get off the Ambien, it is quite addictive. You will definitely experience what is called 'rebound insomnia' for 1-2 weeks after getting off Ambien, but you have to just live thru it and then you'll be free. I have heard that something called Rozerem can be taking without becoming addicted. Maybe talk to your doctor about that. But is is VERY irresponsible for your doctor to continue prescribing Ambien for more than 3 months. Ambien is NOT for long-term use. It can have severe effects on your memory. I know all this, because I have been there. Good luck.

Reply

I found four things help me stay asleep. I used to have trouble falling asleep, but then I discovered I had hypoglycemia, so I cut out most starches and sugars, like potatoes, for dinner. That helps. But now I have trouble staying asleep. So I work out, doing aerobic exercise, every night for at least 20-30 minutes. I also eat some turkey every night before I go to bed. Works like a charm for me. Occasionally I pop a sleeping pill, I'll admit, and that, with the turkey, helps a lot. If I wake up at night, I eat some more turkey. I also avoid alcohol after 7PM.

Reply