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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 2:38:09
I just want to sleep!!!!!!
I layed in bed for a couple of hours, tossing and turning. I wish I could take something to help me sleep. Actually, I wish I didn't need something. I just don't understand how people can go to bed and go right to sleep.I am tired, I don't feel manic or anything. I have no energy. My eyes burn. I wonder, maybe I should try having a cup of warm milk with 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. I read that in a book by Dr. Amen, he specializes in ADD/HD. In one of his books, "The 6 different types of ADD", he suggests the warm milk mixture. He said it acts as a sedative. It has to be real vanilla, and not immitation. I guess the sugar mixed with the two, also acts as a sedative. That seems weird, but who knows. It just might work.
Anyway, I was awake, and thought I would check to see if there were any new posts. I'm going to make my warm milk potion now. Wish me luck!!!
Jodie
Posted by Mikey_C on February 16, 2003, at 11:55:21
In reply to Insomnia, posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 2:38:09
Is that ever a creepy word "insomnia"... I'm Bi-Polar but my insomnia symptoms started when I was around 15. I'm 24 now and have only been able to be rid of it for about a year now but that's still 8 years of having neverending days... getting maybe 25 hours of sleep a week.Anyways, I tried just about every potion and OTC medication that came to solve those problems. They worked for a little while (few days, weeks maybe) and then it would be right back to Insomnia hell. The only thing that I found to solve this problem is Clonazepam. If I take 1mg of that before bed I have deep sleep for about 7 hours and no side effects after I wake up and have a cup of coffee. Usually first 10 minutes of every morning, given that you give yourself 7-8 hours of sleep after taking it.
I know all the bad things that people say about these, but for me, in one year, I started off at 1mg per night a year ago and am still at 1mg per night. I'm also getting full nights of sleep on the regular and having virtually no side effects.
So if that turns out to be a long-term problem, I would honestly look into that.
Posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 15:02:03
In reply to Re: Insomnia » jodie, posted by Mikey_C on February 16, 2003, at 11:55:21
Well, I have been on Klonopin (clonazepam) for almost 2 years now, when I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I took it for anxiety, aggitation, & tantrums. I am now being told I don't have bipolar, but ADD instead. I think I have both. I have plenty of symptoms of both. I am still taking the Klonopin 1mg 2x a day, to control temporal lobe epilepsy. I wish that would help me sleep, but I believe my body has build up a tolerance to the anti-anxiety, and sedating effects. I take 1 mg in the morning, 1 mg at night. It does not make me tired anymore. I have taken more than 1 mg at a time, and still nothing. I respond the same to all similar meds, benzo's, for instance.
Since I have tried basically everything sedating, and had no response, I am going to mention Seroquel (someone here suggested that) to my pdoc Monday. I've been asked if maybe I'm getting rebound insomnia from trying and being on several different sedatives/hypnotics, but I can go a month without taking anything, and give something a try, and it still doesn't do anything.
Glad to hear the clonazepam is working for you. Hopefully I find something. Thank you for the response!!!
By the way the "warm milk potion"....not a thing. It tasted good though....lol
Jodie
Posted by Tabitha on February 16, 2003, at 15:10:04
In reply to Insomnia, posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 2:38:09
Hi Jodie, the milk mixture at least sounds tasty. I hope you got some sleep. Last night I had some luck with 6mg melatonin (2x my usual amount). I may try that for a while, til I can go to the pdoc again, where I'm going to ask for klonopin (clonazepam). Several people here swear by it for sleep.
Incidentally, do you get any aerobic exercise? I know I would sleep much better if I did, but lately my schedule and general lack of self-discipline prevents it.
Posted by Tony P on February 16, 2003, at 15:25:52
In reply to Insomnia, posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 2:38:09
I too am wrestling with A/D induced insomnia - sometimes I can't even stop compulsively doing things, so I don'teven get to bed.
I have being doing the warm milk w/ sugar and real vanilla off & on for years - it has a long tradition behind it. Milk has lots of a couple of amino acids that are metabolized into sleep-producing brain transmitters. And maybe the vanilla has something in it - the pure extract certainly has more alcohol, although it's hard to see how a teaspoonful would have much effect!
I also sometimes have a pice of toast with peanut butter, which (like milk) has precursors to brain chemicals.
If you are allowed to take additional meds, the warm milk will also help to get them to work quickly. And at the very least it's soothing and tasty!
BTW, one of the rules for insomnia I've been told (and experienced) is NOT to toss and turn for long periods - the insomnia just gets worse. After 15-20 min. (at most half an hour), get up, go to a different room (important), have your hot milk or whatever, do something soothing (e.g. read a book, knit) for 15 min. or half an hour. Then go straight back to bed and try for another 20 min. Repeat as often as necessary.
According to my psychologist, watching TV or using the computer are NOT good pre-sleep soothing activities. Some computer games can get you really wired. And there appears to be some general activating effect (through the pineal gland??) just from staring at a bright screen.
Good luck,
Tony P
----------------------------> I just want to sleep!!!!!!
> I layed in bed for a couple of hours, tossing and turning. I wish I could take something to help me sleep. Actually, I wish I didn't need something. I just don't understand how people can go to bed and go right to sleep.
>
> I am tired, I don't feel manic or anything. I have no energy. My eyes burn. I wonder, maybe I should try having a cup of warm milk with 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. I read that in a book by Dr. Amen, he specializes in ADD/HD. In one of his books, "The 6 different types of ADD", he suggests the warm milk mixture. He said it acts as a sedative. It has to be real vanilla, and not immitation. I guess the sugar mixed with the two, also acts as a sedative. That seems weird, but who knows. It just might work.
>
> Anyway, I was awake, and thought I would check to see if there were any new posts. I'm going to make my warm milk potion now. Wish me luck!!!
>
> Jodie
Posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 15:26:13
In reply to Re: Insomnia » jodie, posted by Tabitha on February 16, 2003, at 15:10:04
Hi Tabitha!!
Actually, I try & exercise on a daily basis. I always feel better when I do it routinely. Lately though, I just haven't had the motivation. When I had the energy, and did it everyday, it did nothing for my insomnia though.
When I tried Melatonin, I tried it for a couple of months. I would have horrible nightmares, very strange and vivid dreams, ones that would leave me feeling upset all day. I had read that some people do experience this with Melatonin. My mom said she did. Do you, or have you ever had the problem from taking it? I kept hoping the nightmares would go away, and that I would get used to it...nope.
I'm glad to hear you had some luck last night. I fell asleep around 7am, but I did sleep until 11:30, which is good for me. I didn't wake up at all during those 4 and a half hours.
Jodie
Posted by beardedlady on February 16, 2003, at 15:33:56
In reply to Re: Insomnia » jodie, posted by Tabitha on February 16, 2003, at 15:10:04
> Incidentally, do you get any aerobic exercise? I know I would sleep much better if I did, but lately my schedule and general lack of self-discipline prevents it.
Exercise has greatly improved my sleep. I've been "Walking Away the Pounds," the most boring aerobic workout in the world, for three weeks now, and I've been sleeping about 9.5 hours a day. In case anyone is interested, it's sort of a wimpy video (I'm fit and don't get to my target heart range unless I do extra things), but the 45 minutes go by so fast you can't believe it.
Jodie, I've been there, hon. I've gone three days without more than three hours of sleep. It sucks. But I don't have the same troubles as you and only need a little bit of Serzone and an occasional Sonata. (I took 2 mg. Lorazepam--Ativan--for a while when the Sonata stopped working for me, but I only needed that for two weeks to get through my doggy's accidental death.)
Have you tried Valerian root? And are you off caffeine? My therapist (and neurologist) made me give it up completely, and it makes good sense. (Every once in awhile I sneak a sprinkle of caffeine in my decaf Guatemalan. Don't tell.)
Can you tell I'm really eager to exercise?
Good luck, Jodie. I hate it that you can't sleep.
beardy
Posted by Tabitha on February 16, 2003, at 16:01:37
In reply to Re: Insomnia » Tabitha, posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 15:26:13
Jodie, I don't notice any strange dreams from melatonin. I have pretty normal sleep from it. I'm just a little worried about relying on it long-term, since there aren't any studies saying whether it's safe, and some think it can increase depression (last thing I need).
I'm sorry exercise doesn't help for you. The few times I manage to exhaust myself with exercise I sleep like a rock. Most days I'm completely sedentary. Can't get myself to stick to any routine.
Posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 16:08:11
In reply to insomnia and exercise, posted by beardedlady on February 16, 2003, at 15:33:56
Thanks for the post!!!
I honestly haven't tried Valerien Root. Maybe I should. As far as the caffeine goes, I drink mostly decaff. drinks. The only thing with caffeine that I drink is my Chai tea Latte's, I have one maybe twice a week...and it's usually in the morning, well in the morning after I wake up.
Sorry to hear about your doggy :-(
I am such an animal lover. I have 2 dogs, one is a Shar Pei/Husky mix (she's 3), the other is a Shar-Pei/black lab, and maybe a little pit bull (he is around 9 or 10 months old), and 2 cats, 2 fish :-) Even my fish are spoiled. I am so afraid for something to happen to one of them, don't think I will handle it well. Do you have more dogs, or going to get another?Thanks again!!!
jodie
Posted by beardedlady on February 16, 2003, at 16:38:45
In reply to Re: insomnia and exercise » beardedlady, posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 16:08:11
Hey, Jodie! I forgot about this remedy: sit in a chair (or lie in your bed) and pet the dog for a while--twenty minutes or so.
On the nights I'm seriously stressed and have been up (I wake at 2:00 and have trouble falling back to sleep for several hours, if I fall back at all), I can pet my dog for about twenty minutes and calm my anxiety down.
I have a girl dog and am getting a boy dog as soon as we find the perfect mutt--a keeshond/shepherd mix--a wolf-like dog with a Spitz breed tail (hairy with a curl). We see them all the time, but, alas, they always belong to someone else.
We also have two snakes, three goldfish (that poop all the time--long, long strings longer than the fishes' bodies!), and two mice (usually snake food, but they're not into eating as of late).
Your dogs sound pretty, and your caffine sounds fine--not a problem.
I sure hope you sleep tonight. Do try the Valerian. It's really sedative. That Celestial Seasonings Sleepy Time Tea actually worked for me a few times.
beardy : )>
Posted by jodie on February 16, 2003, at 17:50:41
In reply to doggies » jodie, posted by beardedlady on February 16, 2003, at 16:38:45
My fish are cichlids, one a Jack Dempsey, the other a Parrot fish. They are both huge. The Jack is about 6 or 7 inches long, the other is about 5 inches, so Jack (we went ahead and named him by his breed) picks on the other one all the time. He is mean. They poop all the time too. Cichlids are known to be pretty dirty fish, for instance Oscars. My son had a goldfish, it pooped alot too. We actually managed to put a Betta with him, and they got along. Somehow, sadly, the heater got too hot, poor fish...they are now in fish heaven.
I will try the Valerian. Think the police would consider that an emergency if I go get it now??? No, I'll be good and stay in.
Jodie
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