Sleep

Wondering if any of you have had sleeping issues? I have tried several over the counter products with poor results. Dr. had me try Ambien, which has been worse than the OTC products. I am getting so Frustrated. :woohoo: :woohoo: Any suggestions would be Greatly appreciated!!!

Hi Dean,
Don't know what the answer is - I too, have been having terrible sleeps lately.
Have tried switching everything off early, eating less carbs at dinner, warm shower, warm milk, conscious breathing etc. It is winter here & we have the slow combustion heater on so the house is pretty warm.
I do have a lot on my mind at present (family issues, moving house) so assume it is all that going around in my head. I just can't find the switch off button! & toss & turn for hours.
Of course, next morning I'm hopeless & can't get up.
I do find if I'm physically tired it's better. . . . so I guess the answer is go & chop wood! :silly:
mj

I do not really have alot on my mind so I do not know what the prob is. I just cannot take it much longer. I just want to SNAP at everyone. Funny you should mention go chop wood as I do enjoy that activity. I love being in the woods. Right now it is way to Hot/Humid to do that.
Have a good weekend everyone.
I would not mind lots of ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ's wishes.

You might look into a product called Sound Sleep by Gaia herbs. It is passionflower, hops, poppy, skullcap, kava, valerian, and a few other herbs. It really works quickly (within minutes) and will not leave you feeling hung over in the morning. I have to be going straight to bed after taking it because it knocks me flat. My sister got a migraine last week and usually uses narcotics to kick them. I gave her two of those and she went vertical in minutes and was able to sleep off the migraine. It's spendy (about $30 for a bottle of 60), but well worth it's weight in gold when you can't sleep.

Dean:

Been there, am still there. I've had different sleep issues over the years, so the way I dealt with it has been tailored to the problem.

Is it that you can't fall asleep or you wake up after a period of time? Are you uncomfortable or racing?

We just had this discussion in another section - I'll try to find it.

www.pdsa.org/forum/8-natural-treatment-methods/14125-trouble-sleeping.html

The sleep - I'm not sure I understand what it means.

Dean, when you mentioned the heat and humidity--that couldn't be helping you sleep. Someone on the other thread that Sandi mentioned suggested cooling off. I know I sleep a little better if I'm in a cool room (under warm covers!).

I think sleep is a gift. It is not one, alas, I have. But I've tried some of the suggestions mentioned on the other threads and found them useful--taking my prednisone first thing in the morning, getting a lot of exercise during the day, getting the temperature right, avoiding stimulating substances and activities close to bedtime, etc.

House is air conditioned so the outside weather does not really affect sleeping in the warmer months. During the winter months I will park myself in front of a heater to relax, usually does the trick. Dr has me on Trazodone, the first dose I took 150mg as suggested. I was zapped for 11/2 days. Took 50mg last night and slept pretty good with no hangover.

Sandi, the prob is that I cannot fall asleep. I get off work at 0600hrs and lay awake until 0930hrs and wake at 1400hrs. Sleeping any later makes me feel like I just wasted the day. Mabey I need to accept the fact that I only need 4-5hrs of sleep and go with it.
Thank you all for the comments.

Do you exercise or take part in sport at all?

If not and you are able, try building it in and see if that improves sleep. It may be that whilst you are mentally tired from the day, the body needs more than you are giving it?

If you are doing a sport/exercise then one person I know encourages people to stay awake a whole 24 hours then go to bed the next day at their usual time. They reckon that works for people as it kicks the sleep pattern back into place.

Dean
From memory I am think you said once you are a shift worker, my husband is also a shift worker and used to have trouble sleeping. He found that if you change the way you sleep it helps. He like you used to finish night shift and come home and go to bed (you wouldn't do this if you worked during the day) so now he comes homes potters around a bit watches a bit of tv and goes to bed after about three hours I guess what I am trying to say is treat your nights like they are days.
Shift work is hard on your body at the best of times, so you need your rest. Good luck with the sleep thing I know how frustrating this can be. I actually started the other thread about sleep as I was having trouble sleeping, mine trouble with sleeping ended when I started Metotrexate, so there was a reason behind my trouble.

My job requires alot of walking majority of it can be outside weather permitting. A co-worker and I used to do stairs at night and once we got into it, it felt good to get to the top without shortness of breath. Co-worker felt the need to go to the day shift and I quit doing the stairs. When I get up in the afternoon I do not just sit around, always doing something. 190 pounds in my ideal weight. Dropping a stones worth would help.

Milly,
It is not so bad working straight nights, alot easier to get into a routine but it definatly takes a toll on the body either way. If you do not mind me asking what did your Husband do??
Yes, it is hard to go to bed right after work unlike day shifts. The reason why I want to sleep right away is because I enjoy the afternoons to enjoy the day. Now with taking Trazodone I am asleep within 45min and staying asleep for a good 7hrs, so I feel alot more rested.

Dean
My husband is a computer operator in a factory that makes panel boards, like the stuff that kitchen cabinets are made from. He works 12 hours shifts 6am to 6pm and 6pm to 6am his shifts change twice a week so his body is always out of wack. He has done this for 20 plus years, he is 50 now so he has about 15 years to retirement.
He really doesn't have any trouble sleeping, the only thing he finds that for one week out of every 12 he works 7 days straight so 94 hour week and after this he is usually very tired.
He is a great support to me since I have had this condition, he has spent many days sitting beside a hospital bed and comes to every doctors appointment and blood test with me, ITP has really made us closer, I love him with all my heart. I am a very lucky person I think.

Does anyone know if melatonin is okay to take when counts are low?

dru wrote: Does anyone know if melatonin is okay to take when counts are low?

I have been told not to take Melatonin with ITP. Recomended that if you have any health conditions, to talk to your Dr. before taking. If you do take it make sure it is made from artificial ingredients and not made from animals. Melatonin made from animals can contain viruses or other contminants. I have tried Tylenol PM, simply sleep, Benadryl,(helped but did not want to keep taking) midnight, Ambien with not much luck. Currently taking Trazodone with better results.

Milly, to bad your Husband cannot work one or the other. Good thing he has no trouble sleeping. I have tried 6p-6a shifts and cannot do it. 10p-6a is long enough for a night shift. My wife has also been a Great support for me with this condition. The toughest time was when I went through Depression. I was pretty much a useless bag of bones.
I do not think of retirement yet, it just makes me . Add about 5yrs to your Husbands.

Dean you said:
I get off work at 0600hrs and lay awake until 0930hrs and wake at 1400hrs. Sleeping any later makes me feel like I just wasted the day.

I think the key here is: "Sleeping any later makes me feel like I just wasted the day" - so really you may need to sleep till 3pm but you have told you body it can't do that, even if you need another hour or 2.

I too have heard melatonin in not for us. Actually Tylenol PM is benadryl & tylenol so unless tylenol is needed why not just take benadryl, would be cheaper.

What I'm finding with benadryl is that about 1-2 hours after I take it I'm zonked, but if I manage to stay up, at around 4-5 hours I hit a paradoxical effect and I'm awake and anxious, heart racing. Also I need to take it twelve hours before I need to be alert so overall it doesn't work well for me.
Erica

Dean,
I think Melinda has made a valid point, do you set an alarm to wake early or do you just wake up. Sleeping is not really a waste of time in your day, your body needs rest.

My nurse husband swears by benadryl, and says it's the safest effective sleep aid, and non-addictive. It also helps his allergies if he takes it about an hour before bedtime. I assume you're not taking in caffeine during the last half of your waking day? Since you're sleeping when the rest of the world isn't, and it's daylight, are you in the darkest room of the house? That affected hubby's sleep when he was working nights. I got him a really pretty satin sleep mask. (They had no masculine colors at the store, so his was beautiful light blue floral satin. He joked that he felt pretty when sleeping.) We considered blackout shades, but soon moved to another house. Also, if you have birds singing, it's beautiful, but not sleep conducive. You may need some "white noise" in the home during sleep time. Hubby works one night shift a week, and the rest days now. That one day he is backward is difficult, but he goes to bed about an hour after he gets home in the morning, and sleeps about six hours. When it works, it's great. When it doesn't, it's a bad afternoon. Good luck.
Norma