The End of the Line

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   Muldaniaposted 12 years ago

   Having had insomnia for ten years, I have finally reached the point when I have stopped sleeping altogether.  I have not had one minute of sleep in the past five days.  Drugs do nothing.  Tonight I tooks 50mg of Seroquel, 7.5mg of zopiclone, 7.7 mg of mirtazapine and 10mg of diazepam.  All this is after four nights without sleep.  Not only are all of these drugs very powerful, but I am already exhausted from lack of sleep.  Yet, it is now 5.11am, and I have not had any sleep for another night.
   
   I can fully understand why Michael Jackson wanted to be injected with anesthetic, as nothing was working on him, and we all know where that ended.  The doctors tell me that there is nothing that they can do for me, as I have tried every drug they have available.  Surely there must be an answer somewhere.

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      Jesus isnt happyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Have you tried warm milk?

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         Muldaniaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, and camomile tea, and many other herbal stuff, as well as meditation, yoga, sound therapy, hypnosis, spiritual healing, exercise in the day, lavender, plus every over-the-counter sleep aid and sleeping pills prescribed by the doctors as well as every antidepressant, and anti-psychotic.  The doctors have all told me that there is nothing which can be done for me, and that they have tried everything they have.
         
         
         Strangely, although it is now the fifth night without any sleep, I feel more awake with each day and with each sleeping pill.

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            Jesus isnt happyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I had a bad experience with sleeping tablets. There was an occasion where I drove to a friends house, spoke gibberish to them for an hour then drove home and went back to bed, woke up the next day not knowing how I got to be sleeping on my bed fully dressed and not remembering any of it.
            
            In fact, I didnt know anything that happened until a mate started asking me about the day, and I started remembering it as if it was a dream and I was confused as to how he know what I was dreaming.
            
            I was asleep the whole time for that day. I still dont know how I drove in my sleep. Apparently my mate had to park the car because I left it in the middle of the road.
            
            I wont touch sleeping tablets ever again because of that.
            
            I'll tell you what helps me sleep though, caffeine.

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               Muldaniaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Caffeine is supposed to keep people awake.  Some people though react in the opposite way than is expected.

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                  Jesus isnt happyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Oh it makes you perk up of course, but after the high comes the low...

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      thesingernurseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think you should see a NEUROLOGIST or some medical doctor that specializes in SLEEP PROBLEMS. That's a highly specialized training not all physicians have. There they would be able to monitor your brain's electrical activity and maybe could note and depict disturbances in your neural pathway which makes it so hard for you to sleep. It is something that you shouldn't delay. And please, ask for anyone, preferably a family member to accompany you because by this time I am sure you feel so weak. Just for your safety. Am not a doctor but based on your reported signs and symptoms in this question. I think you really need immediate and specialized medical attention.

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      paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well, the chemical assistance angle has been covered, so here are just some random thoughts. Though not solutions themselves, maybe they will lead to one.
      
      You're falling asleep for short periods of time, but don't realize it.
      
      Drink yourself into a “coma”. Ask the doc about that idea first.
      
      Thinking about things that matter keeps one awake. Thinking irrelevant, fantasy-scenario thoughts usually induces sleep.
      
      Watch TV in bed. Sooner or later, you will have enough, rollover and go to sleep. Or fall asleep as is.
      
      Combine exercising to exhaustion with the above.
      
      
      
      I know these are pretty lame, but maybe they will lead to something.

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   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   Try self-hypnosis.

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      Muldaniaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I've tried that.  It does make me feel relaxed, but never makes me sleep.

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   Aficionadaposted 12 years ago

   My sympathies to you! This must be so exhausting and distressing.  I wish I knew of some sort of magic that could help immediately, but I don't. 
   
   For the longer term, how are you at regulating your exposure to light and darkness?  Some people are especially sensitive to an overabundance of one or the other, and when they get too much of one or the other they can get really out of whack. 
   
   It may be helpful (one more theory to try, but no promises, of course) to be sure that you experience total-and-I-do-mean-total darkness for 8-12 hours every day.

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      Muldaniaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I seem to spend most of my time in darkness.  Because I do not sleep, I spend time trying to relax in bed, and by the time I do get up and go out it is dark.  Especially in the winter months, I might see as little of one hour daylight per day.  I think I must be a vampire.

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         wyanjenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Me too.

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         Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         
         "I think I must be a vampire." - LOL!!
         Believe me, I am not trying to do anything other than toss out ideas to try, so I hope I don't sound like I think I know more than I do know. And since wyanjen has experience with the same problem, she is probably the best one to listen to. 
         
         But even so, let me suggest:  if you are seeing so little sunlight, could that be one factor in your problem - too much darkness, not enough light?  I know that exposure to sunlight helps to reset the body's inner clock, besides doing all kinds of other wonderful things (benefits to heart health, bone health, brain function, and more).  And people who don't get enough sunlight sometimes purchase special light boxes to help them balance their need for light and dark cycles.

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            capricornrisingposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I think this is an excellent suggestion.

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            wyanjenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I just saw your post as I was leaving -
            
            You are right about sunlight. Just being outside in the daytime helps! For some people (not me, Ive tried this a few times) taking a melatonin supplement help regulate the day/night clock.
            
            For severe problems tho, herbal supplements are like baby aspirin
            
            Its time to pull out the big guns. I saw your other thread Muldania, so I got a little concerned.
            Not being pushy but really please, dont hurt yourself if thats where your thoughts are going. Go to hospital.
            
            
            My record is only 4 days awake but Ive been there with the hallucinations and irrational thoughts that seem to be completely rational as you are having them. And, I apologize if Im making the wrong assumption about your two threads being up at the same time!
            

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      Jesus isnt happyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Rabbit in a hat?

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   BlissfulWriterposted 12 years ago

   Consider taking magnesium supplements.  Most doctors do not know this, because they know only drugs.
   
   Both LiveStrong.com and Dr. Andrew Weil both talked about the importance of magnesium and calcium in regards to sleep...
   http://www.livestrong.com/article/28480 … -sleeping/
   and   
   http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02037/sleep-aid
   
   In fact, most people are magnesium deficient and even healthy people with no symptom should be taking magnesium supplements.  I do.
   
   Dr. Hymann says it is the most powerful relaxation mineral available in this YouTube video ...
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUWL1o2hSrs
   
   Might also want to consider getting tested for vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

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      Muldaniaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes I take magnesium citrate every night. and other vitamins.

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   wyanjenposted 12 years ago

   Ive got experience with this.
   
   Especially since it is not helping, consider stopping the Seroquel. It is a dangerous drug.
   
   
   Go to the hospital. You may feel alert and rational but you should not be making big decisions right now.
   Just explain to them why you are in trouble and that you are at the end of your rope. They wont turn you away if you are in danger.
   
   Dont hurt yourself. There is an underlying cause, it just needs to be found.
   
   
   Hang in there!

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      Muldaniaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, Seroquel is a dangerous drug, and one which although it did help me to sleep for some months has now actually made the problem much worse.  I would advise anyone not to take it for insomnia.  I will have to slowly reduce my dosage over many months, as I have been taking it for so long.  I need something to replace it though.  I might as my doctor for seroxat, as this helped me to sleep many years ago.

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         wyanjenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I took Trazadone for awhile - knocked me right out cold. I didnt tolerate it too well so I stopped. But, it did help quite a lot with sleeping while I took it.

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            Muldaniaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            that must be one drug I haven't tried, so will suggest it to my doctor.

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               wyanjenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Its not a sleeper, its for depression. But it packs a punch.
               http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-89-TRAZ … p;source=0
               
               For a few years I also took Provigil - for narcolepsy. It help a LOT. Until it stopped working of course.
               
               
               Well good luck, fellow sufferer. I got work in a few hours, so Im gonna try to get a little sleep.

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   capricornrisingposted 12 years ago

   Have you considered the possibility that all the substances you're putting in your body are part of the problem? You might try detoxing, after dumping all of those, stop worrying, get up and do something productive if you can't sleep - write, for example - to take your mind off your problem, and lower your stress.
   
   I assume you've tried both Valerian Root and Melatonin, so I won't suggest them. And you've probably talked to a shrink. And gone to both the chiropractor and massage therapist. So I won't suggest those either.
   
   When was the last time you had a good orgasm? They usually help me sleep well. The other thing that does it is an excellent workout and a hot shower afterwards.
   
   I hope you find the solution!

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   Seek-n-Findposted 12 years ago

   Do you have any other experiences that could be categorized as fear, worry, or other kinds of torment of the mind?  Asking to explore the root of the no-sleeping issue...

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   Donald Jayhanposted 12 years ago

   God is the answer my friend. The perminent one..... Thats a door you have to open yourself, and let him guide you. It's hard for a mere man to guide someone with little to no hope. Your call.

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      davenmidtownposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      There are many other sleep disorders besides insomnia... and many of them do not respond to sleep type drugs... white light therapy is an odd treatment but many people find it powerful. I would certainly contact a sleep disorder clinic and see if they have any advice.  A lot of people are just simply mis-diagnosed by their doctors with a blanket diagnosis such as insomnia, etc.

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   freefoggingposted 12 years ago

   It is not natural for your body not to sleep. Sleep drugs do not always do the trick. Your body will eventually give up and sleep. But, before that happens, if I were you, I would make an appointment to see your health care provider...there are many treatments out there for insomnia that your health care provider can do for you. Good luck.
   
   As a sufferer of insomnia myself, I know how discouraging it can be to not be able to sleep. Please be careful with the sleep drugs out there as some of them can be very dangerous.

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    freefoggingposted 12 years ago

    Besides sleep medications, there is also meditation, massage therapy and hypnosis...among others..see your health care provider for further help.

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