insomnia

[Guest guest]

Thanks Connie,

I always blow that 10:00 pm curfew, but I have heard that too.I don't know

if I agree with Ambien working though - hasn't helped me sleep anymore than

4 hours at a time, then its like an alarm clock goes off inside my head and

wakes me up. I do find some comfort (maybe placebo affect) in Sweet Dreams

tea, it has chamomile, rose leaves and a bunch of other flowers. It makes me

relax just reading the ingredients. I have always loved flowers and

gardening, but now I'm a wimp and too afraid to even pick a weed. Have to

find another passion. Thanks everyone for all the advice.

This group is so wonderful ! Feels like a loving, supporting family.

JENNIE we all might sound a little nuts , but the humor helps. I find all

the stories, whether sad or joyful to help me through the day. But don't let

us scare you, I'm pretty new here myself, but can't tell you all the help

I've received.

Vicki

Re: [Lyme-aid] insomnia

>From: Cslyme@...

>

>Hi Vicki,

>I hear a fibromyalgia doctor speak this weekend. She said we need to get

to

>stage 4 sleep and Ambien is the only one that does it. We also need to

find

>out why we aren't sleeping, leg jerks, sounds, pain. Also it took me over

2

>years to get my sleep pattern back. Did the Kava, cammomile, passion

flower,

>valerian, all of it. It took quite a while. also said that about 10 at

>night our body goes into an upswing and if we don't rest before then we

will

>be up all night. Even if I have insomnia, which isn't too often now, I do

>not get up and do anything, I may read, but no computer, no stimulation

>whatsoever. Try not to sleep in the day. I do rest, but try not to sleep

>long. it really truly helps. This lady was an excellent speaker on FMS,

she

>linked it to lyme and all kinds of things.

>Hugs and hang in there, Ambien is the best for stage 4 sleep. Your body

>will not do any repair if you do not get to stage 4 sleep. So keep trying.

>It took me a long time. Good luck and pleasant dreams,

>Connie, MI

>

>>Send to -Offtopiconelist messages unrelated to lyme, please.

>/archives.cgi/

>/archives.cgi/Lyme-Documents

>To unsubscribe, send email to -unsubscribeonelist

>You may substitute " subscribe " , or " digest " or " normal " for

>the word " unsubscribe " ( " normal " is the opposite of " digest " ). Leave blank

both the message and subject header.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Connie

What dosage of Ambien did you start with and which dosage are you on now?

thank you

best,

lea CT

<< Hi Vicki,

I hear a fibromyalgia doctor speak this weekend. She said we need to get to

stage 4 sleep and Ambien is the only one that does it. We also need to find

out why we aren't sleeping, leg jerks, sounds, pain. Also it took me over 2

years to get my sleep pattern back. Did the Kava, cammomile, passion

flower,

valerian, all of it. It took quite a while. also said that about 10 at

night our body goes into an upswing and if we don't rest before then we will

be up all night. Even if I have insomnia, which isn't too often now, I do

not get up and do anything, I may read, but no computer, no stimulation

whatsoever. Try not to sleep in the day. I do rest, but try not to sleep

long. it really truly helps. This lady was an excellent speaker on FMS,

she

linked it to lyme and all kinds of things.

Hugs and hang in there, Ambien is the best for stage 4 sleep. Your body

will not do any repair if you do not get to stage 4 sleep. So keep trying.

It took me a long time. Good luck and pleasant dreams,

Connie, MI

>>

[Guest guest]

Hi Memyo.

I take 10 mgs of Ambien, I don't get any aftereffects at all,

Connie, MI

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 09/22/1999 5:36:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

Cslyme@... writes:

<< om: Cslyme@...

Hi Vicki,

I hear a fibromyalgia doctor speak this weekend. She said we need to get to

stage 4 sleep and Ambien is the only one that does it. We also need to find

out why we aren't sleeping, leg jerks, sounds, pain. Also it took me over 2

years to get my sleep pattern back. Did the Kava, cammomile, passion

flower,

valerian, all of it. It took quite a while. also said that about 10 at

night our body goes into an upswing and if we don't rest before then we will

be up all night. Even if I have insomnia, which isn't too often now, I do

not get up and do anything, I may read, but no computer, no stimulation

whatsoever. Try not to sleep in the day. I do rest, but try not to sleep

long. it really truly helps. This lady was an excellent speaker on FMS,

she

linked it to lyme and all kinds of things.

Hugs and hang in there, Ambien is the best for stage 4 sleep. Your body

will not do any repair if you do not get to stage 4 sleep. So keep trying.

It took me a long time. Good luck and pleasant dreams,

Connie, MI

Vickie, Ambien doesn't work on everyone, In a sleep study with CFIDS. FIBRO

and a Few Lyme patients done by a Dr. who deals with patients with major

sleep disturbances he fiound Klonopin or Ativan to be superior in putting

patients into dream and late stage sleep stage 4. Some of the drugs put you

into late stage sleep but cut out your dream stage this is very important for

not only our psy/ emotional well being but also for our Immune systems. I was

part of this study. Ambien didn't do it for me, as it cut out the dream

stage. The results of the study on the afore mentioned patients was that

Klonopin with magnesium(which we are all deficient in) worked better on the

majority of the patients. Carol in MI

From: Cslyme@...

Hi Vicki,

I hear a fibromyalgia doctor speak this weekend. She said we need to get to

stage 4 sleep and Ambien is the only one that does it. We also need to find

out why we aren't sleeping, leg jerks, sounds, pain. Also it took me over 2

years to get my sleep pattern back. Did the Kava, cammomile, passion flower,

valerian, all of it. It took quite a while. also said that about 10 at

night our body goes into an upswing and if we don't rest before then we will

be up all night. Even if I have insomnia, which isn't too often now, I do

not get up and do anything, I may read, but no computer, no stimulation

whatsoever. Try not to sleep in the day. I do rest, but try not to sleep

long. it really truly helps. This lady was an excellent speaker on FMS, she

linked it to lyme and all kinds of things.

Hugs and hang in there, Ambien is the best for stage 4 sleep. Your body

will not do any repair if you do not get to stage 4 sleep. So keep trying.

It took me a long time. Good luck and pleasant dreams,

Connie, MI

Send to -Offtopiconelist messages unrelated to lyme, please.

/archives.cgi/

/archives.cgi/Lyme-Documents

To unsubscribe, send email to -unsubscribeonelist

You may substitute " subscribe " , or " digest " or " normal " for

the word " unsubscribe " ( " normal " is the opposite of " digest " ). Leave blank both

the message and subject header.

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol

How much was the dosages

thank

best,

lea ct

<<

Hi Vicki,

I hear a fibromyalgia doctor speak this weekend. She said we need to get

to

stage 4 sleep and Ambien is the only one that does it. We also need to

find

out why we aren't sleeping, leg jerks, sounds, pain. Also it took me over

2

years to get my sleep pattern back. Did the Kava, cammomile, passion

flower,

valerian, all of it. It took quite a while. also said that about 10 at

night our body goes into an upswing and if we don't rest before then we

will

be up all night. Even if I have insomnia, which isn't too often now, I do

not get up and do anything, I may read, but no computer, no stimulation

whatsoever. Try not to sleep in the day. I do rest, but try not to sleep

long. it really truly helps. This lady was an excellent speaker on FMS,

she

linked it to lyme and all kinds of things.

Hugs and hang in there, Ambien is the best for stage 4 sleep. Your body

will not do any repair if you do not get to stage 4 sleep. So keep trying.

It took me a long time. Good luck and pleasant dreams,

Connie, MI

Vickie, Ambien doesn't work on everyone, In a sleep study with CFIDS. FIBRO

and a Few Lyme patients done by a Dr. who deals with patients with major

sleep disturbances he fiound Klonopin or Ativan to be superior in putting

patients into dream and late stage sleep stage 4. Some of the drugs put you

into late stage sleep but cut out your dream stage this is very important

for

not only our psy/ emotional well being but also for our Immune systems. I

was

part of this study. Ambien didn't do it for me, as it cut out the dream

stage. The results of the study on the afore mentioned patients was that

Klonopin with magnesium(which we are all deficient in) worked better on the

majority of the patients. Carol in MI

>>

[Guest guest]

Carol,

Thanks for the info. I also take Klonipin for my achy muscles, but I really

don't think I have achy muscles, its more like the neuromuscular something

or another. But the Klonipin does seem to knock me out better than Ambien.

So far the Ambien only makes me disoriented and dizzy but not sleepy.

Probably because I do have Fibro and CFIDS - anyway that's what my doctor

has diagnosed for the secondary diagnosis, but he wrote after that, residual

to Lyme. Thanks again, I'll keep trying my Klonipin.

Sweet dreams

Vicki

Fwd: [Lyme-aid] insomnia

>In a message dated 09/22/1999 5:36:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

>Cslyme@... writes:

>

><< om: Cslyme@...

>

> Hi Vicki,

> I hear a fibromyalgia doctor speak this weekend. She said we need to get

to

> stage 4 sleep and Ambien is the only one that does it. We also need to

find

> out why we aren't sleeping, leg jerks, sounds, pain. Also it took me over

2

> years to get my sleep pattern back. Did the Kava, cammomile, passion

>flower,

> valerian, all of it. It took quite a while. also said that about 10 at

> night our body goes into an upswing and if we don't rest before then we

will

> be up all night. Even if I have insomnia, which isn't too often now, I do

> not get up and do anything, I may read, but no computer, no stimulation

> whatsoever. Try not to sleep in the day. I do rest, but try not to sleep

> long. it really truly helps. This lady was an excellent speaker on FMS,

>she

> linked it to lyme and all kinds of things.

> Hugs and hang in there, Ambien is the best for stage 4 sleep. Your body

> will not do any repair if you do not get to stage 4 sleep. So keep

trying.

> It took me a long time. Good luck and pleasant dreams,

> Connie, MI

>

>Vickie, Ambien doesn't work on everyone, In a sleep study with CFIDS. FIBRO

>and a Few Lyme patients done by a Dr. who deals with patients with major

>sleep disturbances he fiound Klonopin or Ativan to be superior in putting

>patients into dream and late stage sleep stage 4. Some of the drugs put you

>into late stage sleep but cut out your dream stage this is very important

for

>not only our psy/ emotional well being but also for our Immune systems. I

was

>part of this study. Ambien didn't do it for me, as it cut out the dream

>stage. The results of the study on the afore mentioned patients was that

>Klonopin with magnesium(which we are all deficient in) worked better on the

>majority of the patients. Carol in MI

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,

I had a stoned feeling when first on Ambien too.......Your son may want to

try cutting the pill in half.........it doesn't take long to build a

tolerance though.......it wasn't long and I was taking 20mg of Ambien with

no effect...Connie nwnj

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

I had the same reaction from one Ambien, it was terrible. No, I don't

know what being stoned feels like, but hey, I can imagine. Needless to say,

I never took one again. Funny how drugs affect us all differently.

Hugs,

Marta NJ

>From: " melillo " <mellillo1@...>

>

>My son just started on Ambien yesterday and he called from school today to

>tell me he felt disoriented, almost stoned (how would he know?!) all day.

I

>thought maybe it was because he had slept most of Sunday afternoon while he

>was visiting and then drove back to school (an hour) then went to bed at

11.

>Hope it works for him because he has not been sleeping at all and trying to

>go to class during the day. Still can't read books but I have been reading

>his books onto tape for him until the state provides a reader for him.

Darn

>neuro problems are still hanging on for him.

>Sharon WNJ

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

Did your son take the Ambien during the day? I take it a night and notice

within an hour I feel disoriented (yet not tired), dizzy and weird. But I

don't usually have side affects in the am, although I've read somewhere

(maybe here on onelist) that others experienced bad side affects.

Good luck, and hang in there.

Vicki

P.S. I too am trying to figure out what to put on my signature. Good Idea!

[Lyme-aid] insomnia

>From: " melillo " <mellillo1@...>

>

>My son just started on Ambien yesterday and he called from school today to

>tell me he felt disoriented, almost stoned (how would he know?!) all day.

I

>thought maybe it was because he had slept most of Sunday afternoon while he

>was visiting and then drove back to school (an hour) then went to bed at

11.

>Hope it works for him because he has not been sleeping at all and trying to

>go to class during the day. Still can't read books but I have been reading

>his books onto tape for him until the state provides a reader for him.

Darn

>neuro problems are still hanging on for him.

>Sharon WNJ

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/29/99 2:56:50 AM, mellillo1@... writes:

<<Does anyone know if Lymes is listed in the American Disabilities Act. I

have tried to read the darn thing but it is so long! Am trying to get

through the red tape at the college to get him a reader. I am now his

reader and he says it is weird to have me talking in his ear for hours a

day! Maybe I should put in some subliminal messages (sex outside of

marriage is no good!, don't take drugs, eat your broccoli!) LOL!>>

Hi Sharon!

I love the idea of subliminal messages!! LOL

Now about the ADA... it covers disabilities that effect 1 or more life

activities.

You might want to check out this site: http://www.icdi.wvu.edu/others.htm

Your son should be able to get accommodations, I know the k-12 grades can

get them with a 504 plan.

Good Luck!

Jane

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

I don't know about the disability act,but when I'm cruising the internet

tonight, I'll try to find out. In the meantime, maybe your LLMD will know,

or even the board of education. Also in the meantime, I go for the

subliminal stuff - that was great and what an opportunity (ha ha).

You are super mom. I'll let you know if I find anything.

Vicki

P.S. I'm doing the same thing as Mike, with the sleeping during the day and

up all night. Every time I do make it through the day and go to sleep at

night, which I finally did once this week - then I blew it. I think once I

did fall to sleep due to exhaustion, my body tried to make up for all the

loss sleep. Something about night sleep that is just so much better than

sleeping during the day - must be our biorhythm thing. Just have to keep

trying, I think eventually I'll swing back into a normal sleep pattern, its

our body fighting this bug and all the different medication. Hang in there,

tell Mike to just keep trying. Boy it must be hard to study and fight this!

[Lyme-aid] insomnia

>From: " melillo " <mellillo1@...>

>

>Mike said that he took it at night but had napped all day after being up

the

>entire day before hand. He called again and said that by this afternooon

>he felt very calm and intouch, he liked the reality of it. So I think he

>has to learn to stay awake during the day and not nap and then take it at

>normal bedtime. They did half his dose. He sees his psychopharmacologist

>tom'w. Maybe if he gets the right kind of sleep he will be better able to

>focus and read.

>Does anyone know if Lymes is listed in the American Disabilities Act. I

>have tried to read the darn thing but it is so long! Am trying to get

>through the red tape at the college to get him a reader. I am now his

>reader and he says it is weird to have me talking in his ear for hours a

>day! Maybe I should put in some subliminal messages (sex outside of

>marriage is no good!, don't take drugs, eat your broccoli!) LOL!

>Sharon WNJ

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 09/26/1999 3:56:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Memyo@...

writes:

<<

Hi Carol

How much was the dosages

thank

best,

lea ct

<< >>

Lea, the amount uused was from .5 mg to 1 mg. of the Klonopin and the

Magnesium was 250 mg which appears to be a lot but no one became toxic on

this level. I take much higher doses than that of the Magnesium but I test

extreamly low on Magnesium. Carol

[Guest guest]

----Original Message Follows----

INSOMNIA

Ellen, aged 39, had endured intermittent insomnia for 3 years, accompanied

by indigestion and temporomandibular joint dysfunction when she came to the

medical offices of McKee, M.D., at the University of Nevada School of

Medicine in Reno. Ellen preferred a treatment approach that did not use

drugs, so Dr. McKee prescribed cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES), a

safe, nonaddictive use of microelectric impulses.

CES stimulates the production of endorphins (pleasure-inducing molecules) in

the brain by delivering 100 pulses per second of alternating current

electricity from a cigarette-pack size model (weighing 8 ounces) with

ear-clip electrodes that apply the current across the patient’s brain stem.

CES is commonly used for treatment of insomnia, anxiety, depression, chronic

pain, gastritis, substance abuse, migraines, and other conditions, reports

Dr. McKee.

She instructed Ellen to use the CES unit for 40 minutes each night before

attempting to sleep. During the first 2 weeks, Ellen’s dreams became quite

vivid and colorful, then after another 2 weeks, Ellen reported she was able

to sleep through the night. In addition, her indigestion and jaw problems

showed improvement. “CES is a forgotten, safe therapeutic modality that

should be brought to the primary care physician’s awareness as an adjunctive

treatment,” says Dr. McKee.

SOURCE McKee, M.D., “Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation: Case Report

and Review,” Alternative & Complementary Therapies, Vol. 1, No. 6,

November/December 1995, pp. 393-395. Available from: Ann Liebert, Inc.,

2 Madison Ave., Larchmont, NY 10538; tel: 914-834-3100; 6 issues/$79.

[Guest guest]

Benzodiazapines like Xanax, Ativan and Klonopin work well for lots of people

for sleep, also Elavil and Trazadone, antidepressants but at low doses wrk

for sleep. Benzos are addictive but if they work.... You'll deal with the

addiction later. It's pretty easy to very slowly taper off.

beth

Re: [ ] Insomnia and Gettysburg/OPMC from MisTick

> From: ConnieK <conniek@...>

>

> Thats interesting, I will ask my Dr about that one. I have not tried

> Xanax.

> Thanks for the suggestion....I would love to sleep and wake up refreshed.

> I wonder what that feels like??? Connie

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Dear beth,

A mom with lymie daughter suggested we try trazadone. Do you have any

knowledge of the medication?

Thanks much!

Blessings & velcros,

Chris

PS - How was camping trip?

[Guest guest]

Trazadone is a tricyclic antidepressant which at low doses (I believe

something like 25 mg. to 50 mg.) helps w/ sleep. I personally think Elavil

(also a tricyclic) is slightly better, also at a low dose - 25 mg. Elavil

also helps with neuropathy and other kinds of pain. Both are pretty mild

drugs - nonnarcotic. I have taken both and Elavil wins in my book but

there's no huge difference and as we know everyone reacts differently to

these drugs.

With either drug she'll probably feel dopey for a couple of weeks in the

morning. That effect usually wears off.

I'm the beth that doesn't go camping these days! The other one spells

her name w/ an Z and I believe she hails from Florida.

EliSabeth ; >

Re: [ ] Insomnia

> From: DobeLovr1@...

>

> Dear beth,

>

> A mom with lymie daughter suggested we try trazadone. Do you have any

> knowledge of the medication?

>

> Thanks much!

>

> Blessings & velcros,

>

> Chris

>

> PS - How was camping trip?

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim,

I am the Queen of not sleeping!! Six years now of disturbed sleep, and some

nights complete insomnia.

After a lot of trial and error........and let me tell you I have tried

everything.....from milk and cookies to herbs and vitamins/minerals......to

heavy duty sleeping pills.......I have found some success after finding out

I have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. (caused by the lyme

disease).....this sleep disorder is similar to Restless leg

syndrome.......and the movements are directly related to waking up

through-out the night. (I have seen a sleep Dr. and a Neurologist who

specializes in sleep disorders).

You have to be careful what you take to help you sleep.......because it can

make the leg movements worse. I am currently taking Ultram and Desyrel

(Trazadone).......and so far it is helping with the movements and my sleep.

Check out the following site........and it may help give you some insight.

http://www.mlists.net/judson/Elaty.html

http://www.mlists.net/judson/Medications.html

http://www.rls.org/frames/home_frame.htm

Hope you find restful sleep soon.......Connie nwnj

Leave no stone unturned.......

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/10/2002 1:31:06 AM Eastern Standard Time,

henson2@... writes:

>

> Warm good wishes to all the night owls out there!

> Marie

>

>

Hi Marie,

You wrote at about 1:30 AM, and now it's 2:30 AM, so be comforted knowing

that you have plenty of company.

I don't know why, ... I'm always so tired, but keep pushing myself far more

than I should, ... maybe because it takes me so long to get anything done...

Hugs, a

[Guest guest]

Hi, Donna,

Nice to know someone else is sleepless, altho I am sorry you are up with

it! The later it gets the wider awake I seem to get, even after a day of

working hard and actually reading more into the evening than I should

have. I just read Dr. Bleiweiss's (spelling?) article on When to Suspect

Lyme, and noticed the sleeplessness problem.

Didn't mean to ramble... just glad for a bit of company! I hope you can

get good rest soon. I'm going to try again now.

Warm good wishes to all the night owls out there!

Marie

[Guest guest]

I know what you mean, while I was on treatment mydr. gave me a sleep aid(Ambien is most gentle on the liver I think) that really helped, I fell asleep quickly and stayed asleep. You may want to ask your dr. about it, in the mean time Im sure there are plenty of natural substances to help you sleep, im not up on them but im sure there are some on this list who can help, one that comes to mind is Meletonin(sp?) but you should consult your dr. before you take anything, I recently read where Kava Kava(a common herb) is potentiently dangerous for those with liver disease. hope this has been helpful. Sue

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the replies , I will ask about Ambien and the Calcium info

is very interesting , as a veggie who doesn't use dairy that may be

an issue.

No I am not on treatment , I have been though , Interferon , sadly it

had no effect whatsoever . When I was taking it though I had no sleep

problems , this is a recent development which may have something to

do with stress as I recently started working again.

I have tried one or two sleeping pills , but they wear off and I wake

up just the same.

[Guest guest]

Hi Meg,

This may be totally useless…

I once heard someone say that they finally gave up and decided they would

never sleep again. Once they did that, they started sleeping again.

Like I said, maybe totally useless. But not " normal. "

Ann

In a message dated 2/14/07 5:19:42 PM, i_am_not_crazy_08@... writes:

>

> Hi all,

>

> I seem to recall asking vaguely about this before, but eather I don't

> remember what sugggestions were made, or I only *thought* about asking.

Probably

> the latter, knowing me.

>

> Anyway, I'm having *major* issues with insomnia lately -- I'm not sure if

> it's just part of a typical Lyme flare, maybe related to herxing, or if it's

> more the emotional stress I'm under right now (I thought your siblings were

> supposed to be the good guys!). For the last week or so now (it gets

confusing,

> trying to figure out how many night it's been) I've been unable to fall

> asleep at my regular time (between 11:00 and 12:00). The first night, I

couldn't

> sleep because this cold I've got was making it hard to breath. After that the

> next few nights it wasn't until after 4:00AM that I was able to fall asleep

> (though the cold didn't seem to be a factor anymore), and last night I didn't

> fall asleep until well after 6:00AM. I've tried all my " normal " things,

> 5-HTP, theanine, valerian, magnesium, tea, melatonin (yes, even though I'm

also

> having issues with depression still -- I want to go to SLEEP more than

anything

> right now!), warm baths a bit before bedtime, warm milk, " sleep "

> music, even my ambien that I reserve for " emergencies " music, even my ambien

> that I reserve for " emergencies " <wbr>. Heck, I counted sheep, but they just

> kept coming and coming! NOTHING is helping. Once I DO fall asleep I can't

> seem to stay sleep more 4 hours (quite a change from a few months ago when I

was

> routinely sleeping 18+ hour a day). Ever since I first got sick, I've been

> able to nap during the day (obviously if I was sleeping 18 a day), no matter

> how bright it was in a room, or how loud the house was. Now in utter quiet and

> darkness, I can't nap, even though I feel completely exhausted. The lack of

> sleep (at least I think it's the lack of sleep) is kind of freaking my brain

> out I think, and I'm having more hallucinations and seeing more floaters and

> stuff than normal too. Anyway, I want to sleep! Does anybody have *any*

> recommendations for me, besides what I'

>

> THanks!

>

> -Meg

[Guest guest]

Hi -- it's typical for lymies not to be able to sleep, as we lose our normal

sleep rhythms. We have to find out what aids help get us to sleep. For me,

it's 25mg benadryl and 1/2 tab sublingual ativan before my chosen bedtime. --

Robin

[Guest guest]

You can also post your question at _www.lymenet.org_ (http://www.lymenet.org)

.. Click on Flash Discussion and then Medical Questions.

[Guest guest]

Meg

I've been having the same problems with sleep. its' maddening. it

seems that you need to find just the

right dose with melatonin. sometimes 1mg works better than 3. in the

atkins book it mentions some

people can take up to 20mg. i think that's insane but try the less is

more technique.

maybe it works the way homeopathic meds do. i also keep a small battery

tape recorder

near my pillow and play music that tires me out. not loud or heavy

music - and not new agy

stuff. it's got to be something that you can study - like instrumental

solos, etc.

your brain tries to follow it and somehow gets hynotized into oblivion.

this may not work

with you but it keeps my thoughts trained and keeps me from thinking

obsessive

thoughts that would otherwise agitate me. and don't look at the clock.

whenever i see that

it's nearing say, 6am, i get hopeless and anxiety sets in. just makes

it harder.

Steve

On Feb 14, 2007, at 4:32 PM, Meg Chaney wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> I seem to recall asking vaguely about this before, but eather I don't

> remember what sugggestions were made, or I only *thought* about

> asking. Probably the latter, knowing me.

>

> Anyway, I'm having *major* issues with insomnia lately -- I'm not

> sure if it's just part of a typical Lyme flare, maybe related to

> herxing, or if it's more the emotional stress I'm under right now (I

> thought your siblings were supposed to be the good guys!). For the

> last week or so now (it gets confusing, trying to figure out how many

> night it's been) I've been unable to fall asleep at my regular time

> (between 11:00 and 12:00). The first night, I couldn't sleep because

> this cold I've got was making it hard to breath. After that the next

> few nights it wasn't until after 4:00AM that I was able to fall asleep

> (though the cold didn't seem to be a factor anymore), and last night I

> didn't fall asleep until well after 6:00AM. I've tried all my " normal "

> things, 5-HTP, theanine, valerian, magnesium, tea, melatonin (yes,

> even though I'm also having issues with depression still -- I want to

> go to SLEEP more than anything right now!), warm baths a bit before

> bedtime, warm milk, " sleep "

> music, even my ambien that I reserve for " emergencies " . Heck, I

> counted sheep, but they just kept coming and coming! NOTHING is

> helping. Once I DO fall asleep I can't seem to stay sleep more 4 hours

> (quite a change from a few months ago when I was routinely sleeping

> 18+ hour a day). Ever since I first got sick, I've been able to nap

> during the day (obviously if I was sleeping 18 a day), no matter how

> bright it was in a room, or how loud the house was. Now in utter quiet

> and darkness, I can't nap, even though I feel completely exhausted.

> The lack of sleep (at least I think it's the lack of sleep) is kind of

> freaking my brain out I think, and I'm having more hallucinations and

> seeing more floaters and stuff than normal too. Anyway, I want to

> sleep! Does anybody have *any* recommendations for me, besides what

> I've already tried? I'll try just about anything at this point.

>

> THanks!

>

> -Meg

>

>