This is my biggest problem right now. Even if my discomfort is only mild, I find because my mind is focusing on it, it still interupts my sleep. It usually takes me hours to get off to sleep and it's frequently disturbed. Not necessarily to go to the bathroom, I just wake up for no reason. This pretty much makes me a zombie all day due to being so tired, and being super tired doesn't seem to make it any easier to get off to sleep.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has trouble sleeping. What does everyone do to help with this? I've found over the counter sleep aids like Nytol can help somewhat, but I don't want to be taking that every single night. I'm also trying my hardest to practice relaxation techniques, but I'm finding it really difficult to get my mind into the right state for them to work as intended, it gets distracted too easily. I'll keep trying though.
Insomnia
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Richard.N
- Sage
- Posts: 578
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 6:05 pm
- Location: Bristol, England
Some antidepressants (eg. TCRs and NaSSAs) help sleep as do old skool antihistamines like Atarax. All prescription though. These substances may also help other aspects of CPPS.
They can make you feel fuzzy during the day but this wears off gradually. I'm not sure if Atarax helps sleep long term or whether you get used to it.
Benzodiazepams like Valium can help, but there is the risk of addiction apparently. They may also help with muscle tension.
Melatonin is available in the US but over here it's also prescription only. I guess the best thing to do is see your GP.
They can make you feel fuzzy during the day but this wears off gradually. I'm not sure if Atarax helps sleep long term or whether you get used to it.
Benzodiazepams like Valium can help, but there is the risk of addiction apparently. They may also help with muscle tension.
Melatonin is available in the US but over here it's also prescription only. I guess the best thing to do is see your GP.
Richard
Age: 39. | Onset Age: 30. Onset Date: January 2002. Symptoms (back then): Supra-pubic pain, back pain, urinary frequency, urgency and difficulty, weak stream, nocturia, (and variously) chronic fatigue, IBS. Current symptoms: more frequent than normal, but pretty much under control. Current amelioration: Xatral 10mg, Mirtazapine 30mg. | Worsened By: Stress, binge drinking, strained bowel movements, bloating, sitting on hard surfaces, jogging, and regularly - THE WINTER!
I'm not a medical expert. My comment is opinion. See your medical professional.
Age: 39. | Onset Age: 30. Onset Date: January 2002. Symptoms (back then): Supra-pubic pain, back pain, urinary frequency, urgency and difficulty, weak stream, nocturia, (and variously) chronic fatigue, IBS. Current symptoms: more frequent than normal, but pretty much under control. Current amelioration: Xatral 10mg, Mirtazapine 30mg. | Worsened By: Stress, binge drinking, strained bowel movements, bloating, sitting on hard surfaces, jogging, and regularly - THE WINTER!
I'm not a medical expert. My comment is opinion. See your medical professional.
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Mike
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2002 2:03 am
- Location: UK
Atarax will make anyone sleep it knocks me out at 25mg I can only take it at night but it is wearing off slowly this effect so I doubt this is a long term thing.
Melatonin I got some of that from the US but it knocked me out way to much to continue with it it was way more powerful than Atarax in that respect! I was not using it for sleeping trouble though or Atarax.
Atarax is not so bad during the day at 25mg I find but above that it certainly brings on a sleepy feeling during the day, but this is wearing off for me as time goes by.
Valerian root is popular relaxation and sleeping supplament...widely available in pill and tea. Any health shop will have this like this one:
http://www.burstingwithhealth.co.uk/
Melatonin I got some of that from the US but it knocked me out way to much to continue with it it was way more powerful than Atarax in that respect! I was not using it for sleeping trouble though or Atarax.
Atarax is not so bad during the day at 25mg I find but above that it certainly brings on a sleepy feeling during the day, but this is wearing off for me as time goes by.
Valerian root is popular relaxation and sleeping supplament...widely available in pill and tea. Any health shop will have this like this one:
http://www.burstingwithhealth.co.uk/
Mike
I am *not* a Doctor and I am not giving medical advice.
I am *not* a Doctor and I am not giving medical advice.
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MastCells
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 748
- Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2002 3:46 am
- Location: USA
Re: Insomnia
I've been battling insomnia for years. My mind refuses to calm down at night.Gabriel wrote:This is my biggest problem right now. Even if my discomfort is only mild, I find because my mind is focusing on it, it still interupts my sleep. It usually takes me hours to get off to sleep and it's frequently disturbed. Not necessarily to go to the bathroom, I just wake up for no reason. This pretty much makes me a zombie all day due to being so tired, and being super tired doesn't seem to make it any easier to get off to sleep. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has trouble sleeping.
What does everyone do to help with this?
I just went to http://nytol.com , and actually, they have a good list of things to try that may help. I would add the following to that list:
1) Don't watch T.V. right before shut-eye (*especially* the news--wars, murders, terrorists, etc. don't give you "sweet dreams").
2) Try reading before bed (maybe some fiction, to take you away from this world and your problems for a while).
3) OK, this is going to sound stupid, but I have a "sound relaxer," a device (like something you'd see at Sharper Image) that plays recordings of soothing, repetitive sounds. I listen to the ocean waves when trying to fall asleep
(makes me feel like I'm vacationing on the Vineyard). 
Nytol is just an OTC antihistamine. At least it is relatively safe, and there isn't a risk of addiction associated with it (unlike many prescription sleep aids).I've found over the counter sleep aids like Nytol can help somewhat, but I don't want to be taking that every single night.
Concentrate on your breathing; inhale through your nose, taking slow, deep breaths, and exhale through your mouth.I'm also trying my hardest to practice relaxation techniques, but I'm finding it really difficult to get my mind into the right state for them to work as intended, it gets distracted too easily. I'll keep trying though.
Last edited by MastCells on Sat May 10, 2003 10:52 pm, edited 4 times in total.
This is not medical advice. Please consult your physician.
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Ralph
- Veteran
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- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2002 5:13 am
I've taken different forms of melatonin with mixed results. It never really seemed to work consistantly well for me. Valarian pills did nothing for me, but I have taken it as a tea and it seemed to work. The problem becomes drinking the tea before bed makes me wake up to urinate. Has anyone ever taken a form of valarian that has worked well? I think these "natural" remedies have value, but they are not regulated and you never really know what you're getting or how much. Accepted medications, usually perscription, are more effective but can be expensive and harder to get. One other thought; these natural meds are not cheap by any means.
Ralph Caccese, MD (Radiologist)
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Jim in San Antonio
Will they let you take Ambien? Most physicians will say you shouldn’t use it for more than anything short-term, but they haven’t kept up with the European medical literature which indicates it is safe for long-term use and restores "physiological sleep" (FDA hasn’t caught up with the medical literature either; they’ve approved it for only short-term use; therefore, many insurance companies won’t cover it for long periods since it’s so expensive; maybe someday this will change).