Insomnia

[Woo777]

I just can’t sleep , night after night I just lay here even when I feel so tired . I fall asleep about 4 am then don’t want to get up for work at 7.30 . I thought going back to work would help but I’ve never had a night sleep in a year without zopiclone . My doctor says it’s bad to take sleeping tablets more than 3 nights a week . Does any one have any ideas on how I can get some sleep ?

[Elenor3]

Hi

I’m sorry you’re having this problem for such a long time. I’m also unable to sleep properly since my head injury. No one has ever been able to guve a proper explanation but I blame it on being woken around the clock every four hours and having a torch shine in my eyes. It’s like a pattern has been set that I can’t brrak out if . I’m much the same as you in that I find it very hard to get to sleep, then when I do go to sleep eventually- I wake up just a few hours later and that’s that. After a really bad night I spend the next day making mistakes or bursting into tears about nothing the whole time. After a good night (I occasionally get 5/6 hours - I’m better but often fall asleep while eating or just after lunch. I’ve kind of decided to try and accept it now. Getting stressed over it makes me feel worse. My two regular things to do to make myself feel happier about it all is to use bbc iPlayer to bookmark a selection of things to listen to on the radio at night while imtrying to drop off. I keep the volume low and set the sleep timer since I recently discovered it. It will play your programmes for a set amount of time and then turn it off - that helps. I have this by the bed and when I wake in the night I carry on listening. I also have tried reading (it’s two years since the accident and I’m better at reading now. It doesn’t matter that I don’t remember everything I’ve read, it’s the action of reading that helps calm you doen and prepares you for the turning off the light and listening to the radio. Lots of people recommend special herbal teas and baths with essential oils. I’m sure those things are helpful but they don’t work for me sadly. It’s drfinit worth trying them out to see if they have an effect. Keeping a regular bedtime routine is a good idea. Not having too many drinks like tea or coffee in the evening is recommended. I can imagine your predicament. I tried a phased returns to work which failed, so pursue all avenues to try and get your routine back. Good luck

[StrawberryCream in reply to Elenor3]

Elenor please read my response to Woo as Circadin modified release might help you as well.

[StrawberryCream]

I had sleeping problems for several years after my brain injury and like you my GP prescribed Zopiclone but only to be taken occasionally. I then was reminded of Melotonin that is often prescribed to children with disabilities who can often have trouble sleeping. The tablet is Circadin modified release and it is melatonin which is the natural hormone we produce in our brains in the evening that gives us our sleep circle. It is primarily licensed to be prescribed to people over the age of 50 as that is when your sleep cycle can deteriorate. I asked my GP if I could try it to see if it would help me because I was constantly in a state of sleep deprived exhaustion, which then meant, my coping levels in the daytime was dire! My GP was happy to prescribed and it has made quite a difference to my sleep cycle! As it is a natural hormone and not a sedative I still get nights, like everyone does, when I have got too much buzzing about my head that it gives me a sleepless night but mostly I now sleep a more reasonable amount and a more deeper restorative sleep. Ask your GP if you can give it a try. I started on 2 mg tablet and it was increased to 4 mgs. Take it about an hour before you want to go to sleep.

[Woo777 in reply to StrawberryCream]

Thankyou, I’ll ask him if I can have it x

[sealiphone]

There was a recent BBC Horizon episode The Truth About Sleep where insomniac Michael Mosley investigates possible solutions:

bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b...

[sca2013]

Here's something that may be of value for your sleep - thetappingsolution.com/blog...

[IanAG]

I have a similar problem. I am in bed and asleep by 9pm most nights, have no problem nodding off, but often wake at 3am and find it impossible to get back to sleep. Like Elenor3 I usually listen to the radio or switch on my audio book and sometimes this puts me back to sleep. Otherwise I have to nap during the day.

My GP believes that it’s due to damage to the part of my brain which regulates hormone production, and that as a result I am getting a peak of cortisol production in the early hours of the morning instead of during the afternoon when it should occur. This gives me mental energy which causes vivid dreams and wakes me up.

Some good tips here....I will ask my doc about melatonin.

[StrawberryCream in reply to IanAG]

Similarly my GP thought that my 'sleep centre' in my brain has been damaged. It seems most GP immediately think to prescribed a sedative type sleeping tablet. That was what my GP did but I was only allowed to take them a couple of times a week and I think the expectation was that that would help get back into a sleep cycle to then sleep without them. But because of my brain damage my sleep was still dire and I was incredibly sleep deprived and constantly exhausted. I couldn't allow myself to nap in the day either because then I wouldn't even get an hours nap at night! I was following all the sleep hygiene advice but that didn't help at all. I was not going into a deep restorative sleep even when I did doze off. If GP's won't prescribed I have been told that the natural melotonin is also in concentrated cherry juice brought from places such as Holland & Barrett or on amazon. Circadin has made a improvement to my sleep.

[Woo777 in reply to StrawberryCream]

I will try any thing it’s getting me down

[StrawberryCream in reply to Woo777]

What you are experiencing is exactly what I did. I wish I had asked for Circadin much sooner. My cognitive exhaustion is now when I have too much overwhelming me rather than a permanent state. I hope it works for you too.

[jentwistle]

I have such trouble sleeping but recently, on my days off I force myself to wake up around 10 in the morning and if I don’t have any plans I either walk into town and back or go to the gym to tire myself out. I’ve also tried to stop watching tv in bed as much and try not to eat past 6pm. Hope that helps!