Insomnia.. how do you cope ?

[E-bunny]

Well its nearly 3am.. Yet again im still awake LOL.. pain is unbearable and my legs are on a mission to keep me pacing all night..

Have decided that even trying to sleep now is pointless as gotta be up at 5 for work !! o.O

How do you guys cope with the sleepless nighys ? Any tips on how to get to sleep on nights like this ?

[Rish]

Hi E-bunny, I have insomnia due to my rls but I have that under control so I am left with the insomnia now! I mostly do arts and crafts through the night and play mmorpg it keeps my mind going otherwise I would eat and eat

Sorry I don't have any tips on sleep as I don't get much myself! Good luck and hopefully you will find some peace and sleep.

[baccib]

HI; THIS IS THE SECOND NITE IM UP...HAD BEEN DOING WELL FOR A W HILE. THE WAY I COPE IS HOT WHIRL POOL BATHS...THE ONLY THING THAT TAKES AWAY THE PAIN. I ALSO HAVE A MASSAGE CHAIR WITH A VIBRATOR THAT HELPS A LOT AND I GET ON THE INTERNET AND PLAY BRIDGE OR SCRABBLE. THEN I HAVE TO GET HONEST WITH MYSELF AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT I HAD EATEN THAT COULD HAVE ADDED TO THE PROBLEM. NO easy answers im afraid hugs

[Ruggerroy]

My method of coping when the RLS is keeping me awake is to exhaust the leg muscles by exercise. It might not work for you, but I squat down, then raise myself 6 inches or so, and again, for about 135 times, followed by touching my toes, rising 6 - 8 inches and touching them again, for 135 times. I then repeat the first squatting exercise for another 135 times, by which time my legs are aching well!! When I return to bed the legs are still and I am tired, even though the exercising only takes ten minutes or so. I will be 74 in two months so younger folks should find this routine easier. Good luck!!

[nick-the-turk]

hi recently went nearly 8 weeks with little or no sleep and being a postman found it hard going went back to the doctors who started back to the begining with my medication and at the moment on 2 iron tablets a day and 1 0.26 prolonged release pramimixole tablet and the relief at the moment is about 70% better which is good for me i know where all differant when it comes to medication but try iron if you hav.nt already done so.

[nick-the-turk]

hi recently went nearly 8 weeks with little or no sleep and being a postman found it hard going went back to the doctors who started back to the begining with my medication and at the moment on 2 iron tablets a day and 1 0.26 prolonged release pramimixole tablet and the relief at the moment is about 70% better which is good for me i know where all differant when it comes to medication but try iron if you hav.nt already done so.

[Turke]

All i can offer is to not go to bed too soon and when you do, let your mind wander, don´t dwell on any one thing too long. If and when it starts try to go with it instead of resisting. If still no sleep, get up and have a few turns round the room or house. Its easy for me to say this as I do not get pain, Just a creepy crawly itchy sensation that becomes all consuming and is relieved by movement. The "Hidroxil" B12-B6-B1 i am taking is still working and have been free for two nights. Sorry I can´t be of more help

[Turke]

All i can offer is to not go to bed too soon and when you do, let your mind wander, don´t dwell on any one thing too long. If and when it starts try to go with it instead of resisting. If still no sleep, get up and have a few turns round the room or house. Its easy for me to say this as I do not get pain, Just a creepy crawly itchy sensation that becomes all consuming and is relieved by movement. The "Hidroxil" B12-B6-B1 i am taking is still working and have been free for two nights. Sorry I can´t be of more help

[peterk]

Hello E bunny. I have insomnia through RLS and I sympathise and know how difficult it is. There are no easy answers. I think what other people have shown is that they all develop their coping mechanisms. You could, if you haven't done so, try cutting out caffeine completely from your diet and they say that a cool sleeping environment is important. I did a blog on here of what I did one night. I find if I over exercise then the RLS gets worse both in terms of pain and the sensory disturbance. My pain medication my Dr has told me should make me sleep. It doesn't though. It must be tough having insomnia and being a postman. It's probably a better job though to have with RLS as opposed to a desk job.

I do massage my feet about three times during the night but I tend to just close my eyes and spend the night that way. That seems to help with the thickness of the head and the hurting eyes that you get from insomnia.