Report back on my experiment with high doses of melatonin. At first, it went really well. A few days ago, I noticed unpleasant and vivid dreams. I was waking up stressed, with my heart beating really fast. I cut back on the melatonin and still the same result. Lower levels will put me back to levels that don’t work in terms of helping me sleep. Unfortunately, I find the dreams and waking stress levels too unpleasant to continue. I can also report that the higher levels did not help the migraines.
Overall, the result was a fail, for me at least. I expect to go back to not sleeping at night.
I believe this is the standard, non-drug approach to insomnia. Once you are able to sleep by being exhausted enough, you then strictly adhere to waking up early (regardless if you’re tired) and going to bed at the same time every day. It’s not easy tho, so I doubt you’d be interested.
I’ll let you know how the next cycle works out - the last one - I tried to sleep only at night - I had a huge plumbing issue (still not fixed) to keep me busy during the day.
I am now too wasted to even prep food - I lie in bed most of the day.
I keep potato chips and candy (high-caloric foods) by the bed.
Lovely life.
Old PCP - the morphine doc who almost killed me (Acute Renal Failure, 2/15 - 2/21/17) doesn’t want me back.
I need a pill-pusher at this point - “real” docs won’t touch me.
I know it’s probably been asked several times but do you have anyone, friend or professional, who is ever around to give you some assistance? What you describe is a disaster waiting to happen.
I find the Brainwaves app really helpful for those times when I wake up around 2.30-3.30. Just plug my earbuds into my iPhone, set it for “Deep sleep” and it usually knocks me out within 10 minutes.
5 AM and I want to do something rather than sleep, so the usual problem of “do I push sleep” or “stay up” is rather academic.
I’m actually prescribed up to 15 mg per day of good old Dexadrine, but I can’t hack it. I took half a dose (about 2.5 mg) around 2 PM, and here we are, listening to the birds chirp. My little ones were prescribed melatonin practically from birth. It works a bit more often than not, but I worry about hormonal side effects. I suspect that this is a familial thing. My mom has always preferred night shifts (she’s in her 60s now) and her mother regularly stayed up till 4 or so, reading or quilting or whatnot (though dozing through the day).
I was visiting my young cardiologist the day before yesterday and after we went over the results of my nuclear stress test, he asked about my general health, including sleeping. I told him I woke up very early every morning and he said “Like 5 a.m.?” I said, “I wish! More like 2:30 to 3:00, and then can’t go back to sleep.”
He was shocked. But he is young and his specialty is hearts, so he’s unfamiliar with old people’s terminal insomnia issues. He says he can sleep ten hours a night and nap at any time. I remember when I could do that! About thirty years ago.
Actually, the osteoarthritis and kidney failure diagnostics were made by real doctors.
My PCP in SF was a quite famous oncologist/internist. I am proud to say we were also friends. I miss him. I miss being able to afford care of that caliber.
Yes, I am now reduced to cut-rate everything. My use of WebMD is self-preservation.
I asked the highly questionable nephrologist why I had never heard of Gabapentin (CKD results in killer itch) or magnesium (muscle cramps like you wouldn’t believe) from him (both came from WebMD).
He didn’t like that. He also could not tell me if the implant for peritoneal dialysis precluded swimming. “I don’t think so” - he never has issued a flat statement of fact, always “I think so” or “I don’t think so”.
When I told the nurse I never wanted to see him again, he ran to the dept head and she demanded my time. I don’t think so.
So yes, I know my ailments and I know what meds work. If that makes me a bad patient, so be it.
I have not had a decent night’s sleep since March 10. Yes, I DO want my sleep meds (choice of 5 known to work, 20 or so do not work) back.
I want my pain meds back. Current “PCP” has flat out stated that she will not consider writing either. Head of her dept also states "No opioids (pain), no benzodiazepines (sleep).
I am now changing Medical Centers, looking for a Medicare-accepting MD. You always get the best when you say “Medicare”.
I can complain about my current life situation, but why?
Tell me, he who knows me so well - how long does this “therapy” take?
4 months so far.
The insomnia has been unaltered since about 1962. 50+ goddamned years, every night, lying awake.
I now stay down until 09:00. Proper form, I believe.
You will all be heartened to find I am up and active today. Your cheering is overwhelming!
No clue why. Nothing has changed except I stopped taking vitamins because they make me want to puke.
Well… actually, I’ve taken a two-week break from EMDR so my PTSD has chilled a lot. That’s actually heartening, it indicates to me that the side-effects of EMDR are temporary and that the positive impact will endure after I stop. I’m a bit worried when I resume next week, I’ll go all insomniac again. But one day at a time, I guess.
I tried it. It seemed to work but I really don’t have the right kind of headphones for a proper trial. I would wake myself up when I rolled over onto my side and knocked the headphones off. First assessment, promising. I will repeat this with better equipment.
