Insomnials

[quadancer]

I get worse and worse. VA gave me some stuff called Temazepam that does drop me off for 6 hrs, but I don't like the chemical aspect or possibility of dependence, so I don't take it if I don't have a job to do the next day or anything.
I tried Valerian Root...it doesn't seem to do squat.
I quit a bad job that was stressing me badly - helped a little.
I tried Lunesta, but that's definitely chemical sleep - and wakeup.
Melatonin is a joke.
I now have something akin to chronic fatigue disorder and am being checked out for that - will go to a sleep lab the 17th of this month.
*(and wake up there on my 57th birthday.)
Just wonder if anyone else has some anecdotes, cures, whatever.

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[Eagleface]

how much melatonin did u try, too much or too little may not work.

[quadancer]

5mg./nite

[Eagleface]

That may be too much, I bought the 3mg and cut them in half (i'm 41 y/o), it took a couple of weeks to feel it, also I make sure to get no stimulation or light after taking it, I usually wake up once a night but go right back to sleep, which is a huge improvement for me, last night I did good from 12am straight to 6:30.

[quadancer]

I go to a sleep study the 17th. I wake up in the hospital on my stinkin' birthday! Well, should be interesting, anyway.

[toolpod]

I have chronic insomnia too. I just finished up a Sleep Study myself. Irony is, I work for Respironics, the company that makes the CPAPs. The Diagnostic Monitors they hook you up to at the labs: I design those.

The doc thinks I have a circadian rhythm disorder...a fancy way of saying I'm a chronic night owl, whose body loves to stay up later every night, but not earlier.

I've tried a few of the benzodiazapine-class drugs, but they are temporary solutions. The Ambien-type stuff scares me because I know people who have done the "sleep driving thing".
Rozerem left me wired like I had a cup of coffee.

I use melatonin and a valerian tea right before bed, which helps, but not all the way. One thing that has worked is being anal about good sleep hygene: About 30 to 60 minutes prior to bed, I tunr off the TV or PC, turn down the lights and read for 30 minutes and then try to sleep. Also, if you a relyiong in bed fro more than 15 or 30 minutes without success, try moving to the couch or anothe bed.

MOst nights I end up doing that, and then going back to bed when I wake up again in the night.

[quadancer]

Thanks Tool...I mean TP...waitaminnit...none of these are working...shoulda just typed it out!
Anyway, you sound like my clone - except I can be dead tired like now after a 14 hour day and can't sleep. I took temazipam last night, so I don't dare do it again; I think I'm losing the ability to go to sleep. I haven't tried the moving thing, probably because I've always used a pillow between the knees and it doesn't work well on the couch.
That Ambien should be outlawed. I did a half one night and it was psychotropic...my old lady did one and I found her in bed with chocolate all over her face and the pillow - she couldn't hit her mouth. I dumped the stuff.

[joverfield]

I am also curious if anyone finds a solution for this. I have chronic insomnia as well, and have had it for the past 5 years.

I have tried all different dosages of melatonin (agree it is a joke), valerian, 5-HTP, and GABA for herbals. I have also tried all OTC sleep meds, 10mg ambien, and 3mg Lunesta. Nothing has helped in the least. The Ambien made me feel completely drugged, but I stayed awake all night, and all the Lunesta did was put a horrible taste in my mouth.

At first I thought it was maybe a mild form of apnea because I was too heavy (260lbs), but after losing 60lbs of that I have not seen an improvement in the slightest. I know my job is a part of the problem (rotating 12hr shifts), but there has to be some solution.

Quadancer, sorry I am not any help for you. However, since you brought this up I am also looking for suggestions.

[quadancer]

My "best" sleep nights come after a workout day, with physical work, but not stress. Something like working for myself at home, or for a relative or helping out elderly folk...and when I have something good happening in my life, as all the jobs are coming in lately and I just feel blessed.
So much of this is psychological.
But "best" is accompanied by 3 pee trips to relieve my enlarged prostate, many turnovers due to lack of circulation or joint pains, pillow flips for coolness, bumping my wife to shut off her snorer, and I don't know what all else. This may be the reason for the chronic fatigue, which I'm managing with drugs.
For instance, today, working on my brother's plumbing, I started hurting and dropping off, feeling heavy at hour five. Took some painkillers and a light yohimbe tab and finished to hour 8 or 9. Without them I'd have to lay down.

[RustoleusMaximus]

Immunocal is great for chronic fatigue syndrome (ImmuneSystemCare.com) ... I use 3 mgs. of Melatonin and that works for me. I also work a revolving third shift job so I can feel your pain when it comes to your sleep being disturbed. I use a fan when I sleep as I need noise to sleep. Maybe some of this will help.

[Eagleface]

Lord, help us all to sleep better, we need it. Amen.

[joverfield]

I have wondered about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome before, but Immunocal seems a little expensive ($90 for 30 10g pouches). I don't know if I could pull the trigger on that without finding independent testimony on how well this works. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[quadancer]

Update: I was mega-low on test, so went on TRT for quite a few weeks, but that only took the edge off of the fatigue attacks, and let me sleep just a little better. No changes in the gym either.
The VA got me a CPAP machine a week ago and I went from waking 5 times a night to one or two. I feel better and it's showing in the gym. Still get pretty fatigued in the afternoon, but I'm lasting a lot longer.
Wonders if the machine would help recovery for regular guys? You definitely get more air. Mine has a memory and diagnostic screen - shows my breathing trying to stop 11% in 8 hrs.

[crazy]

I have been using a CPAP machine for 3 years and my life has changed. Went from extreme fatigue and living in a haze to seeming normal.

I have normal workouts every so often.

Changed my life.

Had sleep apnea bad.