[inthesky]

When i went to see my therapist today, she reminded me again that getting quality nighttime sleep is pivotal in controlling bipolar disorder. This echos my psych doc. How do you just sleep? My sleep meds are a mess.

kburns, take care. Try and start to sleep at very regular times. You may have trouble at first. My therapist wants me to start sleeping from 11pm-7am.. its now 0000, but that is how life goes, i guess. but really don't get on the sleep during the day schedule.. I have never had anything destroy my neurochemical balance so harshly! I hope to sleep tonight and i hope you do as well
<3

[kburns0016]

Thanks Babs...yesterday afternoon was awful...it had been one of those "giving" days and I finally just cracked when hubby came home and was trying to rush me out the door to Wal Mart of all places, I was so off my center I just needed to sit and think in a quiet environment for a few minutes but he was pushing pushing pushing..."come on hurry up you knew we were going all day come on lets go right now "
ouch , I had a terrrible episode, crying and telling him to leave finallly about 15 miuntes to late he realized I was having an "episode" as he calls my depressive states...he did apologize and ask what I needed to feel better what he could do to make me feel safe , that was a nice change!
Thanks inthesky I hope last night was kinder to you than it was to me ...I too tried going to bed at 11 even took my ambien cr at about 9:30 but I dont think this ambien cr is working for me (maybe it is the dosage ?!?! 12.5 mg)since I was still awake well after 2 am this morning . I guess I sleep during the day due to chronic exhaustion and then only because my kids like to sleep in and we homeschool there in no immediate cause to wake me up....I gradually start to come around about 9:30 or 10 am but I am a zombie the rest of the day often falling asleep every time I sit down.
I hope you had some success last night inthesky~

[inthesky]

I actually did sleep alright <3 I tried ambien CR for a week and it didn't get me to sleep either. I think maybe it just does not release enough at once? Anecdotally, i had some luck with ambien taken with ambien CR but that would have to be doc approved >_<. <3take care.

[Babs0512]

Try Ambien CR with Klonopin. I take both (prescribed) and it helps. The Klonopin helps with anxiety which then allows the Ambien to put me to sleep.

Some nights NOTHING works, but this works most of the time.

God Bless

Babs

[kburns0016]

Thanks Babs I'll mention it ...my ambien cr RX is only seven days but I am pretty sure I will be calling my doc Friday as he is out on Thursday ( my rx goes til monday but I am not how much more I can handle) and asking him to try something else , possibly something stronger...please anything else, I am going bonkers here, without sleep I do not behave like a rational human being ...and it has been since the first week or so of April (my GB surgery was on april fools day) that I slept well and reality is starting to wear thin, I dont know if you know what I mean but it is the only way I can descirbe it~
Any way thanks for the advice ...I think for tonight I am gonna take some Ativan with my Ambien CR and see what that does, cant be any worse than last night !

[zoeboboey]

Hi guys, we're not allowed to give medical advice but people do share what works for them, ie "I use thus and such" versus "I recommend this or that medication". In light of which, I used Benadryl over the counter for sleep. At one point had to take 100 a night but now I rarely (less than once a month) need ANYthing. Right mix of meds, spirituality, self care. Have I mentioned the site http://www.bipolarhappens.com ? Designed by a lady who helps you develop self care plans, beyond medication. She also shows ways to get FAMILY involved so you DON'T get someone pushing you to do something when what you need to do is rest, for example. She did have an e newsletter but also has books and "sample health cards" for sale...

Some tips on sleep hygiene at

http://allnurses.com/forums/f240/sle...ne-257271.html

God bless, you guys! xo

[Silverdragon102]

Gentle reminder on Terms of Service

This is not a medical advice bulletin board

This is a board for nurses and nurses-to-be to discuss nursing issues. Please do not ask for any medical or nursing feedback related to a health situation that affects you, a family member, or somone that is not a patient under your care. This is not a free medical advice board. Please be aware that allnurses.com cannot be responsible for problems resulting from reliance on medical or nursing advice received here. If you have a medical problem, please seek attention from your health care provider.

[xtendedmind]

[font="Century Gothic"][font="Century Gothic"]Hello Everyone. I am new to allnurses.com. I am very surprised at the number of Nurses with disabilities who are employed as RN's. This is not a bad thing but a wonderful thing. I find this very encouraging due to having Bipolar, Panic Attacks, PMDD and Insomnia or what someone called Delayed Insomnia Disorder. I have always wanted to be a Nurse but I was under the impression that with my mental illness, there was no hope for accomplishing this goal. I was concerned about being hired because of my illness. An advisor told me that I didn't have to disclose that information. She said all applicants are to be treated equally regardless of age, religion, sexual orientation, or disabilities, etc.. and if this holds true why do the employers need to have this information? She said all they need to know is if I can do the job and do it well. Well, I got brave and am currently enrolled in school, taking some pre- requisites for Nursing. I am really excited. I have been on disability for 7 years now and I feel like I am just letting my life pass me by. I am on medications and feel I am pretty stable and can hold a job. At this point I don't think it is the Bipolar itself hindering my goals but the fact I am having issues with my sleep. Wish me luck. I definitely need it.

Friends,
xtendedmind

[xtendedmind]

NursingStudent209, how are you?
I had a lot of problems finding a medication that worked for me. Last year I was put on Lamictal. It is wonderful. No Side Effects. The only side affect with this medication is a rash. Look it up and maybe even ask your doctor about it. It is great for men that are concerned with erectile dysfunction.

[xtendedmind]

Severina, Can you please tell me what Major Comorbid Mental Ilness is? I have never heard of this illness.
Thanks,
xtendedmind

Originally Posted by apaisRN

Delayed sleep syndrome is a fancy name for lazy . . . no, seriously, it is a real diagnosis where your internal clock wants to shift forward. Left to myself, I stay up later and later and sleep later and later, and can't sleep in sync with the rest of the world. It was disastrous when I was working evenings. For me it's just a matter of staying on top of it, getting to bed at a decent hour and having things I HAVE to go to, like work and class, that keep me getting up before noon. Occasional Ativan for sleep is good too. It's not that I'm a night owl, per se, I don't LIKE being up at night. My brain just wants me to.

Originally Posted by Dixie77

I am currently a nursing student and I have Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety Disorder. I grew up with a Father who is Bipolar and still doesn't take his meds. I wish I had some great news to give you but like you said you can't force someone to get help if they don't want it. I do my best to talk to him and make him realize that the illness doesn't just affect him. My personal experience with Bipolar Disorder is take your meds, see your counselor, and fight it with everything you have. It's like anything, if you give up it's over. As for your situation I would learn as much as possible about the disorder and I would let her know that you are there for her and empathize with what she is going through. Also, let her know how this affects you and everyone else around her even though she doesn't realize it. Hope this helps a little.