Insomnia: Who suffers from it and what do you do for it?

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I'm sitting here at 2:30am not because I'm used to working night shift but because I can't sleep. I have a tendency (sp) of doing this a couple of nights a week. I've tried everything, please any personal help would be greatly appreciated. And yes I've spoken to my doctor who told me insomnia is not a diagnosis and shouldn't be medically treated, just to change my bedtime habits, which I have, and it's not working. Help, I'm so tired!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sitting here at 2:30am not because I'm used to working night shift but because I can't sleep. I have a tendency (sp) of doing this a couple of nights a week. I've tried everything, please any personal help would be greatly appreciated. And yes I've spoken to my doctor who told me insomnia is not a diagnosis and shouldn't be medically treated, just to change my bedtime habits, which I have, and it's not working. Help, I'm so tired!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I use Melatonin and erar pluggs. A dark cool room , I know it's hard when your sleepy, but avoid caffiene at all cost. You may need to change shifts to help. Good luck

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Here are the tools in my tool box:

1) Regular exercise

2) Lots of pillows

3) Drink enough water

4) Melatonin

5) Benadryl (25-50)

6) Lunesta

7) Sleepytime teas -- usually with some kind of chamomile

8) Dark dark room

9) Ear plugs

10) A doc that will listen to me.

11) We are teetotalers in our house, but if a glass of wine or something is your thing, it might just relax you enough....

We feel your pain. Hang in there.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I swear by 60 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise. When I do that early in the day, it is almost impossible to not fall asleep later that night. This is quite a change for me because at times I have been troubled by insomnia.

Benadryl, the teas, glass of wine, etc do nothing for me.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

Well I just bought some melatonin/valerian root combo med from the drug store. Hopefully it works, otherwise you'll see me posting things at 2 or 3:00am again. If I don't get some good sleep soon, I feel as though I might go crazy. Good thing my stupid doctor told me that insomnia isn't a diagnosis and that it shouldn't be medically treated. Maybe he'll change his mind when he has to come visit me at the closest mental facility. "Sweet dreams to myself"

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kstec~

You got a lot of great advice here. I will be thinking about you tonight & praying that you are able to get a good night of sleep. I know that it is maddening to not be able to sleep, but sleep will come!

Let us know how it goes... and what DOES work. And yes... "sweet dreams to you"

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

Thank you all for your information and I'll keep you posted if this melatonin/velarian root stuff works. If it doesn't than please keep the info coming, I'll need it. If all else fails, I could just get drunk and pass out every night. Just kidding!!!!!!

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I'm not sure why your doc said insomnia is not a diagnosis. It's certainly in the ICD-9 code book, and can be used for billing!!

Benadryl makes me hung over.

I rarely have insomnia, but I keep a prescription of Sonata, which works well. I've used Ambien as well.

The only time I've had a problem was when I did not get into bed immediately after taking the med.

It hits like a ton of bricks.

You can get very, very drunk and do stupid stuff on the sleeping med!

:imbar

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Allnurses.com keeps me awake at times because it is always something going on that is interesting to me (just kidding...it doesn't cause my insomnia, but it is just addicting). When I really have it bad, I will take a Benadryl, read a good book or cut off all of the lights to reduce stimulus. For me, this started when I was in school. I really studied well at night. There was something about the silence of the neighborhood, no phones ringing or silence that was really productive to me. I work days, now, and still can't quite get it right even after a year away from school. But, I'm getting there.

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Specializes in ER, Outpatient PACU and School Nursing.

started having problems last year with Insomnia... I had thought it was maybe a premenopausal- stress thing. It got to the point that I had about 3 hours of sleep one night and had to be at work at 7am. I had a f/u appt with my gyn after work and I said- this isnt right.. so he gave me a script for lunesta 1mg. It worked great in the beginning and I only took it twice a week on days I had to be in early to work. But this past march I noticed (or dh noticed) that I was having hallucinations and finally stood up on my bed and almost knocked my head into the fan. so that was the end of lunesta for me.. I told my PMD and he said they all have side effects and said to try ambien CR 6.25mg. and I have been on it ever since. I just refilled my original script and go through stages where my sleep pattern is okay and like this past two weeks- cannot sleep. so on my days off I watch alot of TV at night and fall asleep to law and order or do CEUs online and on the days that I know I need to get some sleep I will take the ambien. I have tried benedryl but I hate the hung over feeling I get. back in the day when I did nights I also tried melatonin but that only lasted so long.. Its so darn frustrating... I hate to take anything but I need my sleep!

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