Ugh, my insomnia is killing me

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I've always had episodes of insomnia, but this one is killing me. I get home from school and I am utterly exhausted, I can barely keep my eyes open. By the time I finish my homework and studying it is usually around 10 pm. I lie down and nothing happens, nothing. I just lie there for hours trying to fall asleep. For the last three weeks I have not been able to fall asleep before 3 am, and I have to get up by 7 am at the latest.

One night I couldn't sleep at all. I laid in bed all night, 6 am rolled around before I even started to feel sleepy. I decided to skip my morning class (economics) and the next day the teacher had a fit about it. The thing is, I live 35 miles from the college and after staying awake all night I just couldn't bring myself to drive 70 miles roundtrip on no sleep.

Usually I take a couple of benedryl and it at least helps some, but the last couple of weeks it hasn't helped at all. I'm in biology now and it is hard to keep my concentration up for two hours lecture followed by two hours of lab when I haven't slept more than four hours in the last three weeks. I hope I don't blow my GPA. :dzed:

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Specializes in CNA.

thatposhgirl hang in there!!! I know exactly what you mean ! I just came off my second week on Ambien CR and even that was beginning to not work so well for me. I have even started taking melatonin again but it does not help much :yawn:I don't really have any advice but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone , I lay many nights til 4 am or later just wishing I could at least doze off a little even if I can't get a deep sleep!I dont start my commute to school til August but I will be driving 100 miles a day so I get what you mean about that as well....

Take care

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I get off work from a high stress job at 11pm, get up at 6:30am for school. I have been on 3 different types of sleeping pills in 3 yrs.

I do understand and feel for you.

Good luck

Sandy

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I'm new to the whole insomnia thing. I started taking Chantix 3 weeks ago (and yes, it works great). I'm not smoking, and I'm not sleeping either. On the plus side, I've made it most of the way through my dosage calculation book. That's one thing I won't have to worry about when I start school in August....I've got the dimensional analysis down! I've also leveled an elemental to 20 in Guild Wars .... playing mostly with people from Europe at 2-3 am. I just can't lay in bed and not sleep. If I'm not dozing within 30-45 min. I have to get up and find something productive to do (yeah, like Guild Wars is productive :roll) . At least the time goes by faster that way.

M

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Guild wars and World of Warcraft are too addicting for me during the school semesters... hee hee

Congrats on not smoking!!

Sandy

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Sandy dfw,

I'm actually off school for the summer, so I'm indulging. Last semester I got kicked from my guild for not logging in for over 30 days. They were nice and let me back in for the summer and promise not to kick me again when school starts. Thanks for the congrats....I'm pretty proud of myself too!

M

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Melatonin 3mg works for me (I get it OTC with the supplements @ walmart or walgreens). If I want to go to sleep at 1030 or 11 pm I take it around 930pm. Fortunately, once it gets me back on schedule I have been able to stop using it. I try to use it no more than 3 times a week and go weeks or months without it. This is because my body gets use to it. One time I had to sleep and my body was getting use to it so I took a 25mg Benedryl along with the 3mg melationin. I am not sure if that is recommended, but it worked. I usually only need it if I have to get back to a day schedule, since I am a night owl. (as you can tell) 317am right now. :stdnrsrck:

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Insomnia Quick Fix

1. Old standby...warm milk...doesn't really work, but makes me feel better.

2. I have netflix and online they have mp3 downloads of hypnosis for insomnia. It's mainly just some guy saying very relaxing stuff...leading you down by the river etc etc, but it works. If you don't have netflix try limewire or just look online.

3. For serious I can't sleep or migraine headache moments try a dose of nyquil. Its not a good long term solution, but it will be ok for a week to get you back into a routine.

4. Make sure you get enough exercise, but do it early in the day, and not in the evening.

5. No computers, studying etc in bed...only sex or sleep.

6. If all else fails come to allnurses and post all night.

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I have been having this problem for about 4 years now. It has gotten worse since being in school. My mind races with all the things I need to get done, schedules to keep, and just plain old panic that there isn't enough time to learn the things I need to know. A couple of days ago, I did my shift for my preceptorship from 7p-7a, having gotten up at 4pm; I had to be in class from 10a-12p and intended to sleep during the break before my 4p-8p class. That didn't happen. Then when I got home, still couldn't sleep until after 11p. Up for over 30 hours straight:eek:. Last night I went to bed at around 10:30p and work up at 12:52a for absolutely NO reason. I've been up since doing NCLEX study guide questions, cruising Ebay, and of course on AN. I have my clinical rotation at 7am. Boy, would I like to :zzzzz:zzzzz:zzzzz.

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Of course cut down or out the caffeine, nicoteine, and alcohol. The alcohol will mess up your sleep cycle so cut it out all together. The caffeine and nicoteine especially don't use it after say around 1-2 in the afternoon. It's effects last longer than you think.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

NO exercising 3 hrs before bed...

STOP doing reading/studying/etc 2 hours before.

No caffine/alcohol/sugar 3 hrs before.

make sure room is comfortable.

If you use room for studying/etc...stop. Bedroom ONLY for sleeping, nothing else....

I personally have trouble sometimes...but I count backwards from 1000 by 3s to get my mind to settle down....works most of the time....

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

If you have been having it for that long I think its time to go see a Dr. Being awake repeatedly over and over like that makes you a danger to yourself, and your patients. In addition, its so very bad for your body,and eventually you are going to crash with some major health issues.

There are a ton of meds available go to your Dr. and try one to get you back on track. Include all the great suggestions on here, and if it doesn't work go back to the Dr. until it does.

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