It started almost three and half years ago. My battle with Insomnia, that is. I’ve never been a heavy sleeper but this was different. I spent numerous nights tossing and turning and getting frustrated that I just couldn’t get tired. It was interfering with work and my life. After a few weeks of this and upon a suggestion from a friend I went to a Dr to get some help.
I have since tried countless prescription medications to aid with my sleep, some with good results and some quite the opposite.
The most memorable:
Ambien: I sleep hard on this stuff-in almost a comatose state. I have side effects including hallucinations and I lose my inhibitions. I have to hide my phone from myself because I have been known to call people and because of it’s amnesiatic effects I have no recollection of it in the morning. It works quickly and makes me feel really groggy in the morning. Because of these less than pleasant side effects I only take this when I’m absolutely desperate for sleep.
Restoril:
This worked and at the same time it made me really sick. My body would crave this medication. I would start to feel bad if I did not take it like clock work. Effects from this included extreme weakness and palpitations so bad that I would sometimes need assistance getting up stairs. My muscles were sore a lot. At this point I started to have other things with my body go haywire. My thyroid levels were all out of whack. Since getting off this dreaded medication my levels are normal and I feel much better. I didn’t think at that point that these other issues were related to my medication.
Lunesta:
I have had the best results and least side effects with this medication. It does not knock me out like Ambien does-but I kind of like not being in a comatose state. It feels almost like normal sleep. I don’t feel all that groggy in the mornings. The only down side is that it sometimes takes a bit to kick in and work and my body has developed a tolerance to it, which is why I switch it out with an Ambien every now and then.
I’m the kind of person who will deal with a headache or any sort of pain before considering taking medication. I hate medication. I didn’t think I had a choice when it came to sleep. I could stay awake for days and IF I ever got tired I would never cross over to actual sleep. I call it a cap nap-a very rested state but not quite asleep-right on the edge.
Unfortunately there aren’t many treatments for Insomnia aside from medication. Sleep specialists and sleep studies only really look at sleep apnea.
I recently got a book called Say Goodnight to Insomnia by Gregg D. Jacobs, PH.D. It’s a 6 week program that is supposed to eliminate or reduce the use of sleeping pills, establish sleep promoting behaviors and lifestyle practices and improve relaxation, reduce stress and change negative thoughts about sleep. I’ve read just a few chapters and already this book has seriously encouraged me.
On day one (8/27/10) of starting to read the book I felt so encouraged that I decided to attempt sleeping with no aid. I’ve tried this before in the past but typically I’d get so frustrated with not being able to sleep that I’d get up in the middle of the night and take something as a last ditch effort for just a bit of sleep. This time, which thankfully occurred over a weekend, I did not give in. I went all night without the assistance of medication. I slept off and on. I got a little nauseous mid night and woke up for a bit and watched tv but I was able to eventually get back to sleep naturally.
Day 2 (8/28/10) I took half of my Lunesta dose. I slept well. I feel so proud of myself and hopeful for a healthier lifestyle.
You know what else I discovered? Reading makes me tired! So this book is super helpful!
Day 3 (8/29/10) I started out hopeful with just a half dose. I was still lying wide awake at midnight-gave in and took the other half.
Day 4 (8/30/10) I took a half dose of Lunesta and slept through the night! On a work night! I was even asleep through when the alarm clock went off!
Day 5 (8/31/10) Again I took half a Lunesta and slept through the night. I even went to bed naturally tired-too tired to read. Strange.
My book suggests to start the program by cutting the precription in half on just a few nights a week, starting with the easy nights-weekends. Out of the 5 days since I've started reading the book I've taken the full dose on just 1 night and I'm sleeping rather well. So, I'm thrilled with the progress I'm making.
Day 6 (9/1/10) I took half my dose and had a hard time falling asleep. I also didn't sleep through the night.
Day 7 (9/2/10) I took a half dose of Luesta and slept through Hurricane Earl.
I've pretty much determined that I can take a half dose and be fine. I think I may start reducing this again some next week and get back into reading the book.
