Feeling desperate

[kittentwo]

started having weird vivid dreams hearing things seeing things but always managed to nod off again. Sunday couldn't sleep everyone I tried just had either the tiniest twitches waking me or like I was being pulled back awake all night no sleep at all. Went to docs in end and gor some diazepam 5mg normally works. Nothing didn't work at all took 15mg last night nothing. Slept an hour. Hallucination saw 3 moons. I am terrified I have fatal insomnia otherwise why didn't diazepam work? I couldn't bear to die from that such a horrible death am now so anxious and scared been thinking what to do have some zopiclone 7.5 tried that wed night woke up 3 times and have missing memory. What can I do I wasn't anxious to start with just suddenly stopped sleeping which has terrified me want to know why diazepam not worked please help.

When I've been on zopiclone I've always had missed time. I only know about it from the evidence, for example coming down in the morning and seeing evidence I'd made a sandwich. And yes to the strange dreams! Very vivid and I remembered them more than dreams when I hadn't taken the tablets.

I've also had mixed experiences with sleeping pills. Sometimes Zopiclone works, sometimes not. I've also tried Temazepam which the Dr assured me would knock me out, but didn't. They're designed to get you more ready to sleep, so don't panic if they don't always work. They also have strange side effects which you've now noticed! Over the counter sleeping tablets also make my legs twitch.

Your zopiclone dose could be raised if the GP agrees, but you may be better off with something with less side effects for you.

Have you tried Tryptophan? You can get it from Holland & Barrett or off ebay / amazon. If you take this in the evening it can really help improve the quality of sleep. I was told about this by my GP but run it past yours in case of any drug interaction.

I've always had long periods of insomnia and have found that they pass in their own time (I know that doesn't help you at the moment though). Please try not to worry, and don't be afraid to see your GP again, as what you get prescribed first time doesn't always work.

Kitten, when my anxiety was atrocious no amount of diazepam or zopiclone would send me off. You might need to address that and the sleep thing together.

Thank you both that sounds reassuring. I am just so scared because I had been happy not anxious just these weird vivid dreams and twitching and constantly feeling like I can't get past the first stage of sleep keep waking. Took 7.5 of zopiclone last night a really awful 3 hour sleep and that was it. That had kicked off my health anxiety and I am convinced I have sporadic fatal insomnia am absolutely terrified. Had to take my ear plugs out last night because my heart wad bearing so fast. Do you think being anxious like that would affect the zopiclone working. I am convince I have it and I am in a terrible state petrified to Sleep.

Yes, I had health anxiety and fears about not coping and my sleep meds wouldn't work, some nights it was 45 mins max. The problem is that if your anxiety has a particular trigger you can go from happy to anxious very quickly - almost in an instant in my experience. Once you get in the 'what if' cycle it is very hard to break.

I was told by professionals that twenty minutes sleep is enough for our bodies to do what they need to overnight - it's not enough to be alert for driving obviously, but it won't kill you. Have you seen your GP?

Just googled sFI and it is vanishingly rare. All your symptoms can be accounted for by anxiety and med side effects.

thank you. Yes I have seen my Gp we started with diazepam now zopiclone I had some bloods on Friday and have to go back and see her on weds she also sending me for a brain scan and I am waiting for an appointment. It's the nighttime when everyone else is asleep and you are all alone so ooo tired and so unable to sleep I get so scared and anxious it's awful. Am thinking of avoiding sleeping pills tonight and trying a very large bottle of red at least I may feel merry for a bit. Thank you again it's good to have some advice my dh is great if it's physical but crap I'd it's mental just says relax shut your eyes an go to sleep. As if it was so bloody easy. X

If you can't sleep, don't try. Get up, make a warm drink, go somewhere darkish and do something boring like ironing or that you can do 'mindfully' like stroking a pet. I've had nights when I just nod and wake and it feels crap. But it is just a feeling.

It's good that your GP is being thorough. Once that is all sorted you should have both answers and reassurance.

Happy to help, nobody should feel as awful as you do right now.