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Original poster

Terrible insomnia and anxiety, insomnia is a nightmare

17 replies

fizzbuzz · 30/10/2008 18:00

This has been going on for about 10 weeks. At first I went to the docs about insomnia as I thought it was just that (although now looking back it wasn't just that)

She gave me Zopiclone up to 2 a night. Sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn't
Went back last week, in state of anxiety...awful thoughts, feel like I am being strangled all the time, and overwhelemed by smallest task.

She gave me AD Trazadone, which is fantastic for insomnia apparently {hmm}, but not for me.

Still not sleeping, am a teacher, currently on 1/2 term, and am dreading nxt week. Woke up at 2.45am, and never went back to sleep last night...this is pretty normal.

Really feel as if I just cannot function like this. I know a lot of it is due to anxiety, but am falling apart.

Can anyone help? I also have small dd 2 who is lovely, but incredibly hard work, and v demanding....want to run away really...

OP posts:
misi · 30/10/2008 19:07

I cannot tell you what I would suggest, you do need to see someone for that. but it sounds like your neuro transmitters are all wrong.
your acetylcholine sounds ''up the spout'' which then throws out NT's like dopamine but mostly your melatonin/seratonin levels/balance.

one thing I can tell you about that I had a good success rate with was ''nocturnal hypoglycemia''. this is where you can get to sleep but you cannot maintain sleep. what happens is that your blood glucose levels drop which causes a release of hormones like adrenaline, cortisol, glugacon etc which stimulate the brain and wake you up as your body thinks its time to eat. being a teacher, coupled with stress of the job and of a young child can interfere with your glucose metabolism. this can upset the circadian rhythym and be the start of panic, stress, anxiety etc. I often reccommend drinking a small glass of pineapple juice about 30 mins before bed to see if that helps. if you get to sleep and stay asleep longer than usual but not all night, drink a bit more or a complex carb food. for people that didn't like pineapple juice, sub for a bowl of porridge. warming activates the tryptophan element of milk and the complex carbs of the oats sustain energy and glucose throughout the night. also cut out all coffee and tea after 3pm. there are many natural things to try but without knowing your history, I will not even mention them here as they can do more harm than good (like sleeping pills can) if the wrongs ones are used. try the porridge or juice tonight and tomorrow and see what happens and get back on here to let us know if you can?

Original poster
fizzbuzz · 31/10/2008 10:20

Well I had some porridge and did sleep a lot better....still woke up loads, but then went back to sleep.....

But it rested in my stomach like a lump, I didn't seem able to digest it properly, and couldn't face any breakfast this morning

But the kip was great, might try the pineapple juice this eving though

OP posts:
misi · 31/10/2008 13:46

thats a good sign then not the lump but the sleeping side of it and maybe we are along the right lines in glucose problems rather than full blown brain chemical problems? . if not porridge maybe try warm milk and weetabix? the porridge is usually best though as the oats also contain natural calmatives and one of the weapons in my arsenal for sleep probs is avena sativa (oats)!!

my suggestion would be to keep on with this for now and see how you go. experiment with complex carb snacks at night till you get the one right for you, also, when next at the GP ask for a diabetic blood test even if only to rule out pre diabetic states or insulin resistance

Original poster
fizzbuzz · 31/10/2008 14:58

I will persevere with porridge. I really like it, perhaps I just ate too much of it ...with too much golden syrup

Thanks for info. Would you recommend porridge over pineapple juice, which I also like a lot!

OP posts:
terf · 31/10/2008 16:34

Im going to try the porridge too tonight - thanks for the tip misi. At the end of my tether - am 28 weeks pregnant and knackered. Keep getting up around 2-3am and not able to fall back to sleep. It's driving me up the bend - also have a lot on my mind... Will do just about anything to have a proper night's sleep but of course can't take any pills or herbs etc so have been resigned to my fate so far...

misi · 31/10/2008 18:26

yes sorry, I forgot to mention that you wouldn't have a standard amount but a reduced amount of porridge. don't use golden syrup, the simple carbs in that will give too much energy too quickly, if you need to sweeten when eating porridge at night, use fructose-- fruit sugar, it has a GI (glycemic index) value of 20 compared to sugar and syrup of 67 and 85.

a small amount of porridge will be better than just pineapple juice, I often actually sweeten my porridge with PA juice, takes a bit of getting used to but OK after a while!!

colette · 31/10/2008 19:09

This thread is really interesting as I have trouble sleeping and often wake up feeling a bit hungry, will oatcakes work as well misi? really don't like porridge,
I have had a definite improvement after seeing a homeopathic doctor. I also found acupuncture helped but couldn't afford to keep it up . Terf I was up a lot at night about the same time during my first pregnancy, used to be washing the kitchen floor or having a bath at 4am then it suddenly got better so I hope it is only temporary for you too !
fizzbuzz glad you have had some improvement .

misi · 31/10/2008 19:16

colette and terf, the hormonal changes in pregnancy are often responsible for your nocturnal disturbances. low glucose can also be a major factor as baby does use up glucose around this time as this is when it is more about putting on weight rather than developing.

oatcakes may work but check the sugar content as most of those things have high sugar/simple carb levels. eating simple carbs before bed can cause you to stay awake as you are giving your body ''instant energy''

if you can, make your own oatcakes with oats and fructose and you can then add in wholegrains like flaxseed too!!

colette · 31/10/2008 19:24

mmmm mean to make oatcakes and never get round to it is plain rolled oats with milk better? Also does pineapple juice work in a different way as it has a very high sugar content ? I am off to buy some tomorrow

misi · 31/10/2008 19:30

PA juice seems to work best against apple or other juices. PA is high in sugar but it is fructose with a low glycemic index value and has lots of complex carbs in it if you get the fresh or non processed type. processed or rehydrated PA often has added sucrose (sugar).
plain rolled oats and warmed milk will do fine. someone I know says they make loads of oatcakes and then freeze them, never tried it myself and not so sure frozen biscuits work but they say it does????

Original poster
fizzbuzz · 01/11/2008 08:23

Well, had bowl of porridge again last night, but still crap nights sleep However I did use golden syrup......

OP posts:
noonar · 01/11/2008 08:33

fizzbuzz, my heart goes out to you. iam a teacher too and suffered a similar episode 7 years ago, before i had dd1. i had a short bout of illness which resulted in me getting tinitus, chronic anxiety and depression. i ended up having an occupational health assessment and going back part time initially, after more than a term off work. it was a v scary time, but i did get over it.

for me, bouts of insomnia are helped by changing my routine- eg by getting up and sleeping in a different room.

could you get dh/ dp to take a week off and get up with your dd? maybe if you had a week off sick and didnt have to get up for anything, you would take away the pressure to get to sleep, whichmight help.

big hugs xx

remember, this is just an episode. it won't be forever.

Original poster
fizzbuzz · 01/11/2008 08:41

Thanks Noonar, Ad's have kicked in a bit so feel bit better, although still crap sleep.

Dp would get up with dd, but she likes to sleep in. Still alseep ATM, him and her in our bed curled up together..very cute, she may surface in about an hour.

But this is one of the problems. She likes to sleep about 13 hours at night, but when I am working it is almost impossible to get her to bed at a time, when she can get up at 7.30, and still have the amount of kip she needs.....so that makes me anxious. Then trying to make tea, and get her to bed...to much to do...result anxiety, been on feet ALL day, rush rush rush when I get home knackered...anxiety... etc etc etc

OP posts:
noonar · 01/11/2008 08:45

well her sleep pattern will change too. now is not forever. do you work full time?
could you afford to reduce your hours? (i do a job share)

how about sleeping pills? can you take them with ADs?

noonar · 01/11/2008 08:45

well her sleep pattern will change too. now is not forever. do you work full time?
could you afford to reduce your hours? (i do a job share)

how about sleeping pills? can you take them with ADs?

Original poster
fizzbuzz · 01/11/2008 08:59

Going back to docs on Tue, so will find out then.

I wish wish wish I coud reduce my hours, I do 80% ATM, and it is just too much. But we have looked and looked at the finances util we are blue in the face, but we just can't afford to lose any more money, so I have to carry on in a situation that is making me ill

OP posts:
noonar · 01/11/2008 09:01

good luck at the dr xx

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