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Original poster

Okay I am going to give up the diphrenhydramine...

41 replies

Nemofish · 17/04/2010 22:48

Have posted about this before, but now I feel it's time to STOP. Have had my last tablets tonight.

Tomorrow night I know full well that I will shit myself (not literally) and have huge panic attacks starting around nine or ten pm.

I am going to come on here and ask for hand holding.

Thanks you please?!

Anyone want / need to join me, with something similar?

OP posts:
alypaly · 18/04/2010 02:35

hi nemo......been on nitrazepam for 2 years now and i cant sleep without them. Get really anxious when there are only a couple of tablets left. Doc has put them on a repeat prescription and that scares me too. I know i should stop taking them ...but then i would stay awake like i am now. I am going to have to take half of one now to get me to go to sleep otherwise i will literally stay awake all night. I have had sleep probs for over 20 years. ( need hand hold too)

countrylover · 18/04/2010 08:57

I'll hold you hand Nemo. I too have suffered with chronic insomnia on and off for years. I'll tell you my story so you know you're not alone.

It began when I started my first job after university and stayed with me for around five years. I then went for hypnotherapy and I was 'cured' for around three years. Then I had DS1 and a horrific birth resulted in PTSD and PND which left me unable to sleep for days at a time. I eventually got counselling and CBT when he was two which amazingly sorted out my sleep.

I then slept well for another year or so until I had DS2. I have now had just under a year of chronic insomnia but I feel 'cured' again. I've been having CBT for six months and it's seen me through the worst of my PND and insomnia. I am also on a low dose of AD's which have worked wonders for my sleep.

I find the anxiety around sleep worse than actually not sleeping and feeling tired the next day. Whenever I have these times of not sleeping I find my whole life is taken over by sleep. I won't socialise in the evening incase it affects my sleep, I don't like to go on holiday in case it affects my sleep, I don't like my husband going out in the evening in case it affects my sleep. You get the picture....bascially I turn into a miserable controlling anxious mess.

So I really do know how you must be feeling. But I am so much better now. So I hope this gives you a positive story to focus on. You can and will get better sleep eventually. Hzve you tried CBT at all? Do they offer it in your area?

countrylover · 18/04/2010 09:00

Also I should add that throughout my years of insomnia I too have taken Nytol for several months or maybe even years in a row.

When I was wanting to get pregnant with DS2 I had to give up the Nytols. I was absolutely petrified but the CBT got me through this and I haven't taken one since.

arcadia96 · 18/04/2010 09:14

I am similar to Countrylover in the first part of the story. DD now 5 months and my sleep seems to have got better. Nytol has worked well for me too and I have used it for long periods of time - glad to hear I'm not the only one! Would like to ask you Countrylover what ADs you are on?

countrylover · 18/04/2010 09:32

I'm on Dosulepin which is apparantly an older style AD. I'm not sure what that means but my GP initially wanted to give me Citalopram but one of the side effects were insomnia!!

From what I've read, Dosulepin helps with insomnia as it makes you drowsy but also once they kick in after a couple of weeks they also help with anxiety. So it's a two pronged effect.

BeckyBendyLegs · 18/04/2010 09:52

Hello! I am similar too. Hypnotherapy has helped me with sleep. Countrylover I made the mistake of taking DS1 and DS2 to my dad's caravan last weekend by myself and guess what? I hardly slept the first night. The second night I had a panic attack about getting to sleep and rang DH to calm me down and was lying there thinking 'I'll have to call an ambulance!' He did calm me down and I took 2 parecetomol which helped. I've also turned down social engagements because I'm worried I won't sleep when I get back (my brain tends to get so wired after going out in the evening). At the moment, fingers crossed, my sleep is really good

Good luck nemofish. I haven't taken nytol but did take zopiclone (prescribed by GP) in January and herbal sleeping tablets for a couple of weeks after that before I tried the hypnotherapy.

BeckyBendyLegs · 18/04/2010 10:12

Sorry countrylover just realised I've already told you that story on the 'oooh oooh on our way up depressed' thread! Post-pregnancy brain? Not sure how much longer I can use that excuse!

Original poster
Nemofish · 18/04/2010 12:11

Phew, I was so worried no one would reply!

So my love affair with Nytol is over (gulp)

I have been using it to get to sleep, but more recently also to get completely twatted of an evening - I enjoy the high. But in the evening I need to be doing stuff, reading, studying, even a bit of housework. I can't spend every evening trollied and glued to the sofa like I do now

Will be checking in this evening...

OP posts:
countrylover · 18/04/2010 20:35

hello nemo

how is your evening going? i didn't know nytol could make you high but i guess i've always been lying in bed when i've taken them. you learn something new every day!

becky - no worries about your baby brain. i went back to work last week after a year off. i had to ask my new boss to repeat something as he got half way through a sentence and i couldn't remember what he'd said at the start of it. seriously, mine is really bad..i can't remember anyone's names either.

GetDownYouWillFall · 18/04/2010 20:41

Hi Nemo hope you are ok today. I had a terrible time with insomnia and ended up 3 months in a psychiatric ward it got so bad.

I know what an awful thing insomnia is. It's annoying because everyone seems to have some experience of it, and so feels they can offer you their "top tips" e.g. lavendar, soft music etc. when we all know that real, chronic insomnia is so so so hard to beat.

I really hope you get off the diphrenhydramine.

Keep posting - we will all try and help you through it.
x

arcadia96 · 18/04/2010 20:45

I can't remember names either other than ones on here of my fellow insomniacs - here we all are again!
I'm not doing very well at being an insomniac this week - I keep falling asleep! (sorry that's my attempt at humour).
Good luck for tonight.

GetDownYouWillFall · 18/04/2010 20:50

that's reverse psychology for your arcadia !! You are trying too hard to be an insomniac, therefore you are sleeping well!

When we try too hard to sleep, we become an insomniac and the opposite is also true!

Original poster
Nemofish · 18/04/2010 21:02

Well it's been a long time since I have seen 9pm with knocking back tablets!

About to have supper and then watch a dvd - should take my mind off it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nemofish · 18/04/2010 22:10

Going good so far, no panic attacks

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GetDownYouWillFall · 18/04/2010 22:31

What film you watching nemo ?

ArthurPewty · 18/04/2010 22:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

alypaly · 18/04/2010 23:35

hi nemo...hope you can get off the stuff....if you do,give me a clue as i could do with some advice from someone who has really been there.

getdown..i too spent 3 months in hospital with severe depression and actually had no sleep for 6 weeks continuously. It caused me to have a nervous breakdown and i have been a virtual insomniac since.

find i can have 5 or 10 minute power naps. Do you have power naps nemo?

Original poster
Nemofish · 18/04/2010 23:52

Not a power nap person, alypaly.

Watched BBC's 'Survivors.' Biiiiig mistake. Now I am unreasonably anxious about what I will do when 99% of the population die. Oh and of course there's the zombie issue. Shit.

I have had counselling and yes I discussed my zombie ishoos there. It did help.

The nytol always helped with the night time anxieties. In the day I feel calm, I feel safe (usually) I feel kind of centred. But at night I just lose it.

OP posts:
alypaly · 18/04/2010 23:56

Nemo...night is the worst for me too....it just seems to exaggerate everything doesnt it. Everyone else is asleep and you're not.....why? Then my BF makes it worse and says if i dont sleep i will die and he frightens me.If i am busy i dont get anxious...its when it is quiet and my mind just races.

Original poster
Nemofish · 19/04/2010 00:19

alypaly what are you taking at the moment?

God I am so shit - have had a tooth infection X 2 and just had the last dose of anti-biotics, then topped that off with 6 nurofen+. Don't worry, I have a huge tolerance thanks to the extremely painful infection! But I know that the slightly cuddly fuzzy feeling should help me to sleep in about an hour. Feck. I will mention it here as I have posted elsewhere about it, I am an ex-heroin addict (yes I posted on that AIBU thread, and yes she was!)

We are talking 8 years clean but how clean is clean? I always seem to use something, whether it's food or nytol or nurofen.

I am beginning to think I would have been better off asking my GP for help.

OP posts:
alypaly · 19/04/2010 00:40

i am taking surmontil AD and 2 nitrazepam..doc hads given me a repeat. I know i am hooked and nitrazepam cos when i try to get off it i end up breaking each tablet into quarters and then getting panicky if i loose some on the bed.

Glad you have got away from heroin...good for you.8 years is brilliant. Stay away from it as my brest firends daughter hung herself when she was on it ...and she was only 21 and a beautiful girl.
painkillers dont seem to work too well for e either

Original poster
Nemofish · 19/04/2010 02:00

Oh sweetie... I remember that panicky feeling all too well. I know nitazepam is addictive.

I have no access to heroin now, wouldn't want any. Seems I am far too old to do those sorts of drugs now. Its strictly legal stuff for me, whether it's chocolate cake (which I can't have now cos of reflux!) or nytol.

I will have a think about going to the docs. I know it's not a long term solution. I am ordering lots of self help books and attending a weekly class for anxiety and relaxation. I know that I can sort myself out if I can find the courage to face my demons. Again.

Have you mentioned to your doctor about coming off the nitrazepam? I think you are on quite a low dose?

Going to stare at ceiling bed now but will check back in the morning. XXXX

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countrylover · 19/04/2010 08:39

nemo - how did you get on last night?

no wonder coming off nytol is such a big deal if you have a history of addiction. but let's face it, if you can beat a heroin addiction then nytol should be a bit easier? well done for staying clean for so long.

keep eating the chocolate cake

countrylover · 19/04/2010 08:42

actually just re-read your post and maybe not chocolate cake if it gives you reflux!

Original poster
Nemofish · 19/04/2010 16:49

Thanks countrylover.

Fell asleep about 3.30, which is about what I expected. Felt fine this morning, had to go into a chemists for other stuff, and I did not say 'oh and a pack of Nytol one a night please'

I am rather chuffed with myself. I have managed to control my eating today too. Should be able to sleep okay tonight, will avoid any anxiety inducing tv, may go on the Wii fit to tire myself out.

So far so good.

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