[amber_rose]

Hi! I'm 14 (15 on Nov. 5th!!) & I've been gluten-free for about 6 months now. I had trouble on getting all the gluten eliminated, up to about a month go. And now I have absolutely no problems now that the glutens is all out of my diet!! .

But I do have trouble getting to sleep...and its really frustrating. I'm homeschooled, so I can sleep in later, which is good when I have those nights when I only sleep 2 hrs.

I don't even start to get tired until about 12:30 am.! I try to read a book from 11:45-12:??. but once i close my eyes to go to sleep,,BAM, i'm wide awake again! its so frustrating. My mom had me take benadryl a couple nights in a row, just because I was like a zombie for 2 weeks, only getting about 3-4 hrs a night. But usually once I'm asleep, I'm definiteley asleep. For about the last two nights I fell asleep at about 1 am (which is REALLY good for me), & I slept for about 11 hrs! I did grow an inch in about a week! lol, & I know that can make you tired. But the problem for me is, trying to get to sleep!!

Anyone have the same problem or have any ideas for this? I dont want to get addicted to Benadryl if I take it every night. Like last night, I didnt take it & i just layed in bed til about 2 am, then I got tired of not being tired, so i took one.

[sspitzer5]

You might want to give melatonin a try. You can pick it up in any health food store. I'm trying time relased now as it helps me stay asleep.

S

[Saz]

You sound so much like me, it takes me like 1-2 hrs to fall asleep. I have been this way all my of my life. Like you said I can be really tired and as soon as lay down and try to sleep I start thinking about anything and everything or feel wide awake. However once I do finally get to sleep I usually stay that way. The only time I would fall asleep within half an hour or so is if I am so tired I have headaches. At the moment I usually go to bed about 1 and sometimes dont wake untill 12. I dont really think this is helping, and Im told that if I went to bed earlier I would be able to get up easier ( I have the worst time getting up) However I fail to see the point in doing so if even when I go bed later can still lye awake for two hours.

Also I can't sleep at all unless I actually feel sleepy.

As I am typing this it is 11.21pm. I have been up since 6.30 and didn't go to bed until 1.30, so I got maybe four hours sleep. I do feel tired at the mo but I know as soon as I go to bed I willl just be lying there for two hours?

Can I ask, Have you been this way both on and off gluten? I am definetly.

If you don't want to get melatonin(sp) from the health food shop and you aren't dairy intolerant, try drinking a glass of warm milk a bit before bed, have read that it can help.

*sorry this is kinda long, I just found you post interesting as you sound alot like me

[amber_rose]

Hi Saz!! Wow, we sound sooo much alike!! And yes, I've been this way on & off gluten, but it seems to have gotten worse about the last month or so.

I bought some Melatonin, & I'll give that a try. The thing is, I dont know if this brand is gluten-free. I read the label & it looks safe, but you never know. So does anyone know if the brand 'Nature's Bounty' is safe?

[Saz]

I can't help you there, I live in Australia. You could try a web search for the company tho, some places have ingredients and allergen statements on there websites.

[Nantzie]

For my whole life, before going strictly gluten-free, I had exactly the same type of insomnia as you're describing. I call my experience with it brain-buzzing insomnia. Because it feels almost like an internal vibration. If you haven't already, you might want to go completely strictly gluten-free; no cross contamination, no cosmetics, haircare, lotions or other personal care products with gluten. I'm extremely sensitive to cross contamination and even minute amounts of gluten. If I get even a little bit glutened, even if I don't have any other symptoms, I will always get insomnia. Everyone has different symptoms, so your insomnia may or not be related to gluten.

Other than that, I've found that The History Channel is a great channel to fall asleep to. I have found that the key to falling asleep with the TV on is finding something that you have a true interest in, but also nothing that is new information. For me, the best genre is Rome or Egypt. They rehash those two cultures ALL the time. I find it interesting, but I've seen and heard just about everything that the History Channel has about it. So I can turn it on and kind of listen but mostly zone out on it.

I made the mistake of watching a program on String Theory (physics) when I got glutened recently, which I didn't know much about, and it was so interesting that I was up until 4am.

It can't be something that you find irritatingly boring though. My husband is into political history and I'd rather get hit in the head with a rock than hear another thing about the history of political parties. ACK!!! I'm sure with all the years of my watching Roman history at 2am while he's trying to sleep, he feels the same about Rome and Egypt.



Nancy

[super_sally888]

Hi,

I've really found that exercising help with my sleeping - before I got into exercise I also had problems sleeping, now it is much better as far as sleeping at night goes (mind and body are both tired)...... also maybe you have to retrain yourself to sleep at the time you want, very consistent night-time routines, environment etc.. It may take some time... Also can help to get up at the same time every day... even if you are tired... cuase that may help in the body clock resetting.

Are you able to nap at all during the day? Catching some catnaps may help... I read somewhere that day time naps probably shouldn't last for more than an hour, and none after mid-afternoon. Usually I can't fall asleep during the day (unless I am super zonked - which happens from time to time), but just lying down for 45 mins and doing nothing can really help with energy levels and focus...

I actually like to do sudoku at night. I lie in bed and do one. Then roll over and sleep. It is really part of my switch off routine.

Sally

[qvista]

The makers of Ambien & Lunestra both told researcher Clan Thomas that "they cannot guarantee" their prescription sleep aid is gluten free. Ambien is the only sleep aid that works for me (I am paraplegic with neuro spasms as a result of being struck by a car, also a Celiac). This ticks me off. I am sure if some pharmaceuticals can be manufactured without binders containing gluten and can guarantee this, why not all? Another bit of drug company stupidity: Lasix contains gluten, the generic form, furosemide, does not. It circles back to this, my health is ruined either from no sleep or a sleep medication that works for me with the possibility of gluten contamination. [u] Any comments?

[loraleena]

I use Natrol brand and it is gluten free. It works great for me. Also Valarian works well to. You can take both if you want. Also Rooibus, (Red Tea) is good for sleep. Where do you get time release melatonin??
As far as Ambien goes, can you get it at a compounding pharmacy?

[Canadiangirl]

Just a tip for using meletonin ( which is great) you must take it and then get into bed and have the lights off! I have found that it wont work as well or at all if I take it and then putt around before bed. The Melatonin stimulates your natural reaction to it being night time so you have to make sure that the room is dark..try 1mg at first...sometimes i need up to 3 mg. You can get both doses in pill form at the health food store:) I think you can even get it at drugstores too...
good luck!

[steveindenver]

qvista, on Nov 29 2006, 04:23 PM, said:

The makers of Ambien & Lunestra both told researcher Clan Thomas that "they cannot guarantee" their prescription sleep aid is gluten free. Ambien is the only sleep aid that works for me (I am paraplegic with neuro spasms as a result of being struck by a car, also a Celiac). This ticks me off. I am sure if some pharmaceuticals can be manufactured without binders containing gluten and can guarantee this, why not all? Another bit of drug company stupidity: Lasix contains gluten, the generic form, furosemide, does not. It circles back to this, my health is ruined either from no sleep or a sleep medication that works for me with the possibility of gluten contamination. [u] Any comments?

I rec'd an email from Sepracor, the makers of Lunesta last week, stating Lunesta has been confirmed to be gluten-free.

[talk2et]

Nantzie, on Nov 4 2006, 10:17 PM, said:

For my whole life, before going strictly gluten-free, I had exactly the same type of insomnia as you're describing. I call my experience with it brain-buzzing insomnia. Because it feels almost like an internal vibration. If you haven't already, you might want to go completely strictly gluten-free; no cross contamination, no cosmetics, haircare, lotions or other personal care products with gluten. I'm extremely sensitive to cross contamination and even minute amounts of gluten. If I get even a little bit glutened, even if I don't have any other symptoms, I will always get insomnia. Everyone has different symptoms, so your insomnia may or not be related to gluten.
......

Nancy

Hello Nancy,
I found your posting when I searched for brain-buzzing and insomnia. I was hoping to get some input from you. I have these weird reactions that only seem to happen at night. It is almost like an internal vibration, just like you describe it. As soon as I fall asleep or when I have been asleep for some time, I am awakened by some weird brain-buzzing. Sometimes I also have heart palpitations, but that improved once I cut glutamate out of my diet. Do you think this could be gluten related?
Thank you.
Eve

[JNBunnie1]

Hi Amber, here on the Celiac website's FAQ's there is a list of celiac-safe and non-safe ingredients, I'd get the bottle and sit in front of the computer and make sure every ingredient is not on the unsafe list.
Melatonin works very well, I've had problems falling and staying alseep all my life, but especially in the first year after I found out about my celiac. It'll get better, I used to use Benadryl too. Melatonin is a lot better for you, because it's something you body creates already, it's just more of it.

[GRUMP 1]

You all make me want to cry. I thought this was all just me the more I read on here the more I realize I am not alone in this BIG gluten filled world. As some of you have written if I get 4 to 5 hours worth of sleep a night I am lucky. Thats even on my bed pills. Then there is as some of you have also said the night terrors. They are BAD, I have learned to wake my self up from them but it only done by screaming, moaning, jerking, kicking, or any thing else I can do to get my wife's attention. Then she is able to help me get awake the rest of the way. Then there is the constant ringing in the ears. Any one else have that problem? I have been to the Dr. but they say I am fine, LOL......... Oh my I could just keep going on but it would all be just to long. SCREAM..........

[Moses]

GRUMP 1, on Mar 31 2007, 04:17 PM, said:

You all make me want to cry. I thought this was all just me the more I read on here the more I realize I am not alone in this BIG gluten filled world. As some of you have written if I get 4 to 5 hours worth of sleep a night I am lucky. Thats even on my bed pills. Then there is as some of you have also said the night terrors. They are BAD, I have learned to wake my self up from them but it only done by screaming, moaning, jerking, kicking, or any thing else I can do to get my wife's attention. Then she is able to help me get awake the rest of the way. Then there is the constant ringing in the ears. Any one else have that problem? I have been to the Dr. but they say I am fine, LOL......... Oh my I could just keep going on but it would all be just to long. SCREAM..........

Hey Grump, yes, I have had ringing in the ears for many many years. As long as I can remember. It was about 30 years before I was dianosed with celiac disease and now it is better. But the ringing continues day and night. Nothinbg stops it.
WA4MOE