Suggestions For Sleep Troubles

[blueeyedmanda]

I know in quite a few threads we have, that there are quite a few of us who have sleep changes since going gluten free. I actually have been gluten free for quite a few years now, but I noticed I was having trouble getting to sleep in the spring of this year. It seems like I can feel tired but the minute I go into the room I am wide awake. I have been taking Tylenol Pm, it says non-habit forming. Last night after taking the pills and still struggling I went to the couch to fall asleep. I am hoping that someone has some ideas or things they do that help them get to bed at night. I can go to bed fine on the weekends. My worry is I work full-time dayshift, so staying up late is not an option, currently I try going to bed at 11...but sometimes don't fall asleep until 1. We wake up at 6:30.

Ideas anyone? Things which work for you?

[CarlaB]

Insomnia is a problem I have from the Lyme Disease, yet I need sleep to get better!

My doctor recommended Valerian, Melatonin, and 5-HTP. I took all three. The valerian is very relaxing! Kind of like Valium. Those didn't help me.

So, I got some Rozerum (prescription sleeping pills). They did less than the herbs.

Now I take Ambien, and I LOVE it.

I would recommend trying some combo of those herbs to see if they work for you. Herbs don't work the first night, they have to build up in your system and "reset" it.

[dlp252]

I am in much the same situation as Carla...I have lyme and can't sleep, but need the sleep for my health.

My doctor currently has me taking several herbs/supplements: 5-HTP, Melatonin, something called Lymphasol (to help detox the liver) and he just added something called morinda. I take all of these in quantity (with my doctor's approval), lol. I can't say that they are helping more than just a little though. They seemed to work for a while, but have recently stopped, which is why he just added the morinda.

[blueeyedmanda]

Thanks Carla. I am going to look into that.

[blueeyedmanda]

I am in much the same situation as Carla...I have lyme and can't sleep, but need the sleep for my health.

My doctor currently has me taking several herbs/supplements: 5-HTP, Melatonin, something called Lymphasol (to help detox the liver) and he just added something called morinda. I take all of these in quantity (with my doctor's approval), lol. I can't say that they are helping more than just a little though. They seemed to work for a while, but have recently stopped, which is why he just added the morinda.

I am reluctant to blame the summer weather or daylight savings time since this was when my problems started. I think it messed with my bodys schedule LOL

[~alex~]

My suggestions are all very simple but they have helped me a bit. First I do the whole bedtime routine (brush teeth, wash face, meds, etc.) at least an hour before I plan on going to bed. I find all that stuff kind of wakes me up a bit so I avoid doing them right before bed. I usually also steam my face before bed (just with boiled water in a bowl)

[Jestgar]

I second everyone else's opinions. I found that books on C.D. read by a male with a soft voice puts me to sleep. The Harry Potter books are great because the guys voice is very pleasant and I know the story so I'm not awake waiting for the big ending.

[blueeyedmanda]

Thanks Everyone!!!

I thought last night would be a great night to sleep, it poured all night and the rain usually relaxes me as well....nope!

[Jestgar]

Manda, I've also found that if I eat anything other than fish and vegetables for dinner I have trouble sleeping. I can eat a variety for lunch, but after about 3pm I'm pretty careful.

[confused]

I know in quite a few threads we have, that there are quite a few of us who have sleep changes since going gluten free. I actually have been gluten free for quite a few years now, but I noticed I was having trouble getting to sleep in the spring of this year. It seems like I can feel tired but the minute I go into the room I am wide awake. I have been taking Tylenol Pm, it says non-habit forming. Last night after taking the pills and still struggling I went to the couch to fall asleep. I am hoping that someone has some ideas or things they do that help them get to bed at night. I can go to bed fine on the weekends. My worry is I work full-time dayshift, so staying up late is not an option, currently I try going to bed at 11...but sometimes don't fall asleep until 1. We wake up at 6:30.

Ideas anyone? Things which work for you?

Do you think your trouble in sleeping is cause the wedding and all the plans you are making, I know when i was planning my wedding i had problems sleeping.

If you drink caffeine, dont drink any after 2 pm or have any kind of caffeine. Can you play relaxing music before you go to bed to relax you? Do you exercise in the morning, if so that helps get you going in the day but tires you out when it is time to go to sleep.

I dont take any kind of pills so im no help when it comes on what to take.

When all else fails have sex before bed, that is a good sleeping pill lol

paula

[dlp252]

I am reluctant to blame the summer weather or daylight savings time since this was when my problems started. I think it messed with my bodys schedule LOL

I wouldn't doubt it, lol...anything seems to mess with my schedule.

Another thing that helps a bit is to turn off the TV at least 15 minutes before I go to bed. I've read that the TV and computer are horrible for people with sleep problems, so I turn off the TV then read for a little bit, then right to bed. I've also heard that keeping the room dimmer helps. I pretty much always have dim lighting, lol.

I keep a regular sleep/wake cycle even on weekends which is another thing that I've heard is supposed to help, but it doesn't much for me. (Although when I discussed this with my doctor on Tuesday, he wants me to lay in bed on weekends anyway, lol).

Eating turkey in the evening helps slightly it seems...turkey has the stuff in the 5-HTP that makes us sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner.

[blueeyedmanda]

Not sure if the wedding has anything to do with it. We just start doing the hard core planning the last month or so.

I am on the computer before bed so I will have to get away from that. I am not a big TV watcher though. When I go into my room, there is no TV on. It is dark, I don't let any light in. I am funny like that.

I might start listening to a lullabye celiac disease that I used to play for my kids in daycare, it was Kenny Loggins, Return to Pooh corner. I know I am a little old for that music but it was such nice music. I bought a copy for my niece when she was born.

[Mango04]

Aromatherapy works for me. Pure lavendar oil is a good option.

Make sure you're hydrated. Dehydration always gives me insomnia. Might relate to the summer heat in your case.

Unplug most things in your room if possible. Electromagnetic fields can interfere with sleep.

That's all I can think of, besides getting excercise and making sure you're not eating sugar or caffine too late in the day

[ElenaDragon]

I think getting into a steady habit is important. Try to get to bed around the same time every night, go through a little bed time routine to get your mind used to going to sleep afterwards. Personally, watching TV in bed actually helps me fall asleep because I'm used to doing it (I wouldn't recommend it if you're not used to it though). If I watch TV in bed and I'm tired, I can have a hard time staying awake even if it's something I want to watch. The point is that whatever you do before bed, try to do the same thing every night and it will become a habit associated with bed and sleep.

Oh, and I also get up at the same time every day (even on weekends). For me it is to help prevent migraines, but it also helps establish a regular sleeping schedule. If I deviate from it (for example, staying up later or sleeping in later), I end up feeling over-tired or just "off" the next day.

[mftnchn]

Some good ideas here.

I suddenly started having insomnia several years ago. Doctor checked cortisol levels and I took that for awhile but it made it worse. Trazadone didn't work either. Neither did melatonin. I think I tried a couple other things too but can't remember.

L-tryptophan has helped (amino acid like is in turkey), take at bedtime with a spoonful of pure carb to help it absorb.

Ambien works really well for me, I just try to not take it every night because of dependency.

Sounds like your trouble is going to sleep not staying asleep??? Mine is mostly the latter. Have you tried herbal teas like sleepytime or whatever?

Eventually the only thing that helped me was HRT, and my insomnia still follows my cycle to some degree.

Another thing I do is use a thick eye mask. I have discovered that often the merest peep of light will wake me up.

I used to use heavy doses of asperin to sleep at night due to the pain from lyme. Now I avoid that, and take ambien to help me sleep through the pain. Fortunately that is not common now.

There is some really good research out there on sleep, and going to sleep and staying asleep are quite different.

[missy'smom]

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[blueeyedmanda]

Here's postitive news.

Last night I fell asleep on my own at 11:15, and slept the entire night through. I was off from work today though, but still this is a nice change.

[JNBunnie1]

I have a few suggestions. The things that helped me the most were to use the melatonin, but the key is to take it 1/2 hour before bed, and turn the lights down, so your body thinks it's bedtime. I also use a heating pad set to a two hour turn-off, because I have upper back pain, and the heat puts me to sleep easily as long as the room itself is cool enough. I know it sounds personal, but the sex suggestion made earlier really works too, and when I'm feeling just a little anxious, but not too much, I drink something with chamomile in it before bed. It helps just to calm your brain so you CAN sleep, it doesn't actually put you to sleep though. It kind of just slows down your thoughts a bit, you know?

[dlp252]

Here's postitive news.

Last night I fell asleep on my own at 11:15, and slept the entire night through. I was off from work today though, but still this is a nice change.

Yay, congratulations!

[blueeyedmanda]

My family was coming today I so I really cleaned up the house last night, maybe I tired myself out. I am hoping the dreary weather outside will make me continue to be sleepy tonight.

[blueeyedmanda]

So I noticed if I go in the room to bed...I may fall asleep and awake an hour later or in last nights case almost 2 hours later. I feel like I have not slept at all....and my mind does not register that I slept either. So then I have a hard time falling asleep. This only happens in the 11-1 hours. After that I sleep through the night. I actually made an appointment to see my doctor because I have another concern as well.

[confused]

So I noticed if I go in the room to bed...I may fall asleep and awake an hour later or in last nights case almost 2 hours later. I feel like I have not slept at all....and my mind does not register that I slept either. So then I have a hard time falling asleep. This only happens in the 11-1 hours. After that I sleep through the night. I actually made an appointment to see my doctor because I have another concern as well.

I hope the doctor has some answers for you. I have actually not been sleeping the last week or so, but im hoping it is just from remolidiling and and at least 1 or 2 kids sleeping with us every night cause there bedrooms are not set up yet.

What happens with me tho, i will fall sound asleep then wake up 1 or 2 hours later and think its already morning then i cant get back to sleep.

Let us know what the dr says. I hope your other concern is nothing major either. Well be thinking of you. Whne do you go?

paula

[ElenaDragon]

If you wake up and are too awake to go back to sleep, you could try getting up and having some hot tea (herbal of course) or warm milk or something to relax your body again. Maybe listen to a little calming music, like piano... anything to get your mind to stop focusing on getting back to sleep. I find the more I try to go to sleep if I'm restless, the harder it is!

[dlp252]

Kind of the same thing, only I sleep good from 9-12 or 1 am, then I wake up every hour, and when I wake up at 3:00 don't go back to sleep because I have to get up at 4:20.

One of my doctors says that those are the prime hours for detox, so thinks I may be trying to detox...he gave me some stuff to help that process along so that my body doesn't have to work so hard...so far haven't noticed a difference, lol, although I ran out of one of the things I've been taking to help "control" the lyme (ran out Sunday) and coindicentally I did sleep a bit better last night, so possibly there is something to the detox thing in my case.

[ElenaDragon]

I usually wake up once or twice between 11pm and 1am, and when I do I have to pee before I can go back to sleep. Then I tend to wake up again around 5am or 6am - if it's after 6 I just get up since I usually can't go back to sleep for less than an hour (and I have to get up before 7). So I make multiple bathroom trips during the night, but I don't have a BM until I get up after 6 (usually my only BM of the day).