1. Community
  2. Symptoms
  3. Sleep Problems

Haven’t slept for 3 days...help? Anyone else experience this stuff?

Posted , 12 users are following.

debra1007
debra1007

I am just not sure what to do. It is now three days and counting since I have been able to sleep. I just lay there in the dark in my bed for HOURS so tired I can barely open my eyes but not sleeping. During the day my whole body feels sluggish like I’m walking through sand and all I want to do is sleep but the moment I get home and get in the bed absolutely nothing. The only sleep I have been able to get was this morning when literally as soon as my alarm went off I hit snooze and fell asleep. Slept for 9 minutes and then 9 minutes more and that is it. I just don’t know why to do anymore I’ve tried every trick in the book: meditation, relaxing baths, exercise, I cut out both caffeine and sugar out of my diet, breathing exercises, etc. nothing. This happens fever month or so and as of now my record is 9 days without sleep. Every time it seems I get that same “only able to sleep during the snooze” thing which I just think is so weird...anyways any help would be appreciated 

2 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

Next
  • Hanna715
    Hanna715 debra1007

    Posted

    I get where you are coming from trust me I do. My mom used to put on the most boring tv show or radio station and make me watch it.
  • Guest
    Guest debra1007

    Posted

    I undertsand, is there any stress in your in your life or things you worry about?
  • angela91414
    angela91414 debra1007

    Posted

    Hi

    I also have periods of times like this and like you have tried every trick in the book but as soon as I lay my head on the pillow nothing! I now begin to hate going to bed as the nights laying in the dark are so long! Sometimes I drop off into light sleep just before the alarm goes off too! The only way I can describe how I feel in the day is like serious jet lag ( like the feeling you get after a 12 hour flight!) I find now I just lay in bed and try and let everything wash over me it’s worse if I keep looking at the clock or start getting worked up about how I’m going to cope the next day. Like you don’t know what to do as don’t want to take sleeping tablets although I do take an occasional over the counter Nytol ( not the herbal type they are hopeless!!) Sorry I am not much help but at least you know you are not alone! 

  • ken2121
    ken2121 debra1007

    Posted

    Hi,

    I found that Tryptophan, Melatonin, available on Amazon, along with OTC Diphenhydramine Oil help me get to and stay asleep.

  • liz62218
    liz62218 debra1007

    Posted

    Like me I suspect you are now anxious about not sleeping.   I have pounding heart at night as well which stops sleep.  The danger is the more things you try and the more they don’t work eg for me mindfulness the more you worry.  I am doing cbt with nhs on sleep some 12 months now after being referred. It’s not helping at all. The lady is doing her best.  After taking my history and causation factors we have been trying techniques. Relaxation and mindfulness is ok but even when trying in the day my quite active brain finds boring and wanders. Much worse at night!   On the contrary 10 or 20 mg of amitriptyline before nighttime, prescribed by doctor last week,  at my suggestion, seems to be working quite well in terms of giving me longer sleep periods. I will report further as we are only 1 week in but looks promising.   
    • liz62218
      liz62218

      Posted

      I very much endorse the suggestion of 10 or 20 Mg of Amitriptyline per night.   Seems to work for me and had a long half life.  Ie it works all night 
  • debra1007
    debra1007

    Posted

    The weirdest part of it all is that I’m not really anxious about anything. I literally just lay there and don’t think about anything 7 out of 10 Times it happens. It’s like a weird meditative state is the only way to describe it. I’m not asleep, I’m aware of everything happening around me and time passing but I’m not thinking about anything. One I get into the 5 or 6 day stretch without sleep then I start getting angry I’ll sit up and look at how much time has passed and throw my phone across the room because what felt like hours was only a few minutes and I know I have a whole night ahead of me. And I have even tried sleeping pills during that time I take trazidone and it doesn’t matter if I’m gonna be up the traz doesn’t even make me sleepy but if I was gonna sleep anyways it makes me too tired to get up in the morning. That time it lasted 9 days I was taking trazidone every night and NOTHING...might as well have been taking sugar pills
    • shane54130
      shane54130 debra1007

      Posted

      This is so relatable that it hurts. Yeah, it's so odd just laying there awake and yet somehow comatose at the same time.

      It's like you say, I'm not particularly anxious or worried about not sleeping (during these periods) I'm just sort of existing in a semi-conscious state: one which is erring on the side of "conscious" and less on the side of "semi" mind you.

      That being said, there comes a time when you become aware that you've been awake for a long period of time; and this is when anxiety can set in. I'll think: "Oh my gosh! Why am I hovering just above sleep like this and for so long! Is there something wrong with my BRAIN? Like, what is even happening up there?". These periods pass however; and then the cycle of hovering above sleep peacefully (but sleeplessly) begins anew. 

      On another note, Trazodone is absolute garbage. It did absolutely nothing. It would make me drowsy (sometimes) yes, but sleep? no. If ever a friend should ask whether I recommend Trazodone or not my answer would be a firm "TrazoDON'T". 

    • MrRatings
      MrRatings debra1007

      Posted

      9 days? That's crazy. I'm on my 3rd day this week (I went on a 2 day binge outside of maybe a hour or 2 of "sleep"wink... Longest I ever went was 4 days. Doc just prescribed me 25mg seroquel to take up ylto twice a day... Hope it works.. And I went to the ER twice this week too... Complications from my medicine (Type 2, Hypothyroidism) was giving me anxiety to the point it was making my chest burn and hurt.

  • paula91202
    paula91202 debra1007

    Posted

    You probably have lots going on in your mind. naturally staying in the dark should make you fall asleep easily because there is a signal that relays to your brain to secret a hormone called melatonin which induce sleep.  i will suggest you take relaxing tea before bed time as it might work for you. Read more here http://chaitealattehq.com/best-tea-for-sleep-insomnia/

  • ken2121
    ken2121 debra1007

    Posted

    Amitriptyline worked for me also. 75 mg about an hour before bedtime. Dry mouth and afternoon bowel movements instead of morning and a little bit of dizziness upon standing, but small price to pay for a good nights sleep!
  • ken2121
    ken2121 debra1007

    Posted

    Try the amitriptyline in 25 mg increments spaced about a week apart until you start sleeping...then hold.
  • ken2121
    ken2121 debra1007

    Posted

    25 mg increase at a time spaced a week apart until you sleep. It took me 75 mg.
  • atulit75078
    atulit75078 debra1007

    Posted

    How are you doing now? Are you better? Please do reply as I sm sufferring too! Would like to know how you coping?
  • steven89244
    steven89244 debra1007

    Posted

    Hi Debra, 

    I don’t see any follow up to your post.  I hope you are sleeping better!

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.