Insomnia

Hi lee thx for the reply I take sertraline and I'm also on zolpidem to try and help me sleep but I only get a few hours s nite and it only feels like a really lite sleep so not doin me any gud really and I agree with u it has really taken its toll on the way I look and think I ave really dark circles under my eyes and they r constantly stinging I hate it feels like I'm never goin to get a gud nites sleep ever again xx

Ok. So you are taking an antidepressant and a sleeping pill. Quite like I was taking in the earlier stages of my insomnia ( I was taking citalopram/zopiclone ). I don't know much about zolpidem aka ambien as it is the one sleeping medication I never tried, no reason just didnt come across it. I have however read about it and apparently it is only to be used for 10 days, 14 max the same as zopiclone. I had to stop taking that after a week as it began to give me horrific nightmares!

Either way the medication doesn't seem to suit you as you are still experiencing insomnia. I would return to your doctor to report this as it is pointless taking it if you aren't getting the desired effect. Sadly, more pills/medication isn't the answer I'm afraid.. What I will say though is you are getting some sleep and that is something, albiet very little. I would lay awake for several hours then start drifting in and out of sleep every 10/15 mins followed by staring at the ceiling for another 4/5 hours. Absolute torture.

It sounds to me like you are, like me, a very light sleeper and the depression etc is making it impossible for you to sleep for a long period of time. You are becoming more and more tired during the day as the problem persists, bearing in mind you must be asleep for roughly 4 hours before your body regenerates itself so to speak.

Do you excercise much? How is your diet? These things all come into it too. It wont happen overnight but if you eat well at the right times and tire yourself out during the day it can make it a lot easier to relax on a night. I go to work, go to the gym, eat a large healthy meal, shower and I'm dying for my bed now

Hang in there Michelle, you will beat it.

Ye zolpidem is basically just the same as zopiclone it just didn't give me the horrible metallic taste that zopiclone did the next day I've been on them both but I've been on zolpidem for 5 months now, u sound so much like me I'm just the same I go to bed about 9ish and feel shattered and I feel like I'm half drifting off then boom wide awake again but I never really feel fully asleep and rested its horrible, I don't go to the gym but I get plenty of exercise and I work 12 hours a day 4 times a wk, my diet is good although I only manage 1 main meal a day the other is usually a lite snack, and I bath every day and look after myself so I don't get why I can't sleep 😔 did u also suffer with the dark circles under ur eyes and do u sleep well now? xx

Working long hours can be an issue too if you are feeling tired at work and fighting it. I used to work till 11:30pm and I always got tired around 7pm. This meant due to keeping myself awake I wouldn't be ready for sleep when I got home.

I did get dark circles under my eyes and due to the problem going on for several years they haven't disappeared. I use under eye treatment gel and use sun beds twice a week which conceals it pretty well. Believe it or not if you have had a rough nights sleep and your eyes look dark and puffy, getting two damp teabags and placing them over your eyes while you lie down for 5/10 mins helps bring down any puffiness and seems to remove some or the darkness. Google it in case you think im crazy

I sleep brilliantly now. The last year has went rather well for me and I've gotten a job in which I work reasonable hours which don't affect my sleeping pattern so I have no worries and can comfortably go to bed when I want to.

One more thing. You mentioned you only have one main meal a day. Is this at night or during the day? In my experience if I don't eat enough on an evening I often feel less tired. I don't mean eat before bed or anything but I usually have 3 meals a day the last one being at around 6pm which leaves me full f i r the rest of the night.

If you need any more advice please don't be afraid to ask. I know all too well how much lack of sleep can ruin your day to day life and I am glad to help.

Hi lee thx for ur support I really appreciate it it s so gud to hear that someone has been we're I am and come through the other end sorry for the late reply just done 2 12 hour shifts and it's right what u say I work 8am til 8pm and feel really tired in the afternoon bout 3 don't know if I wish be able to sleep tho😔 Then when I get home don't feel tired, I really hope my dark circles don't stick around forever I hate em I'm def goin to try the tea bag thing later 😊It's so gud to hear it does get better and I'm glad ur feeling better it gives me hope, as for the meals I'll ave toast in a morning the ill ave a mail meal bout 3ish when I'm not working then I'll just eat a snack for tea like yoghurt or banana s or crisps or chocolate.

Thx for ur support plz keep in touch any help is really appreciated x

Hi, not a problem Michelle we all got to work

I would definitely say working those hours is having an impact on your sleep. 12 hours is a long shift, regardless of you getting an extra day or two off a week. I know I would struggle to get used to that routine.. Not many jobs let you choose your hours but if its that getting that bad then possibly talk to your boss about a little time off to see if this corrects your sleep, if it does then you know its the hours your working that is the problem.

Depending on how much money you want to spend, there are lots of products to help with dark circles. The last stuff I got was 15 pounds off Amazon and is pretty good. Don't stress yourself over it though, getting your sleep back is the more important thing.

You are going a long time without food Michelle, 7+ hours in fact Lol. Everyone is different and if this is enough for you then thats fine. However, maybe you could try incorporating some of the snacks in between breakfast and dinner, then try another meal on an evening when you get home? Its just a thought, but if you are feeling hungry on a night before bed this will most likely effect your sleep.

I have all the time in the world for someone suffering from chronic insomnia so write back anytime.

Hi lee thx for replying I've been doin the 12 hour shifts for 4 years now and Neva had a problem with the most until a yr ago when all this started so I don't think that that's the problem, I wud appreciate any tips on the dark circles and if uv found anything that actually works to cover them up wud be great to hear about 👌As for eating I don't really feel hungry like I used to so sometimes find it hard to eat x

Hi Elizabeth I'm 40 and I wondered if I was goin through the menopause myself but the docs say no they say it's depression and anxiety I ave not slept good in a year now I've tried melatonin but it didn't help me at all I wake after a few hours and know matter how hard I try I just cannot get bk to sleep I'm so exhausted with it all and am starting to look ill x

This is the way i feel tired sick and just not myself feel sick can't eat a lot of food either and nose bleeds again my right nostril 

Just feel sluggish and just not myself i cry a lot and i am at my ends wits melatonin puts me to sleep for a little while then I am up again durring the night crying feeling hot or cold and feeling depressed 

I just can't take not getting a good nights sleep 

Then the ER the gave me ambiem and that is not good to take when you have sleep apnea because i already have problem breathing and ambiem would make it worse 

 

Hi Elizabeth I know what ur goin through I don't know how much more of this I can take I look and feel terrible and it's all because I can't get a gud nites sleep I don't know where to turn x