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Not sleeping

Posted , 9 users are following.

Kassiebeetle
Kassiebeetle

Having most awful time with not sleeping. Only getting 3 hours sleep or no sleep. My body clock is shot. On 12 MGM's pred which I take between 1-2 am. Saw GP who has suggested Melatonin. Has anyone tried this or any other suggestions. I do fall asleep in the chair sometimes during the day and have little sleeps but I try not to do this. I am not very active but am seeing an exercise physiologist today and will be starting swimming in a heated pool this week.

Thanks for your help. Kathy

2 likes, 19 replies

19 Replies

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  • Anhaga
    Anhaga Kassiebeetle

    Posted

    I take one of my calcium supplements a little while before bed (with a small snack and usually a spoonful of plain yoghurt).  No trouble sleeping since I started doing that, despite having been an intermittent insomniac most of my life!  If you can get outdoors for a walk every day that may help also.
    • Kassiebeetle
      Kassiebeetle Anhaga

      Posted

      Hi Anhaga

      ?I take 4 calcium tabs per day - 2 in the morning and 2 at night as I don't have any parathyroid glands. Can't say that I have noticed any sleepiness after them. Unfortunately I don't like yoghurt so that cancels out that one. Perhaps I should learn to like it. Acquire a taste. Yes, I do think I need to get out into the sun. Get some of that vitamin D !!!!! I just did a quick look at calcium and yoghurt. Yoghurt has Tryptophan in it which is known to help sleep. So there you go.

      Cheers

      Kathy

       

    • janice85211
      janice85211 Kassiebeetle

      Posted

      Hi 🙂

      I don't like yoghurt but have you tried it with some honey...very nice 😊

    • Kassiebeetle
      Kassiebeetle janice85211

      Posted

      Will give it a go. I wonder if a bit of maple syrup might be nice. I might try that too.

      Thanks.

      K

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga Kassiebeetle

      Posted

      The yoghurt is supposed to help with proper metabolism of calcium.  Another possibility might be to try valerian, just for a week or so as it's not good to take for a long time, just to break the cycle.  I used valerian a few years ago and found it gave me a really good quality of sleep and a feeling I'd had wonderful dreams (which I didn't remember). 

    • Kassiebeetle
      Kassiebeetle Anhaga

      Posted

      Thanks for that. Yes, I forgot about the Valerian sleeping pills. I shall do some research on the Valerian.

      ?as I think it reacts with some medications. I am glad that it worked for you. I do agree in that my sleep cycle is way off track. I used to go to sleep about 1.30am then wake up about 0830 am. I would wake a couple of times but would go back to sleep. Don't know why things changed.

      Cheers

      Kathy

    • EileenH
      EileenH Kassiebeetle

      Posted

      Have you tried Greek yoghurt? It is a totally different texture and flavour.
    • Kassiebeetle
      Kassiebeetle EileenH

      Posted

      No. But I will try it. Thanks. It is 2am. Still wide awake.
  • janice85211
    janice85211 Kassiebeetle

    Posted

    Hi,

    I too have trouble sleeping and am thinking about splitting the dose of preds as some others do to morning and evening. It's worth a try anyway.

    Good luck ?

    • Kassiebeetle
      Kassiebeetle janice85211

      Posted

      Thanks Janice.

      ​I recently tried to split the dose but had some issues so had to go back on the daily dose. Good luck with your trial of dose splitting. I wish you well.

      Cheers

      Kathy

  • charles92035
    charles92035 Kassiebeetle

    Posted

    Hi Kassiebee,

    My Doctor also told me to take Melatonin and it does seem to help me. Also not eating after 6 PM helps me. I don't know why but it does help. I am on 10mg of Prednisone at present.

     

    • Kassiebeetle
      Kassiebeetle charles92035

      Posted

      Hello Charles

      ​Thanks for that information. The melatonin costs about $35 here in Australia so it is good to get feedback as to its efficacy.

      Cheers

      Kathy

  • nick67069
    nick67069 Kassiebeetle

    Posted

    Did you recently change time when you take pred? Some people have issue with sleep & taking pred before going to bed.  I do take pred with yogurt ( and there are many kinds) maybe some are "good enough" for your taste. Another option is to split dose and take 6-8mg in the evening  and the rest as soon as you wake up to make 12mg daily dose.

    • Kassiebeetle
      Kassiebeetle nick67069

      Posted

      Hi Nick,

      ?No, I didn't change the time for taking the pred. I have been taking pred at 1-2am for probably 3 years. I did try to split  the dose a couple of months ago but had a really bad reaction. I spoke to a pharmacist last week about what had happened and she thought I may have had withdrawal symptoms due to that  lower dose that I took first. I think that I may be very sensitive to prednisone and changing the dose. Have others had any trouble when they split the dose? I shall try some yoghurt see how I go.

      Cheers

      Kathy

  • margot34956
    margot34956 Kassiebeetle

    Posted

    Hi Kathy, yes I also had trouble not sleeping when I started taking pred. Was on 15 for 4 weeks, then 12.5 for 5 weeks, now on 10 since 8th jan. I had never any trouble sleeping before.

    in the last two weeks I have started to have good nights sleeping. I don't know if I got so tired that I am now sleeping or if the body has got used to the preds.

    Hope you will sleep sometime soon!

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