Lets talk about sleep...
 

I know this topic has come up numerous times but I am interested in hearing the different sleep problems. I find myself waking very early- like between 4 and 5- but still tired to the point my head is bobbing. However, it is impossible to go back to sleep.

It feels like I am drifting off into a dream state because strange little blips pop into my head as soon as I shut my eyes. Then its like my body senses it and says NO! WAKE UP!

I am trying to get off all my meds to see if this is me or med side effects. I miss crawling into a bed and drifting off on my own and being able to sleep in and wake feeling refreshed. The fatigue during the day really puts me in a bad mood. I'm tired of being tired!

If anyone would like to share, thanks in advance. I feel like this board has helped me so much. It's nice to come to a place where others can relate.

I need a complex carb and maybe some protein in my system before I go to sleep. You may suffer from fasting or reactive hypoglycemia. It is difficult to sleep with low blood sugar. Instead, one just feels dopey and irritable.

It is easy to try. A slice of bread with peanut butter can help. I have used pasta. A Glucerna drink or snack designed for slow absorption. Just about anything with a low glycemic index. A glass of chocolate milk is good.

Here is a chart.

http://www.alsearsmd.com/glycemic-index/

http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/...cfoodchart.htm

Thank you very much, Mark. I will definitely try this!

My sleeping improved more than 3 years after the concussion when I finally received hormone treatments to fix the pituitary dysfunction that the concussion caused.

Sleeping is weird though, a lot of different things can affect it.

But, you might want to get your hormone levels checked, just in case... even though you're still early in your recovery... it might be helpful.

My sleep improved gradually from horrible to tolerable to pretty decent over the course of 3+ years. I never took any meds. The improvement more or less tracked my overall recovery. It just took a lot of time.

i have you all beat..my dreams actually hurt!! where the neck meets the head, i wake up during REM to a dream i completely remember and there are stabbing shockwaves of pain in that area and if i get tremors too, then my whole body is affected. One doctor said too much of some kind of chemical is being released or not enough of another, hes not sure, great. or, he said, parts of brain misfiring, which someone told me means the same thing basically.

it is probably my worst symptom and whoever comes up with an answer can have my 81 year old italian mother be your personal cook for a week. and you'll gain ten pounds.

It is a terrifying symptom, and I would try anything to get rid of it.

Solved the insomnia part after 8 years by taking 12,5 ambien and flexeril.

I take 3mg melatonin to sleep...helps a lot

Hope everyone sleeps well tonight!

@RAllen82 I know exactly what you mean, I'm 6 months in and my sleep is still poor, basically like you I take a long time to get off then wake way too early and can't get back to sleep. I miss lazing sleepily in bed on a Sunday morning fully refreshed, that would be heaven.

These days before bed I have some whole grain buttered toast and camomile tea, like Mark says you need some fuel for sleep. I find it helps if I'm in a happy frame of mind and think about abstract things. I sometimes take Magnesium and Calcium before bed and it seems to help calm me down, I also have a good hour of wind down before bed. I've tried exercising in the day which seems to help with getting to sleep and depth of sleep but not length. I think the problem is the brain is too stimulated and can't switch into sleep mode and stay there.

Sleep disturbance seems to be one of those symptoms that linger, maybe because of it's psychological element, TBH I think it just takes time to resolve.

@EsthersDoll what were your symptoms, did you suffer from dry eyes and thirst and a hangover feeling in the morning?

SuperElectric,
Thank you for your reply and helpful advice. I tried the complex carb and slept until 8am! The best gift I could have asked for on my birthday today!!

I also take a liquid magnesium and calcium remedy before bed, about a tablespoon. I started that when these strange muscle twitches and restless leg symptoms came about. I could do more physical activity during the day. I'll make that a goal this week.

Did you ever take the mirtazapine for sleep by chance? I have been on a low dose and it really seems to help with sleep. I was very hesitant as you are. I never took meds before I hit my head and the thought of taking them to regulate my mood and sleep was bringing tons of anxiety on its own. I'm trying to wean off of it now so I'll keep you updated on how it goes. I'm scared about the rebound insomnia.

Like you, I have found through this board that the sleep disturbances are usually one of the last to resolve. I am very thankful that my anxiety has resolved. It was like a chicken and egg situation, I never knew what came first...the insomnia or the anxiety.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!

Glad to hear you got some good sleep, hot buttered toast sounds like the way to go! I take the magnesium and calcium as a tablet, I have to stop after a few days because of it's effect below lol.

Yes, I tried mirtazapine on two occasions and it did make me very relaxed, I think it would have really helped me in the early days with the anxiety, but I hear the sleep qualities eventually wears off and then you have to wean yourself off it so having never taking any medicine before I chickened out of it. I coped by walking and lost 13lbs which I'm putting back on. I would wean off the mirtazapine very slowly a bit at a time.

Interesting you hit the back of your head while I hit the front and yet we both have sleep issues. Funny thing is after I wake at 4 or 5am I eventually start to have weird dreams but afterwards never know whether I've been asleep or awake! I just want to see some progress with the sleep now as I feel I've reached a impasse.

Belated happy birthday :-)

too soon for statistical significance, but last two nights i've:
1. had whole wheat toast w/ almond butter & jam at 9pm
2. taken melatonin the first time i wake up at 1am

the combo seems to be helping me fall right back to sleep when i wake up at 3am instead of being up for an hour or two.

knocking on wood! and thanks for the advice

I had the same issue of not sleeping and dreaming was causing me pain. I live close to mayo clinic and was seeing the brain and trauma unit. They started me on amitriptylin increasing by 25MG. I now take 100MG an hour before bed and sleep through the night.

This has been the greatest help to me so far. I just joined the forum tonight and will write more about mayo's treatment program.

Writing more about mayo's program would be great for a lot of people on the board. BTW, the packers didn't rule last Monday night. Sorry, I couldn't resist!! This from a long suffering jets fan.