Insomnia and lack of restful sleep?

[bridger]

I am 25 yrs old have had extreme difficulty in falling asleep and feeling rested the following day. This has been since I was 12-13yrs old, can even recall many nights of laying in bed while under 10yrs old. I realize it is normal to have occasional nights where one can’t fall asleep immediately.

However, the inverse has always been true for me. It has been rare for me to fall asleep within an hour of lying down. From the age of 15-21 i self medicated with marijuana and melatonin. And occasional ambien, valium from my family physician. At the age of 21 I received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. And now had a psychiatrist to help with the insomnia. In the past 4-5 years i have tried remeron, trazodone, more ambien, lunesta, sonata, hydroxyzine, elavil, diphenhydramine, and most consistently seroquel. Seroquel in the range of 50mg to 100mg nightly for the last year. I don’t feel rested upon wakening, nor do i feel drugged anymore. And for the past month i have been using 9mg melatonin, valerian root, 200-300mg 5-htp and a magnesium/calcium supplement nightly, this is in addition to the Seroquel. I have been hoping to eliminate the seroquel from my med list, many sides. And have been tapering off, and for the last 7 days have only used the melatonin, valerian root, 5-htp, and magnesium. This worked the first few nights, but have to add an ambien since. Last night i got no sleep at all despite 20mg ambien in addition the the natural cocktail listed above.

Also, this is under the knowledge and guidance of my APRN. She is good and caring, but not the most knowledgable. Hoping to see Dr. M as soon as finances allow. (married, college student)

I am highly frustrated, partly from not sleeping, partly from not knowing what to do next. I would love to have a sleep study performed. I do not feel i make into the regenerative stages of sleep often enough. Yet don’t know how a sleep study could help my situation. I do not believe i have sleep apnea, one has to sleep in order to have it interrupted:) It is certainly a possibility i admit. If the study showed that i do not progress from one stage to the next how could that be used or showed some issue aside from OSA, with a competent Dr., to get me sleep?

My hope is to not have to take a drug to sleep. I have not been able to find a drug in my research that would be better than anything i’ve tried or with less sides. Rozerem seems interesting yet the increased prolactin is worrisome. Marijuana worked the best, yet illegal in my state. so not a feasible option for me anymore. Also, maybe of importance maybe not, i feel most awake and alert in the evening. Very tired and ‘not awake’ in the mornings and afternoon. This has been for many years no matter what medication i was on. Cortisol related im guessing?

Sorry for the length. as i said im going on no sleep and needed to ask for some help. When i meet with my APRN again, soon probably, i want to look at another angle.

Thank you for reading this.

[menrfrommars]

have you done a saliva adrenal test to see how you cortisol production works? could be a start

[bridger]

@marsaday 1500 wrote:

have you done a saliva adrenal test to see how you cortisol production works? could be a start

I have not, but have considered it.

To be quite honest i don’t understand the adrenal gland as well as i would like. I have been on testosterone and levothyroxine for 2.5 yrs and feel like i understand those more than the adrenals. Yet the adrenal gland i am lacking knowledge on. I know all three(sex, thyroid, adrenal hormone) systems interact, just cant quite SEE the picture yet. If that makes sense.

I will probably give my endo a call this week. Had a test for hemachromatosis and want to know the result, guessing negative since they haven’t called. So, i will ask about saliva testing. I presume the 4x test is what would make sense in my case. Something to see what my cortisol is at four times throughout the day. 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm.

The only cortisol test i had done was from 3/21/2007, 9am. Just before starting TRT. Don’t have units, these are from my online electronic record the hospital uses. This probably doesn’t help much.

Cortisol 20.8 range(2-23.8)
ACTH 58 no range given.

On a side note, fall semester begins tomorrow. Im excited for my Health Psychology course.:D

[Geno]

@bridger 1495 wrote:

I am 25 yrs old have had extreme difficulty in falling asleep and feeling rested the following day. This has been since I was 12-13yrs old, can even recall many nights of laying in bed while under 10yrs old. I realize it is normal to have occasional nights where one can’t fall asleep immediately.

However, the inverse has always been true for me. It has been rare for me to fall asleep within an hour of lying down. From the age of 15-21 i self medicated with marijuana and melatonin. And occasional ambien, valium from my family physician. At the age of 21 I received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. And now had a psychiatrist to help with the insomnia. In the past 4-5 years i have tried remeron, trazodone, more ambien, lunesta, sonata, hydroxyzine, elavil, diphenhydramine, and most consistently seroquel. Seroquel in the range of 50mg to 100mg nightly for the last year. I don’t feel rested upon wakening, nor do i feel drugged anymore. And for the past month i have been using 9mg melatonin, valerian root, 200-300mg 5-htp and a magnesium/calcium supplement nightly, this is in addition to the Seroquel. I have been hoping to eliminate the seroquel from my med list, many sides. And have been tapering off, and for the last 7 days have only used the melatonin, valerian root, 5-htp, and magnesium. This worked the first few nights, but have to add an ambien since. Last night i got no sleep at all despite 20mg ambien in addition the the natural cocktail listed above.

Also, this is under the knowledge and guidance of my APRN. She is good and caring, but not the most knowledgable. Hoping to see Dr. M as soon as finances allow. (married, college student)

I am highly frustrated, partly from not sleeping, partly from not knowing what to do next. I would love to have a sleep study performed. I do not feel i make into the regenerative stages of sleep often enough. Yet don’t know how a sleep study could help my situation. I do not believe i have sleep apnea, one has to sleep in order to have it interrupted:) It is certainly a possibility i admit. If the study showed that i do not progress from one stage to the next how could that be used or showed some issue aside from OSA, with a competent Dr., to get me sleep?

My hope is to not have to take a drug to sleep. I have not been able to find a drug in my research that would be better than anything i’ve tried or with less sides. Rozerem seems interesting yet the increased prolactin is worrisome. Marijuana worked the best, yet illegal in my state. so not a feasible option for me anymore. Also, maybe of importance maybe not, i feel most awake and alert in the evening. Very tired and ‘not awake’ in the mornings and afternoon. This has been for many years no matter what medication i was on. Cortisol related im guessing?

Sorry for the length. as i said im going on no sleep and needed to ask for some help. When i meet with my APRN again, soon probably, i want to look at another angle.

Thank you for reading this.

Bridger, sounds like you and I both have a very similar problem with insomnia etc… I am interested in reading the replies from forum members. I truly know what you are experiencing with the lack of sleep, Rx meds, and the seeking of help for this problem which is so vital to health a which should come naturally, and does, for most people.

[Author]

Posts