chronic insomnia

[Patti]

i was curious to know if any of you suffer from insomnia.  it has been 8 years since my surgeries.  i rarely can get to sleep or get back to sleep if i wake up in the middle of the night (teenagers).  i have used ambien alot.  i have used lorazipam alot.  i am afraid of addiction to the lorazipam as it is a benzo***.  a few days ago my doctor prescribed trazedone.  it was not helpful at 50 mg but helped at 100 mg.  i don't want to be medicated forever. my mind gets very active at bedtime-either excitement for an upcoming event or anxiety.  then i often am anxious about sleep.  even now with both my girls away at college and a calm life, i still can't get to sleep on most nights.  i do see a therapist to work on my anxieties and it helps, but rarely helps with sleep.  i have been on lexapro since i had severe depression after surgery. any suggestions?  patti

[Kathleen_Mc]

is there a particular reason you feel the need to be without drugs?
I had sleep problems as one of the symptoms of my AN and was on sleeping pills so I can understand not wanting to be taking them!
In the past two years I was diagnosed with a sleep disorder (brought on from years of shift work) and take trazodone for sleep when I need to sleep at night, I don't have any problem sleeping if I don't take it but wake up exhausted (don't go into REM when I sleep at night) and haven't developed a problem of addiction.....it's a safe drug and it is an antidepressant so there's that added benifit!

[Patti]

thanks kathleen for reminding me that its ok to take medicine.  i do have an issue about taking medicine and i need to be reminded that its ok.  what dose of trazedone do you take?  btw-i was 38 when i had my surgeries too.  do you know if ANs can cause sleep disorders?  patti

[MAlegant]

I have taken Clonazepam to sleep for several years now.  My brain (I call it the newsreel) will not stop without it.  Of course, I fall asleep without drugs just fine on the sofa.  Ironic, isn't it?
Marci

[Patti]

Marci-would you mind telling me about the clonazapin?  what dose?  have you had to increase it over time.  i, too, have a very busy mind but do just fine on the couch most days.  it makes no sense.  do you think your AN caused insomnia?  Patti

[MAlegant]

Patti,
I suppose my AN could have caused insomnia.  It seems to have been the culprit for many years of headaches--I used to have them a couple times a week--and mostly I haven't had a headache since surgery either.  Strange.

Clonazepam also known as Klonopin, is an anti-seizure medication also used for anxiety.  I find it works very well with no side effects.
Best,
Marci

[Tumbleweed]

Patti, the following have helped me to sleep soundly through the night:

1. Exercise (aerobic and/or strength training) at least every other day (daily walks, if possible). A physically tired body is less stressed and gets sleepy.
2. Eat an alkaline diet rich in vegetables and fruits (insomnia can be caused by an acid body PH, caused by a diet rich in meats and grains)
3. Stop work at least 3 or 4 hours before bedtime (turn off your cell phone, don't answer emails and just RELAX)!
4. Meditate regularly (wish I could say I still do this, but it has helped me tremendously in the past when I stuck to it)
5. Do 10 to 30 minutes of yoga right before bedtime
6. Read something entertaining (not work-related!) in bed 30-60 minutes before you want to fall asleep
7. Spend time outdoors

I hope that helps,
Tumbleweed

[Mathilda]

Added to the advice of Tumbleweed:

8.  Don't watch TV right up to the moment you want to go to sleep; especially stay away from too much excitement on TV, like thrillers etc.
9.  A small glass of warm milk might help (not for everyone);
10.Try to go to bed at the same time every night, so your body gets a good rythm;
11. Don't stay up too late.
12. Don't have dinner too late in the evening (you need at least 3-4 hrs to digest the food); a light snack is OK an hour or so before bedtime

Sweet dreams!

[Rivergirl]

I do think clonapin is a benzo too. Why do you not want the ambien? Have you tried melatonin? or over the counter benadryl?  I don't sleep well either here, for about a year before my diagnosis I thought I had aniexty because I could hear my heart in my ear and it aggravated the heck out of me.  I was on ativan and now take ambien and that helps and do I dream.............the stuff they make movies out of.

[Dog Lover]

Funny how we all have our little things that help us get to sleep.

For me, I can't get to sleep WITHOUT the tv. I have one in my bedroom. Once I'm in bed, I turn the TV on and I'm asleep within 10 min. It's my own version of a sleeping pill.

Although when I was trying to get myself back into a "normal" sleeping pattern when I had to go back to work, I took Tylenol PM for a few weeks to help me get to sleep. My mind wouldn't turn off. Glad that things seem to be back to pretty much normal for me in that area. Except that I had to get in the pattern of going to bed much earlier because of the fatigue.

Cathy

[Kathleen_Mc]

WARNING TO ALL: Melantonin is not something that is recommended in people who have had brain surgery and should not be taken without the judgement of a doctor. I was seen by a sleep disorder specialist and he said Melantonin is a big NO NO for people who have had brain surgery (also for people with certain other neurological disorders).
Kathleen

[leapyrtwins]

Wow, Kathleen!  I didn't realize that 

My son who has ADHD takes melatonin nightly and it works like a charm on him.

I've been tempted to give it a try myself since I don't sleep well at all.   Guess I'll skip that idea.

IMO my insomnia isn't the result of my AN or my AN surgery.  I think in my case it's more related to stress and worry.  I'm a certified control freak and often wake up at night worrying about things that are beyond my control in addition to things that aren't.  It usually takes me a long time to unwind at night and get to sleep also. 

I think I just need to chill more.

Jan

[Omaschwannoma]

  I'm surprised by this information Kathleen.  I take melatonin from time to time.  I have even mentioned this to a neurologist (he didn't comment).  Can you go into more detail here? 

I always do the calming poses of yoga before bedtime and most times this helps tremendously.  I posted extensively on yoga postures in the "community" category if you are interested. 

[lacey7]

Patti,
I don't think AN has anything to do with sleep problems, especially if it's been years since your surgery.  I've had sleep problems for 24 years, since a tragedy happened in my immediate family.
I have tried so many sleep meds......and I dont think there is anything wrong with taking them....if your doctors prescribe them.  You do need your sleep.
I have to admit I take ambien 10 mg PLUS doxepin 25mg.  It's just me, that either one doesn't work on it's own.  I don't recommend you do this....I'm just telling you that I don't think it's that wrong to take something.  You mentioned that you were at one time on both of those drugs.  If doxepin is working for you now....go for it.
Like someone else here said, that is not habit forming.  I do take xanax 0.5 once during the day, if I'm really anxious.....but that is very habit forming.  I'd recommend the doxepin first.  I've had so many doctors tell me to get off the xanax....and I did cut my dose in half after I stopped working.  Now that WAS stressful.
But, I am an anxious person also.  I tend to think alot about the past.....and what I lost.
I hope I helped you....and I'll be glad to answer any other questions you might have.  One more thought....go for the least amount of dosage that gets you to sleep.
Experiment, if you can on what that doseage is.....if your doctor permits.
Lacey

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

do you know if ANs can cause sleep disorders?  patti

Patti,

I had major insomnia issues- and it was the sleep clinic techy that suggested I get an MRI... then we discovered the tumor. At 4cm my brain stem was quite pushed over. You too were a 4cm- I see. Initially after the removal of the tumor my sleep issues remained. Now I sleep through the night...

Question #1 is Do you have Hyperacusis?
What is Hyperacusis?
http://www.hyperacusis.net/hyperacusis/what+is+hyperacusis/default.asp

Question #2 Have you had a “neurologist� look at your MRI’s since the tumor was removed.

Pre surgery we need neurotologists and neurosurgeons. However if issues continue after the treatment of you’re AN tumor – it may be beneficial to see a neurologist. I see you have had part of the cerebellum removed (re your signature.) Talk to a neurologist about this- to see if this is a sleep related part of the brain. Ask them if your brain stem was affected... as the brain stem control automatic bodily functions – such as sleep.

Sleep is crucial. Often sleep deprived folks do suffer from depression – not to mentioned overall scattered-ness. Remember the days we had newborns in the house... There needs to be a balance. Medications do have their place in helping the circadian rhythm return- but yes pharmaceutical dependency can be an issue. Find neurologist who is well versed on sleep issues - would be my advice. The pulmonary specialist, at the sleep clinic I attended, was out of his league when looking at brain MRI’s ... I suggest you ask for a referral to a neurologist.

Go to Google and pounch in “sleep neurology� plus your “state name�
Example I did this for Texas... and this appeared
http://www.houstonsleepcenter.com/
DHM