Can't Sleep

renormalised (Carl) · #1 06-08-2011, 02:55 AM

Been two consecutive nights where I just can't seem to get to sleep. I can settle down but just can't doze off. Means I sort of only get a half decent rest. Going to go see the docs first thing tomorrow.

lacad01 (Adam) · #2 06-08-2011, 04:25 AM

Hope you can get it sorted. I've just done a 16 hour allnighter with work, don't feel tired but then have more project work starting in about 6 hours time

Dennis · #3 06-08-2011, 07:56 AM

Sorry to hear about that Carl, I hope it is only a temporary upset and that your sleep pattern return to normal soon.

Cheers

Dennis

space oddity · #4 06-08-2011, 08:17 AM

I wish I had taped some of my lectures when I was at uni. Some of them were almost guaranteed to bore me to sleep. For those with good computer skills, an idea for getting to sleep, which I will have to copyright here and now,is to have up on the TV a documentary playing with something that really draws the attention, but starting say 3- 5 minutes in, starts getting slowly garbled in its speech and fuzzy in its image until after 15 minutes or so, it is just a white noise and slowly fading light.A Sir David Attenborough documentary is the sort of initial program to start with.The idea is that the mind is in concentration mode to start with, but then this is being taxed to keep up with the increasingly difficult to comprehend visuals and audio until it switches off. Just remember, you heard it here first. A variation of this technique(actually the origin) is good for getting rid of migraines. PM me for the secret to getting rid of migraines. Alternately,I need the help of someone good with photoshop and computers to help me assemble the 2 programs as my kids will not help(the ungrateful little twerps.)

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 06-08-2011, 08:36 AM

Welcome to my world........

leon · #6 06-08-2011, 08:42 AM

Yea me too, I have never slept well and that is now a normal pattern.

Leon

casstony · #7 06-08-2011, 09:33 AM

I've been using a small dose of Endep for 9 years and I get good quality sleep these days. 6mg is enough to encourage sleep while 12mg is too much leading to heavy daytime tiredness, but the dose will vary for each individual.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #8 06-08-2011, 09:35 AM

Hi,

I too have been an insomniac for years. Last month we went to the USA where there was a 6 hour time difference, and we were rising at 5.30 or 6.00 am much of the time.

Now back in Oz, I crawl into bed at 10.30 pm and sleep like an Egyptian mummy until 7.00.

What has happened? A reset of the internal clock? Is it still jetlag? It is nice, but I am fearful it will not last. I am afraid to go outside and stay up with my telescope.

Cheers

astro_nutt · #9 06-08-2011, 09:45 AM

I have a little de-tox when I feel out of whack. Generally, a few days eating fresh veges, fruit, and drinking water with the ocassional cranberry juice before bed to clean out the pipes.
Cheers!

OICURMT · #10 06-08-2011, 10:21 AM

Whisky

mithrandir (Andrew) · #11 06-08-2011, 11:17 AM

There was a story - I think on Catalyst - about using melatonin for sleep. Do you own research, and a quick google gave some contraindications, but apparently it works better than the usual drugs which act like knockout drops.

Andrew

AdrianF (Adrian) · #12 06-08-2011, 02:42 PM

I haven't slept well for years. Guaranteed I wake up around 3am every morning no matter what time I go to bed. Suppose it would be good for astronomy but the more tired I become the less I want to do. I have tried non drug methods rum, rum and more rum but doesn't work.

Adrian

Kevnool (Kev) · #13 06-08-2011, 03:03 PM

I though astronomers didnt sleep anyways

Cheers Kev.

casstony · #14 06-08-2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffW1

Hi,

Probably we should also take medical advice with water if considering this drug. There are lots of warnings about its interaction with other drugs, and it is classically used to treat depression, not insomnia.

Seems it is prescription only here anyway.

Cheers

I was offering my experience Geoff, not advice - since it's prescription I'll leave that to the Doctor.

Endep is from an older class of drugs called Tricyclic antidepressants and is no longer the drug of choice for depression. It is sometimes prescribed to promote sleep or to reduce certain types of pain.

IME all potent medicines (mainsteam or alternative) are prone to side effects and drug interactions - it's a matter of assessing the risk vs reward for each individual.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #15 06-08-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

I was offering my experience Geoff, not advice - since it's prescription I'll leave that to the Doctor.

Endep is from an older class of drugs called Tricyclic antidepressants and is no longer the drug of choice for depression. It is sometimes prescribed to promote sleep or to reduce certain types of pain.

IME all potent medicines (mainsteam or alternative) are prone to side effects and drug interactions - it's a matter of assessing the risk vs reward for each individual.

Ok, I've deleted my post

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #16 06-08-2011, 06:06 PM

Consider a sleep/relaxation tape. You might be able to get something off iTunes. I've used these and I've known other people who have used them too. Generally I get the impression they have a gradually accumulative effect, and I've even known people able to get off medication by using them. Dr Alan Fahey (MBBS MPsychMed FACPsychMed) from The College of Medical Hypnosis does them here in Australia.

Otherwise, embrace the insomnia and buy yourself a bigger telescope.

Cheers,

Brian.

multiweb (Marc) · #17 06-08-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renormalised

Been two consecutive nights where I just can't seem to get to sleep. I can settle down but just can't doze off. Means I sort of only get a half decent rest. Going to go see the docs first thing tomorrow.

Hey Carl, go on the EU website. That'll knock you down. Better than counting sheeps.

Barrykgerdes · #18 06-08-2011, 07:55 PM

Insomnia problems need to be tackled head on. No medication just get up and start a big project. Guanteed to make you drowsy after 24 hrs . After that the problem that was causing the insomnia will have diminished in size enough to become irrelevant!.

Barry

PS I have no problems I just go to bed and work on the cryptic crossword. I haven't finished one at night for a long time. I always seem to go to sleep.

jenchris (Jennifer) · #19 06-08-2011, 07:58 PM

My other half goes to the library and gets listening books, usually something like a Classic or maybe something less boring but not exciting -
sleep may come in fits and starts but the outcome is about 7 hours solid sleep according to the amount of rewinds that wake me up!

casstony · #20 06-08-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

Insomnia problems need to be tackled head on. No medication just get up and start a big project.
.

Individual circumstances vary greatly. When I was younger an active lifestyle and regular bedtime lead to good sleep. Then 20 years of shiftwork gave me 20 years of disrupted sleep. More recently 9 years of chronic illness have lead to the need for medication to assist with sleep.

Behavioural modification, medication or a combination of both can be useful.