Bad Insomnia

[r4robin]

Hi,

I’ve been having sleep issues for a long time now, I did a sleep study, I had mild sleep apnea 7AHI (16 in REM), and high RDI (25 in REM).

I’ve tried APAP, and Bilevel, neither work great. I’ve also tried all types of pressures and settings I don’t see improvement. My charts look great, under 1AHI consistency normal flow rate, limitations and leak. No matter what though I feel dead in the morning, but as the day goes on I start to feel better and better.

Anyways, what I’ve noticed is if I stay up until I naturally feel sleepy then sleep I feel much better the next day (because usually I take melatonin and force myself to sleep even when I’m not sleepy). So I suspected insomnia causing the whole “dead” feeling, especially because when I force myself to sleep early or when I am not tired I get night sweats, but if I sleep when I’m tired I don’t. 

So I told my doctor this and he gave me OTC sleeping medicine (zzzquil) to try for a while, and it’s literally a night and day difference, im not sure how long zzzquil stays in my body, but I know for the first couple hours when I sleep with it my sleep feels so great, but then like 5-6 hours later in the last hours of sleep I feel awful again.

Has anyone had similar symptoms? I don’t know what to do now, since a.) I don’t want to take sleeping pills forever, and b.) my sleep is still awful the last couple hours so it’s not 100% helping once it wears off.

Edit: Also I have tried the regular insomnia treatment like turning off blue lights 2 hours before bed, sunlight, etc. etc. 

Thank you!

[Jay51]

Excessive Sweating and Heart Conditions - Wicked Sheets

Night sweats Causes - Mayo Clinic

I just wanted to post these 2 articles I found on night sweats.  I used to get night sweats, but rarely anymore.  They could be indicative of something else or maybe not.  BTW, I have very benign mitral valve prolapse and am on 2 heart meds currently. 

At least you found a solution that seems to work; and it is your decision if you feel you want to discontinue it.

[Deborah K.]

I have fought insomnia most of my life.  I now take Trazodone, a prescription drug, and it has solved the problem for me.  I have gone off it to try natural remedies and had no withdrawal issues.  I have no side effects from it.  I don't know what's right for you, but I just thought I'd mention the drug and my good experience with it.  I hope you find a happy solution too!

[r4robin]

Did you get any side effects from trazodone? Also would you say the benefits you got from using it is night and day, or just slightly helpful? My doctor also recommended trying it, but the side effects I saw kind of threw me off.

Thanks!

[ButtonNoseBarbie]

Hi I have severe chronic insomnia and mild sleep Apnea (SA) . CPAP is for my SA, and I do CBT therapy for Insomnia. I have taken meds for insomnia but they are short term - after a while it's not as effective especially for chronic insomnia. I have CPAP machine and still don't sleep well...so I had to address insomnia as well. 

The way insomnia is treated is based on if it's a primary or 2ndary medical problem. If it's 2ndary to another health issue - treat that health issue and insomnia is gone. 

If it's Primary (you have for at least 1 year) these are most effect treatment: 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT
Sleep restrictions
Stimulus Control
Sleep Hygiene Education


There are CBT for insomnia workbooks  you can do alone or with doctor - self guided apps or online program 
(6-12 weeks ) vs seeing a sleep doctor specializing in both sleep apnea and other disorders or having 2 separate doctors - 1 for sleep apnea and 1 for other sleep disorder. 

I would go with an online program or get a workbook to do it myself. its faster, cheaper, less hassle.

[Deborah K.]

No, I have no side effects and never did.  It made a big difference in my ability to go to sleep and stay asleep. I have used it successfully for many years.