A New Bad Habit....

For the past few months I have had trouble falling asleep at night. Im tired but when I get into bed I just lay there tossing and turning. I was medicating myself with sweets just before bedtime to get that sleepy, lazy effect. Then I noticed the scale moving and had to steer clear of all the sweets. Sooooo, I have started taking pain medicine that I had left over from surgery. Its either out of date or almost and I havent even told my husband, hed be so mad. Its almost gone now and ofcourse I dont have any refills on it. Now Im kinda freakin out though because now how am I going to get to sleep? If I lay there long enough I eventually fall asleep but its like midnight or later and then Im exhausted the next day. Before I began with the pain med Id get so tired of tossing and turning till Id just get up and watch T.V. and then guess... Eat. Its something that Im not happy about. I guess Im going to have to go see the doctor to get something to help me fall asleep. Do any of you guys have trouble falling asleep? Does anyone take something to help you fall asleep? Candy

Chamomile tea or Valarian (an herbal supplement) can work very well and neither is addicting or habit forming. If those don't work, see your doctor about some prescription sleep medications. A friend of mine takes Tylenol P.M. or over the counter sleep aids. Michelle

My mom takes Ambien because she always has difficulty. She doesn't use it all the time but it's helped her lots! How about uh, sex? That makes me sleepy afterwards!

I'm with you there, Ana - but I'm also usually RAVENOUS afterwards! Had me some yummy yesterday and immediately afterwards I was ready to destroy the kitchen!! But, I restrained and had a big ol' glass of water! Michelle

I guess I need some medicine for that too!! I have zero sex drive and have always had zero since I began birth control. The only time I remember being "horny" was when I was pregnant and then I couldnt get enough. Im literally a mess I guess. Sigh..... Candy

I'll join you on the 0 sex drive boat. Honestly, I think the months of pain off and on have taken their toll. Hard to be frisky when one feels like crap. I did have my gyn test me and my testosterone is low. I got some to apply (down there) but the day I tried it was the time the chest pains started. LOL! There was no relation and just coincidence but I've never gone back and tried it. Supposed to apply it 3-5 times a week. I'll start next week. I'll let you know if it helps. At this point, it cannot hurt... Kathy

Awhile back, pre surgery, I had gotten in the habit of taking benadryl ever night to fall asleep. I was worried that I was becoming dependent and I was. I would lay in bed at night knowing that I would never be able to sleep without my medicine. I switched to taking just one tylenol and low and behold...it worked! I think it was just the psychologicial need to take some kind of pill. I now sleep fine but I do have an Ambien prescription and find that 1/2 tab (5mg) works excellent when I really need it. I believe that all of us have an addictive personality. If it hadn't been food for me it would have been drugs or alcohol or something else. I am just hoping now that it really has become exercise. Although I am just as addicted and obsessed with food now as I was then.......just one more stuggle for us all to battle!

Candy, I can totally relate to your problem, Pre surgery I was very anxious so I was taking tylenol PM, surgeon said that was a no no, and recommended benadryl, after surgery the percocet had me resting comfortable, and last summer,I was a social butterfly, so I would come home and drop. During the spring and fall, school work kept me up until the wee hours of the nite, but when summer rolled around I was a total insomniac, I actually called my primary and requested a sleep aid, and was prescribed 10mg of ambien. It works like a gem, and I dont take it every nite. I have taken it in the past, but during my deep depression days along with a myriad of other drugs, I do recall being able to stop it without a problem. I also hear that chamomille tea works as well, but I have yet to try it. Good Luck!

I used to have horrific trouble getting to sleep. I've also done the Benadryl to get to sleep thing, then I got prescription Ambein because the Benadryl was bad for my blood pressure. I hardly have to use it anymore. A couple of things have helped me. First, I had to create a routine by going to bed and getting up at the same time each day - even weekends. My body has become accustomed to this sleep pattern and it know when it's time to get up and when it's time to sleep. Second, I generally don't sleep late on weekends and take naps anymore because it wreaks havoc with my sleep pattern. If I have a bit of Saturday afternoon down time, I'll just lie down and watch television or read. Also, I started working out in the evening. I know most people do it in the morning, but I find that a good rigorous workout tires me out and a nice warm shower afterwards gets my mind and body ready for some zzzz's. Good luck!