insomnia

KirstenRLD · November 2011

i hope this is the right place to post this, it seemed the most appropriate.

i went to see my doctor as i have been unable to sleep until 4am at the earliest since i started trying to lose weight. my calorie intake is 1200 and i do yoga to workout (although not as often as i should)
the doctor said that i had insomnia and this shouldn't be affected by diet in any way; she also didn't give me anything to help as she doesn't agree with sleeping pills.
has anybody else experienced this?
is there a certain amount of calories that the body needs to be able to sleep at night ?

any advice welcome, i've tried everything and its driving me mad

ilookthetype · November 2011

If you have already tried OTC sleep aides and they didn't help I'd switch docs and get sleeping pills (unless you have a history of abusing prescription meds)

I found that a routine before bed helped a lot. A hot bath with lavender bath salts, a cup of hot tea, and no laptop/computer/tv/ipad/whatever before bed. Apparently the light can mess with the way your brain releases chemicals or some such nonsense.

unsuspectingfish · November 2011

Well, I don't usually go to sleep until 4 AM, but that's because I work nights and therefore get up at noon.

Unless hunger pangs are keeping you up, I don't think it's the calories. They type of food you're eating, on the other hand, could affect your sleep (like too much sugar, etc.), as well as when you're eating. If you eat too close to bed, it could cause you have trouble sleeping. Working out too close to bed can have the same effect.

I'm with your doctor on sleeping pills. They always leave me worse off the next day than being sleep deprived would. You could try something more natural, like melatonin supplements or chamomile tea.

Hearts_2015 · November 2011

i hope this is the right place to post this, it seemed the most appropriate.

i went to see my doctor as i have been unable to sleep until 4am at the earliest since i started trying to lose weight. my calorie intake is 1200 and i do yoga to workout (although not as often as i should)
the doctor said that i had insomnia and this shouldn't be affected by diet in any way; she also didn't give me anything to help as she doesn't agree with sleeping pills.
has anybody else experienced this?
is there a certain amount of calories that the body needs to be able to sleep at night ?

any advice welcome, i've tried everything and its driving me mad

I take 3mg (1 capsule) of Sundown Super Snooze Melatonin Night Formula and sleep wonderfully now. It's over the counter, our body makes Melatonin but it appears my body doesn't make enough so it was suggested I try this. I sleep so restfully now...major difference! I used to take Ambien when I was stressed out and couldn't sleep but it made me groggy in the a.m so I quit taking it. The Ambien is a prescription drug suggested only to take for a short period of time.

The Melatonin is far more natural, I've tried several other brands but keep coming back to the Sundown brand as it's also got the following ingredients in the capsule, many of which are natural herbs/roots. There are several dosage sizes but this seems to fit me best. It makes me very relaxed and then I go to bed and sleep all night, waking up refreshed and ready for the day. (ha! I sound like an infomercial but I'd been searching for something to help me sleep and when I found this it worked so well I always suggest it to others)

Calcium
Magnesium
Valerian Root
Hops
Skullcap
Chamomile
Passion Flower
Inositol
L-Taurine
Melatonin (3 mg)

Approx. $6 for 90 day supply at most drugstores.:drinker:

jellybaby84 · November 2011

I get insomnia quite a lot. SOmetimes I just stay up all night.

It CAN be about calories and your body does need a certain amount to switch off. But, unless you're eating all them all at lunchtime and before, I don't think 1200 can be causing you a problem. I find it hard to sleep if I eat fewer than 700 or so in a day (not that I do that any more!)

For me, it's also about structure. I am a teacher and, in the school holidays, if I have nothing on the next day I just don't sleep. It's like my brain is saying 'you can sleep anytime. Just because it's night why should you sleep now?'. I can easily become nocturnal and it gets me very depressed.

If it continues and is very regular I would seek a second medical opinion to try and get some drugs for it.

ackeebee · November 2011

for me, falling asleep initially is not usually a problem, it is staying asleep that i struggle with. most nights i wake up within 2 or 3 hours of going to sleep. i also went to see my doc last week and was told i have insomnia. i wasn't surprised as i have been having sleep issues on and off for years. like yours, my doc did not prescribe any sleeping pills as he did not think they were the solution as they allow you to fall into deep sleep but not feeling refreshed when you wake up plus i would become dependent on them and/or eventually my body would become immune to them. his opinion was that what i needed to do was to change my lifestyle as obviously i was abit stressed plus drinking tea and coffee througout the day as well as going to the gym at 6pm and having heavy meals at night were not helping the situation. i was also told that with these lifestyle changes, it would take upto 3 months before i see any results so i have to be patient.

i have tried a number of over the counter sleeping pills in the past and they never seem to work. in fact, i remember taking one and actually was awake the entire night.

i see alot of people recommend melatonin in this and other topics and i would love to give it a try but i am assuming it is prescription only and if my doc wont prescribe it, i guess i cant have it :-(

KirstenRLD · November 2011

thankyou everyone, you have given me a lot of things to take on board - massive help

i_love_vinegar · November 2011

have you been thinking a lot?

Sometimes I dont realize just how stressed I am until I hit the bed and cant fall asleep.

One thing that really helps me is drinking liquids before bed as well as using a heating pad.

Take care

KirstenRLD · November 2011

no, its been a relatively calm time, nothing stressful going on, this is another reason why im confused about it

KirstenRLD · November 2011

thankyou for the heat pad idea, i hadn't thought about that before

Sidesteal · November 2011

What time do you exercise, what exercise are you doing, are you eating back exercise calories and if you are comfortable posting this, what is your height/weight (I'm asking because 1200/day isn't a good idea for most people).

What is your caffeine intake during the day?

oaken · November 2011

I take 3mg (1 capsule) of Sundown Super Snooze Melatonin Night Formula and sleep wonderfully now. It's over the counter, our body makes Melatonin but it appears my body doesn't make enough so it was suggested I try this. I sleep so restfully now...major difference! I used to take Ambien when I was stressed out and couldn't sleep but it made me groggy in the a.m so I quit taking it. The Ambien is a prescription drug suggested only to take for a short period of time.

The Melatonin is far more natural, I've tried several other brands but keep coming back to the Sundown brand as it's also got the following ingredients in the capsule, many of which are natural herbs/roots. There are several dosage sizes but this seems to fit me best. It makes me very relaxed and then I go to bed and sleep all night, waking up refreshed and ready for the day. (ha! I sound like an infomercial but I'd been searching for something to help me sleep and when I found this it worked so well I always suggest it to others)

Calcium
Magnesium
Valerian Root
Hops
Skullcap
Chamomile
Passion Flower
Inositol
L-Taurine
Melatonin (3 mg)

Approx. $6 for 90 day supply at most drugstores.

This.

Also there's another brand at Whole Foods called "Calm" it comes in little packets at .69 cents or you can buy the bottle for about $10. This stuff is AWESOME. It's all natural, I believe it's main ingredient is magnesium. Try that, this stuff puts me to sleep immediately.

16mixingbowls · November 2011

I'd experiment with a few things:
-temperature of your room. I sleep WAAAAY better when it's cold, even though I don't like to be cold. Cold room+warm pajamas works great for me. (Hot sleep=nightmares, coincidentally.)
-pre-bed routine. read a book, dim your lights, drink some tea (there is a Sleepytime one by Good Earth that has natural sleep-inducing herbs in it. I get it at the grocery store, but even on the box it dissuades you from driving, etc.)
-caffeine consumption. Some people can't sleep if they have caffeine even 6 hours before bed.
-have a notebook by your bed. this is to just write thoughts down on to get them out of your mind. i used to lie awake thinking about all of the things I had to do the next day. it kept me awake for hours. when i jotted them down ,even just a word, i knew i wouldn't forget about them and could finally relax.

That's all I got. This must be really stressful!!!!

ackeebee · November 2011

I'd experiment with a few things:
-temperature of your room. I sleep WAAAAY better when it's cold, even though I don't like to be cold. Cold room+warm pajamas works great for me. (Hot sleep=nightmares, coincidentally.)
-pre-bed routine. read a book, dim your lights, drink some tea (there is a Sleepytime one by Good Earth that has natural sleep-inducing herbs in it. I get it at the grocery store, but even on the box it dissuades you from driving, etc.)
-caffeine consumption. Some people can't sleep if they have caffeine even 6 hours before bed.
-have a notebook by your bed. this is to just write thoughts down on to get them out of your mind. i used to lie awake thinking about all of the things I had to do the next day. it kept me awake for hours. when i jotted them down ,even just a word, i knew i wouldn't forget about them and could finally relax.

That's all I got. This must be really stressful!!!!

thanks for this. it is very useful.

epoint · November 2011

I often have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, and have for years. The best solution I've found is to keep an audiobook on my Ipod, preferably a book that I've already read "in real life" so it won't matter to me if I go to sleep while listening. I keep the Ipod under my pillow, and if I wake up at night and feel unable to go back to sleep, I put on my earbuds and turn the book on with the sleep timer to set to 30 minutes or an hour. Most times it works. (Try "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry. It's my favorite book to sleep to, because I've read it so many times. Great book.)

Eponine7 · November 2011

I am a chronic insomnia. All of the above are great suggestions.

I would google "sleep hygiene" (weird phrase, I know) and follow those general guidelines.

I also take Melatonin 3 mg at bedtime. When I am desperate, I take OTC Unasom (doxylamine succinate) which helps me somewhat.

Most importantly, I avoid all caffeine (inlcuding in soda & chocolate) after 11 a.m.

Good luck to you.

carolinagirl7 · November 2011

I batttled this problem for about 2 years...tried sleeping pills, herbals, antidepressents...you name it, I was prescribed it. With all the meds, I was "in a fog" and didn't even feel like I was living MY life anymore. (not sure whose life I was living there for awhile). I do believe short term meds/herbals are okay. Lack of sleep causes irritability and lack of focus that sinks you into a deeper hole, and sometimes just that one night sleep can make a difference. Don't know if my changes will help you, but here is what I did

1-Stopped all the meds (with MD supervision)
2-Up by 5am...exercising by 530am...on the weekends I stay up two hours later and wake up 2 hours later---it was so hard the 1st few weeks, because many times I had only slept 2-3 hours.
3-Got rid of ALL the light sources in my room including night lights
4-Lowered the temp at night
5-detoxed from coffee
6-I stop the internet about 30-60minutes before bed and try to wind down my brain with an activity that is not stimulating it (reading TV, music). If I wake up at night. (not in a long tome I have)..I avoid the internet and try to go back to sleep on my own, in my dark room. If that didn't work, I would read with a small light until I fell asleep.
7-Worrysome thoughts would often enter my head when I should been sleeping. This period of my life was not stressful to me (except for the lack of sleep)...but BAM my mind would start racing. I would change the worry to positive self talk---I know sounds kind of stupid, but the lack of sleep was causing me to feel bad during the day, and redirecting my thoughts to include I need this sleep so I don't feel so bad tomorrow can go a long way.

Hope some these ideas will help you out. I have been happily sleeping for about 10 months with a solid 7.5-8 hours a night.

ackeebee · November 2011

I batttled this problem for about 2 years...tried sleeping pills, herbals, antidepressents...you name it, I was prescribed it. With all the meds, I was "in a fog" and didn't even feel like I was living MY life anymore. (not sure whose life I was living there for awhile). I do believe short term meds/herbals are okay. Lack of sleep causes irritability and lack of focus that sinks you into a deeper hole, and sometimes just that one night sleep can make a difference. Don't know if my changes will help you, but here is what I did

1-Stopped all the meds (with MD supervision)
2-Up by 5am...exercising by 530am...on the weekends I stay up two hours later and wake up 2 hours later---it was so hard the 1st few weeks, because many times I had only slept 2-3 hours.
3-Got rid of ALL the light sources in my room including night lights
4-detoxed from coffee
5-I stop the internet about 30-60minutes before bed and try to wind down my brain with an activity that is not stimulating it (reading TV, music). If I wake up at night. (not in a long tome I have)..I avoid the internet and try to go back to sleep on my own, in my dark room. If that didn't work, I would read with a small light until I fell asleep.
6-Worrysome thoughts would often enter my head when I should been sleeping, and I would change the worry to positive self talk---I know sounds kind of stupid, but the lack of sleep was causing me to feel bad during the day, and redirecting my thoughts to include I need this sleep so I don't feel so bad tomorrow can go a long way.

Hope some these ideas will help you out. I have been happily sleeping for about 8 months with a solid 7.5-8 hours a night.

i will try these. great ideas

insomnia

Replies

Categories