Monday, June 13, 2011


SLEEP has always been a frustration for me.

Before the accident, I didn't want to sleep because there was so much that I wanted and/or had to do. I didn't want to have to stop being productive to rest.

Then, I was in the car accident. It was difficult to sleep because of being in so much pain. Over the past few years, there have been various side effects from medications that affected my sleep.

So, INSOMNIA has been a struggle for a long time. I've tried sleeping meds - sometimes effective, sometimes not (if they are, they normally wipe my memory... and I wake up about 8-9 hours after I take it and can't get back to sleep).

My doctor started me on Melatonin a month or so ago (I had tried it some before my accident, but it didn't help). Around the same time, I started taking CoQ10 twice a day. I thought that it might be the CoQ10 that was causing me to have trouble sleeping, so I started taking my PM dose a few hours earlier (I also take Lyrica in the PM). But, the trouble sleeping continued. It's been taking me thirty minutes to several hours to get to sleep, and then I wake up after only a few hours have trouble getting back to sleep.

I looked up Melatonin information online, and I found that taking high doses of Melatonin can actually cause sleep disturbance. I've stopped taking it for a week or so, and I've been getting to sleep alright. My doctor wanted to increase my dose, but I haven't tried that yet... not sure I even want to.

Here's hoping for more restful sleep...


  1. I hope you sleep well sweetie! I've tried melatonin. I take something called Mid Nite's I get at the grocery store. It's a melt a way and it seems to help a little. Do you have the alpha wave intrusion as well? Try some lavender on the least it smells good!!

    Hope you're feeling a little better!!

  2. Thanks Rosemary. I slept alright last night. I've never tried the Mid Nite's, but I've heard of them.

    I had a sleep study done a couple years ago (still after my accident, though), but they had no significant findings. I couldn't believe it... though it's the story of my life. I have all of this pain, and the doctors can't quite figure it all out. So, as far as I know, I don't have alpha wave intrusion or anything.

    I don't really care for lavender. I've used a eucalyptus spearmint spray or lotion at bedtime before, but I haven't in a while. I have so much sensitivity to smells that it sometimes disrupts rather than helps.

    Thanks for the suggestions and warm wishes. :)

  3. My sleep study also revealed alpha wave intrusions...which tends to happen to chronic pain patients and/or people on specific meds. Honestly...the only thing that helps me sleep is Xanax. I have tried numerous other meds...both prescription and OTC...but nothing else is as effective. Although...I am becoming more and more tolerant which leads me to taking more and more...which is obviously not a good thing. But it helps me!!! =( frustrating, isn't it?!?


