Anyone use Belsomra?

[bersaguy]

Back in 1986 my oldest son had an auto accident and suffered brain damage from it. My nights of sleep for the next 4 years were a total wreck. He lost the fight in 1990. During the time my wife and I were dealing with my sons needs which were almost 24/7 for last 2 years we had him at home and I can thank GOD for my great friends that stepped up to help us with his care. During that time between 1988 and 1990 I had my father pass away from Heart Attack, my Grand father I was very close to pass away and my brother next oldest to myself pass away in his sleep. I lost my father in October 1989, My Grand father in June of 1990, my brother in July 1990 and my son in August 1990 and yea, I was having trouble sleeping. Most of the time when I did sleep it was when I would just fall asleep in a recliner for what ever little time I would sleep.

I finally in November 1990 went and talked with my doctor about not being able to sleep. I might get a couple hours a night, most of them in a recliner.
 She told me that with all I had been through the last two years it's no wonder I couldn't sleep. She was even more concerned that my blood pressure was totally out of control and said it was amazing I had not suffered a stroke with it being that high for so long. She said that could be what was effecting a lot of my sleep issues.

She put me on BP meds and also put me on Alprazolam. I asked her what that was for and she said that it would work in conjunction with my BP meds to allow me to rest. It took about a month but I was back in my bed sleeping again and beginning to get 6 to 8 hours of restful sleep.
 
I have been on these meds since 1990 and I get a restful night sleep most nights. Normal night is in bed by 11PM and up at 8 AM ready for the next day very rested.

 Every once in a while I will have some crazy dream that wakes me up and can't go back to sleep. Only happens once every couple months.
 
 For those of you that are having sleep issues, you may want to talk with your doctors about your blood pressure. If it is elevated to high that may very well be a cause you need to address.

Also let me add that along with the meds my doctor recommended having so kind of sound in my bedroom, just enough to break the silence without being annoying. I found that having a small aquarium in my bedroom with the pumps running at a low hum helps more than I would have ever imagined......jmho

[Sam1]

 

Temperature matters.  I sleep a lot better in a cool room.

 

Sort of the same here.  Cool is good, but having the ceiling fan on even when it's warmer seems to work better.  Not sure why the air circulation helps, but it does.
 

[MrsMonkeyMan2500]

That just about nails it! I have never had anything checked. This is the first time I spoke with my doctor about it. The only testing I have is the normal blood, urine and EKG. What does the thyroid have to do with keeping you up, never heard of that. BTW how much do you love being stuck awake with some stupid song, jingle or random thought that has nothing to do with life keeping you awake :)

Your thyroid has everything to do with your endocrine system. If your doctor runs a panel, you could be hypothyroid, hyperthyroid or normal. Sometimes it takes a few times being tested to nail it unless your numbers are super crazy. Do you ever have fatigue, anxiety, or do you just mainly suffer from insomnia?

[felinesNfreedom]

Your thyroid has everything to do with your endocrine system. If your doctor runs a panel, you could be hypothyroid, hyperthyroid or normal. Sometimes it takes a few times being tested to nail it unless your numbers are super crazy. Do you ever have fatigue, anxiety, or do you just mainly suffer from insomnia?

 

 

Just insomnia I think. I will have times during the day that I just get tired but I think that's due to the lack of sleep. I have had yearly check ups for the last 4 years but don't know if the thyroid check has been done.

[MrsMonkeyMan2500]

Just insomnia I think. I will have times during the day that I just get tired but I think that's due to the lack of sleep. I have had yearly check ups for the last 4 years but don't know if the thyroid check has been done.

Just have it checked. Worse comes to worse they run a panel and your ok. But there's a lot of people who have it and never get diagnosed or treated. Or do some reading on hypo and hyper thyroid. If anything fits, then do it.

[felinesNfreedom]

Just have it checked. Worse comes to worse they run a panel and your ok. But there's a lot of people who have it and never get diagnosed or treated. Or do some reading on hypo and hyper thyroid. If anything fits, then do it.

 

I will look into it and see if anything fits and then have it tested if need be.

[felinesNfreedom]

Thread resurrection. Belsomra did not work. I had my doctor give me something else. I'm going to be trying trazodone. I know it was mentioned before here so I hope it works. 4 bucks is a good price :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[macville]

Does anyone else read books as they are going to bed? I read every night on my kindle and most nights I am sleepy within 20-30 minutes. I often will actually fall asleep and then wake up and put my kindle away. The worse nights are when I fall asleep and then the kindle wacks me in the face. Something about reading really slows my mind down (which is normally racing.)

[Raoul]

Does anyone else read books as they are going to bed? I read every night on my kindle and most nights I am sleepy within 20-30 minutes. I often will actually fall asleep and then wake up and put my kindle away. The worse nights are when I fall asleep and then the kindle wacks me in the face. Something about reading really slows my mind down (which is normally racing.)

Yeah I always read to help me sleep.  It's also handy when I wake up about 3:30.

[felinesNfreedom]

I can't read at night. I will get caught up in the book and not put it down plus My wife does not like the light from the kindle or iPhone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Oh Shoot]

I can't read at night. I will get caught up in the book and not put it down ..

 

Same here. Difficult crosswords do the same.

 

- OS

[Jeb48]

I can't read at night. I will get caught up in the book and not put it down plus My wife does not like the light from the kindle or iPhone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Read less interesting books.

 

When we decided to make the big move to TN I went for about 6 months with 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Now that we are all settled in and loving life I'm back to my normal 6. Never took anything, but it didn't really seem to affect my wake time.

[DT INC.]

I'm glad this thread popped up. I too have issues with sleep and there is some good advice here.

[Sam1]

I can't read at night. I will get caught up in the book and not put it down plus My wife does not like the light from the kindle or iPhone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I have lots of textbooks you can read.  APA manual would make you fall asleep 3 pages in if you just smoked crystal meth.

[felinesNfreedom]

I slept well last night and was not hung over this morning like I usually am after taking something over the counter, It was a nice change.

[Peace]

Blue light is a big deal.  If you can, put a blue blocker on your computer.  I use FLUX and turn it on when the sun goes down.

 

 

Apple has seen the blue light (finally) and come up with an update that decreases blue light on the iPhone.

 

 

If I am physically tired, and get off of the TV (blue blocker on the computer) 1.5hrs before bedtime, I usually go right to sleep.

 

I also have a notepad to write stuff down - if there is anything running through my mind, I write it down so that I can "put it down".

 

 

-good luck.  Not sleeping is awful.

[felinesNfreedom]

I really need to put a notepad by the bed to try that. You are not the first person I have heard that from. Do you have to download anything for the blue light fix on the Iphone?

[MacGyver]

I really need to put a notepad by the bed to try that. You are not the first person I have heard that from. Do you have to download anything for the blue light fix on the Iphone?

 

NightShift is a part of the new IOS release.  You can set the time it takes place in settings.

[MrsMonkeyMan2500]

NightShift is a part of the new IOS release. You can set the time it takes place in settings.

You have to make sure you go into settings and turn it on too. It doesn't auto start. Mine starts at 8pm and goes until 8am. I also have it on the "warmest" setting. Call me crazy but I really think it helps!

[felinesNfreedom]

You have to make sure you go into settings and turn it on too. It doesn't auto start. Mine starts at 8pm and goes until 8am. I also have it on the "warmest" setting. Call me crazy but I really think it helps!

 

 

I downloaded the update a little while ago. I am going to see how it goes. Thanks for the heads up guys.

[E4 No More]

I've been using Phenergan since 1998. It's inexpensive yet effective.

 

Phenergan (promethazine) belongs to a group of drugs called phenothiazines. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in your brain. Promethazine also acts as an antihistamine. It blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical histamine in your body.

Phenergan is used to treat allergy symptoms such as itching, runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, hives, and itchy skin rashes.

Phenergan also prevents motion sickness, and treats nausea and vomiting or pain after surgery. It is also used as a sedative or sleep aid.

Phenergan is not for use in treating symptoms of asthma, pneumonia, or other lower respiratory tract infections.