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elwood · 06-25-2007, 05:56 PM

I figured I'd give it a shot. I am a new member and have some sleep issues I was hoping someone could help out with.

I have had a sleep issue for a long time. I have been prescribed ambian (yechh) and been on anti-depressants. I have also been to a sleeping clinic to try to solve the problem twice.

I generally go to bed the same time, and rise the same time everyday, 11:30 pm to 6:45 am. I eat a decent diet, I am 6'7" and weigh 230lbs.

The reason why I origianlly went to the sleep clinic is when my first child was born I would wake up at every noise in the house. I started sleep walking with a pillow in my hands thinking it was a baby. My wife would find me this way and i would either smoosh or drop the pillow (pretty scary for a new mother) and me. This started to happen more and more, with an increase in depression. I went through some behavioural therepy (that helped) and 2 bouts of anti-depressants (Lexapro, Celexa). At this same time, a old OCD problem I had, came back and that was helped by the medications.

The sleep clinic found I was waking up "my brain was active or they call it arousal" 120 times a night. I was also having apneas 7-8 times. Non-obstructive, my brain was forgetting to breath. I tried a second night using a CPAP, it helped, but lowered my "arousals" to 80-90 times a night. They never really found anything they could do for me. They had me on Nexium and allergy pills, thinking it could be something to do with my stomache or allergies keeping me up. Really didn't so much. They prescribed Ambien, which I reacted terribly to.

The sleep problem did get better after the therepy, and I did try a few things the past year or two. I quit caffeine for a year, it didn't really help to much. Its hard to stay off when you don't sleep to well. I had started running last summer (I am not running now), I was running about 3 miles a day. That helped, probably from exhaustion, but I still did not get great sleep.

Currently I read before bed, and I sleep the same each night, not great. The sleep clinic had claimes I only get real "sleep" 60-70 percent of the time. I have always had nightmares, some pretty violent and those still occur.l occurs. Sometimes, my mind gets into an OCD worry state about work. I do understand I cannot do anything about these things I worry. But it is not easy. If I stay in the state of 1/2 sleep too long, I know the next day will be rough. I usually take a benedryl to make it through the night. The benedryl seems to stop the worrying.

I was hoping that someone had some suggestions.

I have has lucid dreams in the past, and it may seem far fetched afetr one podcast, but I have been trying that the past week (to no success).

I know it may be off topic, but I though someone may have some ideas.

Thanks.

06-25-2007, 05:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
elwood Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 7	Sleep issues I figured I'd give it a shot. I am a new member and have some sleep issues I was hoping someone could help out with. I have had a sleep issue for a long time. I have been prescribed ambian (yechh) and been on anti-depressants. I have also been to a sleeping clinic to try to solve the problem twice. I generally go to bed the same time, and rise the same time everyday, 11:30 pm to 6:45 am. I eat a decent diet, I am 6'7" and weigh 230lbs. The reason why I origianlly went to the sleep clinic is when my first child was born I would wake up at every noise in the house. I started sleep walking with a pillow in my hands thinking it was a baby. My wife would find me this way and i would either smoosh or drop the pillow (pretty scary for a new mother) and me. This started to happen more and more, with an increase in depression. I went through some behavioural therepy (that helped) and 2 bouts of anti-depressants (Lexapro, Celexa). At this same time, a old OCD problem I had, came back and that was helped by the medications. The sleep clinic found I was waking up "my brain was active or they call it arousal" 120 times a night. I was also having apneas 7-8 times. Non-obstructive, my brain was forgetting to breath. I tried a second night using a CPAP, it helped, but lowered my "arousals" to 80-90 times a night. They never really found anything they could do for me. They had me on Nexium and allergy pills, thinking it could be something to do with my stomache or allergies keeping me up. Really didn't so much. They prescribed Ambien, which I reacted terribly to. The sleep problem did get better after the therepy, and I did try a few things the past year or two. I quit caffeine for a year, it didn't really help to much. Its hard to stay off when you don't sleep to well. I had started running last summer (I am not running now), I was running about 3 miles a day. That helped, probably from exhaustion, but I still did not get great sleep. Currently I read before bed, and I sleep the same each night, not great. The sleep clinic had claimes I only get real "sleep" 60-70 percent of the time. I have always had nightmares, some pretty violent and those still occur.l occurs. Sometimes, my mind gets into an OCD worry state about work. I do understand I cannot do anything about these things I worry. But it is not easy. If I stay in the state of 1/2 sleep too long, I know the next day will be rough. I usually take a benedryl to make it through the night. The benedryl seems to stop the worrying. I was hoping that someone had some suggestions. I have has lucid dreams in the past, and it may seem far fetched afetr one podcast, but I have been trying that the past week (to no success). I know it may be off topic, but I though someone may have some ideas. Thanks.