Just wanted to announce that last night I slept from 11:30 pm to 6:50 am without waking up! This has not happened in about 9 years. I did have some help - I took a Benadryl before bed as I had some hive like things going on that were really itchy. But anyway - who cares! It felt pretty good to make it to the morning without tossing and turning.

I think I read on the boards somewhere that Benadryl is safer than some sleep aids? I sometimes resort to Chlonazepam (sp) if I am desparate for sleep. Anyone have any thoughts on which is the better option? (ie: safest/non-addictive).

m

good for you Mary...feels good doesn't it?...I too have had sleep issues for the last 5 years, so know how good it feels when you finally get a good night!

I meditate now with a group which has calmed me no end....but due to certain circumstances, sleep can still be severely disrupted.

Hi Mary!
Good for you!!! A good night's sleep finally, what a relief, eh? I have posted in the past about Benedryl being a possible solution to this pervasive problem of insomnia. It is not habit forming or addictive. It is not in the same class of drugs as those sleep aids that Dr's like to prescribe (ie. not one of the "pams"). It is a antihistamine (for allergies) so therefore not technically a sleep aid. Millions of people take antihistamines on a daily basis and think nothing of it. They just tend to take the "no drowsy" formulas so they can function during the day. Benedryl functions the same way but t does however have that side effect of drowsiness which we use here in the hospital commonly to help patient's to drift off to sleep. It is completely safe to take even nightly if needed with no possibility of becoming physically addicted. So go ahead and take it whenever you feel the need to get a good night's sleep. It's harmless unless you are allergic to it (very rare BTW). Also, just take the generic version, it's the same drug (diphenhydromine) and much cheaper. Nighty night!!!!
xoxoxo
Jan

Thats great! Benadryl can be a fairly safe alternative if it works for you. I have hep C and know alot of heppers that use this with thier Dr's blessing. One is even a transplanter and it works well for her. Unfortunately it dosent work that great for me and makes me feel so groggy in the morning I dont like it.
I take ambien 3-4 nights a week and it helps but I can rarely get more than 3 hours without waking up and its usually to go to the bathroom. Thats another problem for me, I have to pee at the drop of a hat.

But on that rare night when I get 5-6 hours straight I sure do feel good the next day. So I feel your joy.

gotta love benadryl. I use it too at times and it helps, not as good as it did for you, but better. I heard melatonin is really good, it's a vitamin or mineral, whatever check into it, my sister in law is a nurse and swears by it. YOu only need a small dose of it to work too.

I have been taking it every night for years. The only way I can sleep. Dr. just told my mom NOT to give my dad a sleep aid, but he CAN take Benadryl or a generic. He is a heart patient and he has alzheimer's.

Thanks for confirming that info, Jan.

That is great!! I know what you mean it is very rare for me too.

Gotta celebrate the little things

I have recently started to take melatonin(now available in Canada without scrip) and I must say that i have started to actually sleep more than
1-2hrs a night. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep patterns. I take 2 2mg time release tablets a night and wake up maybe 1 or 2 times
but go right back to sleep. This a big big improvement for me since I have been running on about 2hrs sleep a night now for about
5yrs(needless to say I am currently on a burnout).I had no problem falling asleep but staying asleep for more than 2hrs was very very rare.
Even very powerful sleeping pills could not keep me down. Melatonin is working for me,at least for now. I have found that
you constantly have to keep trying new things to keep ahead of this "passage".I pray for all of us.(and cry too!)

be well

I want to cry .. I was up till 2am .. had to get up for work at 5 and all because my period started again ,, it was so much better for the 3 months I didnt have it .. now all the health anxiety, fears, lack of sleep... waaaaaaaaa

Oh didgens, I feel for you, I really do. You must be exhausted physically and emotionally. I hope this long distance hug helps in some small way!
((((((((((((((((((((didgens)))))))))))))))))))))
Jan

Thanks jan .. I needed that

You're welcome! Looks like we've got our own little support group going here this morning!