Suffering from no sleep (71 days in)
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 102
Suffering from no sleep (71 days in)
Day 71.. 29 short of my record. I've been here before on a past venture into sobriety. But it wasn't like this. My nights are sheer hell.
I have terrible RLS. Awful. I've tried 5 different medications with my doctor so far, and all of them either had no effect, or a minor effect, on the RLS, while causing me to fall asleep at work during the day.
From the moment I lie down, it takes off. It keeps me up until the middle of the night. When I do drift off, I wake back up shortly thereafter, and it's still there bugging me. Not until 3-4am does it finally weaken, and at 630am I am getting up for work.
I've tried everything I can think of; going to sleep early doesn't work, it still hits me within minutes of lying down. My doc wont prescribe anything that would knock me out, and I don't blame her.. I'd become dependent on that for sleep, just like I was alcohol for 25 years. I get addicted to things easily.
But here I am, fearing the coming of every night. Never really getting any quality rest, week after week. I'm going crazy. It makes me miss the days of downing a 12 pack, crawling into bed, and being out in less than 5 minutes. The hangover was worth it from where I am sitting today.
UGH
I have terrible RLS. Awful. I've tried 5 different medications with my doctor so far, and all of them either had no effect, or a minor effect, on the RLS, while causing me to fall asleep at work during the day.
From the moment I lie down, it takes off. It keeps me up until the middle of the night. When I do drift off, I wake back up shortly thereafter, and it's still there bugging me. Not until 3-4am does it finally weaken, and at 630am I am getting up for work.
I've tried everything I can think of; going to sleep early doesn't work, it still hits me within minutes of lying down. My doc wont prescribe anything that would knock me out, and I don't blame her.. I'd become dependent on that for sleep, just like I was alcohol for 25 years. I get addicted to things easily.
But here I am, fearing the coming of every night. Never really getting any quality rest, week after week. I'm going crazy. It makes me miss the days of downing a 12 pack, crawling into bed, and being out in less than 5 minutes. The hangover was worth it from where I am sitting today.
UGH
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: U.S.
Posts: 71
Has your doctor tried Trazadone to assist with your sleeping? I'm currently prescribed 75MG, which I take about 30 minutes before going to sleep. It's been effective for me and I get nearly 8 hours of restful sleep. Plus, it's not an addictive medication and not a controlled substance like Ambien. Ambien didn't work with me at all.
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Sorry to hear of your struggles Roy, but congrats on your 71 days, that's a great accomplishment.
I know there are lots and lots of different causes and treatments for RLS, I hope you can find some relief with your doctor. Maybe you could ask your doc if seeing a neruologist or other specialist in the field might help?
I know there are lots and lots of different causes and treatments for RLS, I hope you can find some relief with your doctor. Maybe you could ask your doc if seeing a neruologist or other specialist in the field might help?
You're not shackled to not drinking, you're free from drinking
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 1,406
RSL is a real B... I fortunately don't get it real bad but know how disruptive it is for sleep. I stumbled on something that is off label with very little in the lititure about its use for RSL. In fact one of its side effects is RSL. Are you on any meds that could be causing RSL?
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,229
i get RLS real bad. i'll start twitching and such too. I've tried a lot of things over the years.
Like you i'd drink my brains out just to crash through the night. Or a hefty dose of sleeping pills tho oddly enough the kind that is nothing more then benadryl would often back fire and make matters worse.
Sometimes eating a banana stretching or walking around will help.
I do have one other solution But it might be seen as controversial on the board so I dont want to post about it.
Like you i'd drink my brains out just to crash through the night. Or a hefty dose of sleeping pills tho oddly enough the kind that is nothing more then benadryl would often back fire and make matters worse.
Sometimes eating a banana stretching or walking around will help.
I do have one other solution But it might be seen as controversial on the board so I dont want to post about it.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 102
I'm not on any meds at all right now, waiting to hear from my doc for the next one to try. Trazadone was the first one we went to, and it made me feel like I'd been hit by a truck. Mirapex, Gabapentin, etc.. fail fail fail.
Treatment for hard core RLS often involves opiates, but of course that can be bad news for a recovering alcoholic, and my doc is aware of my history Plus my state tracks Rx's to many drugs (virtually all sleep aids included) and requires urine testing to prove you are taking it. The problem with that is.. insurance wont cover the test.
The only thing keeping me from drinking this away is the knowledge that I'd be even less likely to quit again knowing this is waiting for me. Better to forge ahead now and try to find a solution.
Treatment for hard core RLS often involves opiates, but of course that can be bad news for a recovering alcoholic, and my doc is aware of my history Plus my state tracks Rx's to many drugs (virtually all sleep aids included) and requires urine testing to prove you are taking it. The problem with that is.. insurance wont cover the test.
The only thing keeping me from drinking this away is the knowledge that I'd be even less likely to quit again knowing this is waiting for me. Better to forge ahead now and try to find a solution.
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 37
Reply
Originally Posted by RoyGBiv 
Day 71.. 29 short of my record. I've been here before on a past venture into sobriety. But it wasn't like this. My nights are sheer hell.
I have terrible RLS. Awful. I've tried 5 different medications with my doctor so far, and all of them either had no effect, or a minor effect, on the RLS, while causing me to fall asleep at work during the day.
From the moment I lie down, it takes off. It keeps me up until the middle of the night. When I do drift off, I wake back up shortly thereafter, and it's still there bugging me. Not until 3-4am does it finally weaken, and at 630am I am getting up for work.
I've tried everything I can think of; going to sleep early doesn't work, it still hits me within minutes of lying down. My doc wont prescribe anything that would knock me out, and I don't blame her.. I'd become dependent on that for sleep, just like I was alcohol for 25 years. I get addicted to things easily.
But here I am, fearing the coming of every night. Never really getting any quality rest, week after week. I'm going crazy. It makes me miss the days of downing a 12 pack, crawling into bed, and being out in less than 5 minutes. The hangover was worth it from where I am sitting today.
UGH
I have terrible RLS. Awful. I've tried 5 different medications with my doctor so far, and all of them either had no effect, or a minor effect, on the RLS, while causing me to fall asleep at work during the day.
From the moment I lie down, it takes off. It keeps me up until the middle of the night. When I do drift off, I wake back up shortly thereafter, and it's still there bugging me. Not until 3-4am does it finally weaken, and at 630am I am getting up for work.
I've tried everything I can think of; going to sleep early doesn't work, it still hits me within minutes of lying down. My doc wont prescribe anything that would knock me out, and I don't blame her.. I'd become dependent on that for sleep, just like I was alcohol for 25 years. I get addicted to things easily.
But here I am, fearing the coming of every night. Never really getting any quality rest, week after week. I'm going crazy. It makes me miss the days of downing a 12 pack, crawling into bed, and being out in less than 5 minutes. The hangover was worth it from where I am sitting today.
UGH
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