Sleeping disorders

[NIcole baker]

Hello,

I recently went to a sleep clinic  and was diagnosed with REM Disorder and Maintenance Insomnia.  The doctor prescribed sleeping pills for me to try and put my sleep patterns back to normal (so I would seep through the night; I apparently wake up 8 times an hour without knowing it)  I was reluctant taking the pills but for some reason I did try them for three days and I felt terrible.  I had anxiety, I felt that I was having an adrenaline rush all day and I was extremely irritable.

I am wondering if anyone has ever had either disorder or if you have any suggestions I how I can feel better and sleep properly.

 

Thank you,

 

Nicole 

[Ailine Hurst]

I dont have any sleep issues so dont offer any advice.
The withdrawal symptoms are similar. I have had sleeping tablets and do not like their effects either. Hope you find a good solution.

[Debbie Halcomb]

My husband was prescribed sleeping pills and the brand he was taking had some of the side effects you describe plus nightmares. I take that brand and have no problem.  His doctor changed the brand and he was fine. 

 

His sleep problems have stopped however since he lost 30 lbs.

 

Hope this helps 

[Patti Luccitti]

Hi Nicole,

While I'm not a doctor, there are 2 issues that come to my mind as I read your post.  One is cortisol levels.  You can have your adrenaline and cortisol levels checked through a simple saliva test that can be taken at various times throughout the day.  It would be interesting to know if your cortisol levels are high at night when they should be low.  Also, your sex hormone levels should be checked as well through a 24-hr urine test.  Sometimes when progesterone levels are low, it will cause you to wake up throughout the night.   These 2 situations can be remedied by using natural supplements, but you will have to find a health practitioner that has extensive experience with these issues.   I don't know if this has anything to do with your diagnosis, but I always like to find out what is the cause of my symptoms first.  Good luck!

Patti

[NIcole baker]

Hi,  I try to find the reason for the problem too I think that symptoms just tell us there is something wrong and point to the problem which is why I dont like pill that just block the symptom and don't fix what is really wrong.

This is really interesting to me.  I stopped taking birth control pills in the fall and I am wondering if they could have thrown off my progesterone levels and maybe it will just get better the longer  I am off them?  

I think the adrenaline and cortisol would be interesting to look in to also.  How do I test these?  Is there a kit I can buy?  Do you know what I can take to make the levels change if I do find they are off.  Thank you for the helpful information!

Patti Luccitti said:

Hi Nicole,

While I'm not a doctor, there are 2 issues that come to my mind as I read your post.  One is cortisol levels.  You can have your adrenaline and cortisol levels checked through a simple saliva test that can be taken at various times throughout the day.  It would be interesting to know if your cortisol levels are high at night when they should be low.  Also, your sex hormone levels should be checked as well through a 24-hr urine test.  Sometimes when progesterone levels are low, it will cause you to wake up throughout the night.   These 2 situations can be remedied by using natural supplements, but you will have to find a health practitioner that has extensive experience with these issues.   I don't know if this has anything to do with your diagnosis, but I always like to find out what is the cause of my symptoms first.  Good luck!

Patti

[Patti Luccitti]

You're right about not wanting to take pills that block symptoms without fixing the cause of the symptoms.  

Birth  control pills, by definition, alter your body's natural production and rhythmn of your own hormones.  I think it can take quite a few months to get your body back to its natural self.  If you're still imbalanced, then that imbalance could be causing your sleepless nights.  A 24-hr urine test will reveal where your sex hormones are.  

For the cortisol levels, you can do a saliva test or for a more comprehensive test you can do a neurotransmitter urine test.  Try to find a practitioner who knows about these tests, how to read them and what to give you to help you out.  There are many alternative MDs, Osteopaths and Naturopaths that have knowlegde with bio-identical hormone replacement and adrenal and neurotransmitter imbalances.  There are a few companies that will run these tests for you, but you need a doctor's order.  Or, you can go through the Life Extension Foundation where you can run these tests without a doctor's Rx. 

 A good book about all these hormonal imbalances and what you can do on your own is "Feeling fat, fuzzy or frazzled?" by Richard Shames, M.D.  This book has tons of great information!  I hope this helps some:)! 

NIcole baker said:

Hi,  I try to find the reason for the problem too I think that symptoms just tell us there is something wrong and point to the problem which is why I dont like pill that just block the symptom and don't fix what is really wrong.

This is really interesting to me.  I stopped taking birth control pills in the fall and I am wondering if they could have thrown off my progesterone levels and maybe it will just get better the longer  I am off them?  

I think the adrenaline and cortisol would be interesting to look in to also.  How do I test these?  Is there a kit I can buy?  Do you know what I can take to make the levels change if I do find they are off.  Thank you for the helpful information!

Patti Luccitti said:

Hi Nicole,

While I'm not a doctor, there are 2 issues that come to my mind as I read your post.  One is cortisol levels.  You can have your adrenaline and cortisol levels checked through a simple saliva test that can be taken at various times throughout the day.  It would be interesting to know if your cortisol levels are high at night when they should be low.  Also, your sex hormone levels should be checked as well through a 24-hr urine test.  Sometimes when progesterone levels are low, it will cause you to wake up throughout the night.   These 2 situations can be remedied by using natural supplements, but you will have to find a health practitioner that has extensive experience with these issues.   I don't know if this has anything to do with your diagnosis, but I always like to find out what is the cause of my symptoms first.  Good luck!

Patti

[NIcole baker]

This sounds Great!  Thank you for the information I will look at that book for sure!  

Thank you again,

 

NIcole