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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Defective on July 6, 2011, at 15:38:32
I have had the worst insomnia for two years. It usually takes me a couple of hours to fall asleep when I first lay down in bed and I wake up and can't get back to bed. This past week I decided to just start sleeping on the couch and I've been falling asleep right away and when I wake up it only takes me a few minutes to get back to sleep. If you haven't tried sleeping on the couch, try it for a week or so and see f it makes a difference. My couch is made out of leather and that may have something to do with it, but I'm sure it would work just as well on any other material. However, if it doesn't work, try a leather couch. I hope I can help at least a few of you.
Posted by jms600 on July 6, 2011, at 16:04:15
In reply to Insomnia Cured?, posted by Defective on July 6, 2011, at 15:38:32
Hope it continues to work for you. Promazine has always helped me sleep. It's non-addictive too and tolerance doesn't normally occur as far as I know. It does have a hang-over effect though.
Posted by Defective on July 6, 2011, at 16:29:31
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by jms600 on July 6, 2011, at 16:04:15
I've never heard of that. Is that a prescription? My doctor prefers to work through insomnia through behavioral modification rather than medicating, but I will look it up. Do you have any other advice on treating insomnia through lifestyle changes? Thank you for the suggestion.
Posted by Lamdage on July 6, 2011, at 16:39:07
In reply to Insomnia Cured?, posted by Defective on July 6, 2011, at 15:38:32
> I have had the worst insomnia for two years. It usually takes me a couple of hours to fall asleep when I first lay down in bed and I wake up and can't get back to bed. This past week I decided to just start sleeping on the couch and I've been falling asleep right away and when I wake up it only takes me a few minutes to get back to sleep. If you haven't tried sleeping on the couch, try it for a week or so and see f it makes a difference. My couch is made out of leather and that may have something to do with it, but I'm sure it would work just as well on any other material. However, if it doesn't work, try a leather couch. I hope I can help at least a few of you.
Could be the cause of your insomnia a dustmite allergy?
Posted by jms600 on July 6, 2011, at 17:47:49
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured? » jms600, posted by Defective on July 6, 2011, at 16:29:31
> I've never heard of that. Is that a prescription? My doctor prefers to work through insomnia through behavioral modification rather than medicating, but I will look it up. Do you have any other advice on treating insomnia through lifestyle changes? Thank you for the suggestion.
Yes, it's a prescription only drug. It was developed as a typical antipsychotic, however, it has been found to be not sufficiently active, when taken by mouth, to treat psychosis. Therefore It's used for restlessness and insomnia. I've never suffered any of the extrapyramidal effects associated with antipsychotics.
Behavioral changes are a good way to start treating insomnia, but - in my opinion - doctors really should consider certain medications when all else has failed. They should also investigate possible other health issues present in the patient which may be causing the insomnia.
Posted by bleauberry on July 6, 2011, at 18:26:47
In reply to Insomnia Cured?, posted by Defective on July 6, 2011, at 15:38:32
That's an interesting experience. I wonder what a leather couch has that helps you sleep? So many mysteries we don't know.
Posted by linkadge on July 7, 2011, at 8:30:40
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by bleauberry on July 6, 2011, at 18:26:47
My mother exprerienced this. I think its just a matter of sleeping in a different location. Certain locations can be associated with negative experiences and emotions. By changing the location you introduce a sense of novelty, which activates different brain regions than those typically used for rumination.
Some people go to hotels for a few days....just to get away.
Linkadge
Posted by Defective on July 7, 2011, at 11:28:21
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by Lamdage on July 6, 2011, at 16:39:07
Hey Lamdage,
Thank you for your response, hat's certainly an interesting thought, but I don't have any obvious signs of allergies. How would I get rid of a dust mite allergy?
Best,
Defective
Posted by Defective on July 7, 2011, at 11:39:18
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by bleauberry on July 6, 2011, at 18:26:47
Well it's not the quarters or the crumbs, so it has to be something with the shape, texture, and the feeling that I'm sort of restricted. It's an odd discovery that my psychiatrist, whose job it is to hear weird things all day, even thought was strange. Try it out sometime.
Posted by Lamdage on July 7, 2011, at 17:12:02
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by Defective on July 7, 2011, at 11:28:21
> Hey Lamdage,
>
> Thank you for your response, hat's certainly an interesting thought, but I don't have any obvious signs of allergies. How would I get rid of a dust mite allergy?
>
> Best,
>
> DefectiveYoud put your mattress, comforter and pillow in so called "encasings" and thus keep the allergens inside the mattress etc. and outside of your face.
I missed weeks, maybe month of school in the years before i figured out i had dust mite allergy. Thought i had a chronic cold. Mind you how wasted i felt everyday especially upon waking up. All this ontop of depression :s Well its over now luckily.
But if you dont have any signs of stuffy or runny nose, itching etc its unlikely.
Posted by Defective on July 8, 2011, at 1:27:48
In reply to Re: sleeping in a different location, posted by linkadge on July 7, 2011, at 8:30:40
That's very interesting that you say that. I''ve tried hotel beds and different girls beds without any luck. However, I might associate the bed with my relationship with my ex-fiance that I lived with for 3 years. We spent a lot of time in the bed with the dogs watching t.v. and just hanging out. She had the most comfortable bed in the world and I used to sleep like a baby. We broke up suddenly when I found out about her infidelity and maybe that somehow has ruined sleeping in beds for me. I actually remember now that for a month I couldn't sleep in my own bed, so I slept on the floor. Eventually the sleep issue resolved itself, but a year later the current sleep issue hit me that is far more severe than anything I've ever dealt with before. I think we are on to something. I must associate the bed with feelings about her even though she is never on my mind. Maybe the bed makes me feel lonely, even though I'm a 29 year old male and I don't really experience of that sort. Thanks so much.
Best,
Defective
Posted by Defective on July 8, 2011, at 1:33:33
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by Lamdage on July 7, 2011, at 17:12:02
Thanks for the response. I don't have those symptoms, but my eyes are always dry and bloodshot which is indicative of an allergic response. I'm going to try it anyway and see if it helps. I'm sorry it screwed up your life so much. I almost didn't graduate college because of my insomnia, so I can relate. If it weren't for people signing me into class , so that I wasn't marked as absent I would have been out $25,000 a semester and had to keep repeating classes. Thanks so much
Posted by Lamdage on July 8, 2011, at 2:50:26
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured? » Lamdage, posted by Defective on July 8, 2011, at 1:33:33
> Thanks for the response. I don't have those symptoms, but my eyes are always dry and bloodshot which is indicative of an allergic response. I'm going to try it anyway and see if it helps. I'm sorry it screwed up your life so much. I almost didn't graduate college because of my insomnia, so I can relate. If it weren't for people signing me into class , so that I wasn't marked as absent I would have been out $25,000 a semester and had to keep repeating classes. Thanks so much
Defective,
a visit to a doctor might be cheaper i think! Well it would be here in europe. In the states not necessarily if you dont have good health insurance.
Dry and bloodshot eyes, definitely a sign. Might be worth looking into.
Encasings for mattress, comforter and pillow are gonna cost you 100$ total, if you buy quality what you definitely would want to.My quality of life improved tenfold when i took care of these things. Well like from a fat 0 to a 2 out of 10^^ :(
Posted by Lamdage on July 8, 2011, at 3:14:32
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by Lamdage on July 8, 2011, at 2:50:26
Well i suggest you sleep on that leather couch for a week and then reassess your eyes! If they got noticeably better its likely you have the allergy.
On living-room furniture theres not enough dander for serious dust-mite population to build up. Besides you say its leather. Give that a shot before spending 100$!
Posted by Defective on July 9, 2011, at 22:33:19
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by Lamdage on July 8, 2011, at 2:50:26
hahahaha, I'm going to do it and see what happens. I have nothing to lose.
Posted by Defective on July 9, 2011, at 22:34:48
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by Lamdage on July 8, 2011, at 3:14:32
Thanks, I'm still going strong on the couch. I can't sleep on a couch for the rest of my life, so maybe looking into taking care of the allergens is worth a shot
Posted by Lamdage on July 11, 2011, at 10:11:07
In reply to Re: Insomnia Cured?, posted by Defective on July 9, 2011, at 22:34:48
If you do this experiment though, you have to make sure your comforter and pillow are allergen free! You have to wash it very hot in the machine to accomplish this. The couch shouldnt be contaminated so thats fine. But (if you have the allergy) and you sleep on the couch with contaminated comforter and pillow, youll still get your symptoms.
Cheers
Ld
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