Doctor's report.............

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:53 pm

Doc said that I am "out of kilter" because my sleep pattern has been compromised????!!! Well, NO CRAP!

Seriously, he put me on Ambian to help me sleep. He said my energy level is down because I am sleep deprived. Hopefully the Ambian will get me back on schedule and everything else will fall into place. I am on a short term regiment (3 months) unless I am doing better.

The vitamins and Vitamin B that I started are ok. Lost another 3 pounds! Good news!

Here's hoping they will work; I'm about to take one now. Gotta get some sleep!

I am also to do the following:
1. do nothing in the bedroom except have sex and sleep! hahahha (no TV, no reading, etc.) If I can't fall asleep, I am to get out of bed and go to another room and read or do something until tired.

2. Nothing to eat late in the evening.

3. No exercising (as if!) in the evening (after work is ok).

4. No cafiene in the evening. Quit using cafeine to stay awake during the day!

5. Wait and see.................

Here's to good sleeps and pleasant dreams!

Mars

Post by **tex** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:50 pm

Mars,

Good luck, and

Pleasant dreams,
Wayne

JJ · Post by JJ » Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:29 pm

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz...here's to a good snooze! JJ

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:29 am

Well, Mars Bar???????? Did it work?

Oh, I'd better whisper - she might still be asleep.

Love,

Polly

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:04 am

Would love to know if the ambian works.. I tried lunesta last month and it does put you to sleep nicely but I still don't stay asleep... granny h

celia · Post by **celia** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:20 pm

Mars,

That's a good short term solution. Enjoy the zzzzz's!

I'm glad you are taking additional lifestyle steps too. Most physicians treat symptoms --- and sometimes that's really, really needed --- but not necessarily the root causes...so I am really glad you are thinking about those things too!

Be well, Celia

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:25 pm

Sleep Tight girl!

Love Oma

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:14 pm

Here's the scoop so far.............

I took one Ambien 1/2 hour before bed and was asleep within 15 minutes. I slept soundly for 5 hours before waking up - straight up in bed as a matter of fact! It was a good thing I did though because I forgot to set the alarm! I set the alarm and went back to sleep, almost immediately for another 1 1/2 hours. So far so good on the sleeping thing.

Today I am in an awful mood - hope it's not the meds. My neck has been stiff and out of wack for a couple of weeks and it's beginning to give me headaches throughout the day. Guess I'll have to call the chiropractor. Bummer!

I'll update everyone in a few days and let you know if the Ambien continues to work. However, today I have been extremely tired (still). I struggle to stay awake from about 2 pm on. Between 6 and 8 I am fighting myself to stay awake and not sleep. I make myself get busy so I don't think about it.

Here's to better days ahead!...........................

Love,
Mars

Post by **tex** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:51 pm

Hi Mars,

That sounds promising, (except for the bad mood, of course). The stiff neck may be part of the sleep problem. Before I started the GF diet, my neck bothered me a high percentage of the time. These days, though, just about the only time that it bothers me, is if I lay wrong while I'm sleeping, and that usually occurs when I am having problems sleeping.

I hope your sleep pattern smooths out.

Love,
Wayne

m · Post by m » Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:50 pm

Mars,
Hows the Ambien working now?When my mother's Alzheimers was at the stage where she was getting up every two hours, I got a rx for Ambien for her. She took it only once and she slept nicely but the next day she had a little hissy fit in the day care and they called me up. I didn't give it to her again.
m

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:00 pm

Interesting Melissa,

I am still in a bad mood - wondering if it is the meds. Not happy at all. Came home from work early yesterday - unable to stay awake. It is AWFUL! I laid down on the couch at 9:30, couldn't stand it any more. Slept for a couple of hours and then took an Ambien and went to sleep for the night at about 11:30. Slept good until the dogs woke me up about 6:30. That is a good night's rest for me.

I am still having neck problems and in a bad mood and don't feel real good. The energy level is NIL and that plays a part I'm sure.

Tomorrow is Trisha's shower and I've been making meatballs and cheese balls. The ham will go into the crock pot in the morning and I am done with cooking. Hopefully I haven't forgotten anything - kind of hard about now!

Here's hoping that tonight is a restful sleep too.

Love,
Mars

Liz · Post by **Liz** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:11 pm

Hi Mars

Been trying to read posts that I have missed while away. Why are you going to sleep during the day. Could not find it in posts. Do you have sleep apneoa. Is it because of the upcoming wedding? Good to see you are getting a bit of sleep at night now. Sleep deprivation & insomnia can be very debilitating. I sleep with a CPAP mask. Did not take it to NZ with me & I was tired during the day & not getting proper sleep & enough oxygen at night.

Love

Liz

celia · Post by **celia** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:59 am

Mars,

Sorry to hear about what appears to be side effects from the Ambien. That's the drawback of some prescriptions medications. Dr. Teitelbaum says that Ambien is less likely to cause side effects than other sleep medications. However, it is short acting and often does not give you a full night's sleep. He says you can usually can count on 4-6 hours of solid sleep when taking it.

He says that if you wake up in the middle of the night you can take an extra 1/2 to 1 tablet, leave a glass of water and the pill by your bedside. That's presuming you are taking the normal dosage of 1/2 to one 10-mg tablet. Usually the effects will be worn off in the morning. But if doing this leaves you hung over, he suggests checking out Sonata. You probably want to check that with your doctor.

He has a full chapter in his book that talks about each prescription sleep meditation in detail with the pro's and con's. He also has a complete list and description of herbal remedies for sleep, the needed dose, and how to take them in combination. I found the chapter very useful when I had sleep problems. However, if waking up is due to a food reaction, I haven't found any sleep remedy that will overcome that. My body has a strong will when it's trying to tell me something!

His book on chronic fatigue is called: From Fatigued to Fantastic by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD.

Good luck with this! Celia