ugh.

[fox]

Just when I thought I'd got past whatever the mysterious not-sleeping thing was, I woke up last night at about a quarter after one (having gone to bed around 11, so I had at least been asleep for a bit) and was still lying there wishing I could sleep at like 3:00. I know the obvious solution is to stop taking Sudafed, which is known to make a person jittery, but (a) I'm only taking half a dose and (b) it's the breathing thing, man, I'm a fan of it. If it ends up with me taking some sort of sedative along with my stimulating decongestant I'ma be unhappy. But right now this is all just Messed Up and cannot go on.

... Must figure out what sort of doctor I can call, now that I've got this new insurance.

Comments

[ellen_fremedon]

I woke up with what seems to be an allergy attack and a panic attack feeding off each other :-(. Not leaving the house today, no.

[twistedchick]

There is some nasty-ass pollen out there today; not sure what but it's noticeable through the very small gaps in the window here.

[fox]

That would leave me groggy in the morning from having slept but not at all well, I think. This is the opposite; I wake up with my mind (and sometimes my heart) racing and cannot, cannot, cannot get calm. Nurse on the phone reminded me that I have prescription Flonase, though, which may keep the sinuses un-swollen w/o the necessity for Sudafed, which ought to allow me to sleep and not feel so wired. One can only hope.

[twistedchick]

I have used Flonase for years. It does keep sinuses less swollen, it doesn't require sudafed, and it doesn't affect sleep cycles. The only two problems I've found with it are that it takes 2-3 days to fully come on board (may be less for you), and that I have to be careful of small nosebleeds (which may have more to do with my bp than my sinuses.) It is, however, a 'dry' spray, so it won't feel much like anything at first.

[merryish]

Couple things that may or may not be helpful. As a veteran (and current victim) of insomnia...

1) Sometimes switching from decongestants to antihistamines can help the breathing even more, since it's pretty easy to build up a tolerance for decongestants. And antihistamines make you sleepy! Take it at the right time (early evening) and you won't end up groggy in the morning.

2) Any and all caffeine affects you, whether it feels like it is or not. That includes caffeinated teas, green teas, chocolate, etc. I've found that if I don't indulge in any of those at ALL during an insomniac week/month, it helps.

3) Valerian smells awful, but it actually does chill you out and help you sleep better, and it's pretty cheap.

4) A day without carbs will leave me almost comatose by bedtime; just a thought, I'm not sure what your diet is like, but I crash like a crashy thing without carbs and sleep like a baby.

I hope it gets better!