A great place to start Disorder information source Rated and Reviewed Sleep Links Entrance to all monitored Sleep Forums Search all of Sleepnet.com


Insomnia Forum
Posting


Archived Insomnia Forum26 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Insomnia Forum Homepage.

New Member

Posted by theCoenobyte on June 01, 2005 at 22:57:59:

HI - as a new member to this group, I think it's worhthwile giving you a potted history of my struggles with insomnia over the last 30 years.

I was diagnosed with insomnia in 1979 when I was having a bad time at university. My GP prescribed me 1 temazepam to be taken at night. At first this was like magic - I would take the drug and almost immediately feel I was floating on a sea of sleep, but at any time I could drop down into it and fall to sleep. It really was wondoerful.

Well It's 2005 now and I've been on temazepam ever since. My usage of the drug has gone through the roof. I take 60mg plus 20mg zolpidem every night, to get a measly 2 hours sleep, if I'm lucky. I'm totally addicted to benzodiazepines, and I don't feel like life is worth living.

My insomnia is quite spectacular - I go for nights without any sleep at all - my record is 20 consecutive sleepless nights, which by my research looks like a world record. I was pretty bonkers by the end of that, I can tell you.

I've tried every form of treament for insomnia, from acupuncture to meditation to herbal remedies, but nothing works, and I'm now getting pretty desparate.

So desparate, infact, that I'm considering paying a small fortune to visit the London Sleep Centre to see if they can find out what's wrong.

My specific problem is that I never get drowsy - even when sleep-deprived for 5 days, I can still function quite normally, drive quite safely, and hold down a part-time job, although, of course, being so sleep-deprived is like being in constant pain.

My psychiatrist can do nothing (I don't think he takes it seriously), so I'm left to try and find a solution myself.

My own belief is that the lack of the drowsy feeling even after 5 sleepless nights is something of a clue to a professional - it's probably a sign of some psyiological problem, or a result of huge dosages of tranquilizers.

So that's my story - insomnia rules my life and everything revolves around it, and it's a pain in the arse.

I'd be interested in hearing from people with similar stories, and particularly from anybody who has tried sleep clinics, especially the London Sleep Centre.

Bye for now

Follow Ups:


Archived Insomnia Forum26 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Insomnia Forum Homepage

  • IMPORTANT : Information not intended as medical advice. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder you should seek care from a qualified professional. Read Terms of Use.
  • The Sleep Forums are not to be used for commercial purposes.
  • Commercial products and services are not endorsed by Sleepnet.com.
  • Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.


Copyright ©1995-2005 Sleepnet.com., All rights reserved