and the insomnia continues....

Sorry to hear that you're having a tough time sleeping..that's the worst! I'm *super* intrigued about the theory of sleep meds in conjunction with DID. I'm a social worker and an intensive family therapist and have lots of kids with ADHD and mood disorders who are on Trazadone to help with sleep and almost all of their parents say that if the kids fight through the window of opportunity to sleep it tends to make them even more hyper/worked up. Hope you were able to get some rest last night.

Well, I've been up all night.

I think the same thing can happen with DID with just about any meds.  I knew someone that had diabetes, or at least some alters did, while others did not.  She had to be really careful with her insulin because different alters would react differently to it.  She was apparently able to get things worked out so that certain parts had to be out when she took the insulin and she could control things, at least most of the time, so no one switched too soon and had a problem with the insulin.  I tried doing that with my antidepressants once, several years ago, and I did not have much luck with it.

I think what's happening is that that "window of opportunity" is passing - I get very sleepy for a while, but if I don't go to sleep, then I stop feeling sleepy but I'm still tired, if that makes sense.  I think the issue is that part of me wants to sleep but part doesn't.  I'm working on that in therapy but you know, therapy can take a while to fix things.  I really don't know how I can go on that long with so little sleep.  Most nights I get about three hours.  Some nights I get more, like the night before last I think I slept about six hours, but then there are nights I get no sleep at all.

What's DID?

I have a friend who started to experience insomnia, fatigue...etc. and she tried all kinds of prescribed sleeping pills without success...her doctor put her on alot of different types of anti-depressants too.

After nothing worked, she thought it may be hormonal so sought a hormonal workup with the "Women to Women Clinic" in Maine.  She did all the tests by mail and got on bio-identical hormone treatment and was cured of insomnia and some of the others symptoms she was experiencing.

If you haven't had your hormone levels checked out, it might be something to look into.

Hope you feel better soon.

DID is dissociative identity disorder.

I have not had my hormones checked.  Maybe I should.  I think the insomnia is related to my PTSD and DID, but maybe there is a hormonal component as well.  I think my doctors have always assumed it was a psychological thing and so never really looked for a physical cause.

Thanks for explaining...just googled DID.  Hope you're able to get to the root of the insomnia soon.  

Good Morning Kelly,

I know the late night session is over and I only starting having insomnia since April 2010 after RNY and before that I have never had problems falling to sleep.

I am hooked on Ambien 10mg because it will knock me out but only for a few hours now since I have been on it for so long.

I suffer from PTSD, Anxiety, and depression and my hard head ass still hasn't started the EFFEXOR but I am going too....I am scared to death that I will gain more weight. I have put on 40 pounds since my TT March 2011 and I have no energy to exercise at all and really my depression does not motivate me to want too either, ya know?

But I have a combo that works for me and it may help you.  I take Ambien 10mg with a 2mg bar of Xanax after a hot shower or bath and if I am achy from stress or housework I'll add 10mg Flexeril, my muscle relaxant.   I am able to then rest almost all night.

I am really believing that this gastric bypass has caused me this incurable insomnia.  so many others here have complained as well.  what do you think?

I have been on Effexor since before my surgery and currently take 75 mg four times a day.  It has not caused me to gain weight.  I know it does cause weight gain for some people, though.

I don't know why RNY would cause insomnia but it does seem to be common.

I think some people suffer from insomnia after surgery   -- especially since it seems to fade for many people --  just because their body doesn't know what to do with the sudden increase in energy level.  That doesn;t really explain it for those who are several years out, though...

Just my sleep-deprived thoughts.  (I slept almost 6 hours total last night and this morning -- that's almost 3 times the previous two nights --  but I still took the day off work because I am such a zombie).  Just had a hot bubble bath, took my Vicodin for me knee before the bath, and just took some ativan and a Lunesta a couple of minutes ago.  Hopefully that will be a winning combination for a long afternoon nap!

Now you have me wondering how many RNYers never expereicend any insomnia, hwo many suffer from insomnia during the first 6-9 months and how many continue to suffer from it several years out (and whether they know of any reason for the insomnia).  (I had some at about 6 months out (about 100 pounds down) but it faded pretty quickly.  I'm sure that mine is mostly stress and PTSD... and perhaps hormonal since I had had some occasional bursts of night sweats and turn 50 in a few months)

Poll time, LOL?!?

Lora

Hi Lora!......Happy New Year to ya!


I ditto you....poll time on the insomnia after RNY or any other WLS because never in my life I swear have I ever had a problem going to sleep....not as a kid, teenager, roaring 20's, or early 30's......

after RNY I had mine 10-15-08 I was fine and sleeping fine and after I lost the first 100 pounds in April 2010 I keep everything written in my calendar so docs can know exact dates you know like new symptoms, date of period, all that jazz.  that is when it started April 10,2010 and I went to my pcp and she prescribed me Ambien 10mg

I was told at first that it was because of the steady weight loss and my hormones and body releasing estrogen and stuff but hell last year in March I had my full abdomnioplasty and I have gained back 40 pounds (my fault) and I still can't sleep.

Now the Ambien only gives me a good "nap" and I have to take it with Xanax and/or a muscle relaxant to make that happen.

So I was prescribed anti-depressants but Celexa caused me weight gain so now i was prescribed Effexor and I have refilled 3 prescriptions but have never even taken one pill, caused I am scared of more weight gain but i am going to crack up the nerve and start it for a month or so and carefully monitor my weight and see if that will solve the insomnia.

But I do believe in MY OPINION that RNY and whatever they tweaked inside me caused me insomnia.

Thanks Kelly.....I am going to give Effexor a try starting Sunday..........Keep me in your good thoughts and wish me weight loss and loss of appetite on this medicine.

The doc that prescribed it said most common side effects her patients reported was loose stools and dry mouth or no appetite.  I can deal with that cause I stay all the time anyway....lol..

I hope you were able to get some rest today......Are you able to take Xanax to aid with sleep and settle down before bed?