When did insomnia start to improve?

[[Ir...]]

Okay, I'm almost nine months off and I'm still having trouble with insomnia. Last night I slept from 4:30-6.  I was worthless all day today, mostly because I took the following to try to help me sleep. 

100mg Seroquel

800mg Gabapentin

2 nytols

40mg Baclofen

 

And 5mg of melatonin. 

 

I am exhausted at this point to be sleeping so poorly and still have to be taking so many other things just to even have a chance to sleep.  It almost makes reinstating sound like a good idea.  I mean, four other drugs just to stay off Klonopin.  I never had trouble sleeping on Klonopin.  Never suffered from tolerance issues. 

 

When did you start to see improvement in sleep? 

[[bi...]]

What made you want to get off klonopin if you didn't have issues? I ask as a fellow sufferer of severe insomnia. I sleep once every 3 to 4 days. I'm considering just going back on the stuff also. This just sucks

[Guest [Le...]]

I know it's tempting to try anything to sleep, but I'm here to tell you, it was worth the wait.

 

Suddenly I began to sleep after one year off. This morning I slept solidly from 2am-10am, and I only stayed up until two because I was busy with something entertaining.

 

When sleep first improved I got 5 hours, then 6-7. This new eight hour thing is a miracle, something I once thought was unattainable.

 

Please wait it out - benzos only take us into downward spirals.

[[st...]]

I know it's tempting to try anything to sleep, but I'm here to tell you, it was worth the wait.

 

Suddenly I began to sleep after one year off. This morning I slept solidly from 2am-10am, and I only stayed up until two because I was busy with something entertaining.

 

When sleep first improved I got 5 hours, then 6-7. This new eight hour thing is a miracle, something I once thought was unattainable.

 

Please wait it out - benzos only take us into downward spirals.

 

Hi leslie, Im benzo free for 13 days now...thanks for sharing your positive attitude about "waiting it out"  really what is the alternative? I was only on clonazepam for about 8 weeks including a very nasty 4 week withdrawal.  I hope my sleep comes back soon... I was an amazing sleeper...had no idea how good I had it... I could walk over to my recliner and take a 30 min nap at any time of the day... I would crawl into bed and fall asleep with the tv on every night... Oh how I miss that!

[Guest [Le...]]

I know it's tempting to try anything to sleep, but I'm here to tell you, it was worth the wait.

 

Suddenly I began to sleep after one year off. This morning I slept solidly from 2am-10am, and I only stayed up until two because I was busy with something entertaining.

 

When sleep first improved I got 5 hours, then 6-7. This new eight hour thing is a miracle, something I once thought was unattainable.

 

Please wait it out - benzos only take us into downward spirals.

 

Hi leslie, Im benzo free for 13 days now...thanks for sharing your positive attitude about "waiting it out"  really what is the alternative? I was only on clonazepam for about 8 weeks including a very nasty 4 week withdrawal.  I hope my sleep comes back soon... I was an amazing sleeper...had no idea how good I had it... I could walk over to my recliner and take a 30 min nap at any time of the day... I would crawl into bed and fall asleep with the tv on every night... Oh how I miss that!

 

That's exactly how I was! In fact, I used to be able to sleeping standing up in the NYC subway, just holding onto the overhead bars. 

 

I don't think you'll have to wait as long as I did, since I was polydrugged for years, and your short-term use is in your favor.

 

Funny, the first sign that things were really normalizing was when I took an unexpected nap, right at my desk. Then another one. within two weeks I started getting full nights' sleeps again.

 

Hard to believe that a couple of months ago I was still an exhausted mess.

 

Hope you catch what I've got! 

[[st...]]

I know it's tempting to try anything to sleep, but I'm here to tell you, it was worth the wait.

 

Suddenly I began to sleep after one year off. This morning I slept solidly from 2am-10am, and I only stayed up until two because I was busy with something entertaining.

 

When sleep first improved I got 5 hours, then 6-7. This new eight hour thing is a miracle, something I once thought was unattainable.

 

Please wait it out - benzos only take us into downward spirals.

 

Hi leslie, Im benzo free for 13 days now...thanks for sharing your positive attitude about "waiting it out"  really what is the alternative? I was only on clonazepam for about 8 weeks including a very nasty 4 week withdrawal.  I hope my sleep comes back soon... I was an amazing sleeper...had no idea how good I had it... I could walk over to my recliner and take a 30 min nap at any time of the day... I would crawl into bed and fall asleep with the tv on every night... Oh how I miss that!

 

That's exactly how I was! In fact, I used to be able to sleeping standing up in the NYC subway, just holding onto the overhead bars. 

 

I don't think you'll have to wait as long as I did, since I was polydrugged for years, and your short-term use is in your favor.

 

Funny, the first sign that things were really normalizing was when I took an unexpected nap, right at my desk. Then another one. within two weeks I started getting full nights' sleeps again.

 

Hard to believe that a couple of months ago I was still an exhausted mess.

 

Hope you catch what I've got! 

 

Hi Leslie... funny you mention NYC subway...I was a Union Costuction worker for 20years in NYC... often as a young party animal the 45 min trip from Jamacia to the trade center on the E train was the only sleep I would get...I was the guy that  would fall asleep and use the person next to me for a pillow....  :laugh:

[Guest [Le...]]

I know it's tempting to try anything to sleep, but I'm here to tell you, it was worth the wait.

 

Suddenly I began to sleep after one year off. This morning I slept solidly from 2am-10am, and I only stayed up until two because I was busy with something entertaining.

 

When sleep first improved I got 5 hours, then 6-7. This new eight hour thing is a miracle, something I once thought was unattainable.

 

Please wait it out - benzos only take us into downward spirals.

 

Hi leslie, Im benzo free for 13 days now...thanks for sharing your positive attitude about "waiting it out"  really what is the alternative? I was only on clonazepam for about 8 weeks including a very nasty 4 week withdrawal.  I hope my sleep comes back soon... I was an amazing sleeper...had no idea how good I had it... I could walk over to my recliner and take a 30 min nap at any time of the day... I would crawl into bed and fall asleep with the tv on every night... Oh how I miss that!

 

That's exactly how I was! In fact, I used to be able to sleeping standing up in the NYC subway, just holding onto the overhead bars. 

 

I don't think you'll have to wait as long as I did, since I was polydrugged for years, and your short-term use is in your favor.

 

Funny, the first sign that things were really normalizing was when I took an unexpected nap, right at my desk. Then another one. within two weeks I started getting full nights' sleeps again.

 

Hard to believe that a couple of months ago I was still an exhausted mess.

 

Hope you catch what I've got! 

 

 

Hi Leslie... funny you mention NYC subway...I was a Union Costuction worker for 20years in NYC... often as a young party animal the 45 min trip from Jamacia to the trade center on the E train was the only sleep I would get...I was the guy that  would fall asleep and use the person next to me for a pillow....  :laugh:

 

 

Hey . . . that person was me! 

[[bi...]]

I know it's tempting to try anything to sleep, but I'm here to tell you, it was worth the wait.

 

Suddenly I began to sleep after one year off. This morning I slept solidly from 2am-10am, and I only stayed up until two because I was busy with something entertaining.

 

When sleep first improved I got 5 hours, then 6-7. This new eight hour thing is a miracle, something I once thought was unattainable.

 

Please wait it out - benzos only take us into downward spirals.

 

Hi leslie, Im benzo free for 13 days now...thanks for sharing your positive attitude about "waiting it out"  really what is the alternative? I was only on clonazepam for about 8 weeks including a very nasty 4 week withdrawal.  I hope my sleep comes back soon... I was an amazing sleeper...had no idea how good I had it... I could walk over to my recliner and take a 30 min nap at any time of the day... I would crawl into bed and fall asleep with the tv on every night... Oh how I miss that!

 

That's exactly how I was! In fact, I used to be able to sleeping standing up in the NYC subway, just holding onto the overhead bars. 

 

I don't think you'll have to wait as long as I did, since I was polydrugged for years, and your short-term use is in your favor.

 

Funny, the first sign that things were really normalizing was when I took an unexpected nap, right at my desk. Then another one. within two weeks I started getting full nights' sleeps again.

 

Hard to believe that a couple of months ago I was still an exhausted mess.

 

Hope you catch what I've got! 

 

 

Hi Leslie... funny you mention NYC subway...I was a Union Costuction worker for 20years in NYC... often as a young party animal the 45 min trip from Jamacia to the trade center on the E train was the only sleep I would get...I was the guy that  would fall asleep and use the person next to me for a pillow....  :laugh:

 

 

Hey . . . that person was me! 

 

Brooklyn born and raised. Hi neighbors!

[Guest [Le...]]

I know it's tempting to try anything to sleep, but I'm here to tell you, it was worth the wait.

 

Suddenly I began to sleep after one year off. This morning I slept solidly from 2am-10am, and I only stayed up until two because I was busy with something entertaining.

 

When sleep first improved I got 5 hours, then 6-7. This new eight hour thing is a miracle, something I once thought was unattainable.

 

Please wait it out - benzos only take us into downward spirals.

 

Hi leslie, Im benzo free for 13 days now...thanks for sharing your positive attitude about "waiting it out"  really what is the alternative? I was only on clonazepam for about 8 weeks including a very nasty 4 week withdrawal.  I hope my sleep comes back soon... I was an amazing sleeper...had no idea how good I had it... I could walk over to my recliner and take a 30 min nap at any time of the day... I would crawl into bed and fall asleep with the tv on every night... Oh how I miss that!

 

That's exactly how I was! In fact, I used to be able to sleeping standing up in the NYC subway, just holding onto the overhead bars. 

 

I don't think you'll have to wait as long as I did, since I was polydrugged for years, and your short-term use is in your favor.

 

Funny, the first sign that things were really normalizing was when I took an unexpected nap, right at my desk. Then another one. within two weeks I started getting full nights' sleeps again.

 

Hard to believe that a couple of months ago I was still an exhausted mess.

 

Hope you catch what I've got! 

 

 

Hi Leslie... funny you mention NYC subway...I was a Union Costuction worker for 20years in NYC... often as a young party animal the 45 min trip from Jamacia to the trade center on the E train was the only sleep I would get...I was the guy that  would fall asleep and use the person next to me for a pillow....  :laugh:

 

 

Hey . . . that person was me! 

 

Brooklyn born and raised. Hi neighbors!

 

Hurray for Brooklyn! My parents were born in Manhattan and raised in Bay Ridge. Many happy memories of walking by the water on Shore Road when visiting my grandparents.

 

[[Ma...]]

Never, at least for me, Ive had this crap for 3 years now...no end to it

[[...]]

Never improved.

[[Je...]]

I know it's tempting to try anything to sleep, but I'm here to tell you, it was worth the wait.

 

Suddenly I began to sleep after one year off. This morning I slept solidly from 2am-10am, and I only stayed up until two because I was busy with something entertaining.

 

When sleep first improved I got 5 hours, then 6-7. This new eight hour thing is a miracle, something I once thought was unattainable.

 

Please wait it out - benzos only take us into downward spirals.

 

I couldn't agree more. Sleep will come. It took a long time to get back to normal. I was on the same pattern as a lot of other folks here, 1, 2 or 3 nights of little or no sleep then my body would just shut down and I would sleep that night. I read something, somewhere that said the more you worry about not sleeping the worse it is. I accepted that I wasn't going to sleep normally but that at least I could function, however minimally the next day, I would just do my best. I was healing anyway, of that I am certain, but it can't be just a coincidence that when I accepted that lack of sleep wouldn't kill me and that I could at least get through the next day - things got better fast. I've had a good year now of good sleep, there are times when I wake up in the middle of the night (falling asleep was never a problem for me) but I have internalized that I will get back to sleep and if not, its not the end of the world, its not horrible.

[[me...]]

I couldn't agree more. Sleep will come. It took a long time to get back to normal. I was on the same pattern as a lot of other folks here, 1, 2 or 3 nights of little or no sleep then my body would just shut down and I would sleep that night. I read something, somewhere that said the more you worry about not sleeping the worse it is. I accepted that I wasn't going to sleep normally but that at least I could function, however minimally the next day, I would just do my best. I was healing anyway, of that I am certain, but it can't be just a coincidence that when I accepted that lack of sleep wouldn't kill me and that I could at least get through the next day - things got better fast. I've had a good year now of good sleep, there are times when I wake up in the middle of the night (falling asleep was never a problem for me) but I have internalized that I will get back to sleep and if not, its not the end of the world, its not horrible.

 

Very well said, Jerome, that is the attitude that will get you through this!

[Guest [Le...]]

I couldn't agree more. Sleep will come. It took a long time to get back to normal. I was on the same pattern as a lot of other folks here, 1, 2 or 3 nights of little or no sleep then my body would just shut down and I would sleep that night. I read something, somewhere that said the more you worry about not sleeping the worse it is. I accepted that I wasn't going to sleep normally but that at least I could function, however minimally the next day, I would just do my best. I was healing anyway, of that I am certain, but it can't be just a coincidence that when I accepted that lack of sleep wouldn't kill me and that I could at least get through the next day - things got better fast. I've had a good year now of good sleep, there are times when I wake up in the middle of the night (falling asleep was never a problem for me) but I have internalized that I will get back to sleep and if not, its not the end of the world, its not horrible.

 

Very well said, Jerome, that is the attitude that will get you through this!

 

I totally agree, Jerome and Meowie - everything got better when I accepted the insomnia. I'd just read for awhile instead of worrying about it, and eventually reached a point when sleep came back naturally.

[[te...]]

I felt that too. I noticed I do sleep a little better when I stop worrying but I;m worried now because I'm a month off of work and I need my job. I work out during the day so I guess I'm able to sleep a little better during nights. I get 4-5 hrs interrupted sleep off a one month Klonopin C/T so far. ANd here is the catch, I was about 8 weeks in as well like one of you. I was only using the meds PRN 2-3 times a week but somehow it still affected me. I didn't realize how bad these drugs until my C/T day. My sleep returned in the 2nd week w/d providing that I work out almost every day. The sad thing is I do night shifts. So any advice? Should I maybe try to stay up late at night and then try sleep during the day? If I stop working out for just 3 days I lose sleep. Any suggestions in how to combat this insomnia? I know everybody is different but should I really am hoping for sleep to come back soon without pushing it. I really need my job. I wish my doc would tell me the side effects but of course you folks been there.

[[pi...]]

 

 

Funny, the first sign that things were really normalizing was when I took an unexpected nap, right at my desk. Then another one. within two weeks I started getting full nights' sleeps again.

 

This sentence filled me with a lot of hope.

 

My experience: My sleep steadily improved over months 1-3 from abysmal. Now at 6 months I can initiate sleep but I just cant sustain it. its 2-3 bursts of torture, like its so close but not right just yet.

 

I know thats great compared to most but its dreadful because you never feel rejuvenated and its painful feeling so close to the finish line but yet so far away. If you can recall any more warning signs that sleep improvement is on the way that d be great to know.

 

For me, (and for those still at the beginning of the journey) the warning sign of improvement at first was that my exhaustion was worsening. This signaled an upcoming reset event of a change in sleep pattern. 2-3 weeks of minimal sleep would be followed by a crash night of 5-7 broken. I would wake and sort of know something was different. then the time periods got shorter and shorter between the next crash night and eventually every night was now the same as the crash nights of 2-3 hours bursts. Thats where I am now. just waiting and praying for the next metamorphosis of the sleep sxs into something closer to normal. Thats why clues to look for, like mentioned by Leslie Ash are awesome so thanks. sorry so rambling but cog fog back a bit today

 

Persevere buddies, sleep is coming, and it doesn't come from an orange bottle, thats an illusion

[[...]]

Insomnia improves tremendously after about 3 days.

There is great bliss to be had in the endless day.