Can't stay asleep more than a couple of hours without pills

Hi, I'm writing through tears. I thought I'd try to sleep without Klonopin or sleeping pills last night just to see if I could. I woke up every hour or two to the horrible ear and head buzzing and ringing. I just can't believe how loud it is, it just blows my mind and I'm just sure in the wee hours of the morning that I have a tumor or some other condition responsible for this change in my T. I'd give anything to have my old T problems back. I'm sorry for being such a wimp. I have been coping pretty well but I tell you, without Klonopin, the nights are unbearable and scare the H out of me! I feel so sad. It's snowing outside which is a big treat for me, a snow lover, here in NC. We don't see it often and usually I'm like a little kid. I find my hearing aids impossible to wear at night. They hurt to lay on and without them sound makers, white noise, etc. doesn't help. I don't know where to turn. I know I need to know that no physical condition besides my bad hearing is responsible for this. I've seen 2 ENTs and my primary. Where in the world do you find a tinnitus expert who is also a good doctor. I'm sorry, I just needed to cry on your shoulder. I'm in one of those spaces where you can't believe this will ever get better and you're sure something is terribly wrong with you.

 

i'm so sorry u are suffering i really hope you gets better, try to be positive from the darkness comes a light

 

Have you had TRT therapy? Perhaps that would help.

I am sorry about your T pain. Nights are so important and when you don't sleep it drives you mad. If the pills work for you then I suggest you keep taking them. Perhaps in time it will lower.

Maybe you should look online for experts on T. Here in UK we actually have a T clinic, so if mine does not go away I am going to go there. Perhaps there is one closer to you.

I hope you feel better. Look at it this way: you have had a bad day today, but as the days go by you are getting closer to a day when T will not bother you. Don't give up hope. Try a masker as well as the pills, and perhaps you will be able to wean yourself off the pills with it. I am sorry I can't be more helpful. Try to keep calm and distract yourself from T. Until medical science catches up with us that's all I can suggest.

 

Thank you both for writing. We're having bad weather here and everything is closed. On Monday, I'll make some appointments. I would really like to try the TRT. I'm near Duke University and they do neuromonics there but I don't think they do TRT. I have more faith in TRT. Anyway, they are worth calling. There is also a tinnitus clinic in Greensboro, NC which is about an hour away from where I live. That's not that bad a drive really. First I think I just need to rule out anything medical aside from my hearing loss problems that could be contributing to this.

I have a strange question but I want to ask it. Do any of you ever get angry at God? I've been through a lot of really challenging things in my life but this one seems to have me questioning my relationship with God more than most things I can remember. I had to have a heart valve replaced which is a pretty big bump in the road but I never asked God why. I had PTSD and spent 7 years in therapy recovering but I don't remember questioning God. I just asked for help. Strange how something most doctors would not even consider serious would throw me for a loop.

 

I feel your pain sleep has been my biggest battle - when Im on a winning streak I sleep when sleep becomes a problem - I suffer and my T is loud !
Ive done the sleeping tablets thing and Ok they get you a few nights rest but they don't help you train yourself to deal with sleep issues - Ive just had a couple of bad weeks after a few good months and I started to feel anxiety hit me again....... If I sleep I can cope if I dont I worry !

BUT - this time is different - I have learnt to focus on positives - so 3 nights ago I fell asleep quickly 10.30 ish and woke up 1.30 - I try really hard not to clock watch at 2.30 I decided to get up and 'break' the Im lying here with a flipping annoying noise and I cant sleep panic stage - I had a soft drink made sure the dog was OK pottered a little and realised I felt tired - so went back to bed I put a distraction noise on - for me a mixture of leaves rustleing and wind in trees works - and settled down. Didnt sleep quickly Im not sure how or if I slept - I had some funny dreams so I must have slept ??? Got up felt a little groggy got going coffee - did a gym work out on way to work and by 8am was ready to face the day.

So this pattern continues for me at the moment - my advice is - focus totally on postives remember 2-4 hours sleep is the most important the first stage - broken nights are hard and go for help ask the doc for help - Im on a anti depressant that has a drousy side effect.

Remember everyone has sleep problems at some time - life throws worries our way and we toss and turn with our brains working out how to cope let alone our new found attachement of Tinitus !!

Take time to realx - learn to have 30 mins to chill out in the day - soak in the bath, listen to relax tecniques but put yourself first and have 'me' time so you teach your body to relax - again !

Try sleeping on the sofa - I often found the whole ' its time for bed' statement made me panic as I knew I had a long night ahead - so dont do that - why not change the routine - sleep on the sofa for a while to remind your brain you can and need sleep - I still when having tough nights get and find that the sofa a duvet and my pillow somehow change the focus - Im not lying in bed waiting to sleep - it works for me and I dont have to listen to the hubby snoring soundly - how annoying is that !
I hope you soon sleep well - focus on positives and it you are awake - one of us is probably with ya !!

Cher xx

 

Do you have sleep specialists in your area ? I mean physicians who specialise in sleep issues. They know what medications to give for a longer term use. Also, if you are fine with klonopin i do not see why you would not take it for a while before being able to sleep without meds. I have taken sleeping aids for three years before moving to a quiet place and finding out i didn't need them anymore.

I have loud tinnitus, it was very hard at first. I could not fall asleep without medication before 4 AM. Now i sleep like a baby. The passing of time healed in my case.

 

Maybe the anticipation and uncertainty of knowing it would be your first night trying to sleep without pills also contributed to your restlessness.

 

Hello I never get angry at God, but I do ask Him why He sends me sufferings. However if you are angry (which is natural) maybe you could just tell Him. I really have know idea why He wants His people to suffer - and if you read the Bible you see that we are not meant to know that as well.

 

if tinnitus exists then god doesn't.

 

It's very hard to imagine why God allows people to suffer. I question this and I've been told more than once that God can handle our anger so I let it be known when I'm mad. I think I have a kind of "Eden Complex," lol. I think that's where we should still be living and sometimes I try to insist on it. If it were my world, people wouldn't suffer but it's not and I have no idea what the big picture is all about. I sometimes give up on the whole notion of God but then, He is my hope also and I have no hope without Him. I don't think I'll be awarded many "crowns" in the kingdom to come. I must be the most doubtful and fickle Christian who ever lived. I hope you guys and gals are all right with my ruminations here. These are just my thoughts and feelings.

 

Thank you. You are so kind to share your experience.

 

I would add about klonipin that it is sold in liquid form. Drops are .1mg so you can tune your dosage much more finely. If you are afraid of being hooked. In France it is sold under the name rivotril. If they only sell tablets where you live you may have to ask for a pharmacist preparation.

 

It is very important that you get adequate sleep but individual sleep medications tend to have problems - too much or too litle sleep. I suggest to my patients that they take (1) lorazepam 1mg to reduce pre-sleep anxiety, (2) melatonin 5-10mg to induce sleep, then (3) Benadryl 25-50mg to keep them asleep. Each dose can be adjusted for the individual. You may well need sleep medications as long as you have tinnitus so 'dependence' is not the issue. Without adequate sleep, it is very diffiuclt to cope and habituate.

 

sgal
I understand about getting angry at God; go right ahead and get angry (at God) -- He can take it. Just don't get bitter (and hard) -- you can't take that. You have enough on your plate to deal with (managing T, and the rest of life's issues); don't pile on a hard heart (it only hurts you).
When my T hit last year I went through similar things you are talking about (spiritual crisis, et al). I can really relate; I felt like God had kicked me to the curb for all the crummy things I'd done (if anyone deserved it, I felt like I did). But really/seriously? If God wanted to kick me (or you) to the curb we wouldn't be here right now.
Yell at God just how all this makes you feel, then put your trust in Him (He is good, even though you're not feeling that right now); I'm so glad I did.
T is manageable and there are good days, NO, great days ahead!
BTW, I love your avatar (dog pix)

Hope this helps you...

Mark

 

I no longer have faith in much other than living day by day now. I lost my spirituality a long time ago. Only a few days ago a father here killed his only son with a cricket bat then he was shot and killed by the police. There is so much misery in the world so what's the point in believing anything other than we are mortal, we have one life and we have to make the best of it regardless of whatever comes our way.

I had a lot of trouble trying to fall asleep. I tried white noise, a fan, music, counting sheep! whatever I could. It took me maybe a year to be able to fall asleep without distress, anger, frustration etc.... The best I could find was using an mp3 player with a looped file of waves crashing on the shore/surf. I also found Albatros from Fleetwood Mac to be one of the best music tracks so I gave that a workout. I like blues music so I also loaded up my mp3 player with that. It's a case of experimenting and finding out what works the best. Maybe a sleep pillow is worth a try, maybe a fan, maybe music or whatever.

 

sgal. I really feel for you.
Your question is very understandable and an appropriate one to ask. Why indeed would the almighty creator of the universe want or even allow any of us to suffer? I am a Bible student and if I may I would like to shed a little bit of light on this sobering conversation about God. Would you not agree for us to have a little more insight about this we need to look at the Bible? After all it is the word of God.
First of all please don't get angry at God. He loves us and wants only the best for us!
Please consider this text.
1st John4:8 "Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love."
Notice it says that God IS love. That is his defining quality, yes he has power,justice,wisdoms but he IS love!
So who is responsible for our suffering?
Please let me share this text. 1st John5:19 reads. "We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one."
We are living in a world under the direction of the Devil, he is the one responsible for our suffering. Get angry at him! So please sgal, keep praying to God and keep your faith in him that one day soon he will remedy all the evils that befalls us. One last text that I hope will help. Re 21:3,4 reads. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
I hope these few scriptural thoughts have helped.

 

Another thing I would like to add sgal. Your "Eden complex" is understandable.
We were never meant to get old have sickness including t or even to die!
Adam and Eve were both perfect in the garden of Eden. It wasn't until influence from the devil and their subsequent sinning that they lost out on what they had.
Please note this text. Genesis 2:16,17 Jehovah God also gave this command to the man: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. 17 But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Because we are the descendants of Adam and Eve we are all born into this sinful condition. Thus we suffer!
But don't worry.
Joh 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life."
God has put into place the ransom sacrifice of his son so that we can be reconciled to him and ultimately have everlasting life!

 

"The passing of time healed in my case" I know it's different for everyone but how long did it take you to habituate?

 

I understand your frustration and doubt in God at time like this. I had my doubt back then a few years ago when my T hit me like a ton of brick. I was living long, dark, dark days when I doubted if I would ever survive this. But I put my trust in God our Father in Heaven. As stated in John 3:16, God is love and He loves all his children. But in this life we are not exempt from suffering. As you read in the Bible, even his chosen ones like the prophets and apostles were not exempt from sufferings, many even died by extreme cruelty & pain including Christ himself. The story of Job is the ultimate example of suffering even the righteous has to endure, and triumph over it. This is a temporal existence where the devil also has his domain and he can cause much sufferings to us mortals. This is a time we can learn to grow even in suffering. We have our agency to choose how we live and how we perceive things. The Bible is loaded with verses exhorting us to learn to rejoice in our sufferings: (they sure make me feel better)
Romans 5:1-5
James 1:12
Revelation 2:10

So don't despair that God has forsaken us. If anything, those people who have near death experience come back to tell us of that great love they feel in the realm beyond. Even CNN Anderson Cooper recently reported on the reality of God and the awesome place awaiting the good & the righteous. So we just need to learn to be patient & try to be positive in this life. See it here:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/27/anderson-cooper-special-report-to-heaven-and-back/

 

I don't know. It was hard for me to sleep because of a noisy neighbourhood. I found out i slept like a baby when i moved places three years after my t onset but i suspect i got my sleep back much sooner. I dropped sleeping pills at that moment.