Not sleeping

anon87974465 · February 4, 2018, 7:40pm

Having most awful time with not sleeping. Only getting 3 hours sleep or no sleep. My body clock is shot. On 12 MGM's pred which I take between 1-2 am. Saw GP who has suggested Melatonin. Has anyone tried this or any other suggestions. I do fall asleep in the chair sometimes during the day and have little sleeps but I try not to do this. I am not very active but am seeing an exercise physiologist today and will be starting swimming in a heated pool this week.

Thanks for your help. Kathy

nh_user_843256 · February 4, 2018, 8:55pm

I take one of my calcium supplements a little while before bed (with a small snack and usually a spoonful of plain yoghurt). No trouble sleeping since I started doing that, despite having been an intermittent insomniac most of my life! If you can get outdoors for a walk every day that may help also.

nh_user_1144220 · February 4, 2018, 9:43pm

Hi,

I too have trouble sleeping and am thinking about splitting the dose of preds as some others do to morning and evening. It's worth a try anyway.

Good luck ☺

anon87974465 · February 4, 2018, 11:46pm

Hi Kassiebee,

My Doctor also told me to take Melatonin and it does seem to help me. Also not eating after 6 PM helps me. I don't know why but it does help. I am on 10mg of Prednisone at present.

anon87974465 · February 5, 2018, 12:08am

Hello Charles

Thanks for that information. The melatonin costs about $35 here in Australia so it is good to get feedback as to its efficacy.

Cheers

Kathy

anon87974465 · February 5, 2018, 12:11am

Thanks Janice.

I recently tried to split the dose but had some issues so had to go back on the daily dose. Good luck with your trial of dose splitting. I wish you well.

Cheers

Kathy

anon87974465 · February 5, 2018, 12:30am

Hi Anhaga

I take 4 calcium tabs per day - 2 in the morning and 2 at night as I don't have any parathyroid glands. Can't say that I have noticed any sleepiness after them. Unfortunately I don't like yoghurt so that cancels out that one. Perhaps I should learn to like it. Acquire a taste. Yes, I do think I need to get out into the sun. Get some of that vitamin D !!!!! I just did a quick look at calcium and yoghurt. Yoghurt has Tryptophan in it which is known to help sleep. So there you go.

Cheers

Kathy

nh_user_1144220 · February 5, 2018, 12:35am

Hi 🙂

I don't like yoghurt but have you tried it with some honey...very nice 😊

anon87974465 · February 5, 2018, 12:38am

Will give it a go. I wonder if a bit of maple syrup might be nice. I might try that too.

Thanks.

K

nh_user_916582 · February 5, 2018, 1:00am

Did you recently change time when you take pred? Some people have issue with sleep & taking pred before going to bed. I do take pred with yogurt ( and there are many kinds) maybe some are "good enough" for your taste. Another option is to split dose and take 6-8mg in the evening and the rest as soon as you wake up to make 12mg daily dose.

anon87974465 · February 5, 2018, 1:17am

Hi Nick,

No, I didn't change the time for taking the pred. I have been taking pred at 1-2am for probably 3 years. I did try to split the dose a couple of months ago but had a really bad reaction. I spoke to a pharmacist last week about what had happened and she thought I may have had withdrawal symptoms due to that lower dose that I took first. I think that I may be very sensitive to prednisone and changing the dose. Have others had any trouble when they split the dose? I shall try some yoghurt see how I go.

Cheers

Kathy

nh_user_843256 · February 5, 2018, 1:44am

The yoghurt is supposed to help with proper metabolism of calcium. Another possibility might be to try valerian, just for a week or so as it's not good to take for a long time, just to break the cycle. I used valerian a few years ago and found it gave me a really good quality of sleep and a feeling I'd had wonderful dreams (which I didn't remember).

anon87974465 · February 5, 2018, 2:24am

Thanks for that. Yes, I forgot about the Valerian sleeping pills. I shall do some research on the Valerian.

as I think it reacts with some medications. I am glad that it worked for you. I do agree in that my sleep cycle is way off track. I used to go to sleep about 1.30am then wake up about 0830 am. I would wake a couple of times but would go back to sleep. Don't know why things changed.

Cheers

Kathy

nh_user_1139571 · February 5, 2018, 6:14am

Hi Kathy, yes I also had trouble not sleeping when I started taking pred. Was on 15 for 4 weeks, then 12.5 for 5 weeks, now on 10 since 8th jan. I had never any trouble sleeping before.

in the last two weeks I have started to have good nights sleeping. I don't know if I got so tired that I am now sleeping or if the body has got used to the preds.

Hope you will sleep sometime soon!

nh_user_916582 · February 5, 2018, 10:10am

or you have lowered the dose to 10 smile ... take your pick

nh_user_12898 · February 5, 2018, 3:36pm

Have you tried Greek yoghurt? It is a totally different texture and flavour.

anon87974465 · February 5, 2018, 4:01pm

No. But I will try it. Thanks. It is 2am. Still wide awake.

anon87974465 · February 5, 2018, 7:31pm

Best of luck Kathy. Know haw it feels mi 4 th year living with it and still learning to live with it.

anon87974465 · February 5, 2018, 9:56pm

Hi there,

Are you having trouble sleeping?

It can be such a roller coaster ride. Yesterday I went to see an exercise physiologist and during the assessment she got me to do some exercises like standing up from a chair stretching my hamstrings nothing too strenuous. This morning I am so sore all over. Feel like I have been run over by a big bus. Will have to go slowly but I need to get strength back. I have turned into a big lump of lard. But I am going to persist to try and get my fitness back. Looking forward to my new me. Will keep you all posted.

Cheers

Kathy

nh_user_1139571 · February 6, 2018, 6:44am

Oh yeah, didn't think of that, could be