Can?t get into DEEP sleep, PLEASE HELP!!!

[Minnie]

CanÂ’t get into DEEP sleep, PLEASE HELP!!!

I have daily constant fatigue. I donÂ’t go into deep sleep stages when I sleep. Can I please get some advice on how to get deep sleep???

The following is my basic sleep problem history and what I have already done to try to help myself. Hopefully itÂ’ll help you guys help me. ;-)
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I have had Sleep Apnea (stop breathing several times throughout the night) for 12 years. I was diagnosed 8 ½ years ago. I have been using a CPAP (a machine to keep me breathing while I sleep) for 8 ½ years. It took several doctors and 3 ½ years to FINALLY get diagnosed! Anyway, I have had fatigue for 12 years. I have been fighting to get rid of my fatigue for 12 years, using a CPAP, multiple airway operations, losing weight, allergy treatments to breath better, etc. So my fatigue is not as severe as it used to be but I still take naps almost every day as I have for the past 12 years. I have tried to force myself not to take naps. The last time I did it, a few months ago, I went for 33 days. I was hoping to make it a habit. It didn’t work. Towards the end I was absolutely miserable. But it showed me how far I have come, years ago I would have NEVER been able to go that long without a nap no matter how much determination and will power was involved!

I developed Sleep Apnea when I got a bad back injury 12 years ago that caused me to gain a huge amount of weight very quickly. So I have been trying to get the weight off, hoping that would help. I have lost huge amounts of weight and then gained it back over the years. Last year, I got down to my thinnest, but was still overweight. I had a sleep study test. It said I didn’t have Sleep Apnea anymore, but that I was only in sleep stages 1 and 2 and Never went into stages 3 and 4, deep sleep. It also said that I still had sleep disturbances but less when using the CPAP. I still felt like I had all the symptoms of Sleep Apnea, just not as severe as before at my top weight. Then I gained some of the weight back, so I probably have Sleep Apnea again. Either way I never “felt” like it was completely gone, because of the daily constant fatigue that never ever goes away! Before I gained all of my weight back. I started dieting and cleansing, bowel cleansing, parasite cleansing, liver cleansing, kidney cleansing, candida cleansing, dental clean-up (no metal in my mouth), juice fasting (one was for 40 days), etc. anything and everything to get healthy!!! I started losing weight again. Then 42 days ago I started on a raw vegan diet and have been continuing to lose weight.

The raw vegan diet seems to be “completely” healing my back now (after 12 years). So with the pain gone, plus with the loss of weight and flatter stomach, I can now sleep on my back longer, which helps because I notice I don’t really sleep well on my sides at all. When I’m on my sides I feel like I’m half-wake all night just turning from one side to another. But when I’m on my back I feel like I actually lose consciousness, but my body gets restless and wants to go on my side. I am trying to train myself to sleep on my back. But even when I sleep on my back most of the night I still feel fatigued and have sleeping problems. I don’t think I am going into sleep stages 3 and 4 still and if I am, not enough!

I started taking wheatgrass juice a couple of weeks ago. IÂ’m up to 5 ounces a day. IÂ’m going to increase when I get my wheatgrass crops fully grown. I just started them a couple of days ago. I recently started Ann WigmoreÂ’s Energy Soup (green smoothie-very healthy) daily. I drink Superfood smoothies daily. I am very dedicated to my raw vegan diet. I donÂ’t eat after 6:00, 6:30 at the latest. I drink 12 to 16 cups of clean water every day separate from my food intake. IÂ’m still working on some cleanses such as bowel, parasite, and liver. I am starting to exercise, rebounding (trampoline) 10 to 20 minutes a day and sometimes I use Gazelle (gliding thing) or stationary bike for 30 minutes. I do them outside in the fresh air and sun when itÂ’s not raining. Unfortunately I have not been completely faithful and regular yet. I started sun gazing a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately the sun is not always out to help me out. A couple of weeks ago I started waking up between 6:45 and 7:00 am to help my circadian (day/night, sleep) cycle. I have been steadily losing weight. I use my CPAP every night.
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As you can see I am VERY DEDICATED to getting my health back!!! But I think poor sleep is a huge reason of why my fatigue is still not getting any better. So HOW DO I GET INTO DEEP SLEEP?????

Many years ago I tried natural things such as Melatonin, Chamomile tea, Valerian root, etc. Nothing helped. But IÂ’m wondering if I should try something like Melatonin again? Please give me advice on what to do and/or what to take, natural things only though. IÂ’M DESPERATE!!! PLEASE HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!! IÂ’M BEGGING YOU!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Minnie :(

[misslinda]

hmmmm. at one time of the nite are you waking? :)

[Sillybloss]

I'm confident that all you are doing will eventually bring total relief. However, for the less patient in this world (I'm one of them!) here's my 2 cents. I have suffered from insomnia for YEARS and have tried many of the things you mentioned without finding they worked. One thing I now keep in my cabinet, though, is called Deep Sleep . It is an herbal combination I get at the health food store. It is in liquid (dropper) or capsules. I find it really helps but I have to be careful about not taking it too much, or it starts to lose its effect. Maybe ever other night or 2 days on 2 days off. Here's the link to see the product : www.herbsetc.com

Good luck!

[rawpriestess]

Hi, I'll give you some ideas, use what you think might work for you.

don't eat or drink past 3 hours before bedtime,
make sure you use the toilet before you go to bed
when you go to bed, sleep on your back, with at least one pillow under your knees to elevate them
if you need to use only a small pillow under your neck, NOT under your head,
you may also use a smallish pillow under your lower back

try sleeping in a lazy boy type chair, many people with sleep issues, can sleep this way helps the breathings

sleep with your arms over your head, this also helps to open your lungs,

slepp with your head back, not straight if possible, try it sitting up, and you will see it opens your airway

try wearing blinders when you sleep, sometimes this helps, also ear plugs too

take a warm shower or sauna before bed, get a massage with warm oil from your partner before bed

have an orgasm before going to sleep

think the word release on each exhale or relax, or sleep whatever may work for you

keep your bedroom cooler than the rest of the house
sleep with only one cover one and no big blankets
sleep with a window open

anyway, these are some ideas for you.

I used to have a lot of pain in my body from multiple car wrecks that I manifested along with a ton of weight,
and many of these I have used over a period of time, and they really helped me alot.

also, no caffeine
so no coffee, tea, carob, or cacoa, choclate, coco

and you could also try to avoid onion, garlic, and hot spices ( I would never give these up, but I know it helps some people)

[karenisraw]

Lack of magnesiium can cause insomnia. I started taking a vitamin and mineral suppliment about 1-2 times per week and the days that I take them I sleep very deeply wake up feeling like I had run a marathon the day before. I do feel overall better the next few days after though.


k :)

[michigan roman]

heres a few ideas i dug up in my health book library = a calcium shortage can be cause , nut butter and grapefruit before bed because of containing tryptophan can help , hops may help , celery juice promotes sleep , essential oils in bath or on pillow sachet of lavender , marjoram or chamomille . goodday :)

[stephbkr]

Relearn how to breathe properly! I have a friend who no longer is affected by sleep apnea after being raw and following a Sivananda Yoga practice, they heavily address pranayama exercises. This also helps my husband during allergy season. I think their website is sivananda.org? or do a search online.

[Sheryl]

This helps:

A set of 10 deep breaths with the ratio of inhale for 1, hold for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 2 (increase as you can ie 2 8 4, 4 16 8 as your lungs develope) three times a day.

Studies have shown this is the ratio we breath at when we are at the deepest levels of sleep. If you do this breathing as you wake, sometime after lunch and just before sleeping it's been shown to drop you down to the lowest levels of sleep faster and keep you there longer.

Many people report a greatly reduced need to sleep when doing this. Tony Robbins has suggested it for decades in his books too. I find myself much more rested when I do this.

There used to be a website all about this but it appears to be gone www.sleep4life.com.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[misslinda]

The raw vegan diet seems to be “completely” healing my back now (after 12 years). So with the pain gone, plus with the loss of weight and flatter stomach, I can now sleep on my back longer, which helps because I notice I don’t really sleep well on my sides at all. When I’m on my sides I feel like I’m half-wake all night just turning from one side to another. But when I’m on my back I feel like I actually lose consciousness, but my body gets restless and wants to go on my side. I am trying to train myself to sleep on my back. But even when I sleep on my back most of the night I still feel fatigued and have sleeping problems. I don’t think I am going into sleep stages 3 and 4 still and if I am, not enough!
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Part of this sounds--emotionally connected like somekind of deep rooted emotion that is trying to release out.

Do you get agitated and feel like crying at night when you can't sleep?

Are you waking up at any particular part of the nite--like 1-3 am?

What time is the last meal you have ususally?

BM's?

When you fall asleep, is it normal or do you lay there wondering if you will fall asleep?

Part of this sounds like secondary insomnia that you're describing to us.

:)

[Minnie]

I went to get Deep Sleep as suggested by Sillybloss, but got Sound Sleep much of the same stuff but had Kava Kava root. Thanks. :D

I don’t eat past 6:30 as I said, but why stop drinking water 3 hours before bed rawpriestess? Water just absorbs or assimilates quickly doesn’t it? I try not to drink too much water close to bedtime so I will not have to get up to go to the bathroom but I do drink water until about 1 ½ to 2 hours before I go to bed sometimes. I always use the bathroom before bed at least once and often twice. I use a small feather pillow so it’s barely anything, most neck support. I already use a sleeping mask. I tried that hot shower thing and the pillow under the legs thing too. “rawpriestess - keep your bedroom cooler than the rest of the house, sleep with only one cover one and no big blankets, sleep with a window open” Why? I would freeze. Thanks. :)

IÂ’m going to try the magnesium thing karenisraw. Thanks. ;)

I might try the tryptophan in pill form Michigan roman but eating nut butter before I go to bed would be too hard for me to stop eating. That was one of my biggest down falls, eating late. Thanks. :D

IÂ’m going to get a Yoga DVD from the library today Stephbkr. I think bad breathing is probably a big culprit. Thanks. :)

IÂ’ll try that breathing exercise Sheryl. Thanks. ;)

Missdlinda I donÂ’t necessarily have trouble falling asleep, but getting refreshing deep sleep and/or staying asleep if I turn to my sides. No crying and no random constant thoughts (although I used to have that problem with the mind running rampant). I suppose my average wake-up time would be between 2:30 and 3:30. If I roll to my side I often canÂ’t get back to sleep, but even if I go back to sleep I donÂ’t feel refreshed! What is secondary insomnia? Thanks. :D

Oh I haven't seen any big results after just one night but it wasn't as bad as the night before. I'll keep trying. :p

Minnie

[JinxieKat]

Just to Rawpriestess' point of not sleeping with alot of blankets and making the room cool. I know that I sleep so much better in a cool room. If I get too hot while sleeping I get restless and I'll wake up alot. If the room is cool to cold then I sleep like a baby. I don't know the why behind it, but I just do. If you live in a city then I could see where the windows being open would be very distracting to sleep, but if you get alot of crickets and birds like I, forunately, have near my house then it can be very relaxing.

Jinx

[lil fairy z girl]

i also burn an incense stick i have some ones with lavender oil, i find that helps me relax, and i sleep better when i do this than when i do not. i also have to have a cool room or i end up waking up with headaches.

sal

[Indi]

Hi Minnie
This may sound crazy but a pair of cuddly comfy sox might just do the trick!
Even if you live in a warm climate, its still important to keep the feet warm!

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Just a thought-reading a boring book-no tv -might help. I have also read that according to "feng shui"..if you have a tv in your bedroom & it's facing you, cover the screen w/a cloth so you are not startled at the reflection. Here's a link..I did some of these things...it helped me.

http://fengshui.about.com/

Lana

PS. When I first went Raw I expereinced a Raw "High" & I had trouble sleeping & would be on this site at all hours of the night. I am still training myself to get to bed earlier.
also-make sure you do your work-outs in the morning..
Hoping for some zzzzz's for you... :)

[misslinda]

the hours of 1-3 is when the liver is working.......




Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem. Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition (like depression, heartburn, cancer, asthma, arthritis), pain, medication they are taking, or a substance they are using (like alcohol).


...just my opinion......I'm starting to think you are doing too many things to tackle it. Your body is obviously trying to regulate by the "insmonia" Can I ask what back inury and what happened?

[Minnie]

I was kicking my leg above my head in a martial arts class. Then I had ‘some’ pain in my lower back that I wanted to get rid of fast. So I had the brilliant idea of going to a chiropractor and he tore me apart and I was in agony! He even sprained my neck or something and I had no pain in my neck before he touched me. Plus he screwed up my upper back too and there was also no pain there before he touched me. :mad: It took several doctors (many of them treated my like a hypochondriac, just as they did before my Sleep Apnea diagnosis – it seems if they can’t get a fast easy diagnosis, they figure it’s in the patient’s head – the bastards, at least the ones who act like that) and 8 1/2 months to figure out that he pulled apart my bones, called a tilted pelvis and a rotated sacrum. So basically I was walking with my bones out of place causing an extremely severe amount of pain. I was in agony for almost 2 years. :eek: I also gained a huge amount of weight very fast. Until recently I thought I would have residual problems forever. I was always told once your back is injured it is NEVER the same. I never doubted that and 10 years of residual problems seemed to have proved that to me UNTIL RAW! Now I have hope that in time I will “completely” heal my back and never have pain in that area again!!! :D

I did a hundred desperate things during that time to get rid of the pain. Here are the main things that I did that worked: physical therapy to get my bones back into place; acupuncture for pain control; used a T.E.N.S. unit (a device I wore all day that sends electricity to the areas of pain) for pain control; pycnogenol (an antioxidant – grape seed extract and pine bark) before I took it I was getting my bones into place with physical therapy and like a broken door hinge they would fall out of place, for months and months, UNTIL I started taking pycnogenol for a while and my bones finally stayed in place overtime; swimming for strengthening and help with stiffness from being lethargic from severe pain and extreme fatigue, it was the only exercise I could do that didn’t cause more pain because of the weight lifted off my body because of buoyancy. :)

I know all chiropractors are not total mutilating maiming morons, but if you donÂ’t know his or her reputation, learn from me and DONÂ’T GO!!! :mad:

Minnie :cool: