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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on August 9, 2009, at 16:30:54
i went off my meds a few months ago and have serious challenges with sleep
this past week i have gone 2 nights without any sleep at all
otc sleep meds just give me restless leg syndrome so i remain awake and even crankieri tried combining tryptophan and benedryl with some success
the store had no tryptophan today so i came home with a tincture of melatonin
i need a long term plan
i've had insomnia since childhood
Posted by nolvas on August 10, 2009, at 3:35:29
In reply to relaxation and sleeping, posted by elanor roosevelt on August 9, 2009, at 16:30:54
C.B.T is most effective for insomnia. I used www.myselfhelp.com. It's supposed to be $19.95 but I signed up for free in March of this year, it was a promotion. It does work, it takes commitment and it's a six week course. I really do recommend it though. It's the best long term plan you can try in my opinion.
Anxiety about not sleeping will stop you sleeping, and anxiety in general will. It could well be that Cortisol levels are keeping you awake. Phosphatidyl Serine is supposed to be very good at lowering Cortisol levels and making you more relaxed. Phosphorylated Serine is supposed to be more effective, I've read some good reviews on Amazon about it. You can get this form in a supplement known as Seriphos. I'll give you some links so you can read reviews >
http://www.amazon.com/T-E-Neesby-Seriphos-100-capsules/dp/B00014FG18
Notice how people reviewing it mention it helps with sleep.
Seriphos is Phosphorylated Serine, it seems the normal effective dose is 90mg. This form is cheaper than Phosphatidyl Serine and apparently even more effective. Phosphatidyl Serine dosage is 300mg. As always less is more, try the lowest dose to start with and persist with it. I've read some people take a dose in the morning and then in the evening. I haven't seen Phosphorylated Serine in bulk powder form, I really wish I could find some. Phosphatidyl Serine is readily available in bulk powder form from bulknutrition.com and similar websites.
I also recommend reading the chapter on sleep in Dale Carnegies book
"stop worrying and start living"
The chapter is called "How to stop worrying about Insomnia"
Smile, be happy because you definitely can beat this problem. It doesn't matter how long you've had Insomnia for C.B.T can improve your situation.It helped me. I hope all this information helps.
Posted by Sigismund on August 10, 2009, at 15:20:30
In reply to Re: relaxation and sleeping, posted by nolvas on August 10, 2009, at 3:35:29
I had my cortisol level tested once and it was low.
(OTOH, I have insomnia.)
I have not had my cortisol level tested throughout the whole day.
Can I come to any conclusion as to whether PS would help me from this?
Posted by Sigismund on August 10, 2009, at 15:22:38
In reply to Re: relaxation and sleeping, posted by nolvas on August 10, 2009, at 3:35:29
>(unless their adrenal glands have already burned out, in which case their cortisol levels are low).
I see. Sounds possible. In which case........?
Posted by nolvas on August 10, 2009, at 17:24:11
In reply to Re: relaxation and sleeping » nolvas, posted by Sigismund on August 10, 2009, at 15:22:38
Apparently PS can help with addrenal insufficiency as well. "Because Phosphatidylserine helps repair the feedback control apparatus, it is useful in correcting both high and low cortisol levels."
Have a look here it suggests some more alternatives >
http://www.advance-health.com/HypoAdrenal.html
Adrenal Exhaustion causes serious health problems, including anxiety, fatigue, depression, insomnia, panic attacks and can lead to even more serious health problems as if those weren't bad enough.
http://thesop.org/health/2006/06/20/adrenal-fatigue-how-it-affects-your-life-and-how-to-heal-ithttp://www.suffernomore.com/Pain/AdrenalFatigue.htm
Posted by nolvas on August 10, 2009, at 17:28:11
In reply to Re: relaxation and sleeping, posted by nolvas on August 10, 2009, at 17:24:11
Oh and I just heard on the radio that eating Cherries helps with sleep as they help to produce Melatonin. So I thought I'd have a quick google and see what came up >
http://ezinearticles.com/?Cure-Insomnia-With-Tart-Cherries&id=2107163
http://www.insomniacauses.com.au/cures-for-insomnia/the-link-between-cherries-and-insomnia-12/
http://www.sheknows.com/articles/804833.htm
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/2066262.aspx
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=6308928
Nature has an answer for almost everything it seems :) I love cherries as well.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on August 10, 2009, at 22:32:15
In reply to Re: relaxation and sleeping, posted by nolvas on August 10, 2009, at 17:28:11
okay
forget the relaxation
the melatonin did not work for me
i got a big 3 hours of sleep last night
have zip the night before
6am i went to sleep the "night before that
my mother is dying my only child is getting ready to leave for college and i have a job interview coming up
i'm happy that y'all like cherries as they will likely keep you regular
does anyone have any good ideas?
Posted by Sigismund on August 11, 2009, at 0:23:33
In reply to Re: relaxation and sleeping, posted by nolvas on August 10, 2009, at 17:28:11
Thanks Nolvas for the links
I've ordered some PS.Elanor, you have my sympathies.
Your sleep sounds even worse than mine.
Posted by nolvas on August 11, 2009, at 4:28:51
In reply to Re: sleeping, posted by elanor roosevelt on August 10, 2009, at 22:32:15
I've already suggested some good ideas in my second post, especially the C.B.T. The cherries was just an additional thing I heard on the radio last night that I heard. I understand you want a quick fix, but you mention you've had insomnia for a large part of your life so you must realise there is no quick fix. Behaviour modification via CBT is your best bet. If there is no medical condition keeping causing your insomnia then what I've suggested will work.
Have you tried Phosphatidyl Serine for example as I suggested? It's well known that stress causes Insomnia and of course you are stressing about it. Phosphatidyl Serine blunts the stress response, makes you feel calmer.
You can try other stuff such as Valerian, L-Theanine, Honokiol and Valerian. Melatonin helps to fix the time you go to sleep but it rarely lets you sleep longer than a couple of hours. If fact I don't know of any supplement that will quarantee you unbroken sleep. No sleeping pill will either.
I'm sorry you are having a bad time at the moment and there are all these stressors in your life. When I started suffering Chronic insomnia, I started researching and I fairly soon came to the conclusion that no supplement in the world was likely to really improve my situation, I found that Cognitive Behaviour Therapy was the long term answer. I believe it's a good idea, it's not a quick fix, it worked for me, so that's my experience. Take it or leave it.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on August 11, 2009, at 23:35:46
In reply to Re: sleeping, posted by nolvas on August 11, 2009, at 4:28:51
thanks for the input
i went to the pharm and coughed up the money for sonata today
and i'm looking forward to a good night's sleep
Posted by Sigismund on August 25, 2009, at 15:58:52
In reply to Re: relaxation and sleeping, posted by nolvas on August 10, 2009, at 3:35:29
I'm trying 300mg/d. Good so far.
Last night was the best sleep for a very long time.
Posted by Lao Tzu on August 26, 2009, at 10:36:37
In reply to relaxation and sleeping, posted by elanor roosevelt on August 9, 2009, at 16:30:54
I've found that some vitamins can help with sleep. I used to take a combination of B6, B3, vitamin E, and melatonin at bedtime with some success. Magnesium, if you are deficient, can help as well. There is a supplement on the market that contains L-tryptophan, valerian, and melatonin in one tablet. This may help, or it may do nothing. I don't know for sure, but if you are bipolar, it probably won't work. I've found that what works for me is Tylenol PM gelcaps (two of them), and just a little bit of melatonin. I sleep fine with that. Long term, you may try the vitamins I mentioned above at bedtime and reserve the Tylenol PM for really restless nights. The vitamin regimen above has helped me for quite a long time. Good luck.
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on September 12, 2009, at 22:40:10
In reply to relaxation and sleeping, posted by elanor roosevelt on August 9, 2009, at 16:30:54
Nolvas
I am so sorry to have snapped at you.
Just came back to revisit this thread and was a bit shocked with myself. I will try the seriphos and I thank you for the suggestion.
Posted by nolvas on September 13, 2009, at 4:38:02
In reply to please accept my apologies, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on September 12, 2009, at 22:40:10
That's ok :) I hope the Seriphos works for you. I see there's a few different brands of Seriphos so see if you can get it from a site where there's user reviews so you can judge the quality of the brand.
I'll give you an example, I've read that Interplexus is a good brand and here's some user reviews >
http://www.amazon.com/InterPlexus-Inc-SERIPHOS-100-Capsule/dp/B000N23AE8
Posted by Netch on October 29, 2009, at 11:38:57
In reply to Phosphatidylserine and sleep, posted by Sigismund on August 25, 2009, at 15:58:52
> I'm trying 300mg/d. Good so far.
>
> Last night was the best sleep for a very long time.Sigismund, is this still working for you?
/Netch
Posted by Katgirl on November 14, 2009, at 15:28:16
In reply to relaxation and sleeping, posted by elanor roosevelt on August 9, 2009, at 16:30:54
Why are the ingredients on the amazon product (mag, cal and phos) totally different from the ingredient listed in the swanson product phosphatidylserine?
Posted by Sigismund on November 20, 2009, at 13:08:21
In reply to Re: Phosphatidylserine and sleep » Sigismund, posted by Netch on October 29, 2009, at 11:38:57
>Sigismund, is this still working for you?
Maybe. It seems OK.
I'm fairly sure it does not contribute to insomnia.
I still take 300mg/d
This is the end of the thread.
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