[BobbyP]

Something that I did not cover in introducing myself was the nitty-gritty reason that I THINK my insomnia got started about a year ago. Granted, part of this is probably just that I'm “getting older” and therefore not sleeping as soundly as I used to (yes, I'm over 55!). But I have a loving, wonderful fiance partner, who unfortunately I can only visit with on the week-ends. My partner does NOT have “restless leg syndrome” but rather something called “periodic limb movement disorder” (PLMD) or more technically “nocturnal myoclonus.” This has gone on for years, but apparently I was always able to sleep through it, until about a year ago when I gradually got more and more aware of it during the night, and it started waking me up, and then I couldn't just ignore it and go back to sleep.

What happens is that he will do this little kicking movement with his legs for a few seconds, then about 20 to 30 seconds later, he does it again. Over and over. Minor, yes. But even in a king-size bed, I can sense it, I wake up, and then it keeps me awake because I can't make him stop (poor guy!). It's not like snoring, where you just get the person to change positions, or put earplugs in your own ears. We've researched it online and spoken to his doctor, but it really is pretty harmless and can only be treated with majorly serious medications, which I refuse to force him to do.

So we have taken turns sleeping in separate bedrooms — and I hate it, of course, and it doesn't really help me. I just lie there feeling guilty that we've had to made this change. But this was the beginning of my insomnia. Even during the week, when he's not there, I wake up after only two or three hours of sleep and start worrying that I won't be able to go back to sleep. So despite the “leg-twitching” being the start of this, apparently my mind has gotten overly-anxious about the insomnia, so it just keeps going all week long.

I also have trouble when there is anything the least bit out-of-the-ordinary coming up, like a trip or a social event. Basically, I just cannot sleep AT ALL prior to these things. So we've given up a lot of the trips we used to take. And I'm pretty much a zombie at any wedding receptions, parties, family events, etc. that we have to attend, because I'm always operating on zero hours of sleep.

I've gotten very long-winded here, but I'm hoping perhaps someone has experienced something similar and might have some suggestions. Just “venting” has certainly helped me. Thanks, Insomnia Land!!

[MarinaFournier]

'BobbyP' wrote on '02:

I also have trouble when there is anything the least bit out-of-the-ordinary coming up, like a trip or a social event. Basically, I just cannot sleep AT ALL prior to these things. So we've given up a lot of the trips we used to take. And I'm pretty much a zombie at any wedding receptions, parties, family events, etc. that we have to attend, because I'm always operating on zero hours of sleep.

Gah. I hate this! My body has been doing this since I was a child, and it drives me nuts, too! I get a small amount of sleep, but that's it. When I was younger, and would be working up to a deadline on a costume for an event, I'd either finish, and try to get sleep in what remained of the night, or I wouldn't finish, try to sleep, and attempt to get up earlier than usual to finish the project. Yeah, as if my brain would shut up for a few hours?

I have no great idea to pass to you, as I have you beat by two years (for some value of two), and it still happens. Most days, my 20 oz latte is two shots of decaf, but on days where I have to function on none, or nearly no sleep, it becomes half-caff for an ordinary day, full caff for a longer day.

You have my complete and utter sympathy, of course.

[1949Molly]

'BobbyP' wrote on '02:

Something that I did not cover in introducing myself was the nitty-gritty reason that I THINK my insomnia got started about a year ago. Granted, part of this is probably just that I'm “getting older” and therefore not sleeping as soundly as I used to (yes, I'm over 55!). But I have a loving, wonderful fiance partner, who unfortunately I can only visit with on the week-ends. My partner does NOT have “restless leg syndrome” but rather something called “periodic limb movement disorder” (PLMD) or more technically “nocturnal myoclonus.” This has gone on for years, but apparently I was always able to sleep through it, until about a year ago when I gradually got more and more aware of it during the night, and it started waking me up, and then I couldn't just ignore it and go back to sleep.

What happens is that he will do this little kicking movement with his legs for a few seconds, then about 20 to 30 seconds later, he does it again. Over and over. Minor, yes. But even in a king-size bed, I can sense it, I wake up, and then it keeps me awake because I can't make him stop (poor guy!). It's not like snoring, where you just get the person to change positions, or put earplugs in your own ears. We've researched it online and spoken to his doctor, but it really is pretty harmless and can only be treated with majorly serious medications, which I refuse to force him to do.

So we have taken turns sleeping in separate bedrooms — and I hate it, of course, and it doesn't really help me. I just lie there feeling guilty that we've had to made this change. But this was the beginning of my insomnia. Even during the week, when he's not there, I wake up after only two or three hours of sleep and start worrying that I won't be able to go back to sleep. So despite the “leg-twitching” being the start of this, apparently my mind has gotten overly-anxious about the insomnia, so it just keeps going all week long.

I also have trouble when there is anything the least bit out-of-the-ordinary coming up, like a trip or a social event. Basically, I just cannot sleep AT ALL prior to these things. So we've given up a lot of the trips we used to take. And I'm pretty much a zombie at any wedding receptions, parties, family events, etc. that we have to attend, because I'm always operating on zero hours of sleep.

I've gotten very long-winded here, but I'm hoping perhaps someone has experienced something similar and might have some suggestions. Just “venting” has certainly helped me. Thanks, Insomnia Land!!

This is not in reply to your “restless leg” problems, but to my own situation. I unfortunately have to take lots of sleep meds (or I would never get ANY SLEEP at all). My recent plan is to take Temazepam 30mg, Seroquil 25mg and ativan 2mg for the nights I have to go to work the next day and then take 2 Temazepam on the non-work nights. This has been working for some time but last night I had a terrible sleep even with the 60mg Temazepam. I woke up at 4am with the terrible headache (I don't get headaches). So this destroyed the one night I thought I could count on. Very discouraging. My MD prescribed another sleep med which I stopped because it didn't seem to work and made me have bad dreams. But if my 2 Temazepam doesn't work anymore I'm going to try this tonight. With this terrible problem affecting millions of us, why hasn't anyone come up with a real solution?

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