Only been sleeping 3 hours a day and regular melatonins aren’t working

Posted by wii @wii, May 10 8:34am

I’m currently writing this at 6 in morning I’m genuinely am tired and can’t sleep at all, I need to want what is wrong with me and what can help or if I’m making a big deal out of nothing.

So my sleep schedule has always been random for years now. like I would get little to no sleep or I will sleep for 20 hours at a time due to stress and depression but I would manage with melatonins Which I would take more then the recommended amount which usually is 1-2 and I would take 3-5. But lately for all most a month I’ve only been getting 3-4 hours of sleep and that’s usually in morning or in the day right after I get home at 4 and I’ll try to sleep and wake up at 7-8 maybe even 6 at sometimes. then at 10 I will get really tired but my body won’t let me sleep and I’ll just sit in the dark for 30-60 minutes trying to sleep before just giving up, I think I might some have an one explanation, I’ve been using a different brand of melatonin then the one I normally use though I don’t think that’s is the issue because I used this brand before in the passed and it worked. But other than that I have no idea was happening, I’ll try using my usual brand to see if it helps, but does anyone have any idea what is wrong with me?

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Profile picture for msmarymac @msmarymac

I completely understand lack of sleep. 3-5 hrs a night is a lot for me. Went to a sleep hospital yrs ago, was told I wake out of my REM 25 times a night! No wonder I wake exhausted! Some things have helped me. I bought a new mattress. Not just any mattress, a vegan organic all natural one from Avocado Mattress Company. No animal products, no springs, no box springs, no chemicals. I added the pillow top, mattress protector, and two latex pillows with carbon inserts which cleans the air with every breath you take, $125 a pillow, and got the protectors for them. I'm a side sleeper. The whole unsombul cost a fortune but the very first night in it, I work with a crease on my face and drool on my pillow. It was the first deep sleep I had in years!!! Every night I am grateful to have it to sleep in. No
formaldehyde! Yeah! 😃

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@msmarymac
Formaldehyde in mattresses, often used in glues and foam, can cause significant health issues through "off-gassing"—releasing vapors during sleep. Short-term, it causes eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and respiratory issues. Long-term, it is linked to a higher risk of cancer and asthma.Key Health Effects of Mattress Formaldehyde:Respiratory Issues: Coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness.Irritation: Burning sensations in the eyes, skin rashes, and sore throat.Long-Term Cancer Risk: Classified as a known human carcinogen, linked to leukemia and cancers of the nose and throat.Neurological Effects: High-level exposure can lead to dizziness, fatigue, and memory impairment.Why Mattresses Contain Formaldehyde:Adhesives: Used to hold foam and mattress layers together.Fabric Finishes: Used for wrinkle-resistant or flame-retardant treatments.Foam Production: A common component in polyurethane foam manufacturing.How to Reduce Exposure:Look for Certifications: Choose mattresses certified by GOLS or GOTS for organic materials.Ventilation: Use fans and open windows in the bedroom to reduce indoor air concentration.Avoid Synthetic Materials: Opt for natural, hypoallergenic materials like wool or cotton, which emit fewer VOCs.Off-gas Before Using: Let new mattresses "air out" in a well-ventilated room for several days before sleeping on them.

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Are you "thinking" about it too much? If we get physical exercise during the day, and eat a light diet, and lift light weights ( and do deep breathing while laying in bed), or read a book in bed it might help. If you can do pushups on the kitchen sink it helps too. But this all takes discipline. Good luck.

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I meant pushups on the kitchen counter, don't have to overdo it.

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Profile picture for pta @pta

Are you "thinking" about it too much? If we get physical exercise during the day, and eat a light diet, and lift light weights ( and do deep breathing while laying in bed), or read a book in bed it might help. If you can do pushups on the kitchen sink it helps too. But this all takes discipline. Good luck.

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@pta Thinking has nothing to do with it, IMO. I always slept great, but after a bout of Covid I got fibromyalgia and severe insomnia. Something was wrong with my body clock. I tried all. kind of things, had a sleep study (non-conclusive). Finally got on LDN low-dose naltrexone which re-set my system, cured both my fibromyalgia and insomnia. I still take 2mg of melatonin and 200mg of magnesium glycinate before bed, but it's the LDN that helped me.

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Profile picture for pta @pta

Are you "thinking" about it too much? If we get physical exercise during the day, and eat a light diet, and lift light weights ( and do deep breathing while laying in bed), or read a book in bed it might help. If you can do pushups on the kitchen sink it helps too. But this all takes discipline. Good luck.

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@pta I'm sorry, it's a bigger problem than I understood. Maybe try an herbal person? Or just keep trying new doctors. One may have new information.

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Sorry everyone, I'm new at computers and I get a little mixed up once in a while, I put the post in the wrong place sometimes. I'll pay better attention. Sorry.

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I'm glad someone clarified that the body only needs 1-3mg of melatonin which you need to take 1-2 hours before you go to bed. I went through a long period of very little sleep and went to a sleep specialist for help. At the conclusion of my appointment, the specialist recommended I see a different sleep specialist Dr. Ryan Wetzler at the Sleep Health Center in Louisville KY. sleephealthlou.com. Dr. Wetzler practices in person or via video conference, which is how I attended his sessions. It's been just over a year since my sessions with him finished and I'm happy to say I now get a good nights rest. I wear an Apple watch and for last night it tells me I had 8 hours and 36 minutes of sleep which is now pretty normal. I woke briefly a few times, but quickly fell back to sleep. I'm 80 so my body doesn't like to be in one position for too long. Anyway, I highly recommend Dr. Wetzler who is duel boarded in sleep and clinical health psychology. One last thing. He does not recommend or prescribe any drugs for sleep related problems.

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Wilm, thank you for your comment. Does Dr. Wetzler accept Medicare as payment? I will look into his practice. I wear an Amazfit watch (very cheap) but I feel its sleep module is inaccurate. I can be wide awake and quiet in bed and it will record those sleepless hours as sleep time. I am not buying an Apple Watch, but I wonder how more accurate the doctor considers them. Anyone else have input on this? Thank you.

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Unfortunately you have to pay Dr. Wetzler first and then his office sends off the paperwork to medicare or whatever health insurance you have for reimbursment to you. I thinking back, I believe I ended up having 4 perhaps 5 sessions, but Dr. Wetzler provides a lot of written information to study and I had to fill out a daily sleep log which I would send to him weekly so he could review my progress. I do now wear an Apple watch, but I used to wear a FitBit watch which was a lot cheaper but also provided pretty accurate sleep data.

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To get a good nights sleep, I quit melatonin since it didn’t work.
My “sleeping pill” is getting morning sunshine, exercising, meditation in the morning and take 4 Magnesium Glycinate tablets at bedtime, do some meditation breathing and turn on sleep music on my meditation app. I can easily get 6 hours, sometimes more. If I wake during the night and start to toss and turn, I stop and take some good deep breaths to help me get back to sleep.
Good Luck - as my husband and I say “sleep is golden!”

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