Anyone have insomnia as symptom of COVID-19?

Posted by mkqq @mkqq, Apr 30, 2020

Hi all,

So I got sick 8 weeks ago and the doctor thinks it might have been Covid-19. There was no way to be certain as the infection was already gone when I visited the clinic last week. They did a CRP test and it showed no sign of infection.

I started with a fever that lasted 3 days and suddenly on the 4th or 5th day I had a sleepless night. Then for the next 5 days I had alternating nights where I slept and where I couldn't sleep at all. For the last 8 weeks or so my sleeping has been absolutely terrible.

The doctor tells me she has seen other Covid-19 patients and some of they say they cannot sleep.

Just wondering is anyone experiencing insomnia as a direct symptom of Covid-19? Or does it always come down to anxiety and your fight/flight response? For me there is a lot of anxiety which is contributing to the problem.

Many thanks

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

I do not have anxiety nor do I suffer from depression. I am a happy, optimistic person. However, ever since I recovered from Covid I have severe insomnia. I go to bed at a reasonable time but at 5:00 in the morning I am STILL not sleepy. Nothing has changed in my life except that I had Covid. I hope there will be some studies/research on this phenomenon.

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I had Covid-19 in late October through several weeks of November. I am a layperson, not a physician. I did though have trouble with erratic sleep patterns. Just based on my own experimenting, if found that Taking time-release Melatonin began to help me return to a more normal sleep pattern. I doubt there are any scientific studies to back this up. I have taken and still amt making 10 mgs. of Melatonin t night. Plan on cutting this down to 5ms. of Melatonin over this month. I do know that younger people make more melatonin naturally and as we age--I'm 70, our bodies make less. It does help me sleep through the night with no drowsiness when I awake in the morning. Good luck as I've heard that this sleep pattern disturbance happens to those of us who have had COVID-19.

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Thank you so much! Sounds like sound advice. Thank you for taking the time to write. Obtaining Melatonin might be difficult in the UK, but I will investigate.

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@mariyamakabo

Thank you so much! Sounds like sound advice. Thank you for taking the time to write. Obtaining Melatonin might be difficult in the UK, but I will investigate.

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Good morning @mariyamakabo. It's been a while since we have spoken. Fatigue and insomnia have become a very common side effect post-covid-19. There's even a name for it now! "COVID-somnia". As this virus persists I think that we will, unfortunately, see more longlasting side-effects
https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/fulltext/2020/07090/sleep_neurologists_call_it.1.aspx
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-long-term-effects/art-20490351

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I was diagnosed with Covid19 on 12/7 (symptoms on 12/4/21).My medical provider put me on Ivermectin x 2 doses, Vit C, D, Zinc, Fish Oil, baby aspirin 2 x a day & Melatonin. On symptom-day 3 I started having about 3 fevers (100.0-100.9) daily that would stay above 99.0 with the use of Tylenol. I started to have insomnia at that time, twisting/turning in bed with disrupted sleep the whole night, and I would have the same dream over and over as I drifted into a light sleep. I dreaded the thought of sleep during the day because I knew what was coming. I started a cough that worsened. On 12/13 I went to the ER because I was losing my breath with coughing and started having shortness of breath. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the hospital. Treated with IV antibiotics, IV steroids & injectable blood thinner. I was sent home the next day on oral antibiotics & a steroid (that probably added to the insomnia). I also started home oxygen therapy at 3 liters & piggybacked it into my CPAP hose at bedtime. I continued to wake 3 times a night (waking shortly after midnight, around 0300, & 0500). Insomnia continued until 1/02/21. By then it had tapered to 2 x a night for a week, then 1 time a night for a week.
After being absent from work for a month I returned on 1/04/21 starting at 4 hrs a day. That night I started waking up 3 x a night, again. I started a Rx generic sleep-med that knocked me out so I stopped. It would make me sleep all night but I couldn't get up to go to work. Now, I will start the brand name version 1/13 (fingers crossed that it works). When I awaken throughout the night I also have a hard time going back to sleep. I'm not exactly sure how many hours of sleep I get a night. I didn't notice a difference in my sleep pattern when taking 9mg of Melatonin, so I stopped that a while back.
From the beginning I made sure that I was well hydrated with water. I had a decreased appetite, and a loss of half of my taste, but a heightened taste of salt of anything made with added salt (cheese, peanut butter, etc). I lost 5 lb in 18 days because I also couldn't eat very much due to a fuller stomach pushing against my diaphragm and not letting my lungs expand, causing shortness of breath. Fruit tasted best so I had fresh fruit & my husband made me smoothies. I now eat 2 meals and 2 snacks a day.
I am also experiencing Covid19 Brain Fog. I have trouble finding words during a conversation, a hard time remembering computer passwords and performing computer tasks, a little trouble staying focused, and get a little overwhelmed with multi-tasking. My employer is working closely with me to make sure I am not getting overworked so I don't have a relapse with my breathing. I work 4-6 hrs a day depending on my stamina.
I do feel that I am progressing and have noticed mini-milestones on 12/18, 12/23, 1/02/21. On 12/23 I stopped wearing oxygen 24 hrs a day. I still take a shower with oxygen at 1.5 liters, and use 02 with my CPAP at 1.5 L. My oxygen saturation levels on my finger now range 93-95% without oxygen; but if I exert myself too much I get short of breath and have put on oxygen for relief . 02 saturations will drop to 90-92. I removethe 02 once it is resolved.

If you have any questions pertaining my story please feel free to ask. I am learning more about my condition and living with the after-effects of Covid19, which I am praying will subside with time.

K Patterson

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@kpatterson

I was diagnosed with Covid19 on 12/7 (symptoms on 12/4/21).My medical provider put me on Ivermectin x 2 doses, Vit C, D, Zinc, Fish Oil, baby aspirin 2 x a day & Melatonin. On symptom-day 3 I started having about 3 fevers (100.0-100.9) daily that would stay above 99.0 with the use of Tylenol. I started to have insomnia at that time, twisting/turning in bed with disrupted sleep the whole night, and I would have the same dream over and over as I drifted into a light sleep. I dreaded the thought of sleep during the day because I knew what was coming. I started a cough that worsened. On 12/13 I went to the ER because I was losing my breath with coughing and started having shortness of breath. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the hospital. Treated with IV antibiotics, IV steroids & injectable blood thinner. I was sent home the next day on oral antibiotics & a steroid (that probably added to the insomnia). I also started home oxygen therapy at 3 liters & piggybacked it into my CPAP hose at bedtime. I continued to wake 3 times a night (waking shortly after midnight, around 0300, & 0500). Insomnia continued until 1/02/21. By then it had tapered to 2 x a night for a week, then 1 time a night for a week.
After being absent from work for a month I returned on 1/04/21 starting at 4 hrs a day. That night I started waking up 3 x a night, again. I started a Rx generic sleep-med that knocked me out so I stopped. It would make me sleep all night but I couldn't get up to go to work. Now, I will start the brand name version 1/13 (fingers crossed that it works). When I awaken throughout the night I also have a hard time going back to sleep. I'm not exactly sure how many hours of sleep I get a night. I didn't notice a difference in my sleep pattern when taking 9mg of Melatonin, so I stopped that a while back.
From the beginning I made sure that I was well hydrated with water. I had a decreased appetite, and a loss of half of my taste, but a heightened taste of salt of anything made with added salt (cheese, peanut butter, etc). I lost 5 lb in 18 days because I also couldn't eat very much due to a fuller stomach pushing against my diaphragm and not letting my lungs expand, causing shortness of breath. Fruit tasted best so I had fresh fruit & my husband made me smoothies. I now eat 2 meals and 2 snacks a day.
I am also experiencing Covid19 Brain Fog. I have trouble finding words during a conversation, a hard time remembering computer passwords and performing computer tasks, a little trouble staying focused, and get a little overwhelmed with multi-tasking. My employer is working closely with me to make sure I am not getting overworked so I don't have a relapse with my breathing. I work 4-6 hrs a day depending on my stamina.
I do feel that I am progressing and have noticed mini-milestones on 12/18, 12/23, 1/02/21. On 12/23 I stopped wearing oxygen 24 hrs a day. I still take a shower with oxygen at 1.5 liters, and use 02 with my CPAP at 1.5 L. My oxygen saturation levels on my finger now range 93-95% without oxygen; but if I exert myself too much I get short of breath and have put on oxygen for relief . 02 saturations will drop to 90-92. I removethe 02 once it is resolved.

If you have any questions pertaining my story please feel free to ask. I am learning more about my condition and living with the after-effects of Covid19, which I am praying will subside with time.

K Patterson

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Your boss is a wonderful person! Thank them for supporting you. You describe it as I imagine. I already have insomnia so I guess that part I would survive. Your bravery is commendable and I wish you a quick release from all of your unpleasant symptoms of this dread disease.

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@kpatterson

I was diagnosed with Covid19 on 12/7 (symptoms on 12/4/21).My medical provider put me on Ivermectin x 2 doses, Vit C, D, Zinc, Fish Oil, baby aspirin 2 x a day & Melatonin. On symptom-day 3 I started having about 3 fevers (100.0-100.9) daily that would stay above 99.0 with the use of Tylenol. I started to have insomnia at that time, twisting/turning in bed with disrupted sleep the whole night, and I would have the same dream over and over as I drifted into a light sleep. I dreaded the thought of sleep during the day because I knew what was coming. I started a cough that worsened. On 12/13 I went to the ER because I was losing my breath with coughing and started having shortness of breath. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the hospital. Treated with IV antibiotics, IV steroids & injectable blood thinner. I was sent home the next day on oral antibiotics & a steroid (that probably added to the insomnia). I also started home oxygen therapy at 3 liters & piggybacked it into my CPAP hose at bedtime. I continued to wake 3 times a night (waking shortly after midnight, around 0300, & 0500). Insomnia continued until 1/02/21. By then it had tapered to 2 x a night for a week, then 1 time a night for a week.
After being absent from work for a month I returned on 1/04/21 starting at 4 hrs a day. That night I started waking up 3 x a night, again. I started a Rx generic sleep-med that knocked me out so I stopped. It would make me sleep all night but I couldn't get up to go to work. Now, I will start the brand name version 1/13 (fingers crossed that it works). When I awaken throughout the night I also have a hard time going back to sleep. I'm not exactly sure how many hours of sleep I get a night. I didn't notice a difference in my sleep pattern when taking 9mg of Melatonin, so I stopped that a while back.
From the beginning I made sure that I was well hydrated with water. I had a decreased appetite, and a loss of half of my taste, but a heightened taste of salt of anything made with added salt (cheese, peanut butter, etc). I lost 5 lb in 18 days because I also couldn't eat very much due to a fuller stomach pushing against my diaphragm and not letting my lungs expand, causing shortness of breath. Fruit tasted best so I had fresh fruit & my husband made me smoothies. I now eat 2 meals and 2 snacks a day.
I am also experiencing Covid19 Brain Fog. I have trouble finding words during a conversation, a hard time remembering computer passwords and performing computer tasks, a little trouble staying focused, and get a little overwhelmed with multi-tasking. My employer is working closely with me to make sure I am not getting overworked so I don't have a relapse with my breathing. I work 4-6 hrs a day depending on my stamina.
I do feel that I am progressing and have noticed mini-milestones on 12/18, 12/23, 1/02/21. On 12/23 I stopped wearing oxygen 24 hrs a day. I still take a shower with oxygen at 1.5 liters, and use 02 with my CPAP at 1.5 L. My oxygen saturation levels on my finger now range 93-95% without oxygen; but if I exert myself too much I get short of breath and have put on oxygen for relief . 02 saturations will drop to 90-92. I removethe 02 once it is resolved.

If you have any questions pertaining my story please feel free to ask. I am learning more about my condition and living with the after-effects of Covid19, which I am praying will subside with time.

K Patterson

Jump to this post

@kpatterson- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Your story is one of inspiration! It looks like you are on your way to a positive recovery, even if it's not very fast. Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of COVID-19. Your immune system has worked tirelessly to help fight this off and it will need time and rest to heal. It looks like there is a lot of progress made!

Did you have lung issues prior to this?

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@merpreb

@kpatterson- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Your story is one of inspiration! It looks like you are on your way to a positive recovery, even if it's not very fast. Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of COVID-19. Your immune system has worked tirelessly to help fight this off and it will need time and rest to heal. It looks like there is a lot of progress made!

Did you have lung issues prior to this?

Jump to this post

No. I have never had breathing problems, pneumonia, and I do not have asthma. My husband has had asthma since childhood. He lost 35% of his lung function due to a lack of fast acting asthma medications available at that time. He also go Covid19 and had one day of a mild cough. It was odd that the virus affected my lungs so much more severely than his, but thank God he didn't get lung/breathing problems.

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@darla5780

I do not have anxiety nor do I suffer from depression. I am a happy, optimistic person. However, ever since I recovered from Covid I have severe insomnia. I go to bed at a reasonable time but at 5:00 in the morning I am STILL not sleepy. Nothing has changed in my life except that I had Covid. I hope there will be some studies/research on this phenomenon.

Jump to this post

Hello. Has this changed for you? I had Covid in April- had mild symptoms but debilitating insomnia. It’s been terrible and has greatly affected my life. I have never had insomnia before, and do not suffer from anxiety or depression. I have anxiety now due to not being able to sleep. Over the counter sleep meds do not work. I’m just never sleepy. Are you finally able to sleep?

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@juju5711979

Hello. Has this changed for you? I had Covid in April- had mild symptoms but debilitating insomnia. It’s been terrible and has greatly affected my life. I have never had insomnia before, and do not suffer from anxiety or depression. I have anxiety now due to not being able to sleep. Over the counter sleep meds do not work. I’m just never sleepy. Are you finally able to sleep?

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Hello @juju5711979 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry to hear about your continued insomnia following your positive COVID test. I can see that you quickly related to member @darla5780 and her experience so hope the pair of you can connect.

While we wait, here is a resource that may be helpful.

- Insomnia: Diagnosis and Treatment:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355173
Other than over the counter sleep meds, what else have you tried to help induce sleep?

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