I too have had horrid insomnia with nightmares and night terrors since COVID back 1/21. It took hours to get to sleep only to wake up an hour later in an overheated sweat. Then it would take another hour to get back to sleep...then there was the dreams. OMG. I averaged 3-4 hours a night at best and never felt like I even slept. I tried teas, melatonin, ashwaghanda, valerian root...just about every herbal remedy known to man. I'm highly allergic to Benadryl (anaphylaxis). Two weeks ago my new PCP put me on a low dose of Xanax before bed. Total GAME CHANGER! I am able to fall asleep, stay asleep, no more crazy dreams and I literally pop out of bed feeling refreshed. What a difference sleep makes. I never wanted to go the narcotic/controlled substance route...but I am glad I did.
Melatonin nightly, strength depending on whether a woman or a man and what else you take at bedtime. My doctor recommended and I sleep better, I also use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea so before covid had no problem sleeping soundly and for 7 or 8 hours.
I had covid last August. Insomnia the whole time. Was exhausted, very ill, multiple symptoms but could not sleep except cat naps. 9 months out, insomnia still here thank you very much. Constant fatigue! If I do fall asleep am up 3-4 hrs. Later and cannot fall back to sleep. I also have tried multiple ways to fall asleep/stay asleep, nothing helps. Long covid headaches, insomnia, fatigue and still limited smell and taste. No one has answers! Until science has some real help for us folks we are left to our own devices.
I know it is awful and you are right we are left on our own to try and figure out what works.Hopefully there will be an answer soon but I think , we have a long way to go.My sleep is awful decaf coffee helps me sleep now my sleep is a little better. Last night I slept 7 hours straight which is rare for me, I wake up and stay up three to four hours at a time , I have ginger to function during the day , ginger tea helps me to stay cognitively aware. We need lots of patience and trials and tribulations.
Yes, I have occasional insomnia and it got much worse after COVID. I tried melatonin, CBD gummies, sleep hygiene, avoiding screens, changing my bedding. I finally went to my doctor and got a prescription for Trazodone (I had taken this in the past for insomnia). It does help me get about 7 hours of solid sleep per night, which has really helped my recovery. I feel more rested and my physical and mental recovery has improved.
The drawbacks for me are remembering to take it at night, not accidentally taking it in the morning (whoops), slightly blurry vision, and chronic constipation.
Still can’t sleep. Had sleep study done home study. No conclusive results. Here’s my symptoms.
1. Insomnia severe( before Covid slept 8-9 hours)
2. Extreme hair loss ( had lots of hair)
3. Extreme weight loss
4. No taste
5. No appetite
My doctors are all baffled and just try to give me drugs.
No sleep, causing depression. Have a great therapist with CBT no luck. Turning into Naomi Judd, I mean the part where nothing worked for her.
What’s a girl to do?
Still can’t sleep. Had sleep study done home study. No conclusive results. Here’s my symptoms.
1. Insomnia severe( before Covid slept 8-9 hours)
2. Extreme hair loss ( had lots of hair)
3. Extreme weight loss
4. No taste
5. No appetite
My doctors are all baffled and just try to give me drugs.
No sleep, causing depression. Have a great therapist with CBT no luck. Turning into Naomi Judd, I mean the part where nothing worked for her.
What’s a girl to do?
Still can’t sleep. Had sleep study done home study. No conclusive results. Here’s my symptoms.
1. Insomnia severe( before Covid slept 8-9 hours)
2. Extreme hair loss ( had lots of hair)
3. Extreme weight loss
4. No taste
5. No appetite
My doctors are all baffled and just try to give me drugs.
No sleep, causing depression. Have a great therapist with CBT no luck. Turning into Naomi Judd, I mean the part where nothing worked for her.
What’s a girl to do?
Still can’t sleep. Had sleep study done home study. No conclusive results. Here’s my symptoms.
1. Insomnia severe( before Covid slept 8-9 hours)
2. Extreme hair loss ( had lots of hair)
3. Extreme weight loss
4. No taste
5. No appetite
My doctors are all baffled and just try to give me drugs.
No sleep, causing depression. Have a great therapist with CBT no luck. Turning into Naomi Judd, I mean the part where nothing worked for her.
What’s a girl to do?
Still can’t sleep. Had sleep study done home study. No conclusive results. Here’s my symptoms.
1. Insomnia severe( before Covid slept 8-9 hours)
2. Extreme hair loss ( had lots of hair)
3. Extreme weight loss
4. No taste
5. No appetite
My doctors are all baffled and just try to give me drugs.
No sleep, causing depression. Have a great therapist with CBT no luck. Turning into Naomi Judd, I mean the part where nothing worked for her.
What’s a girl to do?
It sounds like your insomnia started with COVID. I can imagine that it is having a vicious cycle causing depression like symptoms. For that reason, I merged the discussion you started today back to the discussion you started earlier about COVID-related insomnia.
Have you sought the help of a specialized sleep clinic?
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How much Xanax do you take? Do you take it every night?
25 mg nightly
Melatonin nightly, strength depending on whether a woman or a man and what else you take at bedtime. My doctor recommended and I sleep better, I also use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea so before covid had no problem sleeping soundly and for 7 or 8 hours.
I know it is awful and you are right we are left on our own to try and figure out what works.Hopefully there will be an answer soon but I think , we have a long way to go.My sleep is awful decaf coffee helps me sleep now my sleep is a little better. Last night I slept 7 hours straight which is rare for me, I wake up and stay up three to four hours at a time , I have ginger to function during the day , ginger tea helps me to stay cognitively aware. We need lots of patience and trials and tribulations.
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1 ReactionYes, I have occasional insomnia and it got much worse after COVID. I tried melatonin, CBD gummies, sleep hygiene, avoiding screens, changing my bedding. I finally went to my doctor and got a prescription for Trazodone (I had taken this in the past for insomnia). It does help me get about 7 hours of solid sleep per night, which has really helped my recovery. I feel more rested and my physical and mental recovery has improved.
The drawbacks for me are remembering to take it at night, not accidentally taking it in the morning (whoops), slightly blurry vision, and chronic constipation.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionStill can’t sleep. Had sleep study done home study. No conclusive results. Here’s my symptoms.
1. Insomnia severe( before Covid slept 8-9 hours)
2. Extreme hair loss ( had lots of hair)
3. Extreme weight loss
4. No taste
5. No appetite
My doctors are all baffled and just try to give me drugs.
No sleep, causing depression. Have a great therapist with CBT no luck. Turning into Naomi Judd, I mean the part where nothing worked for her.
What’s a girl to do?
BTW doctors only give me benzos and we all know how that can turn out!
I have the exact same symptoms. It's been a nightmare
Trying to wean off them now
Hi @cmd, I'm sorry that your COVID related insomnia has not improved despite seeking medical care, medications, and CBT. I know many members have offered some really valuable tips like CBD, yoga, meditation and other helpful tips in the other insomnia discussions, like these ones:
- Insomnia. Nothing seems to help. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/josephene-i-am-having-terrible-insomnia-as-well-nothing-seems-to-help/
It sounds like your insomnia started with COVID. I can imagine that it is having a vicious cycle causing depression like symptoms. For that reason, I merged the discussion you started today back to the discussion you started earlier about COVID-related insomnia.
Have you sought the help of a specialized sleep clinic?
@wendys3, is your insomnia related to long COVID?
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