1. < Sleep Health
Profile picture for cmd

Has anyone been suffering with post Covid severe insomnia?

Posted by cmd @cmd, Apr 25, 2022

Has anyone been suffering with post Covid severe insomnia?
Thank-you for any comments or ideas!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.

Profile picture for cmd
cmd | @cmd | Jun 5, 2022
In reply to @rinadbq "Everything is worse when I either can't sleep or am so exhausted from physical or mental..." + (show)
Profile picture for RMS @rinadbq

Everything is worse when I either can't sleep or am so exhausted from physical or mental activity beyond my limits that I will sleep 19 of 24 hours. It is a see-saw that I can't get off of. I lay there unable to sleep, then think about not sleeping, then get mad because I know I will be tired again tomorrow. A vicious cycle. Benadryl or Melatonin help me----I AM NOT TOUTING THIS FOR ANYONE ELSE, but it helps me. Also, 'sleep hygiene': I go to bed and get up about the same time every day, I climb in bed in a quiet bedroom, read ~30 minutes till I am drowsy & turn off the lights. No screen time/music/tv/intense conversation/exercise/alcohol right before bed. The 'Calm' app has some great guided sleep meditations that are helpful too. If I can't fall asleep after an hour I get up and read on the couch till I am tired. I do the same when I wake in the middle of the night. Although very tempted, getting on the computer or turning on the TV at that point keeps me awake longer.

Jump to this post

I’d rather be on the seesaw than no sleep at all. I mean no disrespect.

REPLY
Profile picture for mark3240
mark3240 | @mark3240 | Jan 27, 2023
In reply to @ilovemary4749 "I had covid last August. Insomnia the whole time. Was exhausted, very ill, multiple symptoms but..." + (show)
Profile picture for ilovemary4749 @ilovemary4749

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.

Jump to this post

dvierheller's comments are the way to go. All are not too hard to implement.
I would also add:

1. No tv or computer screens 2 hours before bed. Brain can't relax with screens. Read a book.
2. Try playing low key, soothing music. Miles Davis jazz and light classical work for me, and set to repeating so it goes all night.
3.If you have a bathtub, this can make getting ready for bed very relaxing.

REPLY
Profile picture for tlj
tlj | @tlj | Jan 29, 2023

I am two months post and while my appetite is slowly returning I still have days where I am very nauseous. I had a terrible 4 weeks in the beginning when my salivary glands were not working and it made it difficult to swallow due to decreased saliva flow. Now I have insomnia. Is hard to get better with lack of sleep. If anyone has tried something that works please share. Tylenol PM works a bit sometimes - have had no luck with supplements yet and don't want to take prescription meds to sleep. Have never experienced anxiety and insomnia like this. Praying for ongoing healing for all.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for mark3240
mark3240 | @mark3240 | Jan 30, 2023
In reply to @tlj "I am two months post and while my appetite is slowly returning I still have days..." + (show)
Profile picture for tlj @tlj

I am two months post and while my appetite is slowly returning I still have days where I am very nauseous. I had a terrible 4 weeks in the beginning when my salivary glands were not working and it made it difficult to swallow due to decreased saliva flow. Now I have insomnia. Is hard to get better with lack of sleep. If anyone has tried something that works please share. Tylenol PM works a bit sometimes - have had no luck with supplements yet and don't want to take prescription meds to sleep. Have never experienced anxiety and insomnia like this. Praying for ongoing healing for all.

Jump to this post

I agree not to take prescription sleep meds. More harm to your health. Here is something that helps:

Treadmill, 25 minutes before dinner
Same bedtime.
No tv or computer screens after dinner.
(Hot shower or bath is great, if it fits your routine.
Just before bedtime, camomille tea, 2 bags; 1 cut up kiwi, 1 tablet melatonin -- this helps some, but all of these steps add up to better sleep.
When desparate, I have repeated a cd of soft music all night, low volume.

REPLY
Profile picture for shay77
shay77 | @shay77 | Jul 5, 2023
In reply to @cmd "I can seen to get sleep unless I take heavy duty sleeping aids/hypnotics. Ever since Covid..." + (show)
Profile picture for cmd @cmd

I can seen to get sleep unless I take heavy duty sleeping aids/hypnotics.
Ever since Covid I can’t sleep. Anyone out there have any thoughts, suggestions etc. Tried meditation, breathing techniques, over the counter sleep aids, allergic to antihistamines. Tried everything. Very very scared and desperate. Thanks for reading my discussion.

Jump to this post

Yes it’s awful, did you happen to get the vaccine

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for shay77
shay77 | @shay77 | Jul 5, 2023
In reply to @shay77 "Yes it’s awful, did you happen to get the vaccine" + (show)
Profile picture for shay77 @shay77

Yes it’s awful, did you happen to get the vaccine

Jump to this post

I did and I have been dealing with this ever since I had COVID. It was a very emotionally and physically traumatizing experience and I have never been that sick. I believe it could be a form of PTSD from our bodies response to infection and the physical and mental toll it takes on people

REPLY
Profile picture for shay77
shay77 | @shay77 | Jul 6, 2023
In reply to @tee68 "Yes ! I have severe insomnia it’s driving me crazy. I barely sleep, two hours per..." + (show)
Profile picture for tee68 @tee68

Yes ! I have severe insomnia it’s driving me crazy. I barely sleep, two hours per day, I wake up so many times at night, I don’t know what to do anymore, it is interfering in my life.

Jump to this post

I got COVID 19 in 2022 and am also struggling with severer patches of insomnia for some time now. I did receive the Pfizer vaccine along with two boosters. Can I ask if you were vaccinated? Be well

REPLY
Profile picture for shay77
shay77 | @shay77 | Jul 6, 2023

Yes I have,
I got COVID 19 in 2022 and am also struggling with severe patches of insomnia for some time now. I did receive the Pfizer vaccine along with two boosters. Can I ask if you were vaccinated? Be well

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for shay77
shay77 | @shay77 | Jul 6, 2023

I got COVID 19 in 2022 and am also struggling with severe patches of insomnia for some time now. It’s definitely affected my quality of life and challenging to manage to say the least. I did receive the Pfizer vaccine along with two boosters. Can I ask if you were vaccinated? Be well

REPLY
Profile picture for griffin1120
griffin1120 | @griffin1120 | Jul 7, 2023

Yup!!
Wake up 2-5 times a night & sometimes can’t get back to sleep after 4-6am “wake-up”!
I had COVID the second time in Jan, 2023

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.