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@ripley

After a mild case of Covid in late Jan 2022, I developed terrible insomnia. I tried 3 weeks of sleep restriction therapy, very difficult (only 5 hrs allowed in bed). Didn't help. Recently I had an overnight sleep study which ruled out apnea and restless legs. Now I'm wearing an actigraphy watch for 3 weeks to track my activity and I guess help provide info on my sleep patterns. My sleep Dr doesn't want to prescribe sleep meds until she finds out why I'm not sleeping. I've had extensive blood work done and everything is normal. I don't know what the answer is for the reason being long Covid? Currently, I take 2.5mg of Melatonin before bed and most nights fall asleep okay, but I wake 1.5 - 2 hrs later and then have difficulty going back to sleep except for short periods of dozing. I've been taking 100mg Trazodone about 2:00AM which used to help me fall back asleep for 1-2 hrs. It's not working anymore. Since my insomnia started almost a year ago, I've not had one night with more than 5 hrs. Most nights I sleep 2-4 hrs. I am extremely exhausted all day, but never sleepy. Try not to nap. After reading others posts, it doesn't sound like anyone has found a solution?

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Replies to "After a mild case of Covid in late Jan 2022, I developed terrible insomnia. I tried..."

Sounds like long covid. Difficult to be sure. I know of people who suffer
with insomnia ( not related to covid) and, until your long covid insomnia
resolves itself, don't let the insomnia rule your life. Relax. Get what
sleep you can at nite, and let yourself nap anytime of day or night.
Relax. Hopefully, this will eventually resolve itself. You cannot control
this.

You sound like me. I got Covid 4 weeks ago. I'm exhausted during the day, but can't fall asleep at night til about 2:00am. Then I wake up at 6:00. I take melatonin, Tylenol PM, and valerian tablet. Last night I heated some milk, honey, and a shot of whiskey! And finally fell asleep. Dr. would probably not approve.

Doctors don’t like to prescribe sleep meds because they are afraid we will become addicted. We all need sleep to heal. Some nights I get zero sleep then the next day every symptom is worse. It has been 4 1/2 months for me & it feels like eternity. I feel like I am getting much less care than most people on this site. Mayo in Scottsdale needs a long haul program like Rochester & O’Clare. We have nothing here & the doctors don’t know much about long haul here.
RR