Ah, neurosis, we meet again...

[KhirasHY]

I just need to rant again...things are just getting a bit annoying for me right now. Basically, I've had a combination of things going on the last couple months. It all started with some sort of allergic reaction that had my fiancee and I breaking out in crazy itchiness regularly - we finally have that figured out, and we're medicating it, but it's going away slowly. Source was probably from gardening, and getting some crap on us that was particularly vibrant and resistant. La de da.

Things got a bit worse when I managed to hurt myself at work - I honestly thought I had a hernia, it hurt so bad, but when I was sent to the ER they couldn't find any evidence of that. I'm getting worker's comp and some physical therapy to try and repair what is likely a small tear in my abdomen muscles, but I'm more or less in daily pain. Which blows. Add into that some stomach problems that may be gall stones (not sure, can't afford to get it looked at on my own bill ATM) and I'm having some real physical issues here.

The biggest problem? I can't frigging sleep again. Since I found some cool sleep tricks, I've been avoiding my insomnia problem...but it's back with a vengeance now. Of course, I work the graveyard shift, so having insomnia during the day means I'm double screwed: by the end of a night, I am basically brain dead to the point where I simply can't think my way through simple problems.

As if that wasn't enough, I'm starting to get stressed out that my job (which I enjoy) is getting tired of dealing with me. They've been patient with the injury, and the medical restriction that's put me on, but as I've gotten more and more tired, I've made more and more dopey ass mistakes. This morning I managed to annoy two of our managers by screwing up something, and I annoyed the third one just a few hours later. Half the time, when I talk to guests, I can't even speak correctly because I'm so tired, and end up muddling my way through half of my conversations. When asked a simple question, I look like an idiot since I have to force my brain into a cold start just to figure out something I've known for months.

My fiancee hasn't said anything, but I can tell he's worried...my appetite has gone down, and I've lost about 20 pounds in the last month or so (not illness related, don't worry). While I've always had shadows under my eyes, the last couple weeks they've started to become a lot more pronounced. More often than not, I wake up after only a few hours of sleep, and even though I can't get back to sleep, all I want to do is just lay there. I get hungry but I don't want to eat, so it's fairly safe to say that I'm back to dealing with a depression point, but I just can't seem to get myself out of this funk.

I don't know that typing this out will help...but I needed to rant about it somewhere. Now it's time to try (with futility, I'm sure) to get a little more sleep before work tonight, where I will hopefully succeed at not making a complete ass of myself again.

Oh, and my car's breaking down. Fucking a, I'm really just waiting to fall off a cliff, or get disemboweled by some random escaped wild animal...it would be an improvement.

[csquared]

Let me guess, a self feeding cycle?

You are tired, so you make mistakes. Mistakes are stressing you out. Stress is keeping you from sleeping. Lack of sleep is making you tired.

Of course, the other pain & health problems are not going to help.

I hope you feel better soon and get yourself some sleep.

[KhirasHY]

Let me guess, a self feeding cycle?

More. Or. Less.

I felt a little better after I typed everything up earlier and managed to get to sleep pretty quickly after that, so I actually managed about 5-6 hours today...better than the 2-3 I've been getting. Just needed to get all that crap out of my head, I guess...

[Teskeria]

This is gonna sound weird, but try to sleep at a reclining angle. I have sleep apnea, a mild case currently, and I have found I sleep slightly better reclining rather than basically flat. also, I know it is old fashioned (and tastes yucky to me at least), but drink a glass/mug of hot milk about 30 minutes before bed. Also, take something like a folded pillowcase (unless you have blackout curtains) and place it over your eyes. I also sleep days and it is easier if the light is blocked.

[BeeMused]

I felt a little better after I typed everything up earlier and managed to get to sleep pretty quickly after that, so I actually managed about 5-6 hours today...better than the 2-3 I've been getting. Just needed to get all that crap out of my head, I guess...

Perhaps you need to make a ritual out of unloading all the day's/night's crap, writing it down, in a diary or here in the forum. Oh and ear plugs, definitely ear plugs!

[42_42_42]

The occasional use of an OTC sleep aid won't cause dependence. I use a sleep aid to break a cycle of insomnia. Basically, if I have 2 nights of bad sleep in a row, I'll take it on the 3rd night. Usually one good night of sleep and I'm back to being able to sleep on my own.

As for the gall bladder issues, try eating as low a fat diet as possible. Also, up your fiber intake, including legumes (beans, peas, lentils) and take an omega-3 and a vitamin C supplement. Two to 3 cups of regular coffee and a glass of wine a day are supposed to help, too. Basically a diet of veggies, fruit, whole grains (esp. oatmeal, flax, and quinoa) and salmon and tuna as your non legume/nut protein sources. Use olive oil instead of butter/margarine.

Rosemary, milk thistle, dandelion, Oregon grape, and wild yam are herbals that help thin the bile and flush out any stones. Concentrated mint oil capsules take over the course of several months can break down smaller stones. Make sure you talk to a doctor or pharmacist about any herbals and any potential interactions they may have with other meds you are taking and to know what potential side effects and adverse reactions you should be on the watch for.

Not sure if you're on any pain meds for the abdominal muscle tear, but an anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen or Aleve should help with both the pain from the tear and the pain from the gall bladder.

Alternating hot/cold therapy will probably help your muscle pain as well.

Hope this helps and you feel better soon!

[Eevie]

I'll go ahead and volunteer having a repetitive nature sound going; ocean waves, rain, etc. Basically things that if they are on a loop, it would be hard to tell when the loop is happening.

That's what I did anyway when I had insomnia. It took me awhile to find some soundtracks that were passable, seeing as my spazzing OCD mind would find the repeating sound loops almost immediately and that was all I could focus on.

Just find whatever you think would work, be it nature sounds, music, or just random white noise. Just get well soon, Khiras, I really don't like hearing those symptoms of yours...

[Gizmo]

*hugs* As for the weight loss if its not welcomed - and I have personal knowledge that that amount over that time shouldn't be - how about the nutrition/bulking drinks? They are easier to do that food sometimes.

[mhkohne]

I'll go ahead and volunteer having a repetitive nature sound going; ocean waves, rain, etc. Basically things that if they are on a loop, it would be hard to tell when the loop is happening.

That's what I did anyway when I had insomnia. It took me awhile to find some soundtracks that were passable, seeing as my spazzing OCD mind would find the repeating sound loops almost immediately and that was all I could focus on.

Just find whatever you think would work, be it nature sounds, music, or just random white noise. Just get well soon, Khiras, I really don't like hearing those symptoms of yours...

You could try a white noise machine, but be careful - when last I tried one, I could hear the spot where the sound samples looped.