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Arturo

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"Exhausted. Very little sleep per usual. Last time I slept well was when I was 16. I have central sleep apnea and am using a PAP device every night. I take a lot of meds with insomnia listed as a side effect. I’m a senior citizen now and many seniors I know have sleeping troubles and I have neurological problems that may interfere with sleep. I have a calcified pineal gland and only one adrenal gland and no pituitary gland. I have prostatic hyperplasia so I can’t completely empty my bladder at one time. It’s for all of these reasons working against my sleep that I feel hopeless. I tried CBT-I. Couldn’t take getting out of bed and going to another room. Couldn’t do all of assignments. She had me stay awake until 12am to re-set my circadian rhythm. That worked but it was really hard to stay up that late l.My CBT-I therapist fired me because I wasn’t compliant. Reading in bed sometimes helps me fall back asleep but I rarely stay asleep. "

  1. Clair Gardiner's avatar image

    Clair Gardiner

    Art, Thank you so much for sharing, I have been digging around about it a bit, since your last comment, and it is most interesting! I am so glad that it helps you somewhat.

    Do you know when your new headset is expected?


    - Clair (Team Member)

  2. Arturo's avatar image

    Arturo

    Hi Clair!
    The name of the company is

    Fisher Wallace.
    All the info is on their website. I found out that they’re coming out with a new headset and pre-ordered. Better than the curent headset.
    There are TMS centers around the country who do everything for you. You just sit on a chair and they hook up and do the TMS for you on special equipment. I prefer the home unit,


  3. Clair Gardiner's avatar image

    Clair Gardiner

    Oh wow! This sounds so interesting! Cranial magnet stimulation is new to me, I am certainly going to do some research into this. Would you mind sharing a bit more about your experience with this?

    Alongside the ice for calming a person's mind, I have used ice very useful to calm my anxiety, so that might help me.

    Thank you for sharing with us

    - Clair ( Team Member)

  4. Lori.Foster's avatar image

    Lori.Foster

    You've tried so much, . You have my respect for not giving up. You never know when you might hit on that one thing that help. I hope you never stop trying. - Lori (Team Member)

  5. Arturo's avatar image

    Arturo


    Forgot to mention that I use a trans cranial magnet stimulation device on my head just twice a dy for sleep anxiety and depression. So far, it helps with depression. Have also used ice for insomnia, an ice pack around your head. It’s supposed to calm the brain to help you fall asleep. Never really worked for me.Its a Chinese medicine thing.

  6. Arturo's avatar image

    Arturo

    Hi Lori

    Thank you so much for responding.I did speak to my neurologist. He recommended medical marijuana. Worked for a while but finding the right strain was unreliable.He doesn’t really deal with insomnia.I already have a pulmonologist/sleep doctor. He’s the one who sent me to the CBT-I therapist. He put me on a special PAP called an ASV after two sleep tests. My central apnea is caused by an epidermoid cyst on my brain stem from a botched spinal tap. Only way to fix it is brain surgery. The ASV caused many dental problems from dry mouth and pressure from the masks:

    I found a psychiatrist on Zocdoc who prescribed multiple sleep meds ie trazadone etc.Didn’t help and could do damage to my transplanted kidney.

    For a while I tried Natural Gabba. Helped but I couldn’t get out of bed in the morning. Same with melatonin.. I might try Gabba again.Not a great drug and hard to get off of. There are FB Groups about that..I’ve tried essential oil. Didn’t help.

    I also have anxiety that keeps me awake.

    I just bought something called Corn bread hemp. I’m trying it for two weeks.

    There’s something called Cheribundi. It’s Tart cherry juice with valerian route, L-theanine etc.”. Helps with falling sleep but doesn’t last long.
    I’m beginning to think I’m treatment resistanct and will be dealing with this for the reast of my life and since I’m a senior who knows know long that will be.

    Again, thanks for reaching out and caring.
    Art



  7. Lori.Foster's avatar image

    Lori.Foster

    Hi . I see you are new here. Welcome! I am glad you found us. I can see why CBT-I was difficult for you. Any one of your health conditions might be influencing your sleep patterns. Your pineal gland has a lot to do with sleep regulation. If that isn't working properly, CBT-I might not help anyway. Has your doctor ever recommended melatonin? If so, has it helped? Have you talked with your neurologist about your insomnia? Thinking of you and wishing you the best. - Lori (Team Member)