No sleep in 2 weeks, help
This all started I think after trying a beef gelatin powder supplement a few weeks ago. I kind of overdid it on the supplement and wasn’t eating much else for 3/4 days. I developed insomnia and tachycardia and stopped the diet. It was getting better then out of nowhere, the insomnia kicked in persistently and hasn’t let up in two full weeks. Aside from one night I had a dose of Ativan, I’ve barely slept a half hour each night if that.
I’ve seen tons of neurologists psychiatrists and ER docs. They say I must be getting more sleep than I realize but I truly know that isn’t true.
No one bothered to prescribe any meds the first week and a half because they were certain sleep would just “kick in.” It didn’t. The last few days I’ve been on Buspar (supposedly for anxiety but idk if it’s doing anything) low dose, tried a Benadryl which made me feel horribly anxious uncomfortable and crazy (a paradoxical reaction which I’ve never had with Benadryl before) two evenings of trazadone one at 50mg which was mostly relaxing but sleep didn’t really come and then at 75 last night during which I got zero sleep and felt restless. I am going to try Belsomra tonight at 10mg, and have a prescription for Lunesta 3mg.
I’m convinced the gelatin threw off my brain chemistry considering it didn’t have tryptophan, or else I now have vCJD/fatal insomnia from the beef gelatin.
I feel like death. It feels like my body and mind are shutting down and I’ve never felt so awful in my life.
Thanks so much for replying. The gelatin absolutely messed up my sleep and every doctor I see laughs at me when I tell them this. I wish they could help!!
I’ve had some nights of sleep since posting this, thankfully. I’ve tried some different sleep meds and some have been helpful sometimes. I am nowhere close to normal yet.
I have hope…I think the reality is that people have varying levels of sensitivity to things. Think about someone that is gluten sensitive. Doctors laughed them out of the rooms for YEARS before people put two and two together. I really want to encourage you to hold on while your body gets better. Be patient with yourself and try (easier said than done) to relax any strict requirements you might have for "getting back to normal". When this happened to me I tried to eat more tryptophan rich foods but I think it takes time for your body to build up what is depleted. Also, tryptophan uses a number of substances to convert to serotonin so maybe do a little research on that. Mostly, I encourage you to hold on to that hope. God isn't done with you yet....there is more to do. When this is over, turn and encourage someone else. Solo Deo Gloria.
Hello. I realize that you posted this several weeks ago. Have things gotten any better? I ask because something very similar happened to ME after drinking collagen sodas daily for about a month. I went nearly a week without sleep and you couldn't PAY me enough to go back through that. I have always struggled with insomnia so in my case it made everything WORSE. I will be honest with you, the first two weeks were TERRIBLE. Its been two months later and I'm not sure I am 100% better. Do you happen to have any anxiety? Collagen and its relationship with Tryptophan can often make anxiety worse which then triggers a bout of insomnia.
With regards to your fears about VCJD and FFI I don't think you have to worry. VCJD has a many year incubation period (not months) and FFI is a genetic disease.
When I went without sleep those first few months I relied heavily on my faith. LIKE it was all I had during those long nights. I couldn't have imagined why the Lord would let this happen to me, but maybe it was to encourage you? I hope you are all better, if not.....I pray you are on the road.
