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Not able to sleep well for years

I am a brain tumor survivor who was misdiagnosed with fibro. I was married to a functional alcoholic as my Father was. I had it removed in 2011. He filed for divorce that same year where I didn't get my own lawyer. I had to take him back to court where I settled out of court for some money. In the scheme of things not much. I should have gotten my own lawyer but one of his friends told me not to spend all the money on lawyer fees. I am not a very good person when it comes to not trusting people. I trust too much. Most people I am finding are more concern about their own life and money. My Father pushed me into the marriage and told me I didn't need to have kids. He was 19 years older than me. I try to be a nice catholic girl. I am a Christian and believe all of this is temporary it is not eternal. My two remaining sisters are screwed up from the screwed up family we grew up in. My Mom died when I was 27 from lung cancer. She first got it when I was in high school. They removed the tumor but she told no one. One of the nurse's daughters went to our high school and told a good friend of mind. She told me. I was 16 years old living in a household where my older sister and my Dad were fighting and yelling every night. I told my Mom's best friend Eleanor who told me Mom did not have cancer. Here she did. So I didn't worry about it. I felt bad for a lot of years after she died.Their was no intimacy in my marriage. He smoked and drank. He was a real estate salesman. I don't feel bad about it now. I miss not having children and most of the boyfriends I have had are drinkers. I have stayed away from that. I used to drink, get drunk and was miserable when I was sick with the tumor. So now at 71 a bunch of health issues. I fell about 3 years ago, working for the census bureau part time. Had to have surgery on my right shoulder under Medicare. I did not want worksmen comp doing it. I picked my own surgeon. When the nurse found out worksmen comp was coming in the home for therapy for my knee, they wouldn't come in for nursing or therapy. I notified the state of florida who found them in violation. I was on celebrex and so many other pain meds when I had the tumor that my stomach is screwed up. I had my second scope done on my stomach and besides chronic chemical gastritis, hiatal hernia and esphogitis. I can't eat anything. Our health system which is a government body is going down the tubes. I was chairmen of a citizen volunteer subcommittee for an indoor warm water therapy pool. They sold the property while I was sick. It took me serveral years to rehab. I drove into Naples, 17nm8les one way yo use the closest therapy pool in our area. I was going to before the broad before my surgery and was talked out of it. Here just recently I heard they only bought the land to stop another hospital system from coming in. They are a monopoly and have no competition nor leadership.
I sometimes fall asleep at 4 or 5 in the morning and wake up at 8 or 9. I try to catch up on sleep. It is hard because I am lonely even with a boyfriend. His health is screwed up as well. I try to tell him not to drink wine so much and to exercise more. He is doing better. He is over today watching the game while I am doing paperwork etc. With inflation and other stuff, everything is so expensive. We do not have good medical care in SW FL anymore. When my ex finally passed away last year I got a raise from social security which helps a lot. I live in a manufactured home in 55plus park. Had IAN damaged where I had to replace my car and my duct work. Had some roof and bathroom damage. Not enough to go over my $2,100 deductible. I lost my night guard for my bruxism and TMJ which was torn when I fell from worksmen comp. I am studying the New Testament this year at church. Wr just studied the old for 2 years, a real eye opener. I tore my meniscus in my knee as well, not enough for surgery but it bothers me. I need to let go and develop some good sleeping habits. My brain tumor was a large as an orange in my head, my right frontsl lobe. I get the blues and need some one to share life without B S. I want to be happy. I know I am the only person who can make me happy. I want someone to really love me. I am capable of caring for people. I am a giver. My family looks at me as a bank, I do not have that kind of money any more. They think because wr traveled and I had a big house everything was great. Wrll it wasn't. Thinking of going to University of Miami to their sleep clinic. I go to their eye clinic in Naples. So this is my story. Faith helps a lot, when we go through life no one knows what one person has been through. We just go on. I know this is shorting my life etc. Sorry for skipping around in this and it is long also. Feel better just spelling it out. Blessings. Barb

  1. I been in theapry a few times. I need to calm down and get my lift in order. I have other medical issues I am dealing with as well. I have no family support so I am on my own which is scary at times. Right now my intestive track is screwed up cauring me a lot of pain. I had to keep track of my urine today for 24 hours and have to turn it into the lab tomorrow. I have traces of blood in my urine and I had kidney stones at one time I think for taking too much vitamin D. So here we are. I need to do a lot of things. IF I don't exercise I feel terrible. Praying helps-it is amazing I am still kicking like I am. blessings and thanks for your support. I have been getting 5-7 hours of sleep the last week which makes me very happy.

    1. My heart goes out to you, . It might be hard to address the insomnia until you take care of the pain. With no family support, it is more important than ever that you advocate for yourself and take care of yourself. I hope you figure out the intestinal issues soon and that the test results provide some answers. Warmest of wishes. - Lori (Team Member)

  2. Hi Barb (). Welcome to the community! I am so glad you found us and that you felt comfortable telling your story here. Thank goodness you got that tumor removed. That must have been a scary time. The sleep clinic at the University of Miami sounds like a great place to start exploring your sleep issues. Lack of sleep can make everything else worse. It can make regulating emotions difficult, cause memory issues, leave you more susceptible to viruses, all kinds of things. So it is good that you want to address it. If you can get high quality sleep, other aspects of your life might begin to fall into place. Have you also considered seeing a counselor or therapist? You want to be happy and that is often the best time to start therapy. You have clearly had a very difficult life. No one goes through all you endured without scars. I am glad you have your faith to lean on though. Here is an article about insomnia treatments: https://insomnia.sleep-disorders.net/treatment. Maybe you can try some of them while you wait for a sleep clinic appointment. Keep us posted, if you don't mind. I will be thinking of you. - Lori (Team Member)

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