Insomnia

[Jean]

After going for months and months being able to fall asleep standing up, suddenly I can't sleep at night. Any attempt to take a nap during the day lasts for, oh, about 15 minutes. I do have an anti-anxiety drug I can cut in half and take at night. It does help, but it used to take 20 minutes to work and now it takes 40 minutes. Thanks for any solutions you may have.

[YLGuy]

If misery loves company, here I am.    Awake with you here in SoCal!  I would love to hear any solutions as well.

[kristina]

My case may be different due to the other complications I have, but when I entered end-stage renal failure I began to have problems sleeping with accompanying pain in the kidney region, and we discovered in an old Encyclopedia Britannica the recommendation that lime-juice helps certain kidney complaints. Since then I squeeze half a lime into a glass, fill with (filtered) water and drink one glass every day in the morning. All I can say is that I sleep much better and the pain has gone. Whether the lime helped I could not say but I still drink it every day.

[KICKSTART]

Hi Jean , join the club ! Its actually Renal Insomnia , yes honestly! I had to start taking sleeping pills because i was going for days without sleep at one point. I started on 10mg, now im on 20mg and they hardly touch me now. Your body justs get used to them im afraid.

[YLGuy]

I did not know about renal insomnia.  I did find this:

Treatment Protocol for Insomnia in ESRD
Source:
Renal Palliative Care Initiative
Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut Street S2669
Springfield, MA 01199

Insomnia
Problems of sleep disturbances have been reported by over 50% to 90% of dialysis patients surveyed.1-2 Research has also shown that these patients have a high incidence of specific primary sleep disorders such as sleep apnea syndrome, periodic leg movement disorder, and restless legs syndrome.3-5
TREATMENT GUIDELINE PROTOCOL
1. A complete history and physical exam should be performed to assess for signs of sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. If these conditions are suspected the patient should be referred for diagnostic sleep studies.
2. Avoid caffeinated beverages after noontime. Limit consumption to no more than two cups per day.
3. Do not smoke just before bedtime or during the night.
4. Avoid alcoholic beverages in the evening
5. Do not nap during the day
6. If sleep apnea has been ruled out a sleeping pill can be prescribed:
Ambien 5-10mg qhs
Restoril 7.5-30mg qhs
Dalmane 15-30mg qhs
Halcion 0.125-0.25 mg qhs
References
1. Holley, JL, Nespor, S, & Rault, R. A comparison of reported sleep disorders in patients on chronic hemodialysis and continuous peritoneal dialysis. Am J Kid Dis 1992;14:156.
2. Walker, S, Fine, A & Kryger, MH, Sleep complaints are common in a dialysis unit. Am J of Kid Dis 1995; 28:372.
3. Kimmel, PL, Miller, G, & Mendelson, WB, Sleep apnea in chronic renal disease. Am J of Med 1989; 86:308
4. Mendelson, WB, Wadhwa, NK, Greenberg, HE, Gujavarty, K, & Bergofsky, E, Effects of hemodialysis on sleep apnea syndrome in end-stage renal disease. Clin Neph 1990; 33:247.
5. Pressman, Mr, Benz, RL, Peterson, DD, High incidence of sleep disorders in end-stage renal disease patients. Sleep Res 1995;25:321

[peleroja]

I've had insomnia since my early twenties, which makes me wonder if my kidney disease started that far back.  I finally asked for Ambien and take 5 mg. almost every night.  Sometimes it helps and I get a solid 6 hours (never more than that).  Other nights it doesn't work at all.  Win, lose, or draw, I have decided never to go above the 5 mg.  I must be getting just enough sleep, as I always have the energy to do the few things I can still do!

[Jean]

thanks for your in put guys. I dont see my Neph until next month, and will discuss it with him them. Also am getting the creepy-crawly things. Hard to control my limbs when that happens, and in daytime, that more or less cuts out any naps, and makes for some uncomfortable times.

[kellyt]

Yes, the "creepy crawleys" or RLS can definintely keep you awake.  That is such a horrible feeling.  However, once I did fall asleep I didn't wake up during the night with RLS. 

[KICKSTART]

Yes Jean 'creepy crawley' things is also known as Restless Leg Syndrome if you do a search  you will find plenty of info on that !

[Wilda]

My mother and I have RLS and has found out that taking any over the counter medicine that has a narcotic in it makes it worse. Also any prescription medicine that has a narcotic in it makes RLS bad.
If it says, could make you sleepy, we can't take it.

[Jean]

Well, thats interesting. Discouraging, but interesting. So, what do you take?

[KICKSTART]

RLS is interesting as it effects different people in different ways as to what makes it go or what makes it worse. I  take a tablet called co-beneldopa which so far has really worked for me. I also find that the cooler i can keep my legs the better , others find heat helps.

[Chris]

I didn't have insomnia till after my transplant, but even before then, I would always like to stay up late and sleep in unless I had to go to work, school, or whatever.

Not totally sure if I had insomnia during dialysis or not.

[dwcrawford]

Dialysis.. absolutly not insomnia... I've never slept at soundly and as long as the last two months.

[amyjack214]

Thank you for posting this.  I have been on dialysis for 3 months now and experience the most annoying insomnia. Thought that something was wrong with me as my nephrologist was treating me as if I were mad! He acted as if I were the only one in the dialysis center having trouble. I do not have sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.  I do take 2 3mg. Melatonin and it seems to help for now.
Amy J