Insomnia - HELP!!!

Oh, ladies! I've barely slept in two days - when oh when does this insomnia end?! I am bleary-eyed...I'm also one of those people that can't function without sleep (I've always envied those people that only sleep 4 hours a night and have no problems!); I need a minimum of 8 hours a night. I totally understand now why sleep deprivation is used as torture, because this is DEFINITELY torture!!! I take my Vicodin about an hour before bed (I'm out as of tonight) and it makes me drowsy, but then when I try to sleep I toss and turn, can't turn my stupid brain off, try to relax and then next thing you know I'm wide awake again...even when I do get a little sleep, it's very little - I'm waking up constantly, covers on, covers off, etc. It's not the night sweats or hot flashes, either - I'm just wide freakin' awake!!! I'm up at 3:00am with the overseas girls playing Games, Games, Games, for God's sake - it's 3:00am for me, but it's daytime for them!!! I'm only having one cup of coffee in the AM (no, not a triple espresso either, just a weak cup of instant), and that's only to stave off migraines as I was a 3-cup a day girl plus diet cola prior to surgery. I got up at 3:30pm today after finally getting to sleep at 11:00am - and it definitely wasn't 4 1/2 hours sleep, it was more like 2 at the most. I called my doc in desperation and he recommended a patch; I have 1mg estradiol from when I was on Lupron so I just took one, but I have endo so I'm scared witless that whatever's left is going to grow again! He said to try it this week and if I'm not better by Monday to call him back. I do NOT want to take estrogen; for an endo patient that's like putting out a fire but leaving a gas can in the middle of the smoldering embers! Sorry I've babbled on so long; my brain is on overdrive right now even though my body is in neutral! Any thoughts, ideas, especially from the endo survivors? What's worked for you? I'm at the end of my rope, and there's not even enough left to tie a knot and hang on - HELP!!!!!

I remember the early days of recovery and I had horrible insomnia. I forced myself to get up every morning at 6 am to stay on a somewhat normal schedule. I helped get my two sons ready for daycare and then kept really active all day. I avoided napping, but at bed time I was still tossing and turning. I was surviving on little to no sleep. I don't remember when it stopped, but it did take a few months. The vicodin may be contributing. You should check out the side effects. I was on Tylenol #3 since my pain meds made me throw up. I was using just ibuprofen after about 3 weeks and I think that made a little difference. I also slept on the couch a lot. If I was not sleepy enough, I'd watch TV quietly so I would at least get some rest. Avoid getting up and doing anything even if you aren't sleeping. At least you can get some quality rest this way. Eventually your body will reset itself to resting at this time, and then sleeping at this time. Be patient. This will pass.

insomnia has hit me too think i have been up for @ least 19 hours i am tired & restless but cannot sleep I have left off the med because it doesnt help me sleep

Hey Barb.......

Why don't you ask your doc for Ambien or Lunesta? Lunesta is non narcotic. Some sisters post on here that it's helped them a great deal. I myself tried Ambien. It gets me to sleep but my problem isn't falling asleep, it's staying asleep.
I do have to say that entering my 4th week post op, my sleep has improved. Instead of only being able to sleep 45 minutes - 3 and a half hours, I can now sleep 5 hours in a row!! I haven't done anything different so I think it was just the time gone by post op, my body needed this long to adjust. I could be wishful thinking too though.......
Other posts have said warm ovaltine works for them. Good luck and if you find something that works, let us in on it!!