Sleep Deprived-Need Help!

[Santi]

My son is waking about every 2 hours and nobody is getting any sleep. During this time he is dressing up for the day and raging. This started about 2 months ago (before Lyme treatment) but then he would only wake 1-2X night. Now its more frequent. In the past falling asleep was the problem and now staying asleep is the problem. He does have a mild apnea.

 

We've been using melatonin spray under the tongue for about 1 year. This has worked great until 2 months ago. His LLMD prescribed Babuna and Amantilla and Relax Max plus the melatonin but nothing is working. Could the melatonin be messing with his sleep after 1 year? Could the abx/herx be making it worse?

 

We have got to get some sleep. I can't tell if his ramp up in OCD and behaviors is due to a herx or sleep?? Any suggestions what I can try next that might KEEP him asleep??

 

Andrea

[Suzan]

I know some people have used time released melatonin. Does he swallow pills? This would not work for dd8 because she can't swallow pills.

 

I hope you find something that works for him!!

 

Susan

[mama2alex]

Did the worsening of his sleep problems coincide with starting the melatonin, babuna, etc? Did you start them all at once, or add one every few days? I'm just thinking, since they are obviously not working, you might try playing with them- taking one away and see if he does better, then if that doesn't make a difference one way or another, try doing that with another. It sounds like a herx, but he could also be sensitive to one of the sleep remedies and this is how his body shows it. The bottom line is you need to find a way to help him sleep through the night. For us, sleeping through the night came about 5 months into Lyme treatment, but Alex wasn't waking up that many times or raging in the middle of the night, just asking us to "check" the house.

 

I would definitely call the doc on Tues and let them know what's going on and that you need to try something else to keep him asleep. You guys can't live this way, so it warrants asking for help.

[Santi]

Did the worsening of his sleep problems coincide with starting the melatonin, babuna, etc? Did you start them all at once, or add one every few days? I'm just thinking, since they are obviously not working, you might try playing with them- taking one away and see if he does better, then if that doesn't make a difference one way or another, try doing that with another. It sounds like a herx, but he could also be sensitive to one of the sleep remedies and this is how his body shows it. The bottom line is you need to find a way to help him sleep through the night. For us, sleeping through the night came about 5 months into Lyme treatment, but Alex wasn't waking up that many times or raging in the middle of the night, just asking us to "check" the house.

 

I would definitely call the doc on Tues and let them know what's going on and that you need to try something else to keep him asleep. You guys can't live this way, so it warrants asking for help.

 

I did call our LLMD and they mentioned keeping with it for 2 more weeks and they mentioned the time release melatonin if that doesn't work. I may try our regular pediatrican and get something stronger because at this point its really gotten out of hand. You are right, he may also be the small % of kids who have a reverse response. Thanks1

[sptcmom]

My son is waking about every 2 hours and nobody is getting any sleep. During this time he is dressing up for the day and raging. This started about 2 months ago (before Lyme treatment) but then he would only wake 1-2X night. Now its more frequent. In the past falling asleep was the problem and now staying asleep is the problem. He does have a mild apnea.

 

We've been using melatonin spray under the tongue for about 1 year. This has worked great until 2 months ago. His LLMD prescribed Babuna and Amantilla and Relax Max plus the melatonin but nothing is working. Could the melatonin be messing with his sleep after 1 year? Could the abx/herx be making it worse?

 

We have got to get some sleep. I can't tell if his ramp up in OCD and behaviors is due to a herx or sleep?? Any suggestions what I can try next that might KEEP him asleep??

 

Andrea

 

The body produces its natural Melatonin at sundown. Any supplements of Melatonin should be given at sundown to augment the natural melatonin. Practically its usually 2 hours BEFORE bedtime. Melatonin is sleep Regulating NOT sleep inducing. Many parents make that mistake and give it at bedtime.

Over time with usuage you are actually messing up the biological sleep rhythmns of the child if given incorrectly.

Calms forte for kids works ofr some kids and Calmes Forte regular works for some kids not responding to the kids version. I've tried both with DS and my patients and the child stays asleep if it works.

Also

Good point to remember is if any abx is deep penetrating it can dislodge metals from their storage sites in the body. BBB crossing abx usually does that. When heavy metals are mobilized that can cause a huge sleep disturbance and painful too as they get redeposited at other sites. Adding an appropriate soaker agent like Chlorella is important and that will help. Actually Cilantro tincture 5 drops in warm water 1 hour before meals followed 30 mins later by Chlorella pyrenoidosa is very beneficial in moving the metals along for soak up by Chlorella.

Edited September 4, 2011 by sptcmom

[tpotter]

We have been giving DS15 2 benedryl about 2 hours before he goes to sleep. We've been doing it for about 2 weeks now, and it has definitely made a difference.

[Santi]

My son is waking about every 2 hours and nobody is getting any sleep. During this time he is dressing up for the day and raging. This started about 2 months ago (before Lyme treatment) but then he would only wake 1-2X night. Now its more frequent. In the past falling asleep was the problem and now staying asleep is the problem. He does have a mild apnea.

 

We've been using melatonin spray under the tongue for about 1 year. This has worked great until 2 months ago. His LLMD prescribed Babuna and Amantilla and Relax Max plus the melatonin but nothing is working. Could the melatonin be messing with his sleep after 1 year? Could the abx/herx be making it worse?

 

We have got to get some sleep. I can't tell if his ramp up in OCD and behaviors is due to a herx or sleep?? Any suggestions what I can try next that might KEEP him asleep??

 

Andrea

 

The body produces its natural Melatonin at sundown. Any supplements of Melatonin should be given at sundown to augment the natural melatonin. Practically its usually 2 hours BEFORE bedtime. Melatonin is sleep Regulating NOT sleep inducing. Many parents make that mistake and give it at bedtime.

Over time with usuage you are actually messing up the biological sleep rhythmns of the child if given incorrectly.

Calms forte for kids works ofr some kids and Calmes Forte regular works for some kids not responding to the kids version. I've tried both with DS and my patients and the child stays asleep if it works.

Also

Good point to remember is if any abx is deep penetrating it can dislodge metals from their storage sites in the body. BBB crossing abx usually does that. When heavy metals are mobilized that can cause a huge sleep disturbance and painful too as they get redeposited at other sites. Adding an appropriate soaker agent like Chlorella is important and that will help. Actually Cilantro tincture 5 drops in warm water 1 hour before meals followed 30 mins later by Chlorella pyrenoidosa is very beneficial in moving the metals along for soak up by Chlorella.

 

I didn't know this about the melatonin. We have been giving it to him about 30 min. before bedtime for about 1 year now and it has worked great. The sleep problems started before treatment but now its worse. He is on 450mg rifampin and 250 Azithro. Are these deep penetrating? ANdrea

[sptcmom]

My son is waking about every 2 hours and nobody is getting any sleep. During this time he is dressing up for the day and raging. This started about 2 months ago (before Lyme treatment) but then he would only wake 1-2X night. Now its more frequent. In the past falling asleep was the problem and now staying asleep is the problem. He does have a mild apnea.

 

We've been using melatonin spray under the tongue for about 1 year. This has worked great until 2 months ago. His LLMD prescribed Babuna and Amantilla and Relax Max plus the melatonin but nothing is working. Could the melatonin be messing with his sleep after 1 year? Could the abx/herx be making it worse?

 

We have got to get some sleep. I can't tell if his ramp up in OCD and behaviors is due to a herx or sleep?? Any suggestions what I can try next that might KEEP him asleep??

 

Andrea

 

Rifampin is, not Zith. Zith is a powerful macrolide. Rifampin helps with tuberculosis and goes deep. Lack of adequate hydration of the connective tissues will also affect abx effectiveness.

 

The body produces its natural Melatonin at sundown. Any supplements of Melatonin should be given at sundown to augment the natural melatonin. Practically its usually 2 hours BEFORE bedtime. Melatonin is sleep Regulating NOT sleep inducing. Many parents make that mistake and give it at bedtime.

Over time with usuage you are actually messing up the biological sleep rhythmns of the child if given incorrectly.

Calms forte for kids works ofr some kids and Calmes Forte regular works for some kids not responding to the kids version. I've tried both with DS and my patients and the child stays asleep if it works.

Also

Good point to remember is if any abx is deep penetrating it can dislodge metals from their storage sites in the body. BBB crossing abx usually does that. When heavy metals are mobilized that can cause a huge sleep disturbance and painful too as they get redeposited at other sites. Adding an appropriate soaker agent like Chlorella is important and that will help. Actually Cilantro tincture 5 drops in warm water 1 hour before meals followed 30 mins later by Chlorella pyrenoidosa is very beneficial in moving the metals along for soak up by Chlorella.

 

I didn't know this about the melatonin. We have been giving it to him about 30 min. before bedtime for about 1 year now and it has worked great. The sleep problems started before treatment but now its worse. He is on 450mg rifampin and 250 Azithro. Are these deep penetrating? ANdrea

[Suzan]

I didn't know this about the melatonin. We have been giving it to him about 30 min. before bedtime for about 1 year now and it has worked great. ANdrea

 

I have to give the melatonin at bedtime too. They usually fall asleep within 30 minutes of getting it. If I give it earlier, they are drowsy but it does not help them go to sleep. Actually if I give it too early, it's like we lost our window and they are sleepy but won't go to sleep.

 

Susan

[SSS]

You know, I have also noticed this about melatonin- if I give it too early, my dd almost catches a '2nd wind' and it doesn't work. I give a little chewable tablet of it while we are in the bathroom getting ready for bed.

If I don't, her mind can't shut down, and she can't fall asleep.