It feels like my sleep switch won’t kick on. I can get totally relaxed, feel my sleep mode start and then it just stops.
I had a knee replacement in June of 2024, and I was on pain killers (NARCO’s) for about a month. When I quit the pain pills, I could not get to sleep. I tried over the counter medications and some made me jittery and others did nothing.
My doctor gave me a few different prescriptions and zolpidem worked well.
My insurance stopped covering this medication in January, so I’m looking for others that may have found a solution to this.
I have been taking zolpidem for just over a year with good results. Fortunately, the VA covers this medication with a small co-pay.
Before starting zolpidem, I had good luck with Benadryl, which is OTC and relatively cheap. You may want to try this while you research other prescription medications.
Good luck!
I have much experience with my own sleep patterns. The things I have found work is a similar wind down each night at a similar time. I eat some foods that contain tryptophan if I can. You can add sound if it doesn’t disturb you there is green noise, nature sounds whatever is right for you. I have taken melatonin but don’t at the moment.
Good to help your body clock by arising in the morning and going for a walk in the sunshine. I walk at 7.30 am each day with a friend that way there’s motivation. Lavender is a great oil to put on if you don’t have an allergy. Yin yoga is phenomenal.
Managing any stressors is also important.
I hope some of that helps.
Also need to look at any other reasons why you might not be sleeping.
I obtained a dental appliance from my dentist for sleep apnoea. That doubled my deep sleep time and has made an amazing difference.
I wish you all the best, sleep issues are the worst
Take care