Anyone hear from Shannon

[kssfgirl]

Wondering how her and Drew are doing - hope they have good news.

[beardiedawg]

I don't think Drew has entered yet. It might be the week after Christmas. No word from Shanon but hope it is good news.

Edit. She posted on the remeron vs trazadone thread.

[shansd]

Hi everyone, thanks for asking.

I left the place after only two days, as there were no organised activities such as yoga, meditation...I just sat on the couch all day watching t.v. feeling awful (took no meds the night before). I could do that at home for free. Everyone else at the facility slept all day and night since insomnia was not their issue, so it was pretty torturous sitting there all on my own...at least I have a support system at home.

There is some good news however. I got my money back. Also I continued not taking the meds (left them there) and am now on day 5 of no ambien or anything. Last night for the first time in 14 years I got 3 hours of sleep all by myself. Obviously not enough but it gives me hope that more natural sleep will come if I persevere.

It has been very rough....zero sleep for 4 days straight, but it was a great time to do it as I had no commitments at all since everyone thinks I am away for 30 days. So not having to see anyone and having no plans made me able to resist the temptation to take anything (could not take ambien since didn't have it but do have a cupboard full of old meds).

I have no plans for xmas but the good thing is there are many places I could go (various friends have an open invitation) if I sleep the night before.

I told Drew about the place and he had second thoughts but is still going...mainly because it was a beautiful place so he can treat it like a vacation in CA...since I already live here I did not need a vacation here.

I could not have posted any earlier as I most definately was not in a positive frame of mind on 4 days of no sleep.

Feel good tonight...really we do not ask for much do we....3 hours and I am happy...

Really appreciate all of you for caring.

Will keep you up to date re how this goes. If it works for me it can work for anyone. Key seems to be no pressure or commitments, and not seeing anyone so I don't worry about how I look...cannot obviously live my life like that but maybe if I get back confidence that I will sleep when I go to bed it will not be so difficult.

[beardiedawg]

Shansd, it sounds like you found the best way for you to do this. Taking the time off and not worrying about anyone but yourself appears the way to go. Good luck!

[thesaint827]

Hi Shanon,

You are a real trooper !!! I hope everything works out for you. Happy Holidays !!! By the way, how bad are your withdrawals from the medication? I do not take Ambien but I heard is real tough like other potent benzos.

[DIZZYLAND]

Wow! .. 3 natural hours is great news !
Curious to know if you experience withdrawals ??
Thanks for keeping us posted as you are an inspiration !
I bet it's been really difficult to wipe your own arse tho

[drewbranham]

Hi Everyone and Merry Christmas

Yes, I am going the week after Xmas and I still have a positive attitude. Every place is not right for every person and I am so happy that Shannon is doing ok and slept last night. Keep up the great work Shannon and I can't wait to meet you in a few weeks.

Thanks to Shannon I have been able to be prepared for what to expect. I am not looking at it as a vacation by any means. Given the info I received, I was able to get a program in place that is perfect for me.

Here is my schedule:

8:00am to 9:30am Gym or Yoga (already received my membership)
10:30 to 2:30 Group Therapy
3:00 to 4:00 Individual Therapy
5:00- 6:00 Free Time (I am going surfing or fishing)
Dinner
7:30 12 Step Meeting
9:00 Journal writing

I have said it once and I will say it again.........I am going to make this work.

[drewbranham]

Also......just curious as to what you all think????

I spoke to a sleep specialist about my program and he said that the medically approved way to stop Ambien is a four day cycle of trazadone. I have never taken this medicine but they suggest you take it for four days after stopping ambien to help get your sleep cycle back.

I still really think I can make this work. I hope to give you all an update once I get started.

[roger]

good luck to both of ya!

[shansd]

Hi:

There were no withdrawal symptoms from the Ambien, and believe me I am familiar with withdrawal having come off the xanax. It was just zero sleep. So I just felt exhausted...but what's new there? Psychologically of course it is torture as each night goes by and you still have not slept all night. By 3am this morning I really thought I could not go on anymore...then miraculously I woke up and realized I had fallen asleep at last.

I think it is willpower, acceptance that you are not going to sleep at all for several nights, and zero commitments that enables you to stop taking the ambien. You have to take time off work to do it.

Of course I am not free and clear and am still dreading going to bed tonight, but actually sleeping on my own did give me a lot of hope. I actually had a dream..have not dreamed since going on the ambien

Looking forward to meeting you too Drew.

[JennyE]

So glad both of you are doing so well. You are right Shansd--we do ask for so little, just a few hours of sleep. I've had a couple sleepless nights recently, off the Ambien CR. I took it a total of about 6 weeks. But that reassurance that I would sleep was still there. I've watched tv, let my cat sleep on my chest (one of us should sleep!), walked, and finally remembered a CD that puts me to sleep. The man's voice could put me to sleep if he was yelling fire, fire! So I used that about 1 this morning and slept off and on the rest of the night. I'll give it a try again tonight. He doesn't say anything magic, I just learned several years ago his speaking voice could put me to sleep.

Here's hoping for a restful night for us all!

[JennyE]

I had another sleepless night. Why does my sleep doctor wonder why I want Ambien? I'm right back into my regular insomnia again. I finally gave up trying to sleep, so I got dressed, sat in my recliner and fell asleep. Maybe anxiety about not sleeping is keeping me awake! So my mind shuts down now every time I sit in that chair all day! I wake up and it's an hour later.

Shansd I hope you got a little bit of sleep last night. And get enough rest to see friends or family for Christmas. Family will take a full night's sleep for me to face tomorrow.

Happy Holidays to everyone, I hope we all get more sleep in the new year!

[DIZZYLAND]

Earth to shansd Earth to shansd come in please over beep beep whiiiZzzzz click
< is that the mug of the alien that had abducted you ?
Please advise so that we may send help !

Do hope you're hanging in there toots ...

[shansd]

Happy Xmas everyone...Dizzy, the alien called sleep took me away for 3 hours the other night but has not returned since....

Feel like an alcoholic that fell of the wagon..after my 3 hours of natural sleep 2 nights ago got zero the following night. Last night (xmas eve) gave in at 3am and popped .5 xanax (have no ambien in the house) so that I could have some pleasure on Xmas day. Had beautiful xmas day as a result...my body is no longer used to drugs so slept great, plus .5 is too little to have the usual drugged feeling.

However am disappointed in myself and not sure where to go from here. Was so determined to be drug free but was starting to crack up on day 5 of zero sleep other than the 5 hours.

Secret seems to be no sleep/no drugs for a few days, then spectacular night sleep w/very little xanax or whatever other drug. Will not take xanax tonight however as am terrified of the addictiveness of that drug.

So my day was bliss. Totally unplanned as thought i would be in detox for 30 days so made no plans. Went to beach, drank bloody Marys all afternoon, followed by dinner in Hotel Del Coronado.

Hope everyone else enjoyed their day as much as me. Feel like I deserved it after 5 days of torturous hell....sorry however to report my relapse.

[DIZZYLAND]

Aw Dont be so hard on yourself as you're still only human.
Just make sure the hadn't impregnated you as I'm sure you wouldnt appreciate that...

BTW: This looks interesting
http://www.earthpulsetechnologies.com/