Hello. My brother had a stroke just over a year ago. He is only getting around 3 hours sleep a night. He never was a good sleeper before the stroke. Will ask the GP but was hoping someone had the magic answer. Thank you. Steph.
6 Likes
My hubby has used āNight Kalmsā for a number of years, usually when under stress from work. Its worth a try before going down the prescription route.
3 Likes
I have always dealt with insomnia in various ways, and there are a few discussions on the topic on this forum, a search of āsleepā might suffice to bring up some decent reads. I am not familiar with herbal sleep remedies, or how effective they are, I think the primary herbal sleep remedy would be valerian, you can purchase extracts or, if it grows around your area, access it for nothing. Itās important to check contraindications with any meds he is already taking, even when using herbal medicines. Or should I say, especially when taking herbal remedies as, unfortunately, studies are not as rigorous as their processed counterparts. If I awake too early for my eight hours, I put on an audio book and an eye mask, I listen until I drop off again, but I am three years post stroke, and I do remember those heady days of early stroke sleep issues.
The best advice I can give, in my opinion, is that sleep is not the most important thing. The brain uses more energy sleeping than when it is awake, surprisingly. So, rest is best, if he canāt sleep, then doing something restful will be of benefit. Letting the mind relax as opposed to REM which can be exhausting for the brain.
3 Likes
I wouldnāt recommend anything if heās already on meds without checking with his GP first.
A lot of the drugs that weāre put on post stroke supress breathing to a certain amount, as do a lot of sleeping tablets.
The combination of the two really could be the last thing you want to even think about.
4 Likes
Herbal can be overwhelming. After all, essence of poppy is herbal. It would knock you, or him, out for a few hours but in my opinion, it would not be something to recommend, knowing what there is to know about it.
Iāll add to all this wisdom by saying that for now it is only important to be asleep when he feels the need.
I regularly wake in the middle of the night. I donāt struggle with that. I just fire up my laptop, read a bit or often write a bit on the forum. After an hour or so its usually back to bed until morning.
Next day I might have a cat nap or two. Rest is important so I grab it when the urge to curl up grabs me.
Sometimes Iāve slept more in the daytime than at night. I reckon as long as I get what my body asks for Iām okay.
I suppose Iām a very strange bird, I prefer not to try to medicate myself into a routine. If I want to pee every few hours than thatās what Iāll do. If I donāt poo for a few days then so be it.
Let it sort itself out. It drops back into a stable rhythm again eventually, anyhow.
Stressing about it and trying to constantly self adjust can drag things in a very strange direction, indeed.
Stress, worry, wandering thought processes, all contribute to the disrupting of normality.
As you read here you will discover that after a year or two folk begin to come to terms with things and settle to something, which might not be normal, but will be more bearable.
Getting through the first months, or year or two is an evolving process, accompanied by repair.
Rest, rest, rest, but only when you (or he) needs to. Activity and stimulation is building and useful too.
You share your experiences with a huge crowd of us.
The old everything in moderation works well.
keep on keepinā on
4 Likes
Stephy,
Iām going to say take serotonin (from which we make melatonin) before sleep. Chamomile tea in the evening. Check Blood pressure. Also montmorency cherries are good for sleep. CBD too. Bit of magnesium to calm the muscles. Read a book on sleep āwhy we sleepā by matthew walker. I had sleep problems (1 hour a night) just over a year ago, about 4 months after my stroke.
Good luck to your brother, Roland
5 Likes
I canāt recommend any sleeping meds but perhaps a review of his sleep hygiene might be needed. We all know the things no screens for an hour before bed, relaxing bath, not eating too late, no caffeine after mid afternoon, not exercising too late in the day. They say that if you canāt sleep you should get up & do something until you feel sleepy and then go back to bed again. Something to try & clear his mind like deep breathing, meditation might be an option.
Hope you manage to get something sorted. Not sleeping is the pits.
4 Likes
The GP would be the first port of call.
Iām afraid I went down the drugs route after my stroke. I took Zolpidem for about 2 years, then came off them when I thought I could cope without them. I used to get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep and didnāt wake up groggy, or with any side effects. I donāt take anything now, but listen to an audio book until I fall asleep (usually after about 5-10 minutes). I only get about 6 hours now, but top up with power naps during the day.
2 Likes
Not herbal but a mineral supplement - investigate magnesium.
Itās essential in the body for hundreds of processes and one reported effect is improving sleep.
For me, it has virtually stopped my migraines.
3 Likes
I whole heartedly agree with that 
When I read up about that, I took magnesium for just 2 weeks and the pain in my head, I had for nearly 3yrs post stroke, just went. I was absolutely astonished by that, Iām surprised my gp never suggested it. And Iām going to mention that to them next time I ever get to see one. I do still take one 1-2 times a week as a preventative measure now.
1 Like
Iām glad that you saw such a profound effect.
I now take one 375mg tablet of magnesium in the morning and another at night.
Itās almost impossible to take too much. Do you recall people taking Milk of Magnesia or Epsom Salts - those are massive doses by comparison.
2 Likes
Yes I do remember those, though Iāve never really used them in adulthood. I do remember my mum giving to me Milk of Magnesia occasionally when I was young for whatever reason 
1 Like