Was wondering if anyone else has had this problem post stroke for this long and recovered from it ? My GP has given up as he’s tried every medication going including hypnotherapy and acupuncture and CBT it’s making my life totally miserable . Would maybe buck me up a bit if I knew others had recovered naturally from this problem.
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Are you getting some sleep? If so, how much? When do you typically aim to go to bed and what are your demands with waking up? There is a plethora of threads on the forum discussing insomnia if you type insomnia in the magnifying glass search bar, they will pop up. Instead of trying to nap, have you tried some sort of meditation as rest? I am prone to insomnia but it has settled now a bit, I depend on a fantasy story I run through my head, ambient sounds, and a fairly strict albeit loose bedtime routine. I’ve been taking magnesium for many years to help boost melatonin levels, and drink a herbal tea concoction at night to signal wind down time. Sometimes none of these things help and I can spend hours trying to get to sleep. I’m not a fan of getting up and doing something as it tends to make me feel gloopy.
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Thank you for responding rups I used to get maybe 2 hours but has deteriorated to none at all I can’t nap either I just lay down and rest for an hour in the afternoon I get up between 5and 6 do housework and anything else that needs doing as by lunchtime not up to anything. Any social events my husband has to go to alone and I don’t go out after midday as I don’t trust myself on the roads as I’m so sleepy. Usually in bed for 9 and read for a while but so sleepy I have to put it down but sleep always evades me . Have just ordered some magnesium did try once before without success but have reverted to trying things again . I try to stay positive but it’s very hard.
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I think magnesium can help support enzymes that convert serotonin into melatonin but this may not be your issue. Over the years of taking magnesium, I still had dreadful insomnia, and tend to think of it not as a cure but something that may or may not help but is relatively harmless, so why not. No sleep at all is a concern, so it is important to rest or meditate as it can be just as beneficial as sleeping, however, deep sleep is the optimum time for the body and brain to repair. What is happening when you don’t sleep? Are you overthinking? Worrying or stressing? In pain? Or just alert?
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Hello Lorraine - I don’t believe we’ve met. Nice to meet you.
I note Rupert has been giving you some excellent feedback/advice and I am sure this will help you. I also note from your message that this is a long term issue for you, made worse by the fact your GP has tried everything and has noe run out of ideas 
On this forum we usually find things that might have been elsewhere, but if after trying we don’t come up with a solution, well we just keep going and sooner or later a solution will be presented 
I would like to offer you two things to do to see if we can’t get some clues as to what might be going on here. Remember, we never give up and so if at first you don’t succeed, sleep on it and whilst you are sleeping, your brain will come up with a solution. It’s actually amazing hoe often this happens
First thing, please watch these videos to see if they say something that might help you.
Secondly, please do the free test to see what they come up with (please note it is not a diagnosis per se …
Once you have done this, please do come back and share with us what you found - we will solve this even if it’s the last thing we ever do!
Namaste|
No we haven’t and thank you for responding I will certainly take a look at these videos and try anything recommended any help is just so appreciated as I said sometimes it can be so difficult to stay positive. Thank you again. 
Is your Cortisol too high?
what works for me is Phosphatidylserine and Earthing and Sunshine
When I don’t sleep I try not to think I listen to a relaxation cd on low and then just think about nice things from childhood but to no avail I’m definitely not alert which is why I can’t understand how someone so sleepy doesn’t fall asleep 
I don’t know pando could be something to check maybe . Thank you for suggestion.
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Hi Lorraine–you may not want to try it, but CBD gummies or oil (without THC) always put me to sleep. I didn’t originally take it for insomnia , but for leg muscle seizures after my stroke- so chronic at night that I couldn’t sleep. CBD stopped the muscle seizures,but also put me to sleep. Over time the muscle problems stopped and I no longer needed the CBD, but I keep it on hand and use every few weeks or months if I have leg muscle seizures. 
Jeanne
Thank you no not tried these but am willing to try anything that may help could you tell me the make you use by any chance ? As I wouldn’t quite know what I was looking for thank you for the advice.
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Hi Lorraine - I copied this info off the net ___
**CBD stands for cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis and hemp plants.**Unlike THC, CBD does not produce intoxicating effects and is often used for its potential therapeutic properties, including pain relief, anxiety reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects Healthline+2.
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors in the body that helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite, immune function, and other physiological processes.
I live in California. CBD was a lifesaver for me. I get my CBD products on the net. I use FAB CBD gummies, but they do not ship to England. I would suggest that first you do some research on the net concerning CBD, dosage , etc.( I weigh 120 lbs and use 20 mg. gummies, but everyone is different and they say to start low and work up until you are helped. Taking more than is needed doesn’t work. And, of course, CBD may not help you. Try to find a reputable place to buy it, some place someone in your country has used. Maybe a local health food store would stock it. I know they do here. I don’t know what the status of CBD product is in England. P.S. You should check with your doctor first. Both my GP and Cardiologist were ok with me trying it. I hope you can get some sort of relief soon. My best to you. You’ll be in my prayers. Jeanne
@Lorraine_Langham - In case you hasn’t seen it already, this topic was discussed last year on this forum
A number of contributors including @smellypup , @Trace57 , @Rups and @pando have commented and you may find this worth reading.
I will add that you may wish also to discuss this (euse of CBDproducts) with your GP in case it hasn’t already been discussed.
A non-medicinal alternative therapy consideration.
I am guessing this problem is new to you post stroke. Whilst this may not make any difference, have you changed the position of the bed in which you sleep?
There is information out there that suggests the direction in which your place your head when you sleep makes a difference to the quality of your sleep.
Do you know or can you find out the direction your head faces when you sleep and are you willing to consider changing that?
You can read up a bit on here
Which Direction Should You Sleep Facing?
Key Takeaways from the above articles
- The ancient Indian tradition of Vastu Shastra recommends sleeping with your head pointing toward the east or south for better sleep and overall health.
- The principles of feng shui recommend aligning your head toward the north during sleep to harmonize your body with the Earth’s energy.
- Some studies suggest that a north-south sleeping orientation may improve sleep quality by aligning with Earth’s electromagnetic field.
Thank you so much for this info will definitely look into it as I really don’t know how long I can cope with no sleep thanks again. 
Here’s how to reset your suprachiasmatic nucleus SCN ; the master clock of your body that all local clocks in your body are slave to. Get up within half an hour of sunrise and let the sunlight hit your body directly for a half hour. Eyes are important during this phase.
if you’re interested in this technique you could do no harm in following Jack Kruse’s explanation. Dr. Jack Kruse is a respected neurosurgeon and CEO of Kruse Longevity Center at Destin. He is a bit wacky, but he understands a lot of decentralized human biology.
I lived with insomnia to the point of exasperation - I cured it with daylight and earthing (look up Carnegie Curve). Anti-Blue light glasses prepare your eyes for sleep so I wear them 2 hours before bed, Mg+, bedtime regularity, Montmorency tart cherries naturally contain a few key compounds that support sleep regulation:
- Melatonin : A hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
- Tryptophan : An amino acid that helps your body produce melatonin and serotonin.
- Anthocyanins : Plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that may also aid the sleep process.
… and more ; I must do a clip on sleep before I forget all the tweaks that helped ! My latest clip on listening to music explains theta and delta wave brain states
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@Lorraine_Langham - This might be part of your problem. Please listen to this podcast be the [late] brilliant Michael Mosley. You might just benefit from this …
Your bed is for sleeping - not reading …
This is the 3rd episode in a series of 5 podcasts on the subject of sleeping called “Sleep Well”.
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My mum was prescribed melatonin and it solved the problem. Takes about 2 weeks to settle in.
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That’s great Anne - thanks for sharing this with us.
Welcome to the community and looking forward to you sharing more experiences with us
Wishing you and your Mum all the best!
Namaste|
Michael Mosley suffered from insomnia for about three decades, but his was waking at the crack of a snail’s fart and unable to get back to sleep.