Nightmares

[Momma2threegirls]

Anyone else having a terrible time sleeping since they began. I toss and turn all night and I've been having very disturbing nightmares. The kinds where you wake up out of breathe or sobbing. I'm not getting any rest and it makes my days with the girls VERY long. I'm eating and drinking enough. I'm not eating after 8pm and I'm not hungry. On days when I get exercise in it's before 5pm...and usually before 3:00pm

Just wondering if this is part of the diet and if anyone else is struggling with this. It's been going on NIGHTLY for 2 full weeks now.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Erika

[murphy'smom]

Re: Nightmares

Well, I do have VERY vivid dreams on this WOL. I did toss and turn a lot in my first week of Induction. I think your body needs time to adjust to this drastic new way of eating and burning fat for energy instead of carbs. I never toss and turn anymore, but the dreams are really real! I kinda enjoy it, very weird dreams. Gives me something to tell my best friend about! LOL
I do hope you can get past this and get some rest! Maybe try taking a Benedril (SP) before you go to bed to help you sleep. That is what my doc told me to do on nights where you can't sleep. Good luck!

[carbless_in_seattle]

Re: Nightmares

Yes. I have nightmares, they're usually that I'm stuffing my face with carbs! If you're talking about scary dreams, I haven't really had scary dreams, but I remember a couple of months ago I was having some. A few I woke up and cried from. But those have gone away, what hasn't gone away for me is the insomnia, I sleep very lightly now

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Nightmares

Most people find they don't need as much sleep after they get into the swing of this WOL. It takes a lot of energy to try to digest crap.

Many of us have had very vivid dreams about eating carbs--so real that sometimes we have to get out of bed to go check the fridge and trash to see if we really did. I felt like I could still taste the carby food when I woke up. That tapered off within a few weeks.

Hope it settles down for you very soon. Maybe you could try taking magnesium at bedtime--it is a strong muscle relaxer and soother. Also, chamomile tea helps me sleep.

Sunny!

[joee5]

Re: Nightmares

Me nightmares, are me scale. Or would it be called morningmares? God Bless, Joe

[Momma2threegirls]

Re: Nightmares

Thanks for the support. I can't take a lot of "typical" OTC meds. Benedryl winds me up to no end. I avoid most of them. Thanks Sunny for reminding me about magnesium. I used that during my twin pregnancy to keep my muscles calm at the end and get some rest. I also use Rescue Remedy by Bach Flower Essences and Motherwort tincture. I'm falling asleep like a log since I began doing this. In the past I could never get my mind to turn off. Now I can drift off with no problems..but the dreams are terrible and then I wake up and I'm all upset and it's like my mind jumps right back into the dream and picks it up again. I've always been a big dreamer - but these are scarier. Tonados sucking the house and my daughter away, people taking everything away from me, people dying. No eating dreams...although i've had those in my carb filled past.


I'll try the magnesium tonight and keep my rescue rememdy right by the bedside - maybe that will help. I can't drink tea late - I'm up all night in the bathroom. White Peony tea is really nice as a calming/sleep tea as well.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Nightmares

Benedryl wires me to no end; I am up all night ricocheting off the walls. I was in the hospital having a procedure done and I was not asleep, and before I could stop them the surgeon said, "Give her so many cc's of Benedryl." It is now all over my chart not to EVER give me Benedryl.

[fat4now]

Re: Nightmares

My dreams are very real as well. Not scarey but too real. A friend recommended Melatonin. Info can be found here. He told me he slept very deep and woke up very relaxed.
Melatonin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Mirya]

Re: Nightmares

When I first started ATKINS I had the exact same question. Some of them were really freaking horrible lol. They wear off, its the bodies reaction to an over abundance of chemicals and hormones from the fat and the body regulating.

[Mirya]

Re: Nightmares

Thanks for the support. I can't take a lot of "typical" OTC meds. Benedryl winds me up to no end. I avoid most of them. Thanks Sunny for reminding me about magnesium. I used that during my twin pregnancy to keep my muscles calm at the end and get some rest. I also use Rescue Remedy by Bach Flower Essences and Motherwort tincture. I'm falling asleep like a log since I began doing this. In the past I could never get my mind to turn off. Now I can drift off with no problems..but the dreams are terrible and then I wake up and I'm all upset and it's like my mind jumps right back into the dream and picks it up again. I've always been a big dreamer - but these are scarier. Tonados sucking the house and my daughter away, people taking everything away from me, people dying. No eating dreams...although i've had those in my carb filled past.


I'll try the magnesium tonight and keep my rescue rememdy right by the bedside - maybe that will help. I can't drink tea late - I'm up all night in the bathroom. White Peony tea is really nice as a calming/sleep tea as well.

See if your Dr. can give you a script of hydroxyzine. It is a strong antihistimine used to treat anxiety and sleep issues without side effects of becomming addicted or dependant. Also helps ya breath better hehe

[Momma2threegirls]

Re: Nightmares

IThanks Mirya: but I'm still nursing my twins a few times per day and I wouldn't want to kill off my milk supply with an antihistamine. Besdies I react so poorly to drugs. Even tylenol PM or Ambien leave me groggy in the AM and VERY VERY grouchy. How long did it take for your body to detox and move on? I tried some rescue rememdy last night - it helped some. Tonight I am going to remember my magnesium!

[Mirya]

Re: Nightmares

IThanks Mirya: but I'm still nursing my twins a few times per day and I wouldn't want to kill off my milk supply with an antihistamine. Besdies I react so poorly to drugs. Even tylenol PM or Ambien leave me groggy in the AM and VERY VERY grouchy. How long did it take for your body to detox and move on? I tried some rescue rememdy last night - it helped some. Tonight I am going to remember my magnesium!

Sorry, I didn't read that you were still nursing. The hydroxyzine may be safe for breast feeding I don't know but I would at least call a dr. or a pharmacy and ask the pharmacist. Hydroxyzine is the same little green pill the dentist gives people before laughing gas . It helps other medications work better and more efficiently. Tylenol PM is nothing but an antihistimine as well so that may be why. Ambien I do not know, I haven't taken it.


If nothing else it may be worth asking about <shrugs> I would call the dr. to see if there is something they can do, just let them know whats going on.

For me the nightmares didn't start until my body got into deeper layers of fat to burn. It didn't start until my late 2nd-late 3rd week and had me really freaking out. The one I recall very vividly was a cat whos head was surgically removed from its body and a monitor like box put in its place. I NEVER think about stuff liek that but also I am wondering if the movie Sybil actually bothered me more than I thought. Its what the cat reminded me off and still to this day does. I am NOT AT ALL looking forward to anymore of those kinds of nightmares. That had me very uneasy for a full week.

[Momma2threegirls]

Re: Nightmares

Wow that's some cat you dreamt up! Aren't dreams just a wild thing - I think they are amazing. I've always been a vivid dreamer. like you said maybe it's a good sign that I'm getting deeper into the fat! At least that's a happy thought.

I thought I'd post just in case any other nursing momma was curious. Hydroxyzine (trade names Atarax and Vistaril) are classified as an L1 by Dr. Thomas Hale. It is considered "safest" while Bf'ing. It's an Cat. C for pregnancy and there are other safer options. It's used as both an antihistamine and an antiemetic. Main side effects are Sedation, hypotension and dry mouth. I won't be allowed to take it based on the hypotension I already run REALLY low. That, and i am just not the type to pop a pill. But thanks for the idea should I need something more. Hopeully the Magnesium chloride tincture will help tongiht.

[Mirya]

Re: Nightmares

Wow that's some cat you dreamt up! Aren't dreams just a wild thing - I think they are amazing. I've always been a vivid dreamer. like you said maybe it's a good sign that I'm getting deeper into the fat! At least that's a happy thought.

I thought I'd post just in case any other nursing momma was curious. Hydroxyzine (trade names Atarax and Vistaril) are classified as an L1 by Dr. Thomas Hale. It is considered "safest" while Bf'ing. It's an Cat. C for pregnancy and there are other safer options. It's used as both an antihistamine and an antiemetic. Main side effects are Sedation, hypotension and dry mouth. I won't be allowed to take it based on the hypotension I already run REALLY low. That, and i am just not the type to pop a pill. But thanks for the idea should I need something more. Hopeully the Magnesium chloride tincture will help tongiht.

I mayhave to look into the magnesium chloride cause i really do hate taking pills.

[Momma2threegirls]

Re: Nightmares

You can get it at a health food store. The bottle is a liquid and it usuallys says Mag-Chlor.

I started using it with my twin pregnancy as a reccomendation from my midwife and a nurse practioner who specializes in women's health. Towards the end of the pregnancy when things would wind up early, I used to help me unwind and at night to get some rest. There were nights when my belly was one solid braxton hicks for long periods of time. So, I'd eat a protien rich snack, drink some water and take the mag-chlor and it really helped me. It can also be good for leg cramps. Sleeping at the end was impossible as I couldn't lye down , be comfortable and get myself up. I'd have to literally have my husband shove me out of the bed and I was trapped in whatever position I happened to land in.....it was a great sight!

Anyways, it's safe, non-adicting and cheap.

Motherwort is also a great tincture for anxiety, stress and sleep - although if you use it routinely it can be habbit forming and it should NEVER be used while pregnant. I like it too

Some people also do great with Valerian. There is a mixed valerian based tincture called dream sleep. I can't take it - I have negative reactions to valerian root- but my girlfriend uses it. Valerian IS safe while pregnant and Bf'ing