severe insomnia results, case

[Guest guest]

This woman contacted me about 3.5 weeks ago, at 15 weeks postpartum

with her 10th child. She has been either pregnant or lactating for

the last 17 years! Obviously strong constitution, yet the last two

there have been some challenges postpartum indicating clearly

depletions. Her birth went very easy, quickly no pain.

 

The baby has some difficulty nursing, the lactation consultant has

never seen the likes though Mom is pumping very dedicatedly and Baby

drinks all she can get. Mom's depression partly over not being able

to breastfeed successfuly, clearly more than that with long weeks of

insomnia adding up to her facing that fact she really needed help.

 

Her husband found the sacredwindow.com website, researching for

alternatives to allopathic. I did not discourage her from allopathic,

that was stated as her strong preference. She started taking a

formula strong with shatavari for lactatation, ashwagandha, jatamamsi,

some manjista/guduchi due to heavy ezcema and pitta in addition to

high vata, and a few other balancing herbs in her formula. Dashmoola

was provided in separate bag which she added to the main formula.

When the dashmoola ran out was interesting a few days later when the

cry for more help came as below.

 

She homeschools the whole family, and they all are pitching in with

baby care, sleeping with baby even except for feedings, housekeeping,

cooking, sibling care etc a lot these days so Mom can rest. They have

strong living spiritual faith with Christian tradition and her husband

is very kind and actively supportive to her. I thought you would like

to read this delightful report of the last 4 days. (When I read the

first half of the second sentance showing in the email brief, I opened

immediately concerned about something much more serious than her fear

- and had to laugh!) -

 

Nov 22

Ysha, I am getting truly desperate for sleep. I have played with

thoughts the past few days of going to see what the Dr. can do to just

knock me out. If he doesn't have anything, I'll try the street--just

kidding. I know that there are many things not good about this idea,

but my hope is really wavering.

 

Since I started the post-partum diet and herbs about 3 weeks ago (I

think) I have generally been feeling better. But the insomnia seems

to have taken an even stronger hold. It's hard to say, really if it's

worse or just not better. But I slept from 10-12 last night and that

was it. I had very short nights the 5 nights before, too, though baby

Abigail is sleeping pretty well. (ed note, this is a major

improvement over initial situation) It is, of course, affecting so

many other things and I feel like I'm about to go under.

 

On a very happy note, Joanne came today and gave both Abigail and me

a(n ayurvedic postpartum mothers' and infant) massage. It was

soooooooo awesome!! I laid down after my bath and was so sure I was

falling asleep. But I didn't. She is coming back tomorrow and I am

counting the minutes. She is absolutely as wonderful as you said she

was--more, actually.

 

Okay, I know you're really busy. I just had to tell you where my head

was before I go off and do something really stupid. Hope things are

well there. R

 

R - I'm not surprised there are still these challenges, and I'm SO

glad you are staying in touch, and that Joanne is coming back.

Different from the town massage, eh? Yes, this tendency to pop right

back out is why with serious emotional lows and depletion I recommend

at least 5 days Ayurvedic care in a row. It is worth decades of

sanity, good health, good relationships, my dear. If there is any

way...I sure wish I could come help, cook for you too. I hope to hear

that tonight you finally dropped into it again.

 

Get some valerian, tincture is at natural food store. As long as you

have backup for Abigail so she is covered, it is a good call. Have

someone pick up a tincture bottle and take about 10 drops in hot

water. If you need another dose middle of the night, that is fine.

Best to add a little lemon balm herb tea to the hot water too, it

helps prevent possible grogginess in the am. I'll call Joanne and see

if she can pick up something for you on her way out of fairfield also,

called Tagara. Relative of Valerian; 2/3 tsp of the powder sweeten to

taste in hot water. Tastes very earthy very sedative and mind grounding.

 

(ed: she lives in small rural town, access to my preferred herbs and

modalities more limited, we work with what we can)

 

When you wake up middle of the night, do you remember/have you tried

the tahini milk or hot milk with your herbs extra dose, and the tsp of

clarified butter in it, and/or a little snack, and or the other herbs

on the piece I sent you about herbs for sleeping (nutmeg, poppy

seed...)? How often are your bowels moving now? ARe you still really

hungry?

 

Yes, one way or another, you must get sleep. THe doctor is there for

crisis care and will help if you have to go there. He will also want

to give you antidepressants. When you sleep, as you know, all becomes

better. You may want to make your own decision there. IN any case,

you seem clinically depressed and legally I must recommend the doc, if

it were me I would try something else is all I can say that way.

 

Love and light, you are in my prayers, Ysha

 

Nov 23

 

Good morning! I slept!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! R

 

YEAAAAAA TEAM!!! (Joannie just emailed me about it too...I was

praying for you and heard that you would and were *o) Love and hugs,

YSha

 

Nov 24

Ysha,

Joanne brought me the melatonin and dashamoola. She said they didn't

have tagara. I think I have a different analysis of the Valerian.

(ed: initially thought it wasn't working.) It seems that it may be

working, but I didn't know it. Sometimes I'm laying there wondering

why I am " still " awake when I had really felt sleepy. Then I really

concentrate on what I've been thinking and I realize that I have

dreamed! I think that somehow I sleep a little but can't remember

falling asleep or waking up. Is that the " druggy " effect of the

Valerian? I think I'm going to stick with it. It's the closest thing

to working that any of these herbs, etc... have done.

 

I took the melatonin and added the dashmool and the other herbs to my

warm milk and nutmeg before bed last night. I felt good, but I didn't

fall asleep. I got up 2 hours later and tried the Valerian. I may

have slept little bits off and for the next 3-4 hours. Then I did the

Valerian again and I think I slept most of the next 3 hours. We had

lemon balm in the garden and I used it with the Valerian about a week

ago. But the frost has bitten it good by now. I just wasn't up to

remembering to get out there and rescue it. Oops.

 

Clinically depressed? I thought I was just fighting a stubborn

insomnia case. I guess most people diagnosed as depressed don't know

that they are, but I thought that all of the " wrongs " that I was

experiencing were just effects of sleep deprivation. I'm almost never

sad or down--but then, that's extremely rare for me anyway.

 

Other questions: I think my bowels are moving about twice a day. I

still have a good appetite when I have slept, but when I haven't I

find it hard to think about food. Then I eat from a growly stomach,

not a true desire for yummy food. And when I wake up in the night I

am too tired to fix the milk (though that might be influenced by how

likely I think it is to put me to sleep) and I am afraid that to much

activity will further wake me and ruin my chances of more sleep.

 

Well, my ride to Fairfield is ready and I'm off for another massage.

I'll let you know.... R

 

(She happens to live not to far from one of the most experienced

postpartum Ayurvedic doulas in the US with the mothers' ayurvedic home

spa care. It took them these 3 weeks, and some results with a regular

massage and very compassionate support from her local masseuse, and

strong encouragement from the author, to accept the value of more.)

 

Dear R - I was wondering if you were doing some of that - ie, if you

are resting comfortably, much good happens. Continue also with the

melatonin and other things too, the layered effect is good and we do

want you to experience more of the deeper sleep. We can talk also

about the fact that sometimes, as people's consciousness becomes

increasingly pure one is conscious in sleep. THe fact that you have

felt so rough in the daytime says there are other needs to be

addressed in deeper rest though. The can't remember falling asleep or

waking up is also common when there is much fatigue in the body, also

can be from the melatonin or valerian. It is nothing to worry about

in my experience, as long as you are functional once you are up.

 

My mother, at 90,is on an RX medicine family members RN/Doc insists we

continue for mental support of her memory loss and it is so

interesting - she has to take it at night because it makes her sleepy.

I figure part of that may be balancing the always on deck

over-responsible life she has lived so long dedicated to her family -

mother at home most of our lives, hard working RN when not, having

birthed 4 kids in 5 years - she also was overwound by my personal

experience. It could be balancing her left/right hemispheres and

making her take needed rest in the places that are too driven. Don't

know if something similar is happening for you, yet I do know it is

quite possible.

 

I would use 1/2 - 1 tsp of the valerian powder at once a couple times

a night if needed, sounds like what you are doing. I am not so sure

the dosage on tinctures, almost always use powders.

 

Your sensitivity to eating when hungry vs just the growly stomach is

understandable - with much tiredness in the body means there are

wastes the body hasn't had a chance to burn up or may be in the way of

digesting a hearty meal, though the growels mean there is digestive

juices too. Eating less heavily but still eat, your family needs you

to nourish yourself, and your emotions and rejuvenation need you to

attend.

 

Some of our clients find prepping a snack like sauteed tortilla with

nut butter and molasses or jam is a good midnight snack to hold them

over. We had one that would cut it into 3 parts, and eat each time

baby woke, a little. It worked for her though her sleep issues were

not as strong as yours this may be a good call. Or buttered toast

with nut butter...a little sandwich. The oiliness helps balance the

dry, and you will have some hot tea or ? with it? *-)

 

I'm cC to Joanne so she sees the discussion too and we don't have to

duplicate. Stay in touch - THis is all very good progress - and you

are on massage #3 today? YEA! If Joanne is not available for any

more Sally or another woman there in town there may be.

 

Many Blessings -

Ysha

 

Dear Ysha,

Thanks for all of this. I enjoyed the first read (and second for some

parts) and will come back to some of it again when I can digest it

better. As for the snack, I will go with the toast option--preparing

it before bed, I guess, and having the tea ready. I never did get any

of the tortillas made, though I plan to do that when I am better just

for supper for us all. They looked yummy. And as of today I can say

that they are--Joanne bought me lunch after the massage! It was such

a wonderful treat! I was finally eating some of these foods that I

had read your recipes for and wanted. I really couldn't have even

found them and ordered them myself.

 

She is just so very wonderful. Tomorrow is massage #4 and I'm hoping

that will hold me 'til after Thanksgiving. But I was very pleased to

hear from my mom tonight that my dad might have been a little

disappointed about not being able to take me over today. Yea! I can

give him another chance. It seems that he wants to see Fairfield. So

that will be fun with him. Okay, I've gotta be done. I'm sleepy!

Love, R

 

(Fairfield has actually 3 simple but quality Indian and 3-4 Thai/asian

restaurants within 3 block radius of that small town square, one of

the Indian most dedicatedly organic and serving panchakarma food

options also, the others giving some attention to options by seasonal

and daily doshic balance. It was perfect exposure for this mother, so

new to yet open to trying Ayurvedic vata pacifying fare and some

unusual ingredients that served her well.)

 

Dear R and J - I've a big happy smile on my face, and tear in my eye.

Love, YO

 

Nov 25

Dear Ysha,

I told Joanne today but don't know if I can really get it quite right

in writing. Last night was so awesome. I have never had so much fun

sleeping! The minute I laid my head down I knew--this was it! I

honestly cannot remember when the last time was that going to bed felt

so right--before this baby was born, I guess. When she woke up for

her bottle and woke me up I was so excited about going back to sleep

that it took me a few minutes to settle down to do it. I was just

lovin' that feeling so much. I had completely forgotten it and

wondered if I would ever again even remember what it was like. And,

of course, everything was so totally different today. I can't even

begin to go into that. In fact, I'm signing off before I even get

started. I'm getting very sleepy/tired and it would take pages,

anyway. Thank you so much!!! Isn't it awesome that Thanksgiving is

here! How appropriate!!

Love, R

 

Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 6:49 AM, she wrote:

 

Whoopie! This is fun! And good morning, by the way! You girls need

to try this! You lay down, you shut your eyes, and whooosh--you're

gone! I love when one of the little ones wakes me up, 'cuz then I get

to do it again!

Love, R

 

OH, such a smile and laugh on my face! Thank you SO much for sharing.

Sounds like things are getting well restructured!

Love, Y