i have tried everything under the sun to help me sleep. i tried exhasting myself during the day, exersise, i tried calming teas, i tried hot baths to relax...everything. nothing worked for me.i tried everything but acupunture or chropractic help because i couldnt afford it. i think the teas worked once and i was all excited but after one time of it working it didnt work again. i take the hard stuff, ambien...its not a narcotic nor is it addicting, it can be habbit forming which is different....meaning you THINK you need it rather than your body is needing it. but that habbit is usually easy to kick. talk to your doctor and be sure its known you have had sleeping problems and what your considering. if you want to try natural things try them first. read up on it and see if it works for you. see if any of your cf meds will be affected by them. if it doesnt work for you well then you go back to your doctor and tell him what you tried and see what he thinks. then try something like ambien. one hint though do not get over the counter sleep meds. they will leave you feeling drowsy all day and for me they made me feel more congested in the morning. for me ambien lets me get a good deep sleep, i rest better with less hours asleep, i dont feel any more congested the next morning and i dont feel drowsy either. i personally think ambien is great for me, i love it. i take it when i need it. i dont take it everyday unless i am sick and usually when i am sick i have alot more problems sleeping.
just research your natural remedies. try them. maybe you can find one that works for you. just talk to your doctor about it as well make sure nothing will act bad with your current meds. or ask about a prescrition med. its really your choice on what you want to do. do you want to go the natural route or medication route? i know some people dont like putting extra medication in their body. but truely if you try natural and nothing is working dont just automatically say you will never take a sleep med. you do need your sleep so your body can rest and try to heal. if you have had sleep problems for years you will be amazed at how good you will feel with even one day of a really good sleep. thats how i was, sleep problems for years i finally do something and my health has actually seen benifits...im not saying huge benifits, but i have noticed i have alot more engergy to just go and do things and to me thats great.
sorry for the long post i know you really didnt want that. but thats my experiences