I need a how-to on how to get to sleep

My insomnia has gotten bad again.  I'm on anti-epileptics that should make me sleep like a log.  But I'm struggling to get to sleep at decent hours.  Then when I've finally been up long enough to cause exhaustion I need to sleep ridiculous spans to catch up.  I'm trying to force a structured routine to make my body tire naturally but so far no luck.  But then I only have just managed to start getting a little more activity in without risking seizures. Beginning to feel like by the time I'm full recovered from the first op the surgeons will be cutting in to resect the tumour again.  On the bright side, the tumor may just shift away from the section of my brain that controls the movement of my right leg.  So I may get to keep they movement of the limb.

Distractions and productivity are not mutually exclusive

I'd like to say 'Another day, Another Dollar' but since I'm on sick pay the days don't mean much either way. I would go stark raving mad at my current lack of activity if it weren't for the fact that my anti-epileptic drugs make me too lethargic to actually give a rat's arse. I meant to get more writing done today, and perhaps even work some more on my CV for when I find a job for occupational therapy.  Then the distractions hit...

Today's distraction...

- Decided to vacuum room. Eventually I actually got to this but only after I finished vacuuming the lounge out.
- Thought meh, may as well vacuum the lounge and realised no one had done the couches and cushions for awhile; two breaks, a washing pile and lunch later this finally got done
- Needed to hang out washing, having remember to actually put it in in the first place.
- Oh, right. Need to take down dry stuff first; but I want to work on this piece I'm writing
- Eh, no milk for me. :( :( Walkies!!!! :)
- Still not wrote anything but sudden epiphany made me put off making bed
- Working through notes on project, hit me that it may actually be easier to time up the 12 pages of outline I have to make the changes.
- Finally manage to write a writing challenge (Called kick her to the Curb), still not started typing up current project

Conveniently I 'forgot' about CV.  But since all I need to refine now is the references and format I think I'm good.  I'm kinda restricted in what I do at the moment anyway and have to consider any job as part of a learning curve. I'm expecting workplace stress factors to affect my triggers.

Actually, dispite the distraction level I was quite productive  ^_^

Anti-convulsants

The joy of any medication is the side effects.  Anti-convulsants are never prescribed without reason.  In my case they were prescribed to take the edge off grand-Mal seizures.  They seem to be do they well for the most part, aside from the occasionally leg spasm. However, I have felt ridiculously lethargic since i began taking them.  It feel like I have to go for a run in the morning just to be able to coordinate my muscular movements enough to walk.  This is a result of the function of the anti-convulsants.

The anti-convulsants contain chemicals that interact with the neuro-chemicals in the brain in such a fashion that they serve to slow the chemical reactions down. Slow chemical reaction in the brain prevents the electron firing that causes seizures but also cause the more mundane activities of the brain to occur at a slow rate.  The biological process creep along in comparison to what they are capable of.  I know by this reasoning that the lethargy is a normal reaction by it is hard to get started when the mental equivalent of sand has been pour in the brain engine.

In my own case this lethargy can by quite difficult the deal with as I am on high doses of two different anti-convulsants.  I don't mind constantly wanting to sleep, but waking up tired is a bugger.  Even things I enjoy doing are difficult thanks to tiredness and inability to concentrate.  Coffee only helps so much.