What is Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (FM or FMS or Fibro) is a debilitating chronic syndrome (constellation of signs and symptoms) characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue...
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Fibro sleep issues
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SLEEP & all the issues surrounding it is an Achilles' heel for most of us with Fibro. You'd think it would be simple: get tired, lie down close eyes, sleep, wake up 7-8 hrs later feeling refreshed. Easy, right? WRONG! Some of us have legs that want to move for no apparent reason. Some of us can't fall asleep. Some of us fall asleep readily BUT wake up every hour for no apparent reason. Some of us fall asleep readily, sleep through the night only to awaken exhausted & in need of a nap!
Personally, I've recently moved from being a wake-up-every-hour to a sleep but not get refreshed type. Tres frustrating. I had tried that Tylenol Sleep stuff & it did make me groggy BUT it made my heart beat very rapidly ( a no-no). The next morning, I was a zombie. As for the prescription stuff, the Dr. said that, although I'm an adult, he was concerned due to my small size (5'1 1/2 & 100 lbs). He mentioned some of the severe side effects some people get from meds like Ambien & well...he didn't have to tell me twice! I decided to make some changes. I moved the alarm clock to where I could neither hear it or see it. This diminished some of my anxiety. Ridding my room of anything stress/work/study-related helped too. I'd be getting ready for bed, feeling achy & anticipating a lousy sleep. Seeing all the bills that needed paying, forms that needed filling & text books really did NOT help. Essential oils/home made treatments have always been a fun thing I did. Certain essential oils (NOT 'perfume' oils) have been scientifically proven to affect us in different ways. I've found that 1 drop if Marjoram essential oil on a tissue in the room has a relaxing effect as does lavender oil. Just a drop. Then I had one of those AHA moments last week when I incorporated ST. John's Wort (Jamieson brand up here) into my sleep routine. !/2 hr to an hr or so B4 bed, I take 2 of them. The difference it has made is life altering. Sleep issues for me were a real problem for the longest time & for the 1st time, I've gotten some relief. Begin with just one, then try 2. Another thing is to buy pj's one size too large preferably w/o collars & with minimal seaming. Ditch anything with that nylon lace or ribbing. Forgey polyester & go for smooth pima cotton or flannel. Land's End carries good ones for a reasonable price. We are hypersensitive & anything pulling or tugging while we're trying to sleep will worsen pain & possibly wake us up. Since we're all up this creek in one way or another, I thought I'd share these ideas. I hope there's something you can use in here. Posted on 11/06/09, 05:11 pm |
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Thanks for the tips! I've had all the sleep problems you mentioned at one time or another....they seem to cycle. Now, I'm using Flexeril and it helps me sleep better.
I also like the extra large jammies, and have invested in a great mattress and high thread count, super soft cotton sheets!! Good sleep makes all the difference! HUGS from down south :) 
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Thank You for the tips. I've also removed all little pot-pourri from my closet and dressers.
Hugs
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I'd tried Flexeril but it turned me into an uber-zombie. Fibro fatigue is bad enough w/o a pill transforming me into Ozzie Osborne. I got a new mattress too! One of those Serta's with a Euro top & I got these great Egyptian cotton 1000 tc sheets brand new for a song on Ebay. Sears (of all places) has these brushed Portuguese cotton flannel 170G sheets on sale until Feb! Get 'em while the getting is good! Sleeping in loose thick cotton socks, for some reason, calms my legs down. Go figure! Oh & get rid of any bright colours & jarring patterns in your room too. No lime green curtains with orange polka-dots!
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I've used the foam ear plugs for years and they help a lot. You can buy a gallon of them in safety type stores. A lot of companies require people to wear them on the job to protect their hearing in certain lines of work.
Flexeril helps me sleep but even my hair hurts if I use them alone. I've used elavil 25mg and half of a flexeril 5mg. Also, if you are low on estragen it affects your sleep. Even with all that I'm still somewhat of a zombie but it does help. Hang in the Ceil!
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Thanks for the great ideas. I need to kick my husband out of bed so I can have it to myself... he sleeps like a log. Just kidding, but sleeping alone does allow me to sleep better. I'm one of those that sleeps a couple hours and that's it for the night. Currently using Ambien and get 7 1/2 hours now. yeah! But don't want to take drugs forever.
Thanks for sharing!
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How do you feel in the morning after the Ambien? Is it 'real' sleep (refreshing & restorative) or is it more of a 'knocked-out' state? I've heard so many mixed reviews about Ambien. Years ago I'd tried the Flexeril/Elavil routine. Neither agreed with me. This was frustrating since so many people with Fibro benefit from their use.
My husband & I have separate beds in the same room. This is wonderful because he's a roller. He'd be asleep on his side then, he'd sudden'y roll onto his back...& land flat on top of me. It was like getting hit by a bus! WHAM! Sleeping apart gets both of us a better night's sleep. I'd seen those orange foam ear-plugs at the pharmacy but I was uncertain as to whether or not they worked. Would you be able to hear the alarm clock or the alarm of the smoke detector if it went off? Blocking out sound would be great for me. Esp in Spring bec we're not far from a parc & in spring & summer, little league teams are out there at the crack of dawn practicing. Do they feel funny in the ears or do you kind of get used to them rapidly?
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Thanks for sharing the idea's CielLuneEtoiles.
I tend to sleep all the time, never enough, never restful, and all ways stressful. Why oh why. lol Well must say with this flu, taking the night time flu med's has really helped me with sleeping soundly, first time in years, but still so tired when I get up. I all ways just thought it was me, hubby would all ways tell me its not normal, the amount of sleep I needed to function, but it has been this way for so many years, never really thought about it, until I was dx with fibro, and after the hyst. waking up in major night sweats, boy that was some thing else. Love my progesterone cream, best thing I have found ever. lol Thank goodness for hormones. Sending caring thoughts out to all. Genlte hugs, Sherrall
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What's progesterone cream? I've never heard of that one. As for night sweats, this is something very new for me. Could be peri-menopause...I don't get soaked, just too hot & damp enough to feel sticky & uncomfortable & have to change tops. If I throw off the blanket to cool down, it helps for a few mins but then I'm freezing. The only time this happens is during the week I'm off the pill & having my period. Once I'm back on the pill, it stops. Is this progesterone cream something women on the pill can use? I'd love to hear more about it.
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My bedroom is like a cave. Dark and quiet. No TV or noise. Cotton sheets and pillowcases always. Cotton T-shirt and long johns. Heavy socks. Nighties are the worst thing invented ! Feels like you're in a straightjacket. Not that I know what that feels like, but I can only imagine ! LOL !
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oooooo Ouchy, your sound like a sight for a night of romance!!
I cannot stand nightgowns either...I get tangled and feel like Im strangling plus they are just so girly! lol
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