Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
I know this is not a forum for sleeping issues, but I value the info some of you provide. I have been bouncing back and forth between extreme sleepiness and being extremely tired byt unable to initiate sleep. All of last week I was severely constipated to the point of puking and having to use so many laxitives to go. I literally couldn't even stay awake to watch a TV show all of last week. I was too exausted to sit up straight in a chair. I even got so tired I didn't even have the energy to take my blood pressure or use my Insulin and test my blood sugar. I was basically unfunctional. Then three days ago, bam, I suddenly snap out of it. I am not so, so tired, like I have been awake for days, but when I sleep I have a racing heart, I toss and turn every 30 minutes, and have frequent urination. I do not think this is sleep apnea though as I do have that. I am sitting here so exausted but am alert. I enjoy being able to watch my TV shows alert. I have changed nothing. Last week I was drinking coffee like it was going out os style and still right to sleep. This week not as much coffee and more alert.
Eventually I will go back into the sleeping state. I am not dreaming for the past three days. But last week I was dreaming non-stop, having sleep paralysis, and sleep hallucinations. i was hearing people talking, loud music being played, and other things that were not happening and then all was quiet once fully awake. I just don't know what to make of this. When I am in the sleepiness cycle, I can take caffeine pills and still go right to sleep, nothing works. My sleep doc refuses to investigate other sleep disorders after diagnosing me with mild/moderate sleep apena. Everythign is blamed on the sleep apnea. I don't buy it. Any how, just wondering if any of you have every had the same issues. My pain levels have been higher, so maybe it is that.
1. Gabapentin at night. It works well enough on my nerve pain, and it has a major side effect of making you drowsy. Between the two, my nights have swung to 'more good than bad' Still far from normal. I swear if I woke up one morning, and wasn't in pain I would think I was dead! Ha!
2. Cut back, or cut out the caffeine. You will go through absolute Hell detoxing from it for a good 3 days. But I promise, this will really make a difference. I am a serious coffee drinker. Used to drink it all day and night. I couldn't quit it completely. But just cutting back to just 2-3 cups in the morning only has definitely helped my overall pain levels and hours of restful sleep.
Caffeine is a stimulant. That's why its so great! But what they don't really explain, is that it stimulates all your nerves. Including the ones that register pain. And it can stay in your system for up to 14 hours! Shit doctors don't bother telling you anymore.
In certainly no expert. And Im writing this at 2 in the freaking AM so it doesn't always work. but its enough to give it an honorable mention. Hope it helps some. You will get through this. Remember....that whack does not kill us had better start running! Ha!
TuffChic