I've got sleep apnea on top of serious neck issues and shoulder pain. I sleep face down head turned to the right...A LOT. In fact it's my position to fall asleep. I seldom sleep all the way through the night, my girl is a night owl too. Our dog sleeps in her kennel but wants out sometimes and has to be quieted, which is my job apparently. Also our grandson will hop into bed some nights...phew. Pramipexole for Restless Leg gives sometimes strange and lurid dreams.

I use melatonin and l-theanine every night. Helps some. And Soma will knock me out after two-three over a couple hours but not a great night sleep. I find I cycle through poor sleep until I just knock off for like 10-12 hrs. Good cardio helps make falling asleep easier too.

Not much help I'm sure...

Oh yes, you reminded me.... I have to do something each day either walk down the street and back or go for a light swim (10-15 mins) otherwise I can't sleep very well....

I also have to read a book before bed or I'll be up half the night with my mind running everywhere.

The things we have to go through just to get some sleep!

Sleep apnea, that's gotta be a pain.... I understand about being the one to attend the dog. When our cats cry, barf, scratch at something, etc... hubby won't get up to attend it... so I have to or they'll keep doing whatever bothersome thing they're doing for hours and it'll keep me up. So frustrating, isn't it?

Yes my poor sleep comes in cycles, too. I have to train myself to sleep well again it seems. I noticed all it takes is one bad night to ruin my sleep pattern for the rest of the month!

Eek! I'm sorry you're having such a rough time! I'm calling my doctor because my sleep has been dreadful for months. I often only sleep a couple of hours per night and then end up crashing here and there. It's definitely not restorative. I've tried sleeping meds in the past and am wondering if they'll suggest something again.

I hope you can find something helpful!

The quest for sleep is never ending around here. Any disruption at night once I actually do get to sleep is grounds for probable homicide.

I need at least 8 hours of rest but do better with more. On the weekends, I sleep or stay in bed until I am ready to get up which could be Noonish. During the week, I'm usually up around 9AM. No kids or other pressing obligations so I can be flexible about this. I schedule any appointments for early afternoon.

I use an OTC called Calms Forte which I like because there is no hangover. CVS has it and so does the Vitamin Shoppe. If I am still waking up, I add another OTC called Mid Nite which also does not have a hangover effect no matter what time it is taken.

If I had a spouse that was turning on lights, cooking and watching movies knowing full well that sleep is a big problem for me there would be trouble. That is really inconsiderate. My partner takes every precaution that he can to try and avoid waking me up. You need to find a way to reduce the light level in your room and get Hubby to quit acting like you don't live there too. He can be up doing his thing without waking you up too.

I hope that my comments are helpful to you!

I feel fortunate if I get more than 3 hours of sleep at a time. I stay up late because hubby snores loudly. When we lived up north, he had a sleep test. He was told he has sleep apnea so bad, it was a wonder he hadn't had a heart attack or stroke. (I've witnessed him stop breathing.) He had another study down here in Florida. This doc told him he doesn't have sleep apnea. Hubby refuses to get a 2nd opinion and now doesn't use his CPAP. A lady at our church said she went to this same doc who also said she did not have sleep apnea. Went for a 2nd test at a later time because she was still having problems... different doc. She DOES have sleep apnea. She told this to my husband and urged him to get a 2nd opinion. He's too dang stubborn, though.

So I can't sleep because hubby snores louder than 2 grizzly bears fighting, stops breathing, then resumes the snoring. ALL NIGHT LONG. He gets up early to go to work. So I am able to get a couple hours sleep after he gets up. Some night, I fall asleep on the sofa while watching TV and just stay there. But the living room is between my daughter's room and the kitchen. If daughter has a migraine, she up and down all night to use the microwave. (microwavable heat pack) I really have nowhere to sleep uninterrupted.

I've tried both OTC sleep aids and prescription pills. I have PTSD so sleep lightly anyway. I was in therapy for a while. She said what is most likely happening is that I am subconsciously purposely waking myself up to make sure I'm safe. That is IF I can get to sleep between all the interruptions.

Mindfulness does help some. I survey my surroundings, ensuring myself I am safe, make sure the doors are locked, and then read or watch a relaxation video before bed. I listen to soothing music using ear buds while attempting to go to sleep. But there's only so much noise one can safely put in the ears. Sometimes I cannot have the music loud enough cover the snoring. After an hour or 2, I'll just get back up and go to the living room to find a movie to watch. I'll go back to bed after hubby gets up.

As if the fibro and OA pain weren't enough!!! :(

Good subject, bluesun. I usually fall asleep around 8pm, then wake up at 10pm, take my pills, watch some TV. Fall asleep around 11:30pm. Wake up about 2am, fall back to sleep and wake up at 4am. Then I'm up for the day. I guess that's about 6-7 hours of interrupted sleep. Sometimes I nap during the day, especially if I'm in a lot of pain. The pain keeps me from sleeping longer in the morning. I used to have sleep apnea when I was 100 lbs heavier, but I don't have it anymore.

I take Trazadone for sleep and sometimes a Xanax. I sleep with a nasal pillow CPAP and a bite plate - I hate both but they are necessary. I have room darkening shades, a comfy bed with lots of different size pillows, my room is my sanctuary.

If I get less than 8 hours of sleep I am a mess. I try to get 8 or 9 hours. I still have those nights where I can't fall asleep, or wake up often and then fall back asleep but not the norm. I always take some time each day to rest or nap in my bed. - for revitalization and sanity and to decrease pain if possible. About 3 times in the last few years I will go through a period of time of not getting enough sleep and then for 5 to 7 days I will sleep 12 hours or more - which is scary to me.

My dog is kind and lets me rest and sleep when I need to . When she was younger she would bug me sometimes. I make sure her needs are met before I rest or sleep.

Not to be rude bluesun , but your husband is super inconsiderate. Sleep is so necessary when you have fibro.

My bipolar meds knock me cold. My issue is getting too much sleep and too little exercise. No wonder I'm overweight!! But I've lost little more than 5 lbs on the Atkins diet since I started. I sleep about 12 hours a night.... Speaking of which, someone wanna wake me up in the AM??? I have to babysit ugh.

Fantod & Milily, I agree... sometimes I think we need a place where I can have my own room -and that's the only solution to this problem, otherwise someone from DS may have to bail me out for murder one day! We're in a 1 bedroom apartment right now and can't afford anything bigger... the rent on this island has shot up sky high! I'm hoping when we move to Maui we can afford something more comfortable.

Claychick, if I nap here and there it just makes it worse for me. When I have a rough night I have to do whatever I can to stay up during the day so I can sleep better at night. Good luck, I hope your doc helps you!

Marian, wow... hope your husband can start wearing the CPAP again. Sleep apnea is no joke. I've heard of people dying from that or having brain damage. My husband snores, too, but he refuses to see a doc or get a sleep study done about it. He does make funny sounds but I don't think it's as bad as a bear! lol

Ida, glad you don't have sleep apnea anymore. I sure wish there was a way you could sleep straight through, though. Well, that's what we all dream of! Some people want big houses, fancy cars, or tons of money... all we want is some sleep!

Precious, you gonna share some of that? I'll send one of my cats over to wake you up in the AM! There's nothing they like more than to play with a sleeping human! lol
One of my cats is 12 yrs old... and he used to just hang out and let me sleep all night. But as he got older he started making a hobby of waking me up when he's feeling restless. He does so by jumping on me and walking all over my poor aching body. This cat weighs 14 lbs... it's excruciating! This is why I get mad at hubby when he brings the cats into bed after I've gone to sleep! Because the cats don't cause him any pain he has no idea what it feels like for me. People who don't have fibro really have no freaking clue.

bluesun, I have tried to get hubby to see a sleep doc again for a 2nd opinion. He is quite bullheaded!

I hope we all sleep better tonight. Last night, I got cold. So was tense when I got up. Had to get lab work. Major anxiety, there. I hate needles! Then the leg cramps started. Gonna take a muscle relaxer before I go to bed tonight. It makes me a little woozy the next day but woozy is better than a day of painful leg cramps!! Watching relaxation videos on Netflix. They have 3 'Fireplace For Your Home' videos and several 'Moving Art' videos. Gonna read a little and then get some sleep!! Hopefully! :)

Hi Blue,
I don't get nearly as much sleep as I need. I am lucky to get 7 hours now days, but really require 8-9 to feel refreshed. I recently started taking Xanax which puts me right to sleep. However, I really need 12 hours of lapse time to feel good when I wake up, even with 1/2 a pill.

I also use essential oils. I have either lavendar or peace and calming diffusing and put a combination of oils on my feet at night. My sis is an "oiler" and made up a concoction. If you are intersted, let me know and I will get what is in it. I think it is peace and calming, lavendar and cedarwood mixed with coconut oil.

I am also trying to find time for even 15 min of yoga at least every other day to help relax.

Lastly, I have a pad and paper on my night stand so if there is something I keep telling myself I have to remember, I can write it down and forget about it.

Here is wishing you some restful sleep.

Ahhhh, refreshing sleep---What's that??? I have gotten control of my pain and stiffness, but refreshing sleep still eludes me!!! In 2012 I was practically bedridden and on FMLA with daily pain levels of 8-10. Today, my daily pain and stiffness are very well controlled. I work full-time now without much difficulty. My daily pain levels are about 1-3 now and somedays I feel close to normal.

I've made a lot of progress with my illness; however, I still can't seem to get deep, refreshing sleep! Every morning I wake up feeling like I haven't been to sleep in years. The morning is the hardest part of my day because I feel like a zombie. Once I get up, take my hot shower, put a hot compress on my eyes , and put drops in my eyes I become functional. It's just really hard to get going in the morning.

I had a sleep study done and have the alpha egg anomaly. I don't get stage three and four sleep. Most of us have some type of sleep issue. I've tried many different things to manage it, but still wake up unrefreshed.

I have my medicinal marijuana card and have been able to find the right strain of medicine to help with the pain and stiffness. I take a high cbd strain called Harle-tsu. CBD cancels out the effects of THC. THC gives you the euphoria. The strain has THC and CBD but it's balanced. My medicine relieves pain, spasms, stiffness, increases energy, relaxes muscles etc. and does not give me any high feeling. I love it. We are still trying to find the right strain to help with my sleep issue.

I hope that will can all find something that helps with sleep!!!

I second the calms forte. I think it's great.

I need nine hours of sleep which I get in two to three parts because I wake up and can't fall asleep for thirty minutes or more.

I take tizanadine at night, an anti spasmodic prescribed for fibro...it's quite sedating.

My sleep has been abnormal since childhood. I have a sleep test tomorrow! (Nervous!)

Can you get some curtains that will still allow airflow? Earplugs can help.

BBmom the concoction sounds interesting. If you can message me what it is, that would be great :)

Cocoa, so wonderful that you got your fibro pain under control. What did you do?

Spacepony, yeah... I'm thinking of getting some kind of dark netting for the top. I'm not too worried about the airflow but my husband is the one who is. He has to sleep with fans (sometimes more than one) blowing on him which I find so annoying because I have chronic dry eye and mouth syndrome. My eye lids will stick to my eyeballs and my lips keep chapping. I'm sure if I didn't have a fan blowing it would reduce the dryness by at least 50%. But I will definitely find *something* for the top that will work and not cause hubby to panic either. I asked him if he was claustrophobic because it sounds like that's what's really going on here....