Hi All,

LuannK How are you finding the chillow? These seem to be quite hard to get in Oz, but I have found a website that sells whole pads for your bed. I was thinking of trying one... one problem is they are quite expensive and I think my hubby will get jealous and want one- and then the cost doubles (Or I buy a full size one and he hates it. How are you finding the tempurpedic bed? I've seen them here.

I wish you all a good nights sleep!
Coralie XXX

For years, I slept poorly-couldn't fall asleep, and lightly slept, or woke up constantly. Finally was given gabapentin in 2009 for burning muscle pain that lasted for 8 months across my shoulder and upper back-I actually found that I could get good deep restful sleep. I am now on lyrica-sleep too, but that gabapentin actually worked better. Again, like aprilraven, it has taken me years to find the right "cocktail" of meds that work best(on some days) for sleep as well. Keep working with your doctor, and don't give up-I've had this since 1993. Fibrohyg

Perhaps we each find our workable sleep med combo, but seems they need to be tweaked over time because of developing tolerance.

Currently I have a workable mix, but like LEO find daytime pain etc. are still an issue. Nice to take sleep deprivation out of the picture but the fibro is still there including the fog.

Sparkl shared her cautions about benzo discontinuation, and I believe this to be very valid. I have used benzos daily for over 5 years- tamezepam at night and diazepam (Valium) around the clock. Their benefit is they are antispasmodics as well as nervous system calming agents. They are not pain meds per se but do wonders for fibro muscle aches.

I only started taking the Valium after I was no longer working. I asked my long term, good doc about a year ago whether I could wean myself off. His reply was no, had been on them so long I was pretty much stuck, and w/ hypersensitivity can't handle any of the other fibro meds anyway. He tried to set aside my concerns about them, emphasizing the low dose I take and how I so far have shown little sign of building tolerance. Medical conditions sometimes require ongoing use of medication.

Obviously I would prefer not to be med dependent (don't leave home w/ out it) and there are some minor side effects. But I am in my 60's and the benzos are the first things that have provided significant relief since I was diagnosed w/ fibro in the 1980s. So I try to accept the trade offs and continue on with them, and hope I shall never be faced w/the need to confront discontinuation syndrome like Sparkle was.

Am so sorry you are currently sleepless, and I hope you find your magic sleep bullet. Sleep is a nice thing, even if it doesn't cure fibro.

My med combination had been working fairly well (I take Cymbalta 60mg, Atarax 25mg, & Ambien 5-10mg all 3 about an hour before I go to bed & only take Ultram during the day) until recent changes in living arrangements. I was getting 2-3 hrs of good sleep at a time. My bed with it's dbl-pillow-top mattress is in storage until (hopefully soon) my disability comes thru & I can afford a permanent place to live. I should probably explain that I lost my job due to my illness 2 yrs ago & am currently bouncing around a bit between family members. I also had to give up my feather bed topper (aka my nest). At present I am waking pretty much every hour on the hour & wake up fatigued after even 9 hrs of "sleep" lol. Luckily my family is mostly understanding. Long story short, meds HELP, but I've learned that a good bed is paramount to better sleep. I will be so happy when I can sleep in my bed again.

Have you spoken with your doctor about something to help you sleep at night? With my fibro I was having difficulty sleeping, so my doctor put me on trazadone. It has worked wonderfully well. I still cannot sleep in a bed however as I get too stiff. Instead, I use a recliner and it is worth its weight in gold at least a me.

I hope you can find something soon that will help you sleep and ease your fibro.

I take conazapam and benedryl at night, but, judging from the state of my covers, I'm doing a lot of flipping around during my sleep. I, too, only sleep for 2 - 3 hours at a time. And I DREAM, really vivid, intense dreams that don't seem to be connected to any of my meds, owing to the situation when they began. I'm usually in some situation where I can't work at my old job any longer and feel really scared. They haunt me and I don't think I'm sleeping well at all. All I know is that I'm tired as soon as I 'wake up' (if you can call it that).

currently i'm taking nortriptyline AKA pamelor which is actually an antidepressant and my dr told me in a few weeks of taking 10mg every night at bedtime i should be sleeping better, unfortunately it's been one week and i'm still up till after midnight, and unable to sleep in past 8am because of my daughter, and 8am is actually sleeping in haha, she's up usually between 6 and 7. i also have alprazolam but i usually ONLY use it when i have a panic attack, my grandmother takes them, and is extremely addicted and i don't want to risk it. i take percocet for pain, because the vicodin made me itch unbearably, but the problem is that it wakes me up, i can't take it before bed, i also tried tramadol but it was about as effective as a tylenol 3 as far as pain goes. but rest is super important, more important to me than pain control honestly, i know if i can't sleep because of pain i'm screwed because lack of sleep seems to intensify my fibro symptoms, i can't focus, i can't stop hurting even with percocet, i'm just plain miserable. so i usually take an 800mg ibuprofen to take the edge off and then try and sleep instead of using the alprazolam. but good luck!!! everyone's different so i hope you find your perfect storm of meds to get rest!

500 mg Magnesium taurate prior to bed time has a lot of potential to both help with seizures AND with sleep...it works synergistically with melatonin (anywhere from 3-10 mg)and vitamin B6. Here's a link to a magnesium taurate product that costs only 10 bucks online: http://www.thenaturalonline.com/ecological-formulas-cardiovascular-research-magnesium-taurate-elemental-125-mg-60-capsules.html?gclid=CI3FwpytlrMCFRQcnAodP3gAxQ

Here's a link to a melatonin/B6 product that's sold online for 4 bucks: http://www.vitacost.com/natrol-melatonin-time-release?csrc=GPF-PA-047469048372&ci_sku=047469048372&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw={keyword}&gclid=COHE3t6tlrMCFQf0nAod4k0AmQ

If you want a natural source of tryptophan (a sleep-aiding amino acid), have some raw soybeans or parmesan cheese (if you can tolerate either), as they're major dietary sources of Tryptophan.

To get to sleep I just try to stay awake.lol
A warm glass of milk is nice too.
Natures sleeping pill(sex) works the best.

Staying asleep is the hard part for me too.
2-3 hours max.

@ sparkly. In your opinion, are very small quantities of benzos, for example, maximum 2 mg. daily still dangerous?

I sleep well now and I know I do because I dream. I always thought that I just didn't dream. My regular GP Dr. mentioned that my sleep prescription, Ambien, was crap for long term use because it didn't allow you to fall into the deep stage 4 sleep, where you dream. He prescribed Ambien CR, and he explained the diff between the two. I now take the ambien CR and dream and dream.... I always bought a Side Sleeper Pro Pillow and it has helped so much that my hubby ordered one for himself, as he has back issues.

LeePoe,

Its hard for me to comment since you haven't mentioned the name of the benzo. 2mg of diazepam would be considered a low dose, but 2mg of clonazepam (klonopin) or alprazolam (Xanax) is the equivalent of 40mg of diazepam (valium). 2 mg's Lorazepam (ativan) is equal to 20mg's diazepam.

What is more important is the length of time they are being used for. All benzo's are for short term use.- less than a month. Your body builds up a tolerance and you can actually go into withdrawal if you don't increase the dosage. That is one of the dangers.

The point I was trying to make is that every person taking benzo's need to be educated about coming off them. If it is done cold turkey it can create huge physical and mental problems that sometimes cannot be fixed by starting the drugs back up again. It is worse than coming off any antidepressant and opiates. I was in withdrawal acutely for six months and wasn't "normal" for over a year. There is no way I could have worked. Read this forum for hundreds of examples. http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS do a very slow taper of benzo's when you wish to stop.

That being said, benzos are a very effective medication. I don't think they are "evil". I just think that there should be a warning label on the box with big flashing lights that warns you of what can happen if you stop suddenly.

Hope I kind of answered the question. Pm me if you wanted to clarify something.

Coralie :)

Does anyone take Lyrica?? I'm at the point now I don't know where to turn :'( I'm 29 & have a terrible back(failed back surgery, bulging discs, DDD, 3mm anterolisthesis ect ect) Due to my age(words from 3 different Dr's mouths) they will not give me anything stronger than tramadol, flexirol & lyrica. I also was diagnosed with fribro shortly after my first MRI. I was told the lyrica was for fibro, but yesterday my pain Dr increased it to help with pain in my leg due to nerve damage. At this point they are sending me to be screened by a psychologist so I possibly can have a nerve stimulater implanted. I completely understand the risks of the pain meds, & was on percocet 10's for almost a year when I had the laminectomy. I quit cold turkey with no problems. Any one have any advice for me?? I'll gladly take it. If I don't pass this test, then I just have to make due, mind you I try to work 30 hrs a week, take care of my child, house, dogs & fiance', & most of the time I fail at it & someone suffers. Really feel like there's nowhere's to turn. And just to be clear, I'm asking these questions for the possibility that someone can suggest some meds I haven't tried yet & my doctor would prescribe me. Thanks So much & God bless

I too tried several things for many years to get a good night sleep. Then I had a sleep study and was diagnosed Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea can be aggravated by taking things to get to sleep. So I was actually making the situation worse all of these years without realizing it. Good Luck Keep trying different things until you find what works. I have definitely changed my idea of a good night sleep. 6 hours of straight sleep is good for me.