Cherry,
I have asked that same question about drug induced sleep being as healing because when I wake up, I dont really feel any different not refreshed or good. That is what I wonder, does anyone feel good ever when they wake up.

Cherry, I hope this MRI offers some help in finding out what is wrong.
My neck and shoulders are the root of my problem....... although it goes all through my body.

I know you are discouraged and drained...... you have been fighting this so long.
I guess we will know shortly what the MRI says.
Hugs and lots of love

Cherry,

Seems like I read something somewhere in all my research that a drug induced sleep is NOT as healing as natural sleep. If I can find the study, I'll post it.

I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Let us know how you do. I understand about being just so tired......
Wrapping you in warm hugs and love.

Tonna

Hi there, superducky read correctly, takeing breakthru meds right before bed and long acting pain meds exspecially morphine disrupt sleep cycles and don't let you get deep REM sleep so its NOT as restfull as sleep without pain meds.

Since starting my pain meds i don't sleep as well but at least i CAN sleep since the pain is better. Its a teter totter.

I'm sorry your so tired and in so much pain. I hope these doctors can help you get some relife.

hugs

I know I never feel as good if I take a sleeping pill to sleep. Its like being out for surgery, just blink an eye and you're awake and not refreshed, even groggy. I don't know about the healing aspect of sleep, or if you even get to that stage with medicated sleep. I have disrupted sleep anyway and was told by one doctor that I was not getting enough restorative sleep as my brain is 'probably' snapping me out of deep sleep as soon as I get there. Thus how I can sleep 12 hours and still be tired all day. It really sucks.

Cherry I really hope they find out something with this MRI so they can get you fixed up and feeling better. Pain sucks any way you look at it and like you, I can't imagine living in this pain the rest of my life - but I know I will if I have to. I could grow up to be a very crabby old lady though lol.

Cherry I hope the MRI will show something so they know how to properly treat you. I know when I take meds to help me sleep years back I was so tired and groggy when I woke but the longer i was on them it went away and helped. I don't know how long you've been on yours but I hope not long and that it all goes away with time........you've really have had a rough time and I admire your strength and determination to continue working. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers

Cherry,

I am praying for answers, hon, and soon. You are too young to live in this much pain.

Please let us know how it goes and the results. I hope that the mri is not too hard on you.

I admire you so much. I do not know how you do it. Much love to you my friend.

Melinda

Cherry,

I am sorry you are going through all of this have you thought about maybe going on SSI as you have been having a hard time working for some time. Maybe going on some kind of unemployment till you qualify so you will not be broke. I hope the MRI shows what is going on so that you can get the treatment you need.

We are here for you no matter what

Just wanted to tell you, Good luck with your MRi. I wish you the best,Cherry, i really do.

MK

Cherry.....
As a long standing member of the Strong Women's club.....I know you will get through this ........still....
I wish you didn't have to..........hugs......jc..

I know how frustrating it is for you and how hard you have to fight to keep working. Sleep on its own, wether medicated or not, will not be restorative enough. i think the best thing for you to do in this situation is some relaxation meditations where you progressively relax each part of your body. Doing that is the best way I know of to reduce muscular pain and tension. It will also help you sleep. I often fall asleep when I do a deep relaxing meditation, if my body needs the sleep.

I hope you get results from the MRI and that you find a way to get the rest you need.
Hugs,
Ama

Cherry, I hope you find answers on your MRI! Something has to give!

I'm with Ama if you can find a way to relax those muscles I believe your pain wouldn't be as intense and you would be able if not sleep better, to at least rest better. At least I have much hope for you that happens!

I've never found a sleeping pill that was stronger than my pain. A few nights ago I took half of a valium that I had left over from a procedure, that did it! I ended up sleeping the next day too. So I guess yes whatever it is we don't feel rested from it. We'd have to sleep for a yr to catch up!

Hope you get sleep and help soon,

Toni

Sleep is such a problem for many of us. Benzos and opiods induce sleep, however they mess up “sleep architecture.” That means that the brain doesn’t cycle through the 4 sleep stages that it should. The most restful stages (3&4) are cut short and that often leads to non-restorative sleep. In addition, it’s during these deep sleep cycles that the body repairs and regenerates tissues, builds bone and muscle, and appears to strengthen the immune system. It’s an individual thing but people got through several repetitions of the sleep cycle during the night.

Ambien, Lunesta, and the like, are supposedly better because they have shorter half lives and leave your system more quickly. When I talked to my doctor about it, he wasn’t convinced that they were better options but that’s just one doctor.

I can offer my understanding and sympathies but I can't give you advice. I use benzos to sleep and I wake up hung over every morning. Melotonin works for some people. Good sleep hygiene is important to maintain. I use meditation like Ama already suggested.

If I recall correctly, you have fibro, right? Sleep apenea often accompanies fibro and a sleep study might give you some answers.

Feel better and good luck with the MRI.

Tink

I wanted to pop back on here and agree with the others about telling you that i too am proud of you for your determindation to keep your job. My mom has done the same. She has pushed thru her job for the last 20 years with fibro and RA and i have no idea how she dose it. I watched it for the last 3 years. I have the feeling that your days are simialr to hers and your a trooper!!!!!

I also notice by your posts that your up in the middle of the night alot so you havent gotten restfull sleep in a long time. As someone else mentioned you have fibro (we think, i think i remember you saything that too) and its such a painfull disease that your body cant get resfull sleep because of the pain disrrupting sleep cycles. Also the sleep apnea like someone mentioned. Also haveing a hard time getting to sleep is a common complaint.


I wanted to add to the meditation part too. One i use is i start at my toes while laying in bed if i'm having trouble sleeping. I go up my body symetrically by body part and tell my self "my toes are heavy and warm" and imagine it. I say it once or twice while deep breathing

It helps pain cause your telling your body something else besides pain and usually you fall asleep before you get to your head.

I wanted to share that.

Good ideas and information you guys!

I learn so much here.

keep us posted on your MRI results and your follow up visit

hugs

Wow, lots of good sugesstions here. I may try some of these myself.

Cherry, since I have been on this site--keeping employment or, grief from losing employment has been one of the top three discussions/posts. Our livelyhood is a HUGE part of our lives. It is not only how we support ourselves fiancially--it is also how we identify ourselves as a person, it provides us much of our social and community interactions too. Financially...unless we are independantly wealthy, cutting down or leaving a job is a larger burden than many of us can bear alone.

I know that each day is harder than it should be for you. I hope that you are able to get your MRI and find a way to fix the majority ofyour issues in a positive manner with the least amount of residucal pain. It seems to me that your community would be a much sadder place without Cherry Hair running around!

HUGS!