Sleep .. Or lack of it.

[charlie_red]

Arghhhh. My sleep has been terrible the last four weeks. Since being diagnosed over two years ago, my sleep has never been great. However, over the last few weeks things have been unbearable, to the point that I get zero minutes of sleep and I find myself crying for most of the night because of the pain.

Here is my bedtime routine;

Bath - Time varies depending on what shift I am working.

Small Hot Drink

Relaxation Music turned on - 10pm

Read my book until 10.30-1.45pm

Lights out after reading & most nights I leave my relaxation music playing or listen to Deep Muscular Relaxation

Here is my medication;

Pregablin - 600mg daily

Duloxetine - 60mg in evening (This is meant to help me sleep)

Cocodomol 30/500mg

Tramadol - 100mg

Severdol - 10-30mg

The lack of sleep is really starting to affect me, especially my functioning during the day - I can hardly keep my eyes open, I can hardly string a sentence together, at times driving is not possible, which then affects my work!

Does anyone have any advice regarding sleep?

[hamble99b]

does your gp know about this change? I'd go and see them, maybe your med's need adjusting,

I don't sleep well either, a lot of people with fibro seem to have sleep problems. hopefully your gp might sign you off - but please try not to drive while you are like this.

[charlie_red in reply to hamble99b]

Hi Sandra, I've not been to the GP yet but hoping to get an apt tomorrow or Monday. I'm trying to avoid driving as much as I can. Today seems to be a little better, but I had the pain clinic today & I just cried! Hoping to get a better sleep tonight, as social work came out and gave me an inflatable pillow for my bed that raises me up so I can get in/out of bed.

Thanks for your comment xx

[Bearess]

Gee whiz - that's a whole load of bedtime medication

I'm not surprised you're not feeling well enough to drive the next day

It must be terrible for you - I'm not a pharmacist or a doctor but I'd definitely ask either of those for a medication check

I hope you get this resolved soon and at least get a few hours unbroken sleep

Good luck

Regards

Tina

[charlie_red in reply to Bearess]

Hello Bearess, thanks for your comment! I'm hoping to get an appointment with my GP tomorrow or Monday. It definitely needs to be sorted because its like one big circle of pain, no sleep, pain, no sleep! Arghhh xx

[Bearess in reply to charlie_red]

[Julie63]

Do you get any chance at all in the day to have a nap, charlie? I don't work any more so I can plan my housework days around my taking it easy days. Do you take your meds just before you go to bed? I have found that taking my amitriptyline, 50mg, earlier in the evening instead of just before I go to bed helps me settle & I don't feel so hungover the next day. You don't say what work you do, I hope it's nothing with too much responsibility or manual labour? You may be trying to do too much. Can you cut your hours at all? Also, try not reading till so late - that could be one of the reasons why you can't sleep, too much brain activity can stop REM & then deep sleep occurring, that's why my son can't sleep after he's been on the computer till it's almost bed time, instead of coming off at least an hour before & letting his brain waves settle.

Hope you find some relief soon,

Julie xxx