Lack of sleep!

[chandlermandy]

Keep waking up between 2 and 3 in the morning . Then it's toss, turn, achey legs and can't get back to sleep. Has anyone tried anything that helps? Seriously considering sleeping tablets!

[CWG2210]

Hi, I was like this last year for a while and when I spoke to my caring Gp who asked a question, what was causing my lack of sleep, not being able to sleep or the pain not allowing you to return to sleep. After several months of having approx 30 mins sleep before waking up in agony with left hand side pains and aches stopping me getting back to sleep I had to declare pains and started on meds and diagnosis of complex pain syndrome. Meds amazing help but not what I would say are simple and without side effects. Try to differentiate between pain and sleep deprivation very carefully and see your Gp. I see Pain Clinic regularly and have a history of other pain related conditions. Let us know how you get on.

[kirby66]

This sounds like me I have not had more than 2 for the last 10 years if you find the answer please let me know

[MargaretGail]

Are you on steroids? I found that the higher the dose, the less sleep I get. Now I am being weaned off them my sleep improves by the week.

[chandlermandy in reply to MargaretGail]

Steroids could be why, just finished 10 days on predisalone. Hopefully sleep will now improve. Thanks

[Kad21]

I am exactly the same and the same times too, interested to see who else.

[IrishLupie]

My doctor prescribed me Neurontin (gabapentin) when I was having similar night time pain. It worked really well for me and best part was when I started getting proper sleep again I could come off them because there was no more pain. Maybe consider asking your doc about it? Now, using it for pain in SLE is off-label but it does work really well. This is a site I use to read up on drugs drugs.com/neurontin.html The Wikipedia article is good too but a little inaccessible.

[dgleds in reply to IrishLupie]

yes gabapentin works...for nerve pain, sezuires, and sleep

[cathie]

I had this sort of sleep disturbance a couple of months ago. I tried not to worry, sort of went through my going tobed routine again, read a book and only tried to sleep when my eyes were drooping. I think not worrying is the key. Being without pain might help,but that's not easily dealt with. Hope you start sleeping better

[dgleds]

before you try sleeping pills...try motion sickness pills dimenhydrinate 50mg...possibly times 2....and have a snack too,,,it might work.

[dgleds]

NSAID diclofenac also can make you sleepy...

[kazp]

lavender

[janenenis]

Bach flower nite time capsules

Brilliant

[lol-lou]

Hiya,

I only manage on 2-3 hours sleep a night, but am able to have power naps during the day. My consultant told me if I were a wake for over half an hour get out of bed and try reading etc until I felt sleepy again.

I do give a warning about sleeping pills they are only for short term use 10 days max. I was on them for 13 years with no review of them then read some startling evidence in the paper which named my sleeper, so I stopped taking them straight away. I did go through cold turkey but after 2 weeks felt better. My doctor was not happy with me coming off them but they were at the time only giving me 3-4 hours sleep. I would talk to your doctor and be sure you both understand that they are highly addictive, and you feel dreadful coming off them if used longer than they are recommended for. Most doctors in the UK are reluctant to prescribe them for longer than 2 weeks.

It can be damn right frustrating if you can't sleep and you have a full days work ahead of you. Get the restless legs sorted while you are at the doctors.

I know my advice is not much help to you but just be careful with sleepers as they can make you feel hung over the next day.

I wish you all the best of luck. Please let us all know how you get on. Hopefully you would have had a good nights sleep then. x

[sezzie]

Hi chandlermandy,

I can totally relate to your post as I'm sure we all can and I really feel for you. I've been struggling with lack of sleep for months now and down to a nasty flare at the moment am on 45mg of prednisolone which has only added to the problem. I caved in last week and took a zopiclone, I hate taking yet more meds but I was desperate and only having about 3hrs sleep a night, I slept for 7hrs and felt fine in the morning. I will only take 1 in sheer desperation but I think having a good night's sleep with a zopiclone every now and then isn't a bad thing, also our bodies recover in sleep. I hope this has helped and I hope you manage to get some sleep! X

[tulip47]

Hi there...like most on here I have not been sleeping for quite a few years and with damn twitchy legs etc., my GP put me on Amitriptyline 10mg, which also helps with depression that comes with the pain and sleepless nights.....this dose has now been increased to 20mg and was working quite well until last night when i slept for total of hour and half!

I average 4hrs as a rule which is pretty good. I do hope that some of our replies help you somewhat, even if it is just for the fact we know how you feel. xx

[Whathappned]

Hi

My mum has problems with her legs following lymph node removal. She had pain especially uncomfortable at night and she has found a low dose of amitriptyline works well.

I have had problems getting off to sleep, even when I am exhausted. I think I get in to bad habits. I use Nytol One A Night and they help. I asked the chemist and they checked that it was ok with methotrexate

[chandlermandy]

Thanks everyone. Makes me feel better knowing I am understood.

[Maresy]

Oh, I feel your pain, C-Mandy. Nights are the worst for me too, with muscle pain in legs, feet so hot & sore, hip joints hurting, tossing & turning & looking at the clock b/c I have to get up to go to work & have such miserable days if not getting sleep. I bought a lavender pillow, a "Chillo" for my hot feet, turned the clock away so I can't see it, & invested in some great apps for my iPad which lull me to sleep with binaural rhythms (not music, but brainwave sound therapy.) Just cannot take another pill so trying to do it this way. It works about half the time, which is better than none of the time I guess. It's always better though when I'm not on the steroids. They RUIN sleep ( though make your day bearable.) If you take one of them a day, take as early as possible so that the bumble-bee feeling is worn off by night. I wish you well. One good thing is: at least at night you are resting - not trying to be at work or be doing housework or having to be out doing errands. I always take comfort in at least that.

[sexyelephant]

Hi I have found if I rise my legs at night it helps with the pain

I also take a tablet call Baclofen, the good thing about this tablet it knock you out for a couple of hours

Also try massaging your legs towards your heart sometime this can help. I hope this can help you I know how hard it is when you cannot sleep because of painful legs.

[nutritionfocused]

Try taking magnesium before bed. I like CALM powder magnesium you just mix in warm water.

[caninecrazy]

hello c-mandy, ive had bad sleeping patterns for years, I can sleep deeply for about 3 hours then wake up at 3, lie there and relax and then get up at 5 ,half 5 as I cannot lie any longer as headaches come. ive been told its lupus and depression. I do nap during the day to "recharge" a little. the only consolation is now its summer the mornings are beautiful and cool I walk my dogs as the sun isn't strong xx