Insomnia

[Bizzie]

Hi All

Well it's 1.45am and yet another night I've had to leave my nice warm bed due to this awful agitation I've suddenly developed at night. It starts anywhere between 10pm to midnight and lasts 2-3 hours each time. I'm on meds for RA, Vasculitis and COPD and low dose steroids. Meds haven't changed in the last 6 months and I just don't know what's going on. It's driving me crazy and I'm so tired. Does anyone else suffer with this or have any suggestions please.

[Hidden]

I have been awake since 2am.

Leave your phone downstairs

Do not eat after 18:00

Epson salts bath

Change your bed

Change your partner too 🙃 (joking)

I have tried many things and lucky to get four hours

[Bizzie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Minty - I feel for you! I went back to bed just after 2.30 but just can't keep still so have been up again since just after 4.

What's causing your insomnia?

[Hidden in reply to Bizzie]

Insomnia is a common complaint with people who have RA.

I would suggest getting a proper spring mattress

Maybe try taking your medication at a different time.

[Bizzie in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Minty for your helpful suggestions. I'll give them a try.

[Ruth12345]

I dont sleep very well, ive been awake for over 3hrs. I generally dont use phone but have been known to chat half the night away on here. What I now do is just think well im resting and that is good for me, that usually stops me getting anxious about not sleeping. Im learning to accept it, as minty says good sleep hygiene and many people are not great sleepers so both helped me also. Saying that, that doesnt mean you wont find a solution. Good luck.

Ps we now have a memory mattres.

[Hidden in reply to Ruth12345]

Memory mattress was too hot for me and it did not seem to breathe enough.

[Ruth12345 in reply to Hidden]

I must admit it is warm but I get really cold these days and it really helps oh hips.

[Mmrr]

Waking up during the night is quite common. In past generations having 2 sleeps was the norm, waking in the wee hours, getting up, socialising , drinking and then going back to sleep. Sometimes our bodies fall back into this routine when unwell.

Easier said than done, but try not to worry about waking up !

I find going to bed a little earlier helps me sleep better overall. I'm in bed for a minimum of 10 hrs, if I wake up I read (a book, not electronic gadgets) and take 2 paracetamol, and find I fall asleep easier, probably placebo effect, but hey ?!

[Ruth12345]

I agree. Im in bed for at least 10 hrs. My rheumy says have a sleep during day but not what I like to do unless really have to. I cant read as will disturb oh. I put the world to rights, make lists etc all in my head. I do put pain relief out the night before to help if needed. Bizzie I hope you find your own way of dealing with the nights for you. Someone may well come up with something that works for you.

[Simba1992]

When you wake up try to drink a cup of warm milk with a teaspoon of gelatine powder and honey. This relieves metabolic stress and calms you down.😊Worth a try.

[Ruth12345 in reply to Simba1992]

Is there a substitute to honey? Cant get by the smell never mind the taste. I really struggle with sweet things, but would give it a try. When cooking says honey I use half or less of golden syrup.

[Simba1992 in reply to Ruth12345]

Oh yes, you can use any glucose, maple syrap, melassis, cane sugar, syrap! Good luck!

[Ruth12345 in reply to Simba1992]

Thank you. X

[oldtimer]

Night panics is what I call them! I wake up with a rapid pulse, feeling breathless and full of fear...usually between 2-4 am. It's sometimes with a partly remembered dream/nightmare of something. I have found that it is more likely to happen when I am worried about things - particularly not being able to cope with doing something that I used to be able to do.

I use relaxation techniques and meditation to calm me down and make it possible, after a little while, to go back to sleep. If I'm worried about something specific, then writing it down seems to help too, as though I empty my mind out of the worry.

[Ruth12345 in reply to oldtimer]

Oh gosh, No thats not me at all. That, I would think, would be most disturbing. Its usualy loo break or oh snoring for me.

[AgedCrone]

Did the insomnia start/get worse whe you started taking steroids?

Talk to you medics about that.

[Hidden]

Do you possibly have Restless Legs Syndrome?

[Mrsruss]

Steroids can cause a steroid induced Cushing’s syndrome. This can cause a problem with your circadian rhythm and you will be awake at night when you should be sleeping. It might be worth asking doctor to check cortisol levels. Alternatively , I had agitation and sleep problems when I was being over medicated with thyroxine . ... have you ever had your thyroid checked ?

[Orla5]

I've had nights like that and when I take 600mg of Magnesium a couple of hours before going to bed I find I have a good night's sleep. I try to take this dose on a regular basis and if I forget for a few days I start to have problems with dropping off to sleep. The magnesium also helps with my restless legs syndrome. Hope this info helps.