Hey everyone, so I am constantly (even right now) running on about 3 hours of sleep tops. I feel like a walking zombie thats trying to fit into a wide-awake society. Has anyone found anything that helps with insomnia?? I always exhausted during the day but then I have trouble even getting to sleep at night, coupled with restless leg syndrome. I already take ambien on a regular basis and soma (muscle relaxant) to try and get my body aches and pains to fade enough to sleep, but it is very difficult and on days like today I feel like I'm at my wits end. Any input would be greatly appreciated and welcomed!
Hi Ahava, I have been having the same issue, always have done well with 1/2 ambien, but for some odd reason the restless legs and racing thoughts seem to be doing me in. I bought a sound machine that haves ocean waves & I downloaded an app on my I-phone that promotes relaxation… I also drink sleepy time tea at bedtime. I was given miripex for restless legs, but after reading the side effects I said forget it.
I even take an Ativan sometimes when the ambien seems to have no effect … Ugh
This is the worst, because without atleast 8 hrs of sleep I feel so drained…
Try relax melodies by ipnosoft. Campfire and river
Wishing us all better zzzzz
I have been having issues with sleeping as well. I put on lavendar lotion and turn on pandora to Spa Radio Station. I also have a relaxation CD I listen to. Warm baths or showers before bed always relax me as well. Sometimes unfortunately nothing works but I hope something someone posts will work great for you.
Hi, I wish I knew the answer to this question. I also take ambien and soma and still can’t sleep. I never had a problem with sleeping until the fibro got really bad. When I was working I would sleep effortlessly every night with no problem and no medication. I loved mornings and was definately a morning person.
Now I sometimes go to sleep at dawn when my husband is getting up to go to work. I do usually get about 5 or 6 hours of sleep which is way better than you LOL but when I used to get 8 or 9 hours sleep a night it just isn’t enough. I feel like I’m never really awake and I can’t stand mornings anymore because that’s when my pain is the worst.
I do feel I could get a better grip on my pain and other symptoms if I could get better and more restful sleep.
Sorry I don’t have any answers for you but I hope some of the things posted here will help.
Thank you all for your input and sharing what works for you. I definitely am making a list of new things to try haha. I am glad and sad that I am not alone in my insomnia, sad because I wish that no one had to experience fibro and insomnia. I really appreciate every one of you, I'm not used to support groups but I really do value and appreciate everything you all have been saying. Thanks for the awesome ideas!
This has been one of my biggest problems. I tried all of the advice … Go to bed at the same time…don’t work in bedroom…take this herb or this supplement. The only thing that has worked for me is Ambien. However, it is difficult to find a doctor to prescribe it and you must be VERY careful if you take it. I tried other sleep medications and none worked for me.
I am at 8 weeks of insomnia with the once a week somewhat regular night of sleep. And by regular I mean maybe 5 hours of solid sleep with most nights being 5 hours of really broken up sleep or worse, 3 hours of broken sleep like today.
I have found nothing to help. Not even hard work to where you are physically tired. Brain just stays awake.
Our worst nightmare! I was having problems sleeping for years. Tried amitriptylene which helped for a few years, then switched to Lunesta 3 mg which helped me the most. My insurance wouldn’t cover it and my doctor wouldn’t fill out the paperwork to have them pay. Put on Ambien and hated the nightmares. My girlfriend was on it too and during a girls weekend and witnessing some strange behavior that she didn’t remember, I got off of it. My TMJ doc put me on klonopin 1 mg. which helped with a muscle relaxer. I notice how well the klonopin helped with the teeth grinding and restless legs. This helped for about a year of about 4 hrs. of interrupted sleep. I kept at it and had a sleep study, as many with Fibro have sleep apnea. I do not but do have upper airway resistance syndrome. The 2 different sleep doctors made it worse, giving me doxepin 10 mg which did nothing. A pain management doc tried Valium. A real joke. Between all this I took Relax-All that was recommended by a member (natural herbs) which gave me some relief and a few hours of sleep. Another pain doc retried stuff I already had tried until I told her I needed sleep! She asked what had helped in the past and I said Lunesta 3 mg so I took that with the klonopin. By this time I was referred to a pulmonary doctor who specialized in sleep. He added Trazadone at 100 mg to the other 2 drugs and I slept 10 hours straight for the first time in about 33 years!
The key here is don’t give up. If something’s not working after trying it for at least a month - call your doctor. Keep trying to find something that will work. The pulmonary doc said I was a heart attack waiting to happen with no sleep and trying to work a full time job. When I’m really under stress, I don’t sleep as well, but I get a lot more sleep than I ever did! Wishing you well.
And let me tell you - you are not alone!!! When I had to change by extreme physical job I has a close friend the is a veterinarian working emergencies. So the hours ere not bad and the clientele was not over whelming because it was a night practice and I only worked a few days. HE SAID (AND HE KNEW I HAD A VERY TERRIBLE CASE IF NOT SLEEPING ) If said come work for him at least you will get paid for not being able to sleep) :0)
So it was great for awhile - also because I use to ride and show horses (hunters and jumpers) And I did not have a lot of money so I would act as grooms for other barns just to pay for my entries. I think the longest I has be up was about 5 straight day's.
but the fribro. got worse and I could not work in emergency veterinary medicine -I had had to chance jobs - (doing things I loved -3 times) I had a few house-sitting jobs but I was in extreme pain and nothing being able to get the body some rest it was like a snow ball effect.
So the longest now I have been up is 3 days - I have tried to things I love at night -arts and craft projects, counted cross stitch but the lost of some of my dexterity in my hands it makes it very hard and very painful.
At least I know someone else has problems sleeping!!! among other things thaqt just seem to pop up.
No answers here either! My fibro started with insomnia and well a year later I haven't found anything that really works. I have a little supply of Zopiclone and only take it when the night turns into negative thoughts...this is happening a little more lately. I don't like taking them because simply they aren't good to take on a regular basis and can be addicting. Last night I caved and took one...it's just a little relief to have 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep! It so sad that the majority of us suffer from this. Hopefully this new breakthrough in research will bring us some relief in the not too distant future with all our fibro symptoms.
Thanks for taking the time to respond and offer suggestions, everyone. Lately my sleep has been a little better so I would like to share with you all what I have been taking and what I have been doing recently.
So I have been eating healthier and managing to go on walks more lately (even if they are just around the block, mind you this is not an everyday activity). I have also been losing weight because of this which helps me feel entirely better about myself, body, spirit, everything.
At bedtime I have been taking a bath or shower because I really find that this helps to tire me out, and my bed meds recently have been 4 Advil (ibuprofen), 1 soma, 1 ambien, and 2 magnesium tablets. I know it sounds like a lot (and I wish it were less), but it really has been helping me fall asleep and, for the most part, stay asleep longer. I accredit most of this to the magnesium tablets however, I feel like I have slowly been getting a little more energy back and it helps me feel more tired naturally at bedtime.
I hope this helps someone! I know that what works for one person may not work for someone else, but I just wanted to share that and hope it helps! :)