yup, those are the strange side effects I was talking about. I would start cooking in my sleep and I would wake up in the morning and there would be wrappers and containers everywhere. Funny, but not funny. :) AND then it started messing with my memory. Trying to get off of Ambien is worse then being on it though. That was the hardest thing because I had become so dependent on it.
yeah, I think a pillow between the knees is great. It takes some stress off the hip joints which I am prone to getting bursitis.
The brand of my body brush is "Elemis". It's really nice but i'm sure you could find some that are cheaper. I would try maybe google-ing it for more info. You don't need to brush all your skin off either, just gentle circles and sweeping strokes towards the heart.
My doctor told me that if I slept better it will help with everything else. I used to take melatonin but my doc said he doesn’t think it lets your body go into the deep sleep we need so he started me on ambien. It works well for me as I sleep all nite. However I still don’t feel truly refreshed and excited to start my day. I know some of it is my depressed mood recently. Without the ambient I toss and turn all nite and get very anxious. I try for consistent bed and awake times. Dark not too warm room. It does bother me that I need the ambien almost every night.
A hot bath or shower with baby powder after. The bath/shower is supposed to signal to us to go to sleep. Baby powder's scent relaxes most people. Helps me.
Ah, the sleep problem. Seems like we all suffer from it. It's good to hear all of the suggestions and will definitely be trying some of them out myself. My night time routine is a little Yoga stretching in a quiet room. It seems to help with the muscle spasms I suffer from due to Peripheral Neuropathy. I sometimes have to stretch out in the middle of the night. I sleep with a pillow under and between my knees. It takes the pressure off the hips and lower back. I also have a night time lotion with a Lavender scent that is very soothing and then the trusty electric blanket and "My Pillow" which I love seems to help as well. I have tried Elavil and it seems to work sometimes but not always. It also doesn't leave me too tired to function at work the next day when it does work. All the doctors keep telling us we need to sleep soundly but no one seems to have the solution. Very frustrating.
I wish there was a miracle wand or something to wave over us so we can get a good sleep EVERY night! I have tried amitriptylene, rozarem, Lunesta, Ambien, Valium, melatonin, homepathic sleep pills & gummies. I have been on clonazepam 1 mg. and flexeril for about the last 3 years - for TMJ, restless leg and muscle spasms. Weaned myself off of the clonazepam until about a week ago and said the heck with it - the sweats were back, legs went crazy and I just couldn’t get my muscles to relax. Also went to my local vitamin shop and picked up some Relax-All (recommended by another member) and have been taking 4 a night S recommended. Have to say, I can fall asleep great with all 3 and some nights get up to 4 hours of sleep! If I’m able to sleep in, I can sleep till 8:30 am. This is more than I’ve slept in the past year. I’m a huge reader and must read in order to shut off my mind and get tired enough to shut my light off by 9:45-10:15. I too have an assortment of pillows to help with back, hip, shoulder, neck pain. I have to sleep on my back or else I end up with a massive headache and increased pain everywhere. And I used to be a stomach/side sleeper. I’m beginning to think that I’m coming to the end of my career at 56 and will have to give it up because of the inconsistent sleep. There’s nothing worse than trying to be happy and cheerful when you’ve had 2 hours of bad sleep. It really irks me when people at work say “I didn’t sleep good last night.” I just want to laugh like a hyena but I don’t have the energy! Off to bed for another try at it 
Massive headache trips a switch for me. Have they done an upright MRI to check for Chiari? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold-Chiari_malformation A friend of mine has the form of it listed on the links. Also, have you tried the bar of soap in the bed for restless legs? I know it sounds weird but it's supposed to work for restless legs, foot cramps and leg cramps. Just put a bar of soap, my sister uses Ivory but I've heard others work also, under the bottom sheet, or in between the sheets near your feet, depending on what's comfortable for you. Some people put them in old socks or panty hose. My sister tried it and it works for her.
I have heard that.. that it is good for FMS. How could it possibly work unless it is the scent that relaxes a person?
I want one of those "U-shaped" pillows that sort of wrap around you. No matter which way you turn, you have a body pillow to hug. They look awseome. Might invest in one.
I could never sleep in a 50 degree room, I would be to stiff to move in the morning.
I am one of the few people with fibro that is a good sleeper. But it took me years of figuring out how to do it. I generally do not get a go to sleep signal. I am wide awake till i fall asleep. Then I can sleep forever. Its like my switch between waking and sleeping is broken.
Sleep routine, play facebook games, till no later then 12:00 midnight. Check to make sure the doors are locked, get a glass of water, put it on my dresser then take my night pills, then go to the bathroom and brush my teeth and go potty whether i feel i have to go or not. Turn off my cell phone, Move the dog over,lay down in the spot the dog warmed, flip over twice, then go to sleep. Every night the same order. It helps tell my mind it is time to go to sleep. I am usually a disorganized person. but everything I read says we need a pattern before we go to bed every night.
One theory I've seen is that the soap has magnesium in it that is absorbed through the skin. Some say theirs has been effective for 6 months, a year, 3 years. It depends on the person. I've seen people on a forum I looked at say they score it with a knife and it works again. Others get a new one and put the old one in the shower to use. My guess is the magnesium or some other ingredient that is absorbed.
I take over the counter sleep aid an hour and a half before bed.
Then I pray or put hand lotion on.I put a sleep balm on my face.
Then spray a room spray.
Then I lay down all covered up.
My room is dark as possible and a fan on medium
and a white noise machine on.
Good luck.
Shaylynn,
I have a night time routine and it is amazing for helping me sleep. I make sure the kitchen is clean and my clothes and things are ready for the next day (for some strange reason it puts my mind at peace LOL). Then, I do a little bit of journaling, basically to get all of those "should'ves" out of my head. I make a cup of tea before I do this btw (I like peppermint and stevia). Next, I take my dog for a walk which really helps me relax. And finally, I do a 20 min. guided meditation (I bought in on the Amazon Store) that really does alleviate a good portion of pain. By then I'm pretty tired and fall asleep in about 30 min at the most.