Do you have trouble sleeping because of your fibromyalgia?

Hi Katrinaj87

I was prescribed sleeping pills for 2 weeks, but i can honestly say they didn't work the pain is that bad i don't even get to relax, I have taken up adult colouring and I can honestly say this actually is so relaxing that I have dropped off to sleep all be it not for long but I am used to having power naps when I get really tired so this is great for me I can be found colouring at all hours my husband can't quite believe how I get through the next day with so little sleep, but I think my body has got so used to the lack of sleep I just get on with it , I have not been diagnosed with fibro but I know it is. I am seeing my GP again tomorrow and I will bring the condition up. I have had many ops including 3 on my back I have constant UTI's but the worse thing is my restless legs it is hell they just move all night long and now it is happening at any time during the day and my arms have started now.

Gillianf

The only thing that gets me through my sleepless nights .. I listen to my ipod with ear buds in, they are quite comfy to sleep on when I do fall asleep, I listen to BBC Radio4 sometimes all through the night, most often in the early hours and find that I can soon drop off just by listening and waken again and listen more then drop off again and so it goes.  I do not have it loud just very low so that the volume does not damage my ears.  I must admit I know this is odd but it works for me.

I weaned myself off tramadol, it took me 4 months - after 2 years of drug fuelled utter hell, nightmares, night terrors & subsisting on just a few broken hours sleep a night, I can hardly stay awake more than a few hours at a time! But my pain levels (which were around 5 - 6 all the time) have now dropped to a 2!

I think I'm enjoying sleeping 16+ hours a day presently - I've got a lot to catch up on! I'm usually a vorocious reader but keep waking up face down in my book! I'm looking at getting some grown up colouring in books when I'm up to going shopping again.

I do find that hot baths with lots of epsom salts, lavender oil, rose oil & bubbles helps me relax a bit before sleeps but I think I've tried most things known to man.

Ok, I'm only a week tramadol free, and I had surgery 8 days ago (yes I made sure they wouldn't give me any, yes the site hurts, but no not enough to risk tramadol hell again!) so my sleep pattern is a bit screwed anyway.

My partner walked out on me when I began getting really ill late last year (& lost my career) so it's only the cats, dog & bearded dragon I disturb at night.

My rheamatology consultant has advised 'Mindfulness techniques' and CBT for my Fibro flare as my stress levels are up due to scleroderma progression and my terminally ill father now staying with us. So far it seems to be helping! I to use lavender oil on my pillow, Epsom salts baths and horlicks prior to bed, and a good book. My GP also has me on Gabapentine which helps also. Sleep is a mine field with chronic illness. Hope you all get a restful night tonight 

I take Melissa dream get it at Holland and Barrett also amitriptlyine 25mg tramadol max 300mg a day usually take 200mg max

I find the natural sleep aid Melissa dream helps with sleep had increased amitriptyline to 50mg but got more anxious and drowsy during day.

Ellam have you checked with your doctor that it is all right to take the Melissa along with your prescribed drugs?   Worth a check as some over the counter stuff does not always go along with prescribed drugs .. though maybe it will tell you on the Melissa note to check what you are taking.

I tend to think a lot at night and cant seem to switch off, this then sets off my restless legs. At the moment I keep getting spasms in my right index finger (it did used to be in my thumb) does this mean I'm stressed or anxious? For the past however months ive been hurting myself when I become frustrated and cant do something. Does anyone else experience things like this? Please help I'm desperate

I have the restless legs every night last week tried magnesium everything no help nothing helps

I have always had problems with sleep since diagnosed with Fibro in 1997.  Since joining my husband here in January of this year, I found out that my GP is not able to prescribe the medication that I was taking in the states but replaced it with something similar called PREGABALIN.  I take three 50mg capsules of Pregabalin about an hour before going to bed and have found it to be quite helpful!  It calms down the nervous system which stops sending the pain signals to my muscles to allow them to relax!  I am getting much more length of sleep now and if I am awakened for any reason (needing the bathroom, outside noises, etc.) I am able to fall right back to sleep instead of lying there for forty-five minutes to an hour getting comfortable again!

Hi Cupcake06, I also take Pregabalin which I find does control some of the pain the only thing being is that it's really making me put on weight, do you have same problem? Xx