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Questions about sleep?

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Fibromyalgia
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Questions about sleep?  
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lynxlovessugar
New Member
Joined : Jan 2014
Posts : 15
Posted 1/20/2014 3:51 PM (GMT -7)
This relates to CFS too but I noticed this board is more active

Here's my question, does anybody have this problem I have. I notice that i am very easily overstimulated and this is enough to cause my insomnia?
There was a girl in the support group I attended who said the same thing.
sometimes having a friend over is enough to overstimulate me, and I can not sleep. Even after taking trazodone and melatonin. Maybe I need a better sleep medication? But I will probably just avoid having a friend over past a certain time now.

I've tried meditating too, and it does work, but the thing is if it does not work fast enough (e.g. i'm overstimulated or whatever) my thoughts begin to wander and then it doesnt work.

The other thing is, I noticed that I tend to tense my muscles a lot when I am trying to fall asleep, even if I'm not really that anxious.. I don't know why. I will un-tense them and then they will just go back to being that way. I've noticed it is kind of uncomfortable and I don't know why my body demands to do it. Anybody know what I'm talking about?
Lynx

20 y/o female

Chronic Illnesses: Depression, Anxiety, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, IBS & Fibromyalgia

Meds: Cymbalta, Propanolol, Trazedone and Concerta

Supplements: Omega-3 Complex, Zinc, Coenzyme Q10, Probiotic, Melatonin
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getting by
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 42934
Posted 1/20/2014 4:42 PM (GMT -7)
Keep practicing the meditation. I can fall asleep almost imediately now. I have practiced it for years, and it is almost gaurenteed to work for you. Just keep doing it. I take a half of an ambien every other night. I use to take a whole one every night. I am trying to get a more natural sleep, though I do find when I take the ambien, I actually get a more restful sleep. Keep relaxing the muscles. I find the tension ends up in my legs, but I imagine it going out the bottoms of my feet. You will win the battle if you keep after it.

I wish you the best, sweet dreams...

Hugs, Karen...
Moderator-Depression and fibromyalgia


fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue, depression, allergies
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couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 1/20/2014 4:53 PM (GMT -7)
I listen to a special video I found on youtube. It's an anti-anxiety relaxation self hypnosis video by David Fairweather. He has several posted but I love the fall asleep one for bedtime. I've a problem with my mind racing at bedtime jumping from thought to thought. If I listen to it and start repeating what he says in my mind I find myself dropping off to sleep before he finishes. I like his voice a lot it's very soothing.
Joy
Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, Asthma, Hypothyriodism, Sleep Apnea, OA, Depression, Allergies, and benign familia tremors

When life throws you lemons....
Pick them up and throw them right back at them! :))
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Sherrine
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2005
Posts : 18047
Posted 1/20/2014 7:02 PM (GMT -7)
Hi, and welcome! Yes, we are a more active board. Anyway, start at your feet andtense them tight and then relax them. Then work up your legs. Then your hands and arms, then your abdomen, then shoulders, neck, etc. You will be surprised how tense you are and how this does relax you.

I don't have caffeine anytime after early afternoon. Otherwise, I can't get to sleep. I also go to bed with the TV on. When I'm laying there I end up dozing off. I never get to finish the program I was watching. Occasionally I really can't sleep so I'll turn on the Weather Channel with just repeats itself and that usually puts me to sleep. If all else fails, I get on the computer until I get sleepy. If I try laying in bed trying to get to sleep, it just won't happen.

Sherrine

Forum Moderator/Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, Crohn's Disease, Ostomy, Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Glaucoma, Scoliosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis
************************
God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
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ak angel
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2011
Posts : 3197
Posted 1/20/2014 7:21 PM (GMT -7)
Sometimes it just takes practice and several weeks to get into a good sleep habits. I use to be anxious and tense at night. I would even clamp down on my teeth, till my jaws would hurt. My dentist taught me biofeedback and it really helped. I got away from sleeping medications because I got very dependent on them. I do take an antidepressent that has something in it for racing thoughts. So I take it at night, it helps me sleep well. Reducing the caffeine really makes a difference for me.
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CharmCityLady
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2012
Posts : 245
Posted 1/20/2014 9:49 PM (GMT -7)
Yeah, I realize some activities are too stimulating in the nighttime hours and prevent falling asleep in a reasonable amount of time.

A little conversation on this message board is fine, but a heated political debate on another online forum I visit after 10 pm? Not good. :)

You might want to make sure that you have low mental, emotional, social, or intellectual stimulation prior to bed. Make a list of things which stimulate you and make sure you do those things prior to a certain hour in the evening to give yourself leeway to cool down, so to speak.

(Example, no phone call after 8 pm, or no tv after ten, or no important conversations after 8 pm)

One thing I have to do is limit checking my emails after a certain time, because sometimes some come from work that get my brain ticking or get me stressed.
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Wackers34
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2013
Posts : 694
Posted 1/21/2014 10:24 AM (GMT -7)
oh boy - I can so relate to this! sleep or lack of it and then the fatigue that follows this - unbelievable...melatonin does work for me, but only gives me a few hours maybe 4...I take amitriptyline (low dose) and gabapentin low dose, sometimes a nytol, valerian root or zopiclone (alternating), this little cocktail does hold back some of the insomnia.

I am on waiting list (UK) for a sleep study - have you considered this? If I can find out why I am jerking awake constantly or having trouble getting to sleep - it might help me - or perhaps its just one of those fibro / cfs things.

The tensing I can also relate to, Sherrine has just advised me of a muscle relaxant to try...maybe you could try one?

Its such a quest to find something that works - just keep with it - i am on my own quest - can't add anything other than you are not alone with this!!!
Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in March and now looking for friends to help me in my fibro journey :o)
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crazykitty
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 4796
Posted 1/21/2014 2:57 PM (GMT -7)
I meditate using mental imagery and it has a calming affect on me. Days that I have a lot of nervous energy, I will take time to soak in a warm bath. The warmth of soaking in the water calms me. I then use a chamomile and lavender body lotion and find it to be relaxing. deep breathing exercise can be helpful too.

hugs, Robin
Fibromyalgia, Adenocarcinoma survivor, Lung Lobectomy, Heart Disease, Pulmonary Hypertension,
MCTD (Lupus, Scleroderma and RA)
Raynaud's, Degenerative Disc Disease, Osteoarthritis,
Osteoporosis, Hypertension and Migraines
"Where there is a will, there is a way"
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browneyes1
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2013
Posts : 43
Posted 1/23/2014 7:54 AM (GMT -7)
I don't sleep well at all I can fall asleep then up an hour later I was getting up and turning on tv or something heck im guilty of even grabbing a snack. Lately ive been laying in bed watch a movie on my pc till I fall asleep but do wake up several times anight. Even if I take something to help me sleep I still wake up would love to know any tips on helping me sleep. Lately it has been pain that wakes me up. (hugs to all)
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lynxlovessugar
New Member
Joined : Jan 2014
Posts : 15
Posted 1/23/2014 5:53 PM (GMT -7)
OMG I haven't properly slept in like 4 days...
This is weird even for me because the last few months my sleep schedule has been overall working out for me and I have not had a lot of insomnia
I'm wondering if maybe me stopping Concerta (this week) could have caused some sort of withdrawal or side effect that is just showing up now, or maybe my anxiety is just that bad now (but I'm thinking it's the Concerta)
The overstimulation thing happened on SUnday night, then on Monday I was feeling really bad so I had to go home early from school (like halfway through first period).... Monday night I guess I was worried that I had missed something important at school because I got the weeks mixed up and thought I had missed my first chemistry laboratory session of the semester, (they are mandatory attendance and I would lose marks) so I could not sleep again.
Tuesday night I saw my psychiatrist and he prescribed me an SSRI which he told me would help me sleep because trazodone doesn't always work, but that didn't work either. Wednesday night (at this point I am getting sleep anxiety because loss of sleep wrecks me/I am getting more and more depressed as well...) I fell asleep but then I woke up really early this morning and couldn't fall back asleep.. I find that I am just more anxious/depressed now, which really isn't a good thing, but I'm hoping it'll be resolved....
Lynx

20 y/o female

Chronic Illnesses: Depression, Anxiety, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, IBS & Fibromyalgia

Meds: Cymbalta, Propanolol, Trazedone, Sertraline and Vyvanse

Supplements: Omega-3 Complex, Zinc, Coenzyme Q10, Probiotic, Melatonin
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lynxlovessugar
New Member
Joined : Jan 2014
Posts : 15
Posted 1/24/2014 5:22 PM (GMT -7)
A lot of health and sleep anxiety is what it is, I think. Went to a mental health centre at my school and will be seeing a psychologist for therapy next week

I also found that taking the SSRI and the trazodone together works OK (or i was just so exhausted i had to be unconscious last night)

This is the first time I've ever been on five different drugs, and I'm not too proud of it, but I need all the help I can get right now
Lynx

20 y/o female

Chronic Illnesses: Depression, Anxiety, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, IBS & Fibromyalgia

Meds: Cymbalta, Propanolol, Trazedone, Sertraline and Vyvanse

Supplements: Omega-3 Complex, Zinc, Coenzyme Q10, Probiotic, Melatonin
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