Lack of sleep.

mellman01

Hi all now why is it that recently I seem to get some average levels of sleep although I do tend to wake up a couple or three times a nigh, but soon after I have got up I start to feel so dammed tired I feel like it all day, in the week I tend to have a kip as soon as I get in from work, then later on in the evening I perk up.
As I sit here writing this I can hardly keep my eye’s open, I just wonder if I’m note getting proper REM sleep and it’s this that’s causing it. Does anyone else feel like this?.

sharmaine

Hi

I take amytriptline at night which really helps with my sleep. I get up once or twice to visit the loo but otherwise I'm sleeping much better. I think amytriptline is a powerful relaxant and it really helps.
Previous to taking this I was unable to get comfortable in bed and was not sleeping at all. I also invested in a memory foam mattress topper - this helps to support my body/joints.

Somedays I do feel tired and I often think it is down to the drugs. I just listen to my body and if I need a nap I take it. Mind you I'm not working. I resigned from my job last year. I was a Librarian (Library was located on the 3rd floor - no lifts and I had to commute to the city). I was bending/lifting and on my feet a great deal.

Have a chat with your GP.

With regards
Sharmaine

mellman01

Hi sharmaine
Yeah I will have to see my GP, I'm still going to work and today I feel terribley tired it's the same old weekly cycle, I also take Nortriptalyne but it only helps so far and I get some unhelpful side effects from it I don't like taking it but really have no choice.

sharmaine

Hi
I remember that feeling of trying to pull myself together to get to work. The only way I managed was to have a bath every morning to try and wake me up. At the time I wasn't on as many meds. I'm so glad I gave up work then - I just couldn't cope at all now.

Go back to your GP and explain how you are feeling. Amitrytilines really knock you out at night and make you feel groggy in the morning. Saying that I'm happy taking them because I sleep now and I'm able to cope with the day a lot better and with a bit more energy. I can take between 1-3 a night. I only resort to taking 3 when I have a flare up. It takes awhile to get the balance of your meds right.

I hope things improve for you.

Sharmaine

jordan7j

Hi, yes I feel like this too! Will hopefully get an earlier appt at clinic so will discuss it then. Its a complete nightmare when you have to work, I tend to wake around 3.30 and by the time I go back to sleep my alarm goes off at 5.45. I have heard about amtrypolene, (spelling!) and would definitely ask for that or something else similar. Take care Jay

jaspercat

Hi, I go through phrases of this, sometimes I sleep really well, other times not at all, I was so tired last night when I went to bed, I slept between midnight and 2.30am, woke up around 2.30, went back to sleep until 6.15am, once I feed the cat I slept until 11am this morning, I do take Amitriptylline but sometimes it dosen't even work love Jaspercatxx

breane

Hi,I never know what it's like to get a good nights sleep. Ever since I can remember I've slept bad,waking several times throughout the night and since having OA and RA it has got worse.I can wake almost every hour through the night so my sleep pattern is more like 'cat napping'.During the day I feel quite drained at times but find it difficult to try and have a daytime nap.I did try sleeping tablets once but they made me feel even more groggy the next day. :shock: I dream a lot too,sometimes two or three dreams a night,so I feel I never have a really restful sleep.I envy anyone who can get 6 or more hours sleep at night,it must be wonderful to sleep and wake feeling refreshed. Breane.

debbierose

breane
if you are dreaming it means you are sleeping and resting.
its your brains way of relaxing learning and digesting all the information it has gathered that day with out over working on sending singles to move the rest of your body,

I think routine is the answer says she who never sleeps for more than a hour at a time. for years now i wake up several times a night have tried every known remedy. since leaving work i have allowed my self to sleep when i need to and busy myself when I'm awake. not ideal but at least I get some rest.
I think its the nature of the beast that we are tired alot of the time. its so draining and painful.

penfactor

Like Breane, I can't remember a full night's sleep! I think I just keep waking because I try & move in my sleep & that is impossible esp post hip op as I have to stay really still on my back. :-(
I am taking a codeine/ paracetamol at bedtime but still wake up drowsy.
Horrible ain't it!
Pennie

breane

Hi Pennie,Like you I find the pain wakes me up in the night. If I move in my sleep,the pain shoots in and then I'm awake again.Lately I've been finding my legs,especially my knees,get very stiff after being in bed for a while.Not too bad during the day as I try to keep very active.I would love to have just a couple of full nights sleep just to see what it's like!!! Breane.

woodbon

Hello,
I've always slept well, and if I had a bad night I was very misarable the next day. Then when I started with arthritis, the first thing I noticed was that by about 2 to 3 am I was waking up in pain and couldn't turn over in bed very well.

I too have amytriptline, which helps a lot. Its and old fashioned anti depressant not like taking 'proper' sleeping tablets. If your GP thinks they might do you some good I'm sure he will prescribe thenm. It may not help to ask him what he thinks.

I agree, not sleeping is horrible and saps your energy before you even start the new day. Good luck, love Sue

mellman01

Thanks Sue and all, seems I'm not alone then, well just another thing to get use to. :shock: