Ye Gods - DD is active in bed!

dreamdaisy

'Ho-ho!' I can hear your lascivious mind thinking, tell me more! Well it's true, I am, but not quite in the way you may be imagining.

10pm. My battle with the day is done, I have deadmaud for an hour or so and the eyelids are drooping. Mr DD and I are in our king-sized bed, each keeping to our respective 2' 6" of space. I turn out the light and the fun begins. I push a pillow to the foot of the bed: I am flaring like billy-o at the moment, and my feet cannot take the weight of our feather duvet upon them - pathetic or what? - so I have found that a pillow lifts the duvet a little and eases that little squirt of pain. I turn onto my right side, and arrange another pillow, lengthways, from my ankle to my - ahem - groin :oops: - and that cushions my upper leg from my lower leg very comfortably indeed. I then address the issue of the thrid pillow, the one that is where it flaming well should be, under me bonce. That is wrapped in a doubled bath towel, to deal with the events which will unfold in the next 15 minutes or so, together with a spare hand towel which I cuddle to me like a security blanket. Then, thumb tucked in mouth (no, not really, I made that bit up) I close my eyes.

Between 10 and 15 minutes later I am drenched in a pred sweat, it is pouring off me like a river and the duvet has been thrown back. I lie there, sweat running into my eyes, mopping myself up with the hand towel, gasping as tho I have just run a race. I huff and puff with indignation, and the little pain fireworks start exploding in various joints, small sparkles of pain, caused by the fact I haven't moved for ten minutes or so. Then the shivering begins - the duvet is hauled back into place, slightly damp towel cuddled to me, eyes closed again. After a short interval (during which I may have nodded off) I experience an explosion of cramp, I straighten the affected leg, the pillow shooots out from the bottom of the bed (no rail or anything, you see) and I launch myself up and out, trying to stand on legs that won't work and trying not to whimper with the cramp. Mr DD? Snoozing quietly. The cramp passes off, I replace the pillow at the foot of the bed, get back in, turn on my right side (for a change of view) re-arrange the leg pillow, turn over the wet head pillow and sort out the towel to find a dry bit, lie down, thumb in mouth, etc etc etc.

After a short interval (during which I may have nodded off) another pred sweat descends, duvet back, mop furiously, gasp and huff, swear, mutter, the sparklers of pain are now Roman Candles, burning brightly and for a while, then I start shivering, haul the duvet back etc etc etc. I think you are beginning to get the picture. Mr DD? Snoozing quietly.

After a short interval (during which etc ) the Roman Candles have turned into Catherine Wheels, reeling and spinning in my joints, shooting out their own little sparks of flame into hitherto unaffected areas, another pred sweat descends, I resort to the spare towel, kept by the bed, which has to be shaken first, reasonably vigorously to oust any spiders who may be lurking within (I woke with the dismembered remains of a large spider next to me, not that long ago, won't have THAT happen again in a hurry, thank you!) to mop up the nubile, firm-fleshed body which is my pride and joy - - turn the head pillow over again, try to find another patch of dry towel, take some pain dullers to try to reduce the Catherine Wheels to little sparklers, and so the antics continue until about 5am, when I fall into a restless, uneasy and pain-riddled doze. Mr DD? Yup, you guessed.

Circa 5.40am, Mr DD begins to greet the day with his version of the dawn chorus. Various parps, toots, squeaks and rumbles emanate from his guts, a noxious cloud descends and WAKES ME. HONESTLY. MEN.

I envy him. He sleeps from about 10 to about 5.30, stirring occsionally, able to turn in his sleep without waking up first to do so, no cramp or pain for him, and with only one pillow. He sleeps, gently, quietly, deeply, and wakes restored and ready for the new day. Yes, he too is Living with Arthritis, but in a very different way to me.

If you have been, thank you for reading.

skezier

Hi DD,

Sorry its so rough for you at the moment and hoe that for once you get a good night.

I sort of got some of that but the cramps ......I am sick of em :roll: Its never easy to get comfortable but I also got the cold thing and often wake shivering and wishing I had dug out a special blanket.... I will go and do that now I think....

You hang in there cus the flare must pass soon. A ((((( ))))) and a top up for the hug bucket. Love Cris XX

speedalong

Durr, just lost my reply. Ok, gritted teeth, let's start again ...

Well I am exhausted just reading about a night in the life of DD. I think you should ask Mr DD to kindly wrap you up in some bath sheets and then bop you on the head with a mallet, before he settles down for his night's sleep.

The only sensible suggestion I can come up with so far is that you buy a child's bed guard - and tuck it in postion at the foot of the bed - it will stop your pillow falling out and needing retrieving.

Link has been deleted as it is a site offering goods for sale. However if one googled child's bed guard it would be possible to find out lots of examples.
Moderator (YEH)

is an example of what I mean. There are all sorts of styles - wooden, metal etc)

Speedy

PS I just noticed the "Message body:
Enter your message here, it may contain no more than 60000 characters." notice on the left when you post (above the smilies) and was wondering whether that would affect posts - but having seen that your post was ok - I'm less concerned by this limit.

dorcas

Oh damsel :!:

I don't know whether to laugh or cry with you. :roll: what a terrible time you are having. Pain we can just about cope with.. but no sleep? that's a whole different ball game.
This way of life is really not good enough and you really really need to have your meds reviewed 'cause the pred cure seems almost as bad as the condition. Well.... it certainly isn't helping if you have to be awake every 15 mins because of the soaking. :roll:

I hope that at your next rheummy appointment on the 13th Dec the consultant will come up with some better combo for you damsel.

meanwhile some extra dry (((hugs))) for night time use.
(and a honey-chew stick that's only a little bit fluffy from being in my pocket for so long. )

Iris xxx

nanasue

Hell DD, I'm so sorry to hear you're having such a dreadful time. I can understand about the sweats although I don't think mine are as bad as yours. I don't really know what to say to make you feel better so I'l just send some chilly (((((((())))))))) and hope you feel better soon
Sue x

cherrybim

Oh DD you poor little sweetpea

I have become royalty

I have the double bed with the pillows/cushions fluffy blankets et all all to myself and OH has his own boudoir.

I absolutely refuse to sleep with an elephant in must :x

The downside is that I have to crawl out of the double bed in the morning on my own, unless and except if he's stopped his deafening bohemian rapsody and in paying a visit to the loo has deigned to pop his head round my boudoir door, in which event he'll offer his arm so that I can sit on the throne

Cherry xx

salamander

I do emphathize with you DD! I was awake at 3 am with a bag of frozen peas on my knee which has decided to flare nicely again. Then painkillers and then half a sleeping pill. Did get back to sleep finally but it seems you had a far rougher night. Even worse when the person next to you is fast asleep oblivious. Separate beds?? Separate rooms? Or would that not make a difference?

dreamdaisy

Oooooh! First out-loud laugh of the day, thanks cherrybim! The only upside of my mother's recent visit was the fact that I did have a whole 4' 6" to myself, which was bliss, 13 nights of bliss, in fact. I still slept badly, still cramped and sweated etc etc etc but I had some room in which to do so and I didn't have to worry about waking sleeping beauty. It was lovely. I shall think of you tonight, in your splendid, regal isolation. DD

salamander: he won't. Which is quite lovely in its way. Bl**dy annoying too. DD

tonesp

Hi Dd For the first time in 42 years (Narks excepted) The current Mrs P and I are in seperate rooms She is in one king size bed with Sammy the dog and I am in the other with Rascal the bitch Nicely hetrosexual.When I first came home from hospital I just could not settle.So we parted company temporarily.Now I am getting better we are negotiating getting together again We'll start in Benidorm.I HOPE :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Poppyg1rl

Hi DD
You poor thing, I can really sympathise with the night sweats, I had an op 10 yrs ago to cut the sympathetic nerve to stop the sweat dripping frm my hands. Downside is i have hot flushes and night sweats on my back and legs every night. I have to say though, yours sounds so much worse. One thing I've noticed about you DD is how positive you remain, you have every right to be in a black foul mood and yet you constantly offer support to everyone else. We are all thinking of you and I personally think you are an inspiration to a lot of others in pain, and in dealing with the pain in the a***e that is arthritis. Hope you have a better night and that your flare starts to recede.
Wishing you well Poppy Xxx

psyart

DD - i have to say that the thought of the pillow shoting out of the bed did make me smile - and the sounds coming from OH - mine is the same!!

but i do think you need your meds reviewed - thank goodness you are going to see the consultant soon :!:

i have cramps - but not as bad as that but i do have the same with the weight of the bed clothes on my knee and ankle - so know what you mean :!:

am sending you loads ((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))) but not to use them when you having hot sweat :!:

hope you do get some sort of sleep soon :!:

Louise xxx

dreamdaisy

Oh speedy, I can tell you are back at school and in full-on teacher mode! ie 'That's a problem, let's fix it with . . . .' and you find a solution. Thank you, you are very sweet and, if this carries on much longer, I may well consider something along those lines. . . . . or get my mother to come and live with us. Did I just type that out loud?! I did, didn't I?

poppygirl, thank you. I know we all face these problems from time to time but the aim was to make people grin - grinning is in short supply around here at the mo and it does have its funny side. Somewhere. I thought I had banished the sweats when the flushes finished (it's my age, I'm a game old girl) but then the pred replaced them, and a different beast emerged. The dead spider was horrendous - guess who laughed? I should have saved the legs and hidden them in a dinner. (Note to self: next time, DD, next time . . . . .)

Sleep well, everyone.

dreamdaisy

Hello psyart, I was wondering how things are with you. Please allow for the fog of morphine but am I right in thinking you started on sulpha recently? Very recently? Or am I muddling you with someone else? (In which case, I offer my sincere apologies). Anyhoo, I hope you are as well as you can be. I will think of you tomorrow when the dawn chorus begins! DD

cebeem

Hi DD hope you soon get some relief...what soldier maintaining that sense of humour wishing you a speedy recovery

alarkra

Aww, DD, it sounds like you are having a tough time... Sending you big hugs, I hope that your flare calms down soon. ((((((HUGS)))))))

Wonkylegs

HI DD

well you made your nocturnal adventures so vivid with your superb writing it was such a shame that the content reflected such a horrid time for you.

I had to smile though at your description of the pillows .... I currently have 7 by my bed, awaiting call-up for different situations. However, I too have the pillow which migrates during the night ... in my case it begins life as my 'cuddle pillow' as my wrists in their resting splints can rarely find a comfy position without said pillow to cuddle. However, it rarely ends the night in the position it begins in.

It has, so far, been located in the dog's bed :shock: , acting as a Berlin wall between hubby and I :oops: and the most hillarious from my point of view are the times when it ends up on top of hubby's head (and that's usually not intended, despite his interminable snoring during the night :roll: )

I can only send you lots of soothing hugs ((((((()))))) and wish you a much better night tonight.

hugs
WOnky

skezier

Hi DD,

Iris's fluffy chew stick will do the trick for you but if it doesn't... I been growing these dandelions secretly and well I don't think I been sussed yet and have left you a nice big special one as well as a sleep draft (was tempted to drink that actually but they don't work for your self ) and a small vile that you can slip Mr DD to stop the snoring..... Its only in the trial phase but didn't work on my Springer..... well tis worth ago.....

Really hope today is better and sending a ((((( ))))) and told the bucket to work harder as well.... Love Cris xx

julie47

Morning DD

I also didn't know whether to laugh or cry at your episode in bed. I tell you what i have at the bottom to stop duvet pressing on toes, It is an old fold in half clothes airer, Rich took it apart and then bent it in half. Half under the matress other half keeps duvet off matress. Was cheaper than buying one from a mobility shop. Trouble is though, he also likes the pressure off feet so it is in the middle, we can have relief of one foot each, (oh i forgot in bed i only have one foot )

Anyway I really hope your sleep was much better last night.

Thinking of you
sending hugs (((((((())))))))
Juliepf x

psyart

Hi DD - thank you for thinking about me while you are going through a bad time :!: xx

yes you are right though - i have just started on sulph :!: :!: hows it going :?: to be honest the last week or so have been pretty bad - not as bad as you are going through but bad enough - quite a bit of pain and just not feeling quite right - not been right for a long while now but cant put finger on what is going on but it will take time :!:

please take care of yourself - the weather turning nasty so stay indoors and wrap up warm :!: :!:

take care and loads (((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))

louise xx

mp1952

Oh DD, DD!

I have been offline for a few days so am only just catching up with what's been happening - and your post caught my eye (wonder why??)

Your nights sound absolutely awful. I've never (fortunately) had sweats that bad...

I can't stand a duvet on my feet either because of the pain, so I currently have my feet stuck out of the bottom of the duvet (not sure what I'll do when the very cold weather comes along).. I am wondering about getting one of those 'cages' to keep the duvet off my feet...

I wonder if having a supply of nice/thin/soft very large bath sheets would help? You could put one on top of the bottom sheet (your side) and then replace it with a nice dry one half way through the night .. I used to put a small towel over the pillow and change it through the night when I had 'head sweats'.

Sorry I can't really come up with any bright ideas.. I'll keep thinking..

Take care

Marion xx

woodbon

Hi, I wish I could just magic up an answer for you, apart from banishing him to the spare room! That sounds a bit harsh, when the weather gets colder, who will warm the other side of the bed???? Sleep well tonight, if possible!!!

dreamdaisy

Hi marion, it's nice to see you back! I have slept on bath sheets but they do tend to ruck up and towel creases are surprisingly rough to lie on! woodbon, I would love to boot him out so I could roll to a cold, dry bit of bed (did I just put roll? Who the heck am I kidding?!) Last night was better, only two major melts, but then I have reduced the pred to 10mgs per day (despite last week's flare), the pain has risen accordingly so I guess one just cannot have it all. Don't see why not tho, wouldn't it be luvverly? It's been like this for years now, menopause first, now pred sweats. I suppose they won't go until I am off the pred - that future event is, I suspect, another mirage in the desert that is arthritis. DD

mp1952

Hi there DD

I'm still just caching up on the messages (and also having some difficulty with the new-look Forum)...

You're right - bath sheets can ruck up and become lumpy when you are having difficulty settling..

I change my sheets every other day because I just love getting into a fresh bed... I also only have nice high-thread cotton sheets (from a certain white company).. so I would really hate to be going through what you are every night ...

Do these pred sweats happen during the day too??

Sorry I'm not much help - I'll keep thinking though..

I'll never forget being in a meeting at work some years ago (me and about 12 men) and having a 'head sweat' when the sweat was dripping off the ends of my hair onto my paperwork! Nice..

Hope you have a better night, tonight DD..

Marion

julie47

Morning DD

How you doing this morning? Hope you had a better sleep last night, The broken sleeps will be making you feel dreadful.

Sending sleep waves to you for tonight cause lastnight I slept through til 6am . whooo hoooo. (now how do i do that? ah this button will do) ~~~~~~~

Take care
Juliepf x

dreamdaisy

Morning my lovely pink flamingo, last night was a corker: my blasted MP3 ran out of juice, I had seven pred sweats and now have quite a few towels to wash, I had a longlife trammy plus frequent top-ups of co-cos, and two blasts of cramp. Many nthings were being floung round the bedroom last night, I can tell you! I am glad you had a good night tho, it might help that blasted hole to heal up! Does anyone know where I can get a suply of GA? That might be the stuff to have to hand. DD

speedalong

Durr!!! Took me awhile to work out what a GA was!!

DD, have you thought about sleeping in wicking clothing ... better not post a link this time - got told off in red before. Worth a try?

Speedy