I need a good nights sleep. Any suggestions?

angie45
angie45 Member Posts: 30
edited 10. Oct 2011, 16:33 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi Everyone
Can anyone suggest a way for me to get a good nights sleep? I'm finding that despite popping my regular nightly meds of 2 co-codamol, 1 amitriptyline, 1 diclofenac, and 1 esomeprazole I'm still waking up two to three times a night. It's usually because I've moved the wrong way in my sleep and the pain has woken me. Trouble is, as I'm sure some of you will be familiar with, because I haven't slept properly, when its time to get up I'm still suffering from the effects of the night befores meds and I'm not worth a button.
I'd rather find a non-meds way (if I take anymore tablets I'm sure I'll start rattling when I walk) but at present cannot think of anything, can any of you clever people think of anything?
Take Care
Angie

Comments

  • traluvie
    traluvie Member Posts: 2,579
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Angie..

    It can be a pain when you are taking meds to help you sleep and still can't.
    I have to sleep with cushions either side of me to ensure partner don't knee me in back lol and so i can turn over and my legs/hips/knees and supported by the pillow if that makes sense lol..some other ideas..
    *hot milk before bed
    *hot water bottle
    *some of that sleep easy spray stuff you put on your pillow
    *soothing music on mp3 player to settle you down and if you wake it may get you back off to sleep easier..

    Can't think of much more..hopefully someone else may have some more ideas for you..
    th_tn_TisFORTIGGER.jpgxxTracyxx
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,826
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Angie

    medical method....check whether your dose of amatrip is high enough and also can you try slow release meds so you have less pain to 'wake' you?

    Other than that l do like Tracy's lovely list :wink:

    or if all else fails l can pop round.... c025.gif

    Mind you l cant guarantee you won't still feel the effects in the morning :wink:

    Love

    Toni xx
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Ra is a fully qualified hypnotist.. I could get him to put you in a trance each evening. Although he has been known to be mischievous, I couldn't guarantee that you won't start clucking like a chicken whenever someone sneezed :shock: :shock:
    Good luck hun. I hope something helps :wink:
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Angie

    All I can add to traluvies Ideas is an aromatherapy bath.

    It is very rare that I sleep through either. I always wake when I turn over. If I can't get back to sleep, I turn on the radio (very quiet so not to wake oh) and that helps me.

    Hope you find a solution.

    Juliepf x
  • traluvie
    traluvie Member Posts: 2,579
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    tjt6768 wrote:
    Ra is a fully qualified hypnotist.. I could get him to put you in a trance each evening. Although he has been known to be mischievous, I couldn't guarantee that you won't start clucking like a chicken whenever someone sneezed :shock: :shock:
    Good luck hun. I hope something helps :wink:


    smiley-laughing025.gif
    You do make me laugh..
    th_tn_TisFORTIGGER.jpgxxTracyxx
  • angie45
    angie45 Member Posts: 30
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Everyone,
    Thanks for the helpful replies. Sorry I've taken so long to say thanks but I got a phonecall from my mum yesterday concerning a family bereavement asking how we were going to get to the funeral in Manchester. No matter how much I tried to convince her that my cousin wouldn't expect us to travel from Glasgow to attend the funeral she wasn't having it. I spent most of yesterday checking transport and accomodation costs.

    Traluvie, I loved your list except the warm milk (YEUCH!) and will certainly give some of them a try.

    Frogmorton, Thanks for the friendly nudge. I just realised I've been on the same amitrip dosage for nearly two years now well past it's review date. As for your kind offer to pop round to administer your alternative therapy method, my hubby reckons he's fully qualified to do this and there's no need for you to come out into the cold night but thanks for the offer.

    tjt6768, Thank you to both yourself and Ra for the kind offer. As honoured as I would be to have the amazing Ra in my home I'm not sure how my two feline girls would react, they're rather insecure concerning their home life (long, sad, story for another time) and may think Ra is replacing them. I wouldn't want my little sleep problem to cause my girls such upset and distress and hope Ra understands why I have to decline his kind offer.

    Julie47, thanks for the aromatherapy idea I'll be looking out the lavendar oil for tonight.

    Thanks again everyone.
    Take Care
    Angie
  • sbolam
    sbolam Member Posts: 374
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi, I know what you mean..I have not had a good nights sleep in awhile..waking up 2-3 time with turning the wrong.

    pill do help but i do worry about having to rely on them to get to sleep.

    I am not on as many pills. i do take diclofenac and co-cods.. :cry:

    stephen
    04_pain.jpg
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think arthritis and a good night's sleep are mutually exclusive. Once in a while I get a blinder where I sleep for about five hours without interruption, but more usually I am woken every 90 minutes or so by pain and even the sleep I do achieve is hardly restorative. Sluggish is the usual operating mode for me. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Angie, I was going to surgest a couple of glasses of whisky my couple of glasses are usual triple shots in one glass! I'm so sorry to hear of the bereavement it's hard to be able to travel when your not well as it is but dealing with the loss as well as dealing with an illness is very hard. I would think what would the bereaved want you to do, and then at least in your mind you know you did the right thing not what someone else is telling you to do. I'm sorry for your loss and hope you find a way to get enough sleep soon. Amanda/bubbadog.
  • cloud9
    cloud9 Member Posts: 385
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Something that helped me but didn't cure was to not have any caffeine after 6pm. I now find I can fall asleep more easily and when I do wake throughout the night, I'm calmer.
    Sue (Cloud9)
  • cacyhi
    cacyhi Member Posts: 150
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Angie
    Even before my recent op, I sleep like " a chicken on a roasting spit " I rotate 90 degrees every time I wake up, from being on one side ( hip)then lie on my back , then the other side (hip) and so on all night. As lots of people say, a good night is when u can get back to sleep straight away each time u wake up and turn.

    The best way of improving my sleep in general is for hubby to sleep in the spare room because sometimes his snoring is the final straw !!!!

    Have you ever tried a memory foam mattress because this made a big difference for me ( bcoz im so thin and bony) and its been more comfortable than any other mattress ive had .. just a thought. :smile:
    of course, right now, Im sleeping in such stupid positions coz of the plaster cast Im looking for my own solutions --- sweet dreams
    CAROL (Cacyhi)
  • liesa
    liesa Member Posts: 821
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Angie,
    sorry about your nights of pain and no sleep... all been there done that at some time or other... first thing i wouldve done is contact your GP, and see if he/she will allow you to up the dose... i take full dose of 150mgs at night and feel better in the morning but i have only been on an extra 50mgs for the last 6 months or so i do feel better, but its the days that are worse for me now...
    hope you find a way of sorting ur nights its orrible when ur sleep is so needed yet so disrupted! xxxxx
    love and hugs
    8997C823B17A6252CBCA252F4BF2932D.png
  • elainebadknee
    elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Angie

    This is just a light hearted reply may make you laugh or not.....In our house when someone hasnt had a good night's sleep (dad says he never sleeps past 7am but mum says every time she wakens which is 3-4times a night he's out for the count)!!! That we will administer the huge mallet in the garage onto the noggin!! Failing that a horse tranquiliser????

    No seriously i put on music and i know its silly cuddle me frog and try to chill out, usually works!!

    Elainex :wink:
    angie45 wrote:
    Hi Everyone
    Can anyone suggest a way for me to get a good nights sleep? I'm finding that despite popping my regular nightly meds of 2 co-codamol, 1 amitriptyline, 1 diclofenac, and 1 esomeprazole I'm still waking up two to three times a night. It's usually because I've moved the wrong way in my sleep and the pain has woken me. Trouble is, as I'm sure some of you will be familiar with, because I haven't slept properly, when its time to get up I'm still suffering from the effects of the night befores meds and I'm not worth a button.
    I'd rather find a non-meds way (if I take anymore tablets I'm sure I'll start rattling when I walk) but at present cannot think of anything, can any of you clever people think of anything?
  • roses1
    roses1 Member Posts: 1,850
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Lie on the edge of the bed you will soon drop off :lol::lol:


    Seriously Warm / hot lavender bath , calming thoughts empty your head, dim lights, realxing music, read, ( I always feel tired if i start reading especially if its boring!) Do not do anything to stimulate the brain, like being on computer etc. Also if you in bed and cant sleep tell yourself you will get up and do some housework that should do the trick :lol:
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi After my THR ....I thought after the awful 6 weeks on my back it would be heaven to be able to be on my side but it didnt matter which side....I woke up with pain every night about 4 times....after the doc trying various tablets we found slow release diclofenic at night did the trick. You mentioned diclofenic...is it slow release...might be something to ask about.
    You can buy relaxing cd's from arthritis care apart from other places LOL and put it on very low .....
    I've moved into the spare bedroom because of Peters snoring and the THR then fractured pelvis/fractured SI joint.
    I havent got a memory foam mattress but do use a lovely think duvet under a fitted sheet.
    Warm bath {with lavendar} before going to bed ...about 30 mins beforehand.
    As someone said no coffee late in the evening.
    Cant think of anything else at the minute but I'm sure someone else will come up with more
    Love
    Hileena
  • peterwicks
    peterwicks Member Posts: 19
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Here is something that really works for my wife who has full blown RA.. she takes four [Text deleted as it is direct advertising] ....she sleeps like a log...

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