Sleeping! Why is it so difficult?!

iggly_pop

I haven't posted on here for quite some time! Been very busy, moving cities, starting University and being incredibly stressed ha.
I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping for the past month and a half. I've always had trouble sleeping, since I can remember, but it was a case of waking up once or twice in the night because of the pain or I needed the loo. But for the past month and a bit I have literally been waking up every hour. And then not been able to get back to sleep for at least 30 minutes, and unsurprisingly my body is rebelling. Had two really bad flare ups in the past three weeks, I haven't been this bad for quite some time so it's really tiring me out. I'd been off painkillers for about two years and have had to go on Nefopam (Acupan) because the pain has become unbearable again. Any advice on how I can get to sleep for more than 3/4 hours a night? Getting desperate because the pain just keeps getting harder to deal with because I'm so exhausted.
Sorry for the rambling paragraph! Any advice would be greatly appreciated...Thanks everyone!

Rebecca
XxX

valval

have you seen your gp to get something to help you need sleep or copeing becomes impossible good luck val

tjt6768

Hi hun.. Sort that you're having such a rough time. Lack of sleep when you're alway exhausted just from having the disease is terrible..
I've been on my trusty diazepam this last week, themes about the only things that help me when I'm badly. Not a long term solution though..
Please discuss with your GP or specialist, they should be able to help..
Best of wishes though.. Take it easy

iggly_pop

Hmm might have to go back to the Docs I changed doctors when I moved to University so they're not used to me and are very awkward when I attempt to talk to them about any sort of medication etc. The first time I went to talk to them about pain meds the lovely but seemingly dim doctor turned round and said "Have you tried taking paracetamol?" haha. I remember just laughing and saying that they haven't had any effect since I was about 11.
I don't even know what to ask for, because as far as I knew all of the prescribed meds that helped you sleep left you feeling hungover and lethargic the next day
Anyone found any that don't?

Thank you
XxX

ritwren

So sorry to hear you're having such bother getting a decent sleep. I too have been troubled with it over the years and it's no joke.
One thing which has helped me, not all the time but for some of the time is taking amitriptlyine (sp) around 8pm. I got it on the recommendation of the Rheumatologist but it's given to me by my GP.
Despite it being difficult, it might be worth making an appointment and discussing the issues with your GP. I've found that being firm helps and not getting palmed off, my GP now listens to me and accepts what I say. He's very good and thourough (sp).
Good luck, do let us know how you get on.
Rita.

bubbadog

Hi Iggy, I as ritwren have been on Amitriptyline for a very long time and I was put on them because I never seemed to have a proper sleep mine was patchy because I would move round in my sleep and keep waking myself because I would lie on a painful joint. So my G.P put me on to Amitriptyline and I have alot better sleep and only wake because of pain. Worth asking your G.P about.

431126dh

Hi this is my first time in this forum.

I think that I have Nodal OA...have had trouble sleeping for the past 20 years...my GP told me that I must sleep so he put me on Normason 20mg for about 15 years. This pill worked very well but then it stopped working, some mornings woke up feeling like a Zombie....now on Zopivane 1/2 tablet every night and at the moment this is working. I do find that when I walk in the mornings, I do sleep better that night...but sometimes I am so tired when I wake up in the morning that I cannot go for a walk.

Maybe you can get some pills from your GP otherwise you will not be able to cope very well during the day, and in the long run it makes your pain worse.

I have found out that doing "Pilates" is helping me as well, I am not so stiff as I was in the begining (but still sore). I had to persist as I had very bad pain in my neck and knees, it comes and goes now but I know when driving my car I can turn my head around to look behind me further than before I started with the Pilates.

Chin up...we are all in the same boat, I do wish that they could come up with a cure for this disease :roll:
Regards
Di

DebraKelly

Fortunately I have the oposite problem!

I sleep too much and still feel tired.

stickywicket

I always feel tired if I sleep too much. Seriously. I can get up easily enough when the radio alarm comes on at 7am and I can then doze in & out of sleep until it goes off at 8am but, if ever I sleep on after that, I find it very hard to wake up.

Hello Di and welcome to the forum. I'm glad you've found us and I hope you'll find us all helpful and friendly. I'll look forward to seeing you around.

dreamdaisy

I slept a great deal last week thanks to a flare of the PsA but still felt tired and drained, thanks to the PsA. I usually don't sleep that well due to pain - pain relief only ever takes off an edge, pain wakes me throughout the night and even if I do sleep I wake up feeling tired! I think it's part and parcel of the condition, sadly. There are meds to help and I hope you can find something that suits. DD

PS Di? Hello from me too!

tjt6768

Hi again Rebecca, I was also going to mention amitriptoline, I know quite a few on here have had good results. I asked about it but as I'm on Cirtalapram (anti-depressant) I can't take it.. My problems permanently fluctuate, one minute I can't sleep at all, then the next.. Thee pain drain hits and I sleep for England lol..

Never did find a happy medium.. Best of luck though hun..

Di, big welcome from me too, hope to see you around.

431126dh

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the welcome folks, I do hope that we can solve some of our problems by joining this forum... Some of us sleep too much and wake up tired, that sounds like me as well...Some of us cannot wake up once we go back to sleep after sleeping all night, that sounds like me as well.

Does anyone have Tinitus?, I had this since I the sleeping problem started, it drives me dotty some days! I also seem to be getting depressed lately, is this also a symptom of arthritis?

Take care
Di

tjt6768

I know some on here suffer tinitus that's possibly caused by one of the meds a few of us are on..
As for the depression, it's hardly surprising that some of us are eh? The constant pain is enough to try the best if us hun.. Lol
I wish you well

431126dh wrote:

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the welcome folks, I do hope that we can solve some of our problems by joining this forum... Some of us sleep too much and wake up tired, that sounds like me as well...Some of us cannot wake up once we go back to sleep after sleeping all night, that sounds like me as well.

Does anyone have Tinitus?, I had this since I the sleeping problem started, it drives me dotty some days! I also seem to be getting depressed lately, is this also a symptom of arthritis?

Take care
Di

dreamdaisy

Oh yes, Di, I too have tinnitus thanks to ten years of taking sulphasalazine and depression due to trying to manage two sorts of arthritis. The auto-immune stuff I have has led to osteo-arthritis affecting my knees and ankles, I found this out last April and it hit me for six. I was hoping to stop the anti-deps but my consultant said no as they help with coping with the pain, which makes sense. DD

431126dh

Thanks for the info DD & Toni, I have had this ringing in the ears for 22 years and I was not on any medication...I allso have not had any of the medications that you have mentioned. I was diagnosed with Cronic Fatigue 22 years ago and was then perscribed Prozac,( which I have been on ever since and also the sleeping pill). Before getting CF I used to sleep like a baby, but used to wake up tired.

Like you say Toni it's no wonder we are depressed. I am really depressed when I look and feel my sore fingers with all the aching and paining that goes with it. I wish that I could think clearly every day and not have a foggie brain...it's really disturbing.

But seeing as I have just joined I will have to read up on all the information this site has before I can find out what is wrong with me :!: . Di

maria09

Hi
I started amitriptyline 10mgs last night
Slept slightly better but feel hungover this morning
Anyone else feel the same :?:
Maria

dreamdaisy

What time did you take the dose? It can leave one feeling groggy (and if you think about what it does you can see why). I am glad to hear that you slept better though, that is a good thing, but the grogginess shows hon - Dorcas' thread dates back to 2010! DD

maria09

dreamdaisy wrote:

What time did you take the dose? It can leave one feeling groggy (and if you think about what it does you can see why). I am glad to hear that you slept better though, that is a good thing, but the grogginess shows hon - Dorcas' thread dates back to 2010! DD

10pm think I will try 9pm tonight see if thats any better
How is Dorcas doing? Its so long since Ive been on here & I remember you too you have given me some good advice in the past
Thank you

dreamdaisy

Dorcas hasn't been on for quite a while: she had a very rough patch, then a new knee was put in in Autumn last year. I hope that all is well with her, the new joint was certainly helping, and she was on a new drug for her PsA which was also benefitting her. I too remember you, Maria09, hearing from you again is the usual matter of bitter-sweet, i.e. lovely to have you back but sad that you have had to find us again. DD

Folara

Hi maria, I started recently on Amitriptyline and used to take it just before bed at around 10pm, but since reading the advice on her I now take it at 7pm and I feel so much better in the day. Used to be very tired and muggy brained. It really does help me sleep better but I am finding that I take a lot longer to get moving in the morning as I have obviously laid in the same place all night, slept through the pain and seized up.

Persevere with it and def try different times.

Fols x

maria09

Folara wrote:

Hi maria, I started recently on Amitriptyline and used to take it just before bed at around 10pm, but since reading the advice on her I now take it at 7pm and I feel so much better in the day. Used to be very tired and muggy brained. It really does help me sleep better but I am finding that I take a lot longer to get moving in the morning as I have obviously laid in the same place all night, slept through the pain and seized up.

Persevere with it and def try different times.

Fols x

Took it at 7pm last night but alas I was awake most of the night gggrrrr

dreamdaisy

Oh dear, it can take a little time to find out what is best for you - try 8pm tonight and let's hope that's better, yes? DD