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Insomnia - any ideas to induce sleep?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Maggers
Maggers

I have tried all sorts of remedies without success. The sleeping tablets given to me by the consultant resulted in vivid nightmares. I never manage more than 2 hours before waking with pains in various parts, from cramps in the feet to chronic hip and shoulder pain. I seem to have to resort to sleeping semi upright. Memory foam mattress and pillows help to a certain degree but I long for more than 2 hours sleep. Any ideas?

2 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

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  • Gizmo1963
    Gizmo1963 Maggers

    Posted

    If you find the answer please let me know. Counting sheep maybe? I have shoulder, hip, legs and spinal pain and now have a flare up which includes pressure in my ears and a sore throat so I'm in for a really bad night. I would say let's have a night out but fatigue won't let me out of bed! Sorry I'm no help but wanted to let you know you are not alone!
    • Maggers
      Maggers Gizmo1963

      Posted

      I used to work on a farm so counting sheep was very much a daytime activity!    Let's have a virtual party....I am raising a large glass.. Cheers
  • christine26761
    christine26761 Maggers

    Posted

     Hiya Maggers, just my exoerience.....Amithriptilyne is  the only med I take for Fibro...gives me a great pain free sleep..- no pain..still feel a tad drowsy waking up...but that sleep is what makes this Fibro manageable for me..only get flare ups now..once  it was just constant  pain almost everywhere and sleepless nights..I take it 7pm before bed..it really does work wonders ( for me..that is,) we are all very different..I take 25 mg...never had it increased either ...started on 50mg but I was like a zombie...all the next day..dropped to 10mg for a while-still not too good but 25 mg is perfect for me..it is actually an antidepressant that works excellent for pain..it numbs the nerve ends and stops the pain from jumping on to the next nerve..hence a very painful body...the antidepressant is probably a lil bonus as most of get depressed from time to time..yes it does knock me out to give me that great sleep which is just sooo needed, to be able to deal with the pain etc the next day..but once I'm up and dressed..I'm fine.....Its great...16yrs down the track..have to be woken up in the morning..but once up and about I'm just fine.....when I was first on them I was like a zombie..but it's like a miracle med for me... it takes a while to settle in. ..also, please remember that less stress is the key to Fibro....be blessed..have a lovely day..:-) xxx
    • Maggers
      Maggers christine26761

      Posted

      Hi Christine

      Thanks for replying. Wish I had the same response to amiltriptyline but it just gave me such nightmares I had to stop taking it.  The doctor did say the nightmares may stop after a month or so but I so dreaded closing my eyes it rather defeated the object of the exercise.  I am convinced if I manage to crack the art of sleep everything else will be more manageable.  I am still trying to get used to the label fibro as it only came a couple of months ago after nearly 30 years of problems.

    • christine26761
      christine26761 Maggers

      Posted

      Sorry to hear you had had nightmares on it..it just knocks me right out, husban has to wake me up...a good technique to going off to sleep is the breathing one..big breathe in through your nose...hold it a minute or so-( this cuts off oxygen to the brain and makes you sleepy) then beath out very slowly through your mouth, before and sometimes even now..although rarely.. whenever I couldn't  go off to sleep I just did this..never new how many times I done it, as I was off to sleep, ppl on here say that's it's called something or other, .but it was really good to hear others knew about it and practiced it too..hope you get some great sleep soon...God bless Maggers, have a lovely day..:-) xx
  • Lucyred
    Lucyred Maggers

    Posted

    I understand your pain and no sleep! I bought a $3600 mattress and can't even sleep in the bed because it seems to embrace my body where it hurts. I haven't tried anything yet but I have read about 5-HTTP and I'm going to try that for sleep.
    • christine26761
      christine26761 Lucyred

      Posted

      Hiya Lucyred, what is 5-HTTP..? Interesting..thanks in anticipation..:-) xx
    • Bee70
      Bee70 Lucyred

      Posted

      Hi Lucyred

      I toon would like to know about 5-HTTP as I too have trouble sleeping.

  • Maggers
    Maggers

    Posted

    Gosh thanks everyone - what a great bunch you are.  Just knowing I am not alone helps. All I can say is thank goodness for all the free books on my Kindle.  Am willing to try virtually anything.
    • Gizmo1963
      Gizmo1963 Maggers

      Posted

      Ok so I've just started taking magnesium citrate and it helped get a much better quality if sleep - I hope this wasn't a one off wahoo
    • christine26761
      christine26761 Maggers

      Posted

      Nothing like Kindle..I some times put it on speech and listen to books when I'm relaxing...:-) xxx
  • Maggers
    Maggers

    Posted

    So pleased for you Gizmo may you have many more great nights.
    • Gizmo1963
      Gizmo1963 Maggers

      Posted

      1 reasonable night after several years of bad ones - long way to go. As well as fibro I have widespread osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, high cholestrol and blood pressure and hypothyroid - been hit with the naughty stick me thinks!
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