sleep problems pertaining to CFS

Posted , 9 users are following.

Hi. my wife has had CFS and fibro for many years aswell as other conditions by the book load. but the most difficult one we are dealing with is her CFS we have been to specialist and doctors but none of them have been able to find any help for us through medication or support. my wife and i have a 2 year old son and she sleeps for at least 14 hours of the day before she can even get up and even then it is nearly impossible to force her awake. we've tried just about everything you can think of from loud noises to upper medications and nothing works. we are looking for any information on something that works. we've tried madafonil and vvyanse. the madafonil did absolutley nothing but give her head aches and the vvyanse helps slightly and i am able to get her up at 10 am most days but after she takes it for too long she begins getting shakeyness and naseau. if anyone has any remedies or tips on medications theyve used we would be very appreciative.

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    I am reluctant to advise anything but trial and error. My current situation with M.E. is to get off of all medication. I have found  when I get up I feel dreadful but by mid day I feel a bit better. Over the next two weeks I will be on my own. No medication and lets see where we go. I am not suggesting you follow what I am doing but if you are not getting help from the Doc what have you got to lose. How many drugs has your wife got in her system. Good Luck
  • Posted

    Hi, I have had CFS since 1999 and sleep has always been a problem. I can get into a good routine for a month or so and then it will b come unstable and I have to start over again. I went on a course for sleep which really helped. May be worth looking into. The CFS doesn't like any medicines in my system and tends to overreact to anything and everything. On the sleep course I was told that I should aim for around 7 hours per night. This is so that there will be time for necessary rest intervals during the day. I'm sorry for your situation. I hope you find a solution soon.

     

  • Posted

    Have you tried herbs or homeopathy? I use Valerian to get a good sleep at night, and it helps although I still need a 2 hour nap in the afternoons.
    • Posted

      It's not really naps and sleeping she needs help with. It is waking up earlier we need because we have a toddler. Thanks for the input though.
    • Posted

      I was saying that Valerican, a herb, helps me to get a good nights sleep, if she had a good nights sleep she might wake up earlier.
  • Posted

    I'm afraid her body just needs 14 hours of sleep.  If she tries to force herself past that it will cause crashes and just delay her possible recovery,
  • Posted

    Maybe she's not sleeping deeply enough. Does she dream a lot, maybe shes getting too much REM sleep. Antidepressants can help you sleep deeper.

    Personally i find some carbs before bed also magnesium glycinate or citrate before bed really helps my quality of sleep. I feel more sleepy when i wake up but definitely more rested, and my energy picks up quicker when i get up.A good quality co-enzymated b vitamin complex supplement, as vitamin b-6 is important for making seratonin and melatonin which help you sleep, and the other b vitamins are good for general energy. And a copper and iron free mineral supplement (most people have enough iron and cooper, or are even high in these)

    Also eating enough in general, as a woman I've found even with my health not being great i still get concerned with weight and diets etc, and i just find it ultimately detrimental. I eat to hunger now, especially carbs because my body is obviously low in energy,  and my sleep and general energy are better even though i  usually only get about 7 hours a night. 

    These are just things that have worked for me and are relatively easy to do, I know there are often a lot deeper things going on in all the cases of ME and CFS, but supporting your bodies natural processes can't hurt. 

     I hope she finds something that works. It's so frustrating have persistant health problems. She's lucky to have your support and caring, best  of luck, L.

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