Sleeping
Posted , 11 users are following.
Not sure why, but I’ve started waking up at about 4am and can’t get back to sleep
I’m on 7mg if pred
0 likes, 5 replies
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Notes on Sleeping
Twopies anne28129
Posted
Others will have a scientific explanation about perhaps the body shedding inflammation around that time, etc., but me--I'm up at all hours, usually much earlier than you--anywhere from midnight to 2:00--up for hours. Then I go back to bed for 2-3 more hours. Have had PMR for 2 years, sleep has been elusive for me ever since I started the pred.
There have been lots of posts about how to deal with sleeplessness, including when to take the pred, but none of them work for me. I get up, stay up a couple of hours, and go back to bed. It's annoying but for me it's part of the journey. Best wishes!
lynda62707 anne28129
Posted
Hi anne, my sleeping patterns have become horrific! I only sleep for approximately 1-1 and 1/2 hours at a time. I'm usually awake for 30m intervals throughout the night. I've also started taking 15-20m. catnaps a couple of times p/day which I've never done before, (probably because my nightime sleep is so erratic). This probably isn't all that helpful to you, but just wanted to let you know my sleep is a mess too!!
Silver49 anne28129
Posted
I haven't slept too well since starting Pred. I try to stay off tablets etc in the evening as it certainly makes the sleep pattern worse. If I get up, I put no lights on and make a cup of chamomile which helps but doesn't always work. I am now on 3mgs but still have sleep deprived night's. I find that if I don't put an alarm on I sleep better. This isn't always feasible and I find I don't sleep so well on these nights. I think the Pred caused the sleep difficulties but it may be the pain which is wakening you. I'm surprised that you have not had sleep difficulties earlier when taking Pred. It's no fun being awake but perhaps it would help to think of strategies to cope and not becoming too hung up about it. I appreciate this will depend on whether you can rest in the daytime. It's a fine balance. I'm sure someone will be along with answers.
EileenH anne28129
Posted
For me waking at about 4am is usually a fairly reliable sign that the pred dose I'm on isn't quite enough to manage the inflammation - that is about the time of the morning the inflammatory substances are shed in the body. If I ignore that warning I start to get minor niggly PMR symptoms,
cindy828 anne28129
Posted
By any chance, Are you tapering off of prednisone? When I was on it, I only needed 5 hours of sleep and I loved it. I gave up caffeine, but it didn't help. I decided to use that time for some of my personal projects, and I got so much done, it was amazing. As I tapered off of the prednisone, it was a different story. I usually went back to bed about 8:30 am and slept for another 2 hours. I've been off prednisone for 4 months. I still have some joint and muscle pain and some fatigue. I don't like it, but I manage. I do not want to go on prednisone again. Tapering made me feel like a junkie getting off of heroin.
I'm going to my rheumatologist today to ask about taking ginger, turmeric, or bromeliad for the lingering joint and muscle pain.
If you aren't experiencing fatigue, go with your new longer day. This is a time when you can really accomplish something special.