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Posted 4/27/2015 3:29 PM (GMT -5)
I have been in a flare for nearly a week after painting my office. I have had trouble sleeping but last night I didn't sleep at all... not even 5 minutes. I tried to take a nap but I am wide awake. Is there anything I can do if I cant sleep tonight?
Posted 4/27/2015 3:38 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Grammy, there is a chance you might be having trouble with sleeping because of the paint. I can't be around it because I have multiple chemical sensitivity. When I'm around things like a lot of car exhaust, my fibro flares and I have more difficulty sleeping.

What works most of the time for me is melatonin and l-theanine and benedryl when needed. Maybe you can open your office windows when you're there?

Good luck to you.
Posted 4/27/2015 3:53 PM (GMT -5)
I'm sorry Grammy . I have been given amitriptyline for sleep. Have you ever tried a chamomile tea? It doesn't put me to sleep but relaxes me some but it's supposed to help some people sleep.
Posted 4/27/2015 5:39 PM (GMT -5)
I'll second the benedryl. I've had a terrible time sleeping the last couple of weeks. Last night was the best I've had in a while and I attribute it entirely to Benedryl. I've tried Tylenol PM, Ambien, oxy, and nothing has gotten me more than 2 hours at a pass. Last night I think I got 4 at a time, but overall I got a little more than 8 (out of 11 that I was in bed). A couple more of those and I might start feeling better.
Posted 4/27/2015 6:16 PM (GMT -5)
With benedryl you will probably get some sleep, but if you are not used to it..be careful..that stuff knocked me on my butt. I was put on it for an allergic reaction...
Posted 4/27/2015 7:10 PM (GMT -5)
First, be very careful with paint indoors. I have never been sensitive to smells before fibro, but after fibro experienced a seizure after the inside of my house was painted.
As for sleep, my rheumy recommends up to 6 mg of sublingual melatonin & 1 GABA. It worked for a while for me, but I did have very vivid dreams with that melatonin dosage.

Good luck. Sleep is a roll of the dice every night for me.
Posted 4/27/2015 10:14 PM (GMT -5)
Be careful if you have an autoimmune disease and take melatonin. Mela ton in can trigger flare ups of your autoimmune disease.
Posted 4/28/2015 10:09 AM (GMT -5)
You've gotten good advice from our members. But there is one thing that helps me...something they say NOT to do. That's watching TV when I go to bed. I don't prop myself up in bed. I just puff up my pillow so my eyes are partially closed anyway. It could help me because I need closed captioning to understand what is being said. I usually am asleep within fifteen minutes this way.

On the rare nights that I am more awake, I turn on the Weather Channel. They show the same thing over and over again and the boredom puts me right to sleep! tongue


Stay away from caffeine after around 2 PM...and that includes chocolate. I stick mainly with ice water after that. And don't eat a huge meal at dinnertime. If I eat too much, I really don't feel well and that keeps me awake.

I know this isn't conventional thinking but it works for me and it might work for you without taking other medications. I sure hope so.


Sherrine
Posted 4/28/2015 1:42 PM (GMT -5)
I usually have a hard time falling asleep on Sundays. We do a few additional things on Sundays. If I do too much my mind doesn't want to shut down. If I have tossed and turned so much and can't fall asleep I go down for a glass of almond milk and a spoon of honey. No idea why but I usually fall asleep after.

Paint fumes are not good. A Family member now has Parkinson's Disease. His occupation was as a painter. It may have been all the paint fumes that have injured his nerves.

When I was working we once moved into an office that had very stained carpets. A firm was called in to clean the carpets. I got such a bad headache from the cleaning agent. At that time my headaches would eventually stop. Now I just have head pain every day.

open your windows if you can while painting. Don't do too many things to arouse your mind before bedtime. I do, usually, get a deeper sleep when I do finally doze off due to Nortriptyline. I have tried before 5-HTP and melatonin but stopped using them when I went on Nortriptyline.

Loring

Osteoarthritis in Multiple Joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...
Posted 4/28/2015 10:45 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for all the help and advice. I will definitely try the Benadryl.

Interesting about the paint fumes. I will make sure I have better ventilation when I finish the room. I'm going to give myself another week before I finish it.

I slept so good last night. Most of my joints stopped burning. So thankful.

Sherrine... I've wondered about putting a TV in our bedroom to help fall asleep. I fall asleep in my chair BEFORE I go to bed and then I wake up by the time I go to bed. :-)

I shut down computer 2 hours before bedtime, don't eat after dinner, no caffeine at all.

Thanks everyone! Hopefully I won't have another night like that. My 82 year old mama told me that she has nights when she doesn't sleep at all so at least I know I won't die from this! Ha!
Posted 4/29/2015 5:23 AM (GMT -5)
I watch TV before bed as well. My sleep doc tells me not to, but I find that watching a show quiets my mind and helps me turn off the thoughts from my day. I take Ambien and Lyrica at night. It seems to get me at least 3-4 hours per night. I also supplement with melatonin and something they sell on Amazon called True calm. It is a mix of things that help me be calm and rest at night.

Milk has tryptophan in it. Like a turkey dinner, it can knock you out. I can't drink it before bed as it triggers GERD on me. My husband and daughter like it though.

I have been finding lately that if I overdo I have trouble sleeping at night. I was up most of last night. I got 3 hours and the rest was rolling over. I am traveling for work this week. I usually try for non stop but I couldn't this time and while I felt fine at the time, I think it threw me off. I find the same on any day I overdo. If the Ambien and Lyrica etc won't keep me asleep, nothing will, lol.

I used to take Benadryl for sleep issues, bit about 3 years ago it started giving me dry head headaches. I can't take it any more unless I have a sinus issue and need it to dry up a bit. If you get those, you might want to be careful with it.

Glad to hear you are sleeping a bit better.

Post Edited (Firefly18) : 4/29/2015 4:27:48 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/29/2015 7:47 AM (GMT -5)
I'm another one who uses the tv to help me fall asleep. I put on a sleep timer (about an hour or so) and watch something really mundane like HGTV. It helps quiet my mind until I fall asleep.

I have also tried guided progressive relaxation. You can buy a cd or listen to it on an ipod. By the time I get to the end, I usually fall right to sleep.
Posted 4/29/2015 8:20 AM (GMT -5)
I am amazed that you can't fall asleep even with those Lyrica and Ambien. I took a Valium last night out of desperation but my mind couldn't shut off. Does Fibro cause anxiety? I thought it was from the pain but now I am wondering.
Posted 4/29/2015 2:53 PM (GMT -5)
Hi GramG
My daughter barely sleeps at all since her fibro diagnosis 8 yrs ago! She is fortunate if she gets three hours straight. I wake up every four hrs, more like every two since my post concussion began. When I was first diagnosed w fibro I learned that we don't often go into stage 4 rem sleep. If we do, we quickly come out of it. Then there is pain. My brain races along some nights and I can't make it cooperate ;)
I am resigned to this state of affairs. I too fall asleep w tv and will turn it on when I awake after three hours, it puts me right back
out. I am jealous you can paint all week! My muscles would not tolerate an hour of that.
I am all for progressive relaxation CDs. I teach this. I used relaxation mindful cd prior to surgery; wow, never would have been that calm without it.
Blessings
Posted 4/29/2015 3:55 PM (GMT -5)
Clarification... I only painted one day and then flared up for over a week.😊 Do they sell Christian relaxation CD's?
Posted 4/29/2015 3:59 PM (GMT -5)
Yes they do Grammy, Just google Christian relaxation CD and you'll find some. I did and there were some on amazon, but not sure if I can post the link so I'll let you know instead. :)
Posted 4/29/2015 4:41 PM (GMT -5)
I have been given ambien for sleep. I do know how very hard it is to function after days of no sleep or interrupted sleep... We have found that stretching exercises can help. Slow movement with deep slow breathing. I wish you the best. Oh and reading can sometimes help.
Posted 4/29/2015 7:28 PM (GMT -5)
I didn't see a note from you, AngeLisa. Is there some place on the forum where you sent it?
Posted 4/29/2015 7:44 PM (GMT -5)
I didn't send a note hun, just posted here on the fourm :) to google christian relaxation cd and you'll find some. Or go to amazon and type in the search field.
Posted 4/30/2015 7:53 PM (GMT -5)
Angel... Silly me. Sorry.
Posted 4/30/2015 8:58 PM (GMT -5)
Grammy , i think its more the flares that can cause anxiety also...

Feel like any chronic pain would cause anxiety at times, and even not being able to sleep would make us anxious.

Its very common for our minds to race and trouble shutting it down, so something quiet that relaxes you is a great place to start..

I do use a sleep aid from my dr.. If i forget to take it, i can stay awake all night..even with it, if i am flaring i still sleep rough..
Posted 4/30/2015 10:38 PM (GMT -5)
Ljm... I've wondered about that because it's only when the pain gets to a certain point that I have trouble sleeping.

I hope to buy the Christian relaxation CD that was mentioned. I downloaded some books on my phone but that was the night I didn't get any sleep so I'm wondering if it kept me awake.

I wish I had a TV in my bedroom. :=)
Posted 4/30/2015 10:53 PM (GMT -5)
Check out David Fairweather on YouTube. He has several relaxation videos that can help you relax and fall asleep.
Posted 4/30/2015 11:01 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks, Couchtater. I will.
Posted 5/1/2015 9:10 AM (GMT -5)
I have a lot of trouble sleeping too. I have anxiety & PTSD, so my problems are deeper than just overdoing it. BUT, overdoing it certainly does make my sleeplessness worse.

I also watch TV to fall asleep. If I go to bed at 10 p.m. I'm usually awake by 11:30, again at 1:00 or so, and then by 3:00 I'm wide awake. My mind won't shut off. I can't nap either. I can be so tired, and my eyes will be closing, so I'll lay on the couch, but as soon as I do, my eyes pop open. It's like my body says "just kidding".

I was recently taken off of my meloxicam (Mobic) due to anemia. Evidently it can cause new or worsening anemia in 2% of patients. If it's a rare side effect, I'll have it. I was already borderline anemic, so I guess it pushed me over the edge. Now, I'm in so much pain all of the time that I can't get comfortable anywhere. I have arthritis, so going without any NSAIDS is difficult. I am on 50 mg of Lyrica at bedtime, but it really only helps with the nerve pain.

I feel like I run on adrenalin. I really hope you find something that works for you.
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