Do you have trouble sleeping?

@curtaincall Hello curtaincall, thank you for opening this discussion. Let me see if there are any other members who can share their experience with this!

Hi everyone, how are you doing? Do you every have trouble sleeping because of your fibromyalgia? Have you tried anything that helps? Do you have any tips or advice to share?
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Take care,
Courtney

@curtaincall @Courtney_J Hey, I had some issues when I was in lockdown, I think the change in my schedule messed up my internal rhythm or something. It was rough. When I don't sleep well it often pushes me into a flare so I really try to get at least 8 hours every night. I get the struggle, the pain keeps you from sleeping and then the lack of sleep causes pain. What ended up helping me was cutting off all screens starting at like 6 PM and then doing a nightly relaxation yoga/relaxation session. And if the pain was really bad I'd drink a "sleepytime tea" about a half hour before bed to try to help me sleep faster. I try to avoid taking extra pain meds where I can just as personal preference, but if your doctor says it's ok, taking another pain medication can obviously help if that's what's keeping you up.

I have trouble getting to sleep. I do leg stretches which help, then I get up and go into the living room and sit in my big leather armchair and stretch out. There is something about stretching out without blankets weighted around me (I am dressed in tights and a long-sleeved shirt and socks) that relaxes me and I read for a few minutes and often fall asleep within about 10-15 minutes. I wake and go to bed and usually sleep. I know this sounds crazy but it works most of the time and I have no idea why. When we get desperate, anything is worth a try.

Does anyone else deal with neuropathic pain as well as fibromyalgia?

@Edythe Yes I have both Fibromyalgia and Neuropathy. I have insomnia at times because of the pain in my hips. It gets so bad at times. I also like to read and streatch out. Reading helps me relax. Most times I watch the Golden Girls. For some reason that show relaxes me. Now that sounds weird.

@SabinaYetta52 

It doesn't sound weird to me! I have found that distraction works. If I am very involved in something I cannot notice pain for hours. And that makes me crazy because if I can distract myself it shows that there is a mind/body connection. And that makes me feel that there is something I can do. Frustrating. I am in a fibromyalgia flare and it makes the neuropathy worse. I'm thinking of trying acupuncture for the pain. I also have chest pain with the neuropathy which is another diagnosis but related. It's called Costchondritis.

Hi everyone,

How are you doing? Have you seen this discussion yet? What do you think?

Do you have trouble sleeping with fibromyalgia? How do you deal with it? What helps you?
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Feel free to share here, we're all here to help one another! 

Take care,
Courtney

For many people with fibromyalgia taking Elavil helps with the sleeping. I took it for years but it seemed to make my restless legs/body worse so I stopped. 

@Edythe I had the same problem with Elavil. My doctor switched me to Desyrel and it helped a lot. My doctor also told me to eat a protein snack before going to bed because our blood sugar drops during the night and can keep you up. So I eat something small as I'm getting ready for bed to keep my sugar up while I sleep. Between that and the meds it's helped some.

@CharlieE 

I will try that. Thanks.