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Posted 7/17/2008 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Since some information I have come across suggest that Fibro patients have possible sleep related disorders and/or diseases that help contribute to the fatigue, I was wondering how many of you (if any) have sleep apnea?  This effects the muscles in the throat, concentration levels, fatigue, etc.  I bring this up tonight even though my husband does not have fibro, he is going through a sleep study for other medical reasons.  So for any of you late birds you can help me with my anxiety over this whole situation if you could contribute something tonight to this topic.  Special Thanks to the "Night Crawlers" up with the Fibro pain!
Posted 7/17/2008 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
I think sleep apnea has a lot to do with Fibro. That's one of the first things my rheumy suggested when she dxd. me with Fibro.  She said it was a never ending circle.  If we're not getting any sleep or rest it makes us tired the next day.  She wanted me to have the sleep study, but my son had it all done and he couldn't sleep with all the stuff on his face.  Also he said you had to sleep on your back and I always sleep on my side, so that wouldn't work with me.

 

I also have a problem with choking.  I have just been reading the last few days where that could be because of the muscles in our throat do not work as well when we have Fibro.

 

I'm always up late, so I check the forum quiet often through the night.  Maybe you can get some sleep.

 

God Bless!

Shannon

Posted 7/17/2008 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
The sleep specialist I see believes that fibro is actually a sleep disorder which results in the fatigue and pain we experience. he said that most fibros have no or reduced delta stage sleep. It is in delta sleep that we heal from the many small traumas that our bodies experience everyday. Without that healing the traumas accumulate so we never get back to "normal". My sleep study showed I had reduced delta sleep and "woke up" 14 times during the night. I didn't have to sleep on my back and was lucky enough not to have to try out the CPAP machine since I had no sleep apnea. The dr eventually put me on xyrem for the sleep issues because it induces delta sleep and although I do still have some pain my sleep patterns, fatigue and pain levels have improved greatly. Lisa
Posted 7/17/2008 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sure sleep deprivation is a factor with fibro, but not the only factor.  I know I fall asleep easily but I rarely dream.  I get up about 4 times a night and wake up about 10 times a night.  So, I think I'm only dozing. 

Sherrine 

Posted 7/17/2008 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've had two sleep studies and they didn't make me sleep on my back in either one. The first one, in 2000, showed I got no delta sleep. The second one I had just over a year ago, showed I had sleep apnea. It did take me a long time, and trying a lot of different masks, before I could sleep with the CPAP machine, but now I do every night.One reason I stuck with it is that sleep apnea can cause heart attacks and strokes. My dad had untreated sleep apnea and died of a sudden heart attack while he was sleeping. The only med that has helped me sleep is Lyrica. It also has cause me to gain weight. I sleep all night now, only getting up once to go to the bathroom. But I am going back to the sleep dr. because I still feel exhausted when I wake up and all day long. I really doubt there's anything he can do about that, but I'll go back to check. Diane
Posted 7/18/2008 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
I believe that my chronic fatigue and pain (the fatigue is much worse than the pain) are probably almost entirely due to my inability to get restful sleep. But I have no idea what I can do about that.
Posted 7/18/2008 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
I was suppose to have a sleep study done about three months ago and still haven't done it. I did look into the place where I would go to have it done and it's like an apartment set up for sleep study.

 

It's rare for me to remember dreaming anymore so........... I am curious to see how I sleep. Right now I feel like I'm sleeping pretty good. I know I sleep sound. With me sleep problems come and go just like everything else with fibro.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 7/18/2008 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning.

I have heard about Melatonin over and over again.  I finally got a bottle. I am going to post the site for this product so you can read up on it.  I will be trying it tonite....babysat last night till the wee hours so my first try was a no-go

I was intrigued with the fact that it is a non-addicting product that gives off what our bodies naturally give off when the day is over.  I will definately try it....I loved what I read about it....it promises to help people go to sleep quicker ( I tend to toss and turn for quite awhile before sleep will come) AND promises a quality restful sleep...so I will let you know how I feel tomorrow after my first dose tonite...in the meantime, here is the addy for those who might be interested.

 http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0010549

Hugs

Diane

Posted 7/18/2008 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Broomhilda! I'm a definite, true believer in a relationship between sleep disorders and fibro. I have sleep apnea....I was dx'd this past February and it resulted with me becoming a CPAP & mask user. I also have to take a sleep aid, currently ambien, because the CPAP didn't solve my sleep problems. I'd had them for years.....steadily getting worse the older I got......averaging no more than 2 to 5 hours of sleep a night at best. The sleep study confirmed apnea and what really blew my mind was that they said I was averaging 59 apnea events on hour......virtually 1 every minute I slept! Talk about an eye-opening experience! (no pun intended) I'm finally getting the proper KIND of sleep I've needed more so than the amount.

Gentlest of hugs,
John
Posted 7/18/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning from southern CA!
During one of my "awake" times early this morning I was thinking about how frustrated I am with not being able to sleep through the night anymore and I decided that when I got up I'd post a question to see how many of you remember the days when you slept soundly without waking up. Then I got on the forum and found these posts. It seems like it's been so long since I slept through the night (or even just woke up once for a bathroom run) that I can hardly remember what it was like. I have trouble going to sleep at night - usually takes me an hour or two - and then I wake up at least 4 or 5 times during the night. Most times I get up and walk around just to relieve some of the stiffness. Fortunately, I usually get right back to sleep after that. I have to sleep on my back because of knee pain and I think that may be part of the problem because I don't like to sleep on my back, at least not all night long. One solution for this that I've found is to alternate between sleeping in bed and sleeping in a recliner. The recliner is actually where I sleep the best, I think, but I don't like to be in it all the time because I feel so unconnected from my DH that way, even though the chair is right beside the bed. I guess it's no wonder that we all fight exhaustion during the day when our sleep patterns are so haywire! One thing I've started doing the last couple of nights is to take my Elavil and my Restoril (sleeping pill) about 2 hours before bedtime. That seems to have helped me fall asleep a little more quickly. My dr. has not ever suggested a sleep study, but maybe I should ask about it.
Hope everyone has a relatively pain free day!

Hugs, Nancy
Posted 7/18/2008 3:08 PM (GMT 0)

This is really interesting.  I thought I was the only one who couldn't sleep!  Seriously, I sleep an average of 2-3 hours a day, and it's usually broken up into 20 minute intervals.  My GP offered to give me an Rx for something to help me sleep, but I'm on so much stuff already, I refused.  Besides, my problem isn't that I'm not sleepy, my problem is that I can't shut my brain off-call it an overactive imagination if you will.

 

Strangely enough, during the rare times I do sleep well, I have vivid, crazy dreams.  I've started writing them down-because I want to know what they mean.  Also, when I go back and read them, I usually get a good laugh.

 

Anyway, thanks for posting this-it made me realize (AGAIN) that I am not terminally unique! tongue

 

BTW, Nancy, welcome to the family. :-)   I'm in SoCal, too! (Ventura County)  What part are you from?

Posted 7/18/2008 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi.  I can't tell you about sleep apnea, but I can tell you that not getting enough restorative sleep definitely affects fibro.  When I was first diagnosed, I was having problems staying asleep.  I would be tired and fall asleep, but then wake up a few hrs later and not be able to go back to sleep.  Or I would be in and out, not a deep sleep.  So my rheumy prescribed me amitriptylline.  It works wonders!  I take anywhere from 3 to 5 tablets before bedtime and in about an hr, I'm out like a light.  I usually don't wake up unitl morning, although I occasionally get up to use the bathroom but I'm able to fall back asleep.  It's worth a try!  It works great for me.  Good luck!

-Andrea

Posted 7/18/2008 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Don't assume you are sleeping well just because you don't remember waking up. I had a sleep study a few years ago and had the best night sleep that I've had in years. I was so upset because I thought they would miss the problem. The technician told me that they weren't sure if I was actually asleep for most of the night. I had a lot of "alpha intrusion into my delta sleep".

Here I was thinking I had a great night sleep and the study showed that it wasnt't normal or restorative. I can only imagine what it would have shown if it was one of my more normal nights. about half the time, I fall right asleep and sleep through the night and other times I wake up every hour or so.
Posted 7/18/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
That's a very good point, Dagger!

 

Sherrine

Posted 7/18/2008 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Dagger,

I think I am the same as you. I sleep through the night, but don't get a restorative sleep. I could sleep 24/7 if it wasn't for the adderall. I can't function without it. I dream a lot too. Do you? It is like I am living two lives. MY daytime one and my dream one. Strange. I thought that if you dream you are getting good sleep. But evidentally that isn't true. Does anybody know?

Thanks,
Karen
Posted 7/18/2008 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for the welcome note! I live in the high desert area of San Bernardino County so I'm not really very close to Ventura. Have you had any fires in your area yet this year? So far we have been very fortunate, but I know fire season isn't over yet.
Nancy
Posted 7/18/2008 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Another quick question: I bought some Melatonin today, but now I'm wondering if it's O.K. to take it with Elavil. Does anyone know the answer to that? Thanks!

Nancy
Posted 7/19/2008 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Karen, I have always had lots of very unusual dreams. But I don't think I've had much restorative sleep in the last 20 years. Diane
Posted 7/19/2008 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
i am also sure that sleep disorder has something to do with fibromyalgia...i have had insomnia since i was a small child and i am not sure which came first the sleep deprivation or the pain....
Posted 7/19/2008 6:10 AM (GMT 0)
Nancy, check with your pharmacist. I remember reading that you shouldn't take certain antidepressants with either melotonin or 5-HTP but I can't remember any other details. It had something to do with serotonin. Actually, I always ask 2 different pharmacists from different pharmacies just to make sure.
Posted 8/28/2010 6:49 AM (GMT 0)
I've had fibromyalgia for about 14 years now and haven't had one good night's sleep since it hit me. On average it is about three to four hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately I sleep best on the couch with a 2" foam underneath to help with comfort. Any little bump is annoying. I turn on the tv and am able to get some restless sleep during the night. At least when I'm awake there is something to watch instead of being mad I can't go to sleep!! Does anyone find sleeping on the side is best but at the same time it huts to have your knees touching each other. I put a small travel pillow between my knees to make them comfortable.
Posted 8/28/2010 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Gretna, do you take anything to help you sleep? I'd like to post this question to others as well. I usually take 2-Tylenol PMs, a Xanax and sometimes an extra Benadryl or two. I know this sounds like a lot of stuff, but if I don't take something, I'm pacing the floor all night. I do drink two cups of coffee in the morning, but that's it for caffeine for me. I drink water the rest of the day.

Also, I had gastric bypass surgery two years ago and I don't absorb meds well, so I think that's why I need so much to knock me out. Still, I'd like to get off the diphenhydramine as I'm afraid of what they're doing to me (making me stupid maybe?). I'm wondering if this stuff knocks me out, but I'm not getting a really restful sleep.

As far as sleeping on your side, my chiropractor says either that or sleeping on your back is best for your spine (I can't sleep on my back). She says sleeping on your tummy is really bad for you.

I don't think I have sleep apnea, but I know I snore. Hubby says it's a lot better since I lost the weight (120 pounds). But still, if I do happen to roll over on my back, I sometimes wake myself up with my snoring.

So, what, if anything, do you all take to help you sleep? I've tried Melatonin but it never worked for me. And if you take something to help you sleep, has it helped with the fibro?
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