Better sleep has made a big difference

Just an update -- I take a Benadryl & a Tramadol pain pill before bed and they have helped my sleep a lot. It has been a long time since I've taken a Flexeril muscle relaxant. I can get by almost every daytime without a pain pill now. I do think the better sleep is the key to being able to handle stress and pain in the day. I have also been trying hard to increase my sleep time.

Or maybe I've just had a good couple weeks. I never want to get over excited, just to crash later on the rocky shore of Fibromyalgia Island. I know you know what I'm saying!

*Caution....long read...:)

When I was diagnosed with Fibro back in 1995 when it was barely a term/diagnosis than anyone knew...My Rheumatologist was one of the few in the country who was treating this and studying it.

He is now located in Michigan (He was in DC when I saw him) and is one of the top Fibro, CFS Drs. in the world who has led the charge to get medicines and treatment for these illnesses.

My point is that he has always thought and studied the importance of sleep and how it not only affects Fibro but where the lack of can even be linked to possible cause.

His theory is that our bodies need to get to stage 4 sleep. The deepest sleep where our immune system repairs itself.

Having night after night, week after week, month after month, etc. of never getting this restorative sleep, our bodies start to attack themselves and break down.

And it wasn't a matter of "how much sleep" as those with CFS/CFIDS or even Fibromyalgia sometimes sleep 12-14 hours....but would still wake up feeling terrible and having so many issues from lack of mental acuity to overall pain.

As those of us with Fibro know...our muscles hurt as if they have been beaten...but there is actually nothing "physically" wrong with them. It's our mind/brain sending mixed signals that there is injury so they record pain back to the brain.

I had spent years trying to get a good night's sleep and then after my last cervical fusion surgery, I was given Ambien. Literally within a week or two, my symptoms of the unrelenting fatigue, fog, and overall aches were diminshed to a level I hadn't seen in 15 years or more.

I'm certainly not saying for everyone to jump on a prescription sleep aid as others should with their Dr. try non medicinal means first...

The other things that I noticed have made an extremely large impact were switching to eating all Organic foods.

Not a vegan or vegetarian although I do go meatless a few times a week. But cutting out every single perservative or artificial ingredient.

Now that most all grocery stores carry their own brand of Organic or all Natural, along with coupons I cut/print every week. It is exactly the same price of regular food so the excuse it's too expensive doesn't fly anymore.

Thankfully I never drank soda but I only drink water or green tea and a lot during the day.

I literally dislike the taste of anything artificial now if I took a bite of those type of foods....It gives me a headache as well. It's like all the toxins of that junk that is meant to make food last for years is gone out of my system! Food is meant to be fresh and taste wonderful!!! LOL

Along with daily exercise for at least 45 minutes each day. Yoga/stretching daily, acupuncture when needed....

I would almost call myself Fibro symptom free most days. I have SO much more energy each day.

I am in bed at exactly the same time each night and wake up the same time.

10pm to 5am....I do not even need an alarm clock it's amazing!

Even though I hadn't seen my Rheumy in years, I called him and told him how much better I was doing with the sleep med and eating well and exercising. He was so happy to hear this..

So...I'm sorry for the long post but I just like to share how big of a difference getting good sleep means along with a few other things that are very easy to do.

I wish you well!

This is all great news!  Snowbunny, I think I know the doctor you are talking about.  He and many others have been advocating getting deep sleep as a way of helping with the pain.  I did have problems until recently, when I was put on a muscle relaxer...Robaxin.  I always went to bed and got up at the same time without an alarm but I also was up 3-4 time in the middle of the night, too.  Now, I get up once in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and I have less pain!

 

We are all learning and I'm so glad to see some success stories!  Apple, thanks for starting this thread and thanks to the rest of you for your responses.  It sure gives people hope.

 

Sherrine