Fibro and Sleep....What do you do?

[BrokenBladder]

I know this topic has been addressed before but I need a refresher course.;) I can't sleep, or I should say my sleep is crazy. Between my bladder waking me up every hour and the FMS making my body ache so much I just don't know what to do.:(
An example of my sleep is I go to bed and fall asleep for about an hour and then I'm wide awake and am up for 4-5 hours. Then I go back to sleep only to wake up an hour later. What a vicious(sp) circle. I've tried Restoril and that was a joke. I've tried all types of OTC sleep meds and the same result.....I can't sleep. My rheumy wanted to address my pain issues because she feels like if she gets that under control then I will be able to sleep. I'm thinking we need to work on the sleep and see if that has any impact on the pain. What do you guys suggest?:confused: I see my rheumy on Wednesday so I want to be prepared for her. Thanks for your advice!!

[Linda25]

If your BLADDER is waking you up, it seems like getting that symptom under control would also help your sleep??? have you tried that Detrol (sp?) for over active bladder - I don't know anything about it and am not recommending it, but am wondering if it might be of help in your sleepless situation

I use zanaflex, clonopin and sometimes restoril for sleep. the zanaflex is for migraine prevention but also knocks me out (can't take it in the day time)

trazadone has worked well in the past as has seroquel

good luck

linda

[artist]

If you get the sleep disorder under control (it's one of the symptoms of fibro), the pain will ease a bit. The pain, fatigue, sleep disorder and memory loss are all intertwined. My rheumy takled the sleep problem first. You really can't function well on any level without it.
Some doctors prescribe Trazedone (or other drugs) for sleep.

[BrokenBladder]

Linda and Artist thanks for your replies. I have tried the Detrol but since my bladder has bleeding ulcers on the inside it didn't do any good.
I will mention the Trazedone to the doctor and see what she says. I just need some sleep!!

[Fayelle]

I have had sleep issues too, much like those.....

Do they know what causes your bladder issues?

I have bladder issues when my blood sugar is out of whack....I am a diabetic, and have hypothyroidism......

The hypothyroidism gave me significant sleep issues.....But I also had the problem of good sleep so my Doc prescibed me ambien....a full ambien made me a zombie the next day, but a 1/2 pill a night was just right.....

I would suggest a check into your blood sugar and thyroid functions.....Anytime you start getting those kind of insomnia type issues there is a question of dysfunction in the body.....

Fay

[MichelleC]

Fay, I've been taking Ambien, too, just half a pill at my doc's suggestion. It helps, but not always. Is that how it acts with you? Like last night, I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep instantly, woke up a few times & went right back to sleep, but then woke up at about 5:30 am and was wide awake. I almost always fall asleep quickly, it's the waking up after a few hours & not being able to get back to sleep that bothers me. Or waking up over and over again...

I am someone that needs 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep to feel rested.

Michelle

[suemcc8]

Hi!

Although I didn't put the presription to use--procrastination, getting to pharmacy and forgetting the prescription, etc.--and :-) ... Plus I've posted re my happy news--relief of all symptoms (pain, lack of energy, sleep issues), strangely following a virus with fever and swollen glands.

Anyway the rheumy I saw in Boston for a 2nd opinion had prescribed one of the tricyclics (nortryptylene) at A VERY LOW DOSE, as it's an anti-depressent found to--at low doses--help with deep sleep stages, which leads to healthier restorative sleep.

Good luck!
Sue

[Tootsie]

I don't know a lot about interstitial cystitis but I wonder if there is some kind of liquid that is instilled in your bladder in the doctor's office, that would relieve some of your bladder symptoms. This was done for an acquaintance of mine but I'm not sure if she had the exact same problem.

I have had some symptoms of urgency at night and occasionally have awakened to go to the toilet as many as 3 times a night. There was never a lot of urine...just that feeling. I did those Kegel contractions and that seemed to help. It no longer happens unless I drink large amounts of fluids after dinner.

I always sleep better on days that I have done those 32 lengths of the pools, in the afternoon. Exercise seems to help the most because I am pleasantly tired when I got to bed. However, if I go two consectutive days, I am too exhausted and it interferes with my carefully designed routine.

If for some reason, I am aching too badly to fall asleep, a dose of aspirin along with some TUMSs to avoid stomach irritation, is the best thing for me to take. I simply do not tolerate drugs very well and avoid them like the plague. Cheerio.

[sleepyk]

You may try talking to your doctor about Xyrem , it's a medicine that was originally used in narcolepsy , which is why I take it but they are now also prescribing it for fibro b/c of the sleep issues. It is a strong drug but you should be started out at the lowest dose and then work up from there to find the correct doseage for you. If you have any questions about it feel free to e-mail me, I'll do my best to answer them for you...hope you get better sleep soon.. Kawanee

[BrokenBladder]

Let me get started answering some questions:

The disease in my bladder isn't caused from diabetes, it's caused from a disease called interstitial cystitis, which is bleeding ulcers on the inside of my bladder wall. I was dianosed with this in 2002 by a urologist.

As far as getting him in instill medications in my bladder, well he has tried everything, but it just dosen't work for me. I fact he's exhausted everything he knows to do.:eek: I'm lucky when it comes to my urologist b/c he's the best in the entire state of Florida and has people who drive for hours just to see him.

So I really have two problems that won't allow me to sleep. My bladder wakes me up about every hour and then I have the FMS. My body aches and I just have to get up or I feel like I will scream.:(

Thanks for all of you guys responding with your experiences. I know I just have to find the right balance of medication, but so far it hasn't happened.

[Fayelle]

Hi Michelle,

I have not had those kind of troubles with the ambien it works like a charm for me.....However you might ask the doctor for the newer abmien cr it is supposed to help with getting you through the night.....Half is the quick action and half is the slow release part.....

There were some complaints about that very thing so the cr would be better suited most likely....

Fay

[BrokenBladder]

I tried Ambien once, but since I get up so many times during the night I found myself doing and saying crazy things. I'm not sure if this is a common side effect but it scared me. Maybe with the Ambien CR it would be different. Thanks for all of your replies, I really appreciate it. I go back to the doctor tomorrow and wanted information to give to her.

[Fayelle]

It is typical to have strange actions in the night on ambien....hubby could tell you some stories LOL.....

Ambien is a hypnotic thats why it is so imperative to make sure you are ready for bed before you take it, odd behavior can be typical because of that.....It is also why there has been talk in the news about people getting into car accidents after taking it and then driving etc.....Some people had unknown night time eating on it as well.....

I have had luck with it....I have also been taking it for about 18 months now with no decline in its effectiveness and I can also still fall asleep without it, I test myself now and again to make sure I am not becoming dependant....

There are a few newer sleep aids as well that could be helpful.....

Best of luck :)

Fay

[BrokenBladder]

Well I went to the doctor today and I gave her the name of every sleep med that you guys suggested. She said she wants me to try Lunesta. She said if I don't get the desired affect from it by next month then she will change me over to the Ambien CR.
It was funny because she said to me, "sounds like you've done some research on sleep aids" and I said yes I did, from my support group!! You guys are the best!!