Hi guys,
first time posting here.
I'm in the same insomniac group.
I recently seperated from my and have been living with my mom, who thinks my naps ruin my sleep.

After my MS Dx I struggle at night w/tossing and turning, bathroom runs, book reading..nuthin,nada..so when I can nap.I nap!
I think I'm becoming a 'block sleeper' few hours each time

I've tried lots of pills that would work a week and then stop. My anxiety seems to win out making my MS flare u some days
I like to think we're all different cause we're special
;-0

Hi MRK, welcome.

Melatonin is worth a try, is natural, and not very expensive. I didn't believe it until I tried it. It actually helps me go back to sleep after each one of my 4 or 5 trips to the bathroom a night (most of the time). I use a product called Melatonin Plus (Schiff) and take one about an hour before bedtime. I also use medical marijuana . . . some strains are good for not much else but to make you sleepy!

I also use deep breathing to music. I found that a rhythm like the swells on the ocean not only helps some with pain management, but also with relaxation.


This morning, after about 4 hours of sleep, I could not fall back to sleep, so I got up and started framing my art for the MS show this week-end. I figured that since I hurt too much to lay still, I would get busy. I actually got them both framed! Bets are on that I will collapse into bed earlier than usual tonight!

It's been a while since I've posted - I've been lurking though

When I did the 3 day IVSM extravaganza, I couldn't sleep at all starting the day after the last infusion and was so scared to take a sleep med. Finally after realizing I had to get back to work eventually, the doc prescribed Ambien CR. I was so scared of being "knocked out" by something but my friend assured me I'd be fine. She asked her doc, "Will I wake up if there's a fire?" and since he assured her she would, she felt better. I thought that was a great question to ask!

I had no problems with the Ambien CR but of course everyone's different. My yearly MRI is coming up and I know that if I'm encouraged to go on steroids again due to MRI findings, I'll definitely ask for the Ambien Rx to be renewed.

I'm only into my 2nd year of this so at this point the symptoms don't match the MRIs so I'm given meds based on the MRI alone..I know - it's strange.

Stay well everyone!

One of my biggest problems with an occasional sleepless night is that other popele just don't understand.

They really do not get it.

When I had the 5 days of no sleep last month from the IVSM (actually had the insomnia bad before the steroids...'roids just made it worse) My sister and b-in-law were awfully opinionated about my not being able to sleep.

She kept telling me that if I just turned off the tv that I should be able to sleep. (I tried already. Didnt work. If I'm awake, at least I want to be entertained)

Add to the insomnia that I was in some serious pain from spasticity and the most uncomfortable sensations from the numbness that I've ever felt, there was no sleeping to be had for me. (if I wasnt super stiff and spasming from the spasticity, the entire lower half of my body from just below my chest down to my feet felt like I was being burned alive)

I guess my sister is one of those people who either believe the myth that MS is painless, or she's just unable to understand that numbness is actually considered a type of pain. (her best friend also has MS. Not sure if her BFF has ever shared just how horrible MS is sometimes)

I never got all judgemental (to her face) about her problems with kidney stones, and I was appropriately sympathetic when she had an attack or two of kidney pain from kidney stones (or whatever was causing that)

I hate it when someone who has never experienced all the "fun" symptoms of MS tries to compare themselves to how you're feeling.

I try not to "one-up" my sister or my mom when they start comparing their pains to my pain. It's kind of funny to watch them do it tho. Sad funny, not "ha-ha" funny.

dej,

been there, done that.
my dr sent me to a sleep dr. they wanted a sleep and documented that i had pain (from my brain waves). that was 1 thing. they also found sleep apnea.
i had a very good dr. we tried a lot of meds too. i also tried lunesta but the only thing that worked was ambien CR. that plus some trazodone.

i don't abuse meds either. i don't sleep all thru the nite but i do get a few hrs in a row. i wake up, pee, and can fall back alseep. they said my sleep study showed i didn't fall into REM sleep at all.

lack of sleep can really affect your health. maybe you should see a specialist.
and, i had to say this, but all the activities you're doing when you can't sleep are all wrong. they're too stimulating to the brain. that's what i was told.
no computer, no tv. i think he told me i could read but turning on the light will screw up your body's melatonin levels. i actually shut off my lites about an hr before bedtime to try and get my levels up.

please let us know how you're doing with this.

Dej and all,
I am sorry we all seem to share this sleep issue.

Just wanted to stop by and welcome MRK. It's nice to have you join us. I am glad you feel comfortable posting right away to us, we love that.

I hope you enjoy your stay on NT. We are a group of loving and caring people. We listen, we post, we learn, just like you.
Nice to meet you.

As for the sleeping problems we all seem to be discussing, I must share my problem too.

I fall to sleep early in the am, like 2, 3 or 4 am., that is if I nap during the day for too long. If I set the timer for 1 or 1 1/2 hours to nap, I have no problem falling to sleep at night. The nap must be before 5 pm though.

If I go to bed earlier than that time, I wake up 2 hours later, as if it was another nap. If I go to bed real late I sleep great. Other than the waking to go the bathroom or burning legs every two hours, and then I go back to sleep. I wake very late in the morning.

I love to get up early but can't open my eyes to wake. At least I get enough hours. I think many of us have a cruddy circadian rhythm and bet It's messed up because of MS symptoms.

Welcome to the group, MRK! Nice to "meet" you. I'm sorry you have to be here, but under the circumstances, it's a great place to be!

Sorry Dej.....been there and still doing it! You all can see by the time of this posting that my days and nights are turned around. Being I live alone, it doesn't really matter and days that I have to get up, I can. My sleeping pattern sounds very much like everyone elses here.....trouble falling asleep, sleep for short periods of time, wake up, bathroom, repeat. The sun is always up when I finally go to sleep and I usually get up to stay around 4 pm.

And YES.....I agree.....people just don't GET IT!!! So what if I sleep crazy hours and sleep in my recliner???? I'd gladly change places and see how you handle my life!!!

Hi kats, welcome back! Dej, I hope you can find a solution but I'm afraid I have nothing but hugs to give. ((((Dej))))

I have joined the recliner club. I fell asleep in the dang chair, and at least I got 5 hours of sleep. not great sleep, but I will take ANY sleep.

I am just so tired. I refuse to turn on the computer at night, or I would never sleep. I try to stick to rerun TV so I already know what happens, and wont feel like I will miss out if I go to sleep. I simply NEED my TV at night for my own sanity.

Thanks for showing me I am not wadering the halls alone at night.