[karousel]

This lack of sleep is really taking its toll on me. Except for a few rare nights I haven't slept through the night in 15 months. I have never had difficulty sleeping - ever - so this is really tough for me. I hate to whine about it when I know there are so many who don't sleep but since it's a new problem it's rough on me. If the lack of sleep was MS related, I think I'd be able to deal with it better. After I finally fall asleep I wake up every two hours or so and have difficulty getting back to sleep. It's an endless cycle that's starting to cause me problems during the day.

This sleep problem started when I took that spill two July's ago. I've been taking it a little bit at a time figuring my sleep will return to normal as the pain decreases. But it's not. I finally dragged myself to the doctor and he gave me some pointers to try to regulate my sleeping. He also told me to try melatonine which didn't work and then prescribed Trazadone. I'm already on Nortriptyline so I figured between those two I should be sleeping like a baby. Wrong!

I'm still in constant pain from my knee injury and wonder if I'm in more pain than I realize and maybe that's what is keeping me awake. I take Advil before bed which helps with pain but I'm still not sleeping.

I've tried not taking Provigil and limiting caffeine. Those days I can barely keep my eyes open but still have difficulty sleeping. I can't do that repeatedly because I need to drive my DD most days.

Do I need to just give Trazadone a while longer to work? Does it have to build up in my system or something? Any tips to getting a better night's sleep? Right now I'm willing to try just about anything to break this vicious cycle.

[Kitty]

I wish I had a good suggestion for you. I don't sleep well, either, and wake up several times throughout the night. Probably every 2 to 3 hours at least. Since I can nap during the day and don't have to drive anywhere I've just given in to this new schedule and sleep whenever I can.....day or night.

I've taken Trazadone before and it knocked me right out. Maybe you could ask your doctor about a stronger dosage? Not sure what mg. he has you on now.

It does sound a bit like it's the pain that's keeping you from relaxing enough to get to sleep and stay asleep. You fell in a WalMart store, right? Darn WalMart.......

[SallyC]

Awww, so sorry Karousel, that sucks but I can't help much either. Like Kitty, I never sleep through the night..I takes it when I can gets it..

A good night's sleep is so important for your day to go well. I'm retired so I can nap whenever I'm sleepy, but wouldn't be able to handle it if I had to report to a job.

Funny you should bring this uo today. I got up this morning (noon), after a sleep,wake,sleep,wake,sleep,wake pattern and felt very unrested. Had to kick myself in the butt, to get up.

I may try some mellatonin again, maybe it would help?

Feel better soon..

[NurseNancy]

i really feel for you. i understand what you're going thru.
trazodone helps you get to sleep but may not keep you asleep thru the nite.

i'd suggest you get your dr to do a sleep study.
and, you might also try to find a pain dr, maybe associated thru a rehab hosp.
they will listen to you and not push pills but really try to help you. that was my experience.

i take 200mg of trazodone and ambien. have you tried any of those PM meds. they have some benadryl in them and that makes you tired. of course i wouldn't suggest any med without asking your dr.

please let us know how you are.

[karousel]

Originally Posted by NurseNancy

i take 200mg of trazodone and ambien. have you tried any of those PM meds. they have some benadryl in them and that makes you tired. of course i wouldn't suggest any med without asking your dr.

please let us know how you are.

Wow - I only take 50 mg. If it doesn't work, maybe the doctor will up the amount to take? I'll give it more time before I call him.

[Judy2]

Oh nuts I'm so sorry you're not sleeping well and can certainly feel your pain. I've posted before about my weird sleeping habits and have come to the conclusion that it's an "MS thing". Been two nights now that I haven't even tried to sleep, just kind of doze off in my powerchair. If I had to function in the real world, I'd be sunk, but being housebound, I can do my own thing and sleep when I'm tired.

People DO have a problem with such a schedule, but it's not affecting them so why should they care? Let them walk in our shoes for awhile. Pain definitely effects my sleep and, of course, my whole life. This miserable disease doesn't leave us much of our "old" lives.

I hope you can find something to help your sleep situation.

[karousel]

Originally Posted by Kitty

You fell in a WalMart store, right? Darn WalMart.......

Yep, I slipped on water dripping from the ceiling.