Before I was DXed with MS - I could not sleep past midnight. I had to sleep. After getting DXed with MS, I would sleep for 10-12 hours, way longer than before. But in the last few weeks, I've noticed that I'm sleeping less and less. Very rarely I sleep during the day - and sometimes I don't sleep at all until 7-8am in the morning, then sleep until 12-2pm in the afternoon, then won't go to bed until 12am-1am. Is it normal for MS'ers to have sleepless nights - I have to say though, I haven't slept yet and its almost 5am, I feel a bit tense, but not hurting as much.

I feel somewhat peaceful, tired but not ready to sleep. I guess what a lot of people without MS don't understand, is that ppl with MS really have to listen to their bodies a lot more often. That's what I've had to do. I usually take meds when I do get up from sleeping, even if I'm not hurting, just to get something going in my system for later on.

I'm starting to help my grandmother a lot more around the house, she just lost her job and we are in need of a finanical miracle now. Just keep us in your prayers about that if you will. We are hoping to have a yard sale Saturday to try and get some bills paid lol - and I do computer graphic design for fun, and trying to do it for a living as well. I want to thank all of you for helping, encouraging me on here. I think this forum has helped me more than any other outreach online I've reached out too - to be honest, I don't go to any other MS forum except this one.

I'm glad to say I only have 17-18 days more to go before I finally go to the MS Clinic. I have 8 pages of my MS journal to show them. I have kept a log since Feb that has detailed every pain, symptom, dr visit, complaints, everything - I'm assuming I will be having another MRI done possibly.

Another thought is that my dream job is just to work from home. My social life is the internet if you will lol. I communicate better through writing. MY thoughts flow more freely writing rather than speaking. I've learned that instead of trying to fix your entire life at once, if you just take one piece and fix it - then move on to the next, the process becomes a lot easier.

Again thank you all for your support!

I've had those nights-spending hours watching the Weather Channel-which usually puts me to sleep-and that didn't even do the trick.
Make sure you're not ingesting too much caffeine in the evening; also try not eating past 8 pm. I try not to drink too much alcohol, too, because it will cause night wakefulness. I have also read that exercise in the evening, or any strenuous activity, can make it more difficult to get sleep.
And read something boring-that often helps.

Sounds like you're under a lot of stress, too. Try to do some quiet time each day-even 10 minutes-to just let the stress pass through you. Many of us have trouble dealing with stressors and it can exacerbate everything going on.

Prayers for you and your grandmother-"Ask, and you will receive...knock, and the door will be opened for you." Or something like that...I believe that prayers are answered...especially if we concentrate also on things in our lives we are grateful for...I list 5 things every night before I go to bed of what I experienced that day or people in my life that I am grateful for. Helps me go to sleep peacefully.

I pray for success in helping your grandma, and for sleepful rest and peace for you

Yes, everything that Debbie said .

Happy that you are learning to take one day and thing at a time.

Something with the sleeping issue to consider is the amount of light exposure that you get. Apparently new research suggests that getting in synch with natural light will help the sleep cycle to regulate.
We are exposed to different amounts of artificial light from day to day and that can interfere with normal circadian rhythms. You mention that you are on the computer a lot so you might try getting exposed to some natural light first thing in the morning for a while and dimming your computer and other lights toward evening.

Here's a link to the basis of the research:
Camping can help regulate sleep patterns, study finds
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/...-patterns.html

With love, Erika

Good point, Erika...I seem to have more difficulty sleeping in the winter months up here in the Midwest.

I rarely sleep more than two hours at a time anymore (day or night). I have pets that tend to get up when I do and think it's time to eat again . So that doesn't help but I've decided not to worry about it. I can nap whenever I want to. Worrying about it just seems to make it worse.

I could sleep all the time. I'm sorry, I have the opposite issue. Is melatonin okay to use? Is it maybe the heat? I honestly have no idea how it is out there.

I think most people with sleep issues are told to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Doesn't work for me, but that's what "they" say.

Also, if you're on the computer all night, it makes your brain think that it's not night due to the brightness. There is this issue with screens and trying to fall asleep. So put down the computer for an hour before you try to go to bed.

Good luck with the graphics. Have you thought about web design? That is one business that you can easily work from home, take on clients as you can.

I'd love to be able to work from home. My dream "job" is to take pics all day and sell them. I have found out that the most successful artists are the best marketers. One can be fabulous, but if they don't get their work out there, they will never sell anything. I helped work an art show, and just as a test, I put my own photos in the jury selection process. I actually scored well! I am just stuck without a good camera right now, mine has never been the same since DD dropped it so I can't use it anymore. So I'm suck using my phone and just trying to work on my technicque rather than what else the camera can do for me (better focus). I just started a blog, put in one whole post, but will add more when I do real projects:
http://boycottonions.tumblr.com/

I don't have too many sleep issues at night. My only one is when the spasms wake me up. Other than that, I can fall asleep easily and wake up rested. I also take a 1 to 2 hour nap everyday. So, I really don't have much advice to give you.

I will say that something has changed for you. Your post is a lot calmer than some of your other posts. I am so glad to see that. Being calm helps so much when dealing with MS and all its crazy symptoms.

I will keep you and your grandmother in my prayers and hope that things go well this weekend. It's a tough situation to be in and one that I am in myself right now. Not fun!

I'm glad you have kept a journal as it will be helpful to the MS specialists and will help in their treatment of your symptoms. I am sure they will want to do another MRI to look for changes. Hang in there! You don't have too much longer.