HI
I am currently awake at stupid O’clock like I have been for the last 3 or so nights and the same for a few nights before that. I know that the MS is probably whats causing this so I wondered if anyone else has this issue and what helps you to sleep?
Jim
hi jim
i wake up at about 2.00 am every night. i get too warm upstairs and have to come down for an hour or two until i’m cold and preferably shivering. then i can go back to bed and really snuggle down under the covers.
i don’t have any advice just sharing my own insomnia tales.
i generally have a cup of tea, smoke a fag and use the computer until i cant keep my eyes open.
perhaps we might be vampires eh?
carole x
Hello Jim,
Yes I had exactly the same problem, counted every flock of sheep in Wales and played goodness knows what mental games.
It is an MS problem. Go to your doctor and if he is not much help then try MS Nurse or you MS doctor.
It took me quite a while to find the right prescription that works. I tried several that only worked for 2 weeks then back to counting sheep.
If you are interested I’m on amytryptaline and clonazepam, works a treat
You will find references to sleep or lack of on my website www.aid4disabled.com. Do take a look at it.
Good luck,
~patrick
Hi, What is sleep? Its awful when you cannot drift off, I end up going down stairs watch Sky News till about 2am, then go back!!! It is the worse thing ever not sleeping.
Jan x
Haha gave up the smoking awhile ago, and im a conservative so my only news outlet is the times, although you could do worse than sky news.
nope i think its time i saw my estranged GP,and then to my ms nurse.
Although if your right about being a vampire then I will be extremely displeased to miss out on ever eating at a french restaurant again (too much garlic).
Jim
I used to struggle getting to sleep as my mind ws always active and would not shut down.
I know put a few drops of valarian root oil and aa few drops of margoram oil on my pillow before I go to bed and Im asleep in no time
Jim, I find if you use reverse psychology it seems to work. Instead of counting sheep and wishing yourself to sleep, say to yourself over and over again, Ill not go to sleep and try stay awake. It works for me everytime.
Do let us know how you get on. Oh by the way I also take amyttryptiline nightly and baclofen, so perhaps theyre helping me at the mo too.
good luck,
bren
x
hi
for 2 years i have been partaking in meditation. a side effect i found was better sleeping. worth a try?
ellie x
I struggled sleeping when on steroids. Last week i totalled about 8 hours sleep all week. I started to feel zombie like. Not good when you work full time. Still struggling a bit now to sleep so if anyone has any good tips, I’m all ears! xx
Hi Jim,
Sorry to hear you’re having trouble sleeping. I take 3mg of clonazepam and two paracetamel and a bomb wouldn’t wake me. Take a trip to your gp and ask his advice.
Wishing you a good nights sleep.
Janet
x
Hello Jim,
As well as clonazepan ask your GP for amytriptaline or anything else that helps you to drop off. It might take a while to find the right one but do perservere.
Lack or shortage of sleep is crippling, the worst thing is feeling that you lost the knack of dropping off to sleep. Then you start to worry about getting enough sleep.
You will find references to sleep or lack of on my website www.aid4disabled.com. Do take a look at it.
I’ve been there, good luck,
Patrick
Well I tried nytol after iwas told that anything strong could be a problem with me having tysabri at the same time.
To cut the story short, it was about as effective as putting a fire out with the branch of a tree.
Meditation is a good idea, the problem is that im really bad at it. I’m the only buddhist who can’t meditate!.
I’m not worried though at some point i’ll be too tired not to sleep
Good night (fingers crossed)
Jim
Hi Jim
Here’s my tips for a good night’s kip: the main one is to not toss & turn. If you’re not asleep after 15 minutes, get up and do something like read or do some puzzles, and then only go to bed when you’re feeling sleepy (not just tired, but actually sleepy). If you still don’t fall asleep after quarter of an hour, get up again, and so on… This way your brain won’t associate being in bed with being awake.
Don’t look at the time - nothing’s guaranteed to keep me worrying (and therefore staying awake) as knowing what the time is. Go for low lighting in the evening to help your brain begin to wind down. If you happen to go on the computer, lower the brightess of the screen.
Don’t eat late (going to bed on a full stomach never helps me - I try to eat by half seven at the latest), and don’t drink any caffeine after 6pm. Getting regular exercise will help and, as has already been said, meditation can help (and I’ve heard it said that there’s no such thing as ‘bad’ meditation - the mind is always going to have thoughts. Just don’t stay with them - notice that you’re having them, and then bring your mind gently back to the meditation).
And you could also get out Colin Espie’s ‘Overcoming Insomnia & Sleep Problems’ from the library (or buy it off Amazon).
Hope you get some good kip.
Dan
Well I think an update is in order
After trying everything i took the easy route and got myself prescribed some zopiclone
Anyone else out therer on this stuff? Hows it working for you?
Jim
Hello Jim
My GP thought Zopiclone ws the answer to a maiden’s prayer. Well it was for 2 weeks then back to counting flocks of sheep. Now on amytriptaline and clomazepan. This is the recomendation of my MS Consultant and it works sao who am I to argue.
Each person’s requirements are different
I hope it works cos not getting enough sleep and knowing you will toss and turn before falling asleep does not make into a happy bunny
Regards,
Patrick