Sleep Pattern

[emmie]

mine is out the window, i don't know what's going on. been awake since midnight, it's now 1.30 and can't get back to sleep. anyone else have this problem and what to do about sleeping through the night.

[eleanor2]

Morning emmie,
I would imagine once out out of a routine, the body clock alters & pain definitely doesnt help. Is it a matter of retraining the body to re-regulate itself I wonder? I know through personal experience,we can push our bodies to do things you wouldnt think it capable of. For a long time I used to get up at this time, do part time work, shop, come home & help look after our grandaughter till 7.30pm! It wasbard, but I made my body stay awake when it wanted to just sleep, and of course I would sleep soundly when I eventually did go to my bed. As I told you on an earlier thread,I too have osteoarthritis. I think pushing the boundaries, walking , getting your mindset/ body to re-regulate itself gradually does work. Boredom can be a contributary factor of falling asleep at the wrong time. If re-regulating your body clock doesnt work, then maybe Chris's approach of acceptance & not mentally fighting the norm, living on an alternative timescale ( if doable) is the answer x

[emmie]

morning eleanor

[emmie]

i want to be fully aware and awake in the day time, i'm not but dozing and fretful. bored and lonely in my pain. I am frightened of taking pain relief as feel it will be a lifetime commitment, which i am trying hard not to do.

[emmie]

by the way why are you awake at this wretched hour, can't you sleep either....

[eleanor2]

Take everything emmie, lifes way too short to live in pain. Whats the worst that can happen? .. relief, sleep! I work part time, Im out the door at 4.45am. I take ibuprofen and paracetamol, whats so bad? Id rather live relatively pain free in my waking hours.

[emmie]

true eleanor, but i have just junked an armful of meds, because i was so reliant on them, for no apparent reason. i had been taking them for years and wondered if they were doing me more harm than good.

[eleanor2]

Did you find relief in them? I dont know why people are afraid to be reliant on something that makes their quality of life better. I couldnt do my physical job without medication. How many years do we all have left, I would much rather spend them as pain free as I can make them.

[emmie]

they weren't pain relief meds. but all sorts of other gubbins.

[emmie]

i didn't find that ibruprofen worked for me, nor paracetamol.

[1ozzy]

//I didn't find that ibuprofen worked for me//

Sqad!!!

[emmie]

not sure sqad can help to be honest. besides isn't he rather unwell.......

[margarettom]

When I was waiting for my hip replacement I was in a lot of pain and, like you, awake most of the night. I think during the day you can block the pain out more. I found Ibuprofen gel was the most effective treatment for arthritic pain. Oral Ibuprofen didn’t really help and I didn’t want to take Co codamol or Amitriptyline because of the side effects. I did catch an hour or so here and there during the night and found I could get through the morning just about OK and even meet friends for a coffee but, every afternoon, I would have to have a long sleep so I could get through the evening. Obviously, this went on for a limited time for me as, once I had had my op, the problem has gone away mostly and my current arthritic pain is controlled by Effervescent Paracetamol and Ibuprofen gel. I think, because your condition is obviously long term, you will have to consider taking effective medication or you will probably never sleep properly again. I know if my condition meant I was in permanent pain, I would. It’s alright living a half life for a few months but not permanently.

[pixie374]

I would also go with some pain relief, that can't be good for you being in constant pain, let alone allowing you to sleep. I don't worry if I don't sleep at one point, reading always helps for me, but I just sleep in the day if necessary. Unless you are working 8-8, say, I don't see much need to be asleep at certain times.

[emmie]

dozed off for a little bit this morning, but not good, waking every 2 to 3 hours, will look out for the ibruprofen gel... constant pain is a depressing way to live your life and having tried various combos of meds, haven't found anything effective enough to take away this nagging pain

[naomi24]

Emmie, If you were in bed and asleep and woke up at 10pm, what time did you go to bed? I think if I went to bed that early I’d be awake half the night too. Perhaps it would help to go to bed later and take fewer naps during the day.

As for the pain, I think Eleanor has given excellent advice. Why be in that sort of pain if you don’t have to? There’s no point to that at all.

[iluvmargie]

Do you think that maybe you go to bed too early? If I went to bed before 10 I know I wouldn't sleep through the night. I go to bed any time between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. and am out like a light. I often doze while watching TV as well.

[pixie374]

I would go back to the GP, who can see which ones have been tried. There are so many different options, it must be worth another look.

[emmie]

naomi, at 8pm i'm almost out on my feet, i can't stay awake any later than 9.

[ummmm]

I'd also say go to bed later and try not to nap in the day. If you feel like you're going to drop off, get up and do something.

[calmck]

I had the same problem of waking up and being unable to get back to sleep. I decided to try Neuro Night Complex a melatonin based capsule. I was very sceptical but after about 4/5 nights I found that when I did wake up I quickly went back to sleep. I have no commercial interest in this product. For me it definitely makes a difference. The reviews are mixed with some saying yes it works and some no. Available from the big A. It's worth a try but don't expect immediate results