How much sleep do you get at once? | Arthritis Information

 

This is a particularly vexing problem for me which has continued to get worse and worse over the years.  Now I can manage only about 4 to 5 hours at one whack.  My doctor is finally addressing the problem.  Before any medications it would take over an hour to fall asleep, I wake frequently and then finally wake early (usually because of pain)...very early.

She started me on Ambien-CR but insurance would not pay for it but I did just to see if it would work...mixed results.  Now trying Restoril and at first it seemed to work, now I'm waking early again.  I am getting a slight bit more sleep.

Anyone else a walking zombie?

It could be caused by any number of things.  If you don't get any joy from your doctor ask to see a sleep specialist.  Maybe they could pinpoint something and be more able to treat the exact problem.

Pam

I GET 5 OR 6 HRS I WAKE UP IN ALOT OF PAIN I DO TRY TO NAP IN THE DAY IF I CAN....TERESAMy Rheumy told me that lack of sleep can contribute quite significantly to how we percieve pain and how we feel overall.  Its so important to get that sleep.  But like you, I wake with pain.  No getting back to sleep once I do either.  But there are therapies for that and I urge all that have this problem to discuss it with their docs as it can wear you down and make things worse overall.  Yeah, it means more drugs but since we are all taking boatloads of them anyway...one more isn't that big a deal. I use to work 3rds and would only get 2 hrs sleep here 2 hrs there, my rd said I had to come off 3rds, which i had been on for 10yrs.  I am just now getting into a normal sleep pattern again I can usually sleep now about 6 hrs and may wake up a couple times turn over and go back to sleep.  I have learned you have to follow a strict pattern to get yoruself to sleep.  I learned nothing past 3pm in the form of caffine, get into a normal rooutine and by 9pm I am in bed at the very latest, but of course I get up at 3 am for work.  Talk to your rd I was given a a mild form of an antidepressent to help relax my body when I first started all my meds but for the lifeo f me I can't remember the name.  You take it 2 to 3 hrs before you go to bed.  Talk to your rd tell him what is going on try a different med it may help good lucki need some

For me, when I have trouble going to sleep, I find it is because I cant get comfortable. That is when I give in and take a tylenol 4, 800 of motrin, a flexeril, and a glass of triptophan. I get pretty good results that way.

difficulty sleeping is pretty common with us.  Meme's dr. might have tried Amitryptilene (can't spell) Elavil, a whole lot of us seem to take it.   Just went back on it because the flexeril didn't work.  Keep trying because good sleep is almost as important as medication for me.

mary

Even with the Elavil I am only good for about 4 hours a sleep straight.   Although, IF I care to admit to myself that I have had a bad day and really need to get more I have Ambein (sp?) that I try to take only once in a while.   I hate the fact that it's so addicting with everything else that I take.   Oh Wow Olive that is BAD.  First the Ambien isn't as habit forming as the barbituate type of sleep meds.  The type of habit they are referring to here isn't physical, more psychological. 

You should take that Ambien if it helps you and take it frequently.  I see by your sig you are dealing with multiple problems.  Your physician should have absolutely no problem in giving you medications to help you sleep, even the more physically addictive ones.  Thing is, people who really need the stuff have a much lower addiction rate than the average population. 

My doc is finally addressing my lack of sleep.  She wants me to take it EVERY NIGHT.  Mine is more habit forming than yours as it is temazepam (same class of drugs as Valium, etc.).  Its more important that you get the rest you need. 

There has been so much hype about addiction, etc. that there was and is an over-reaction to the use of the drugs which have those qualities.  If you do not abuse the drug it is unlikely you will become addicted to it.  Even if you become "dependent' on it...which is worse...really lets think about it.  Terrible quality of life or taking a drug that helps your quality of life?  I choose the quality of life and if I should become relient on a medication for that (aren't we all to some degree now anyway), then so be it.
I find that I have been staying in bed lately for up to ten hours.  So somewhere in there I think I am getting some sleep.  The first 10 months of RA I was up most nights.  Now I am lucky enough to be on disability so I can stay in bed.  I sure feel better when I can stay in bed than when I am forced to get up.  I take soma if I am sore when I go to bed.  Ambien works for me sometimes but it also gives me a bit of a hangover in the morning. 
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