Someone here posted that sleep problems can be due to RA. I have found lately that I don't sleep very deeply, sometimes just lie awake for hours stressing that if I don't fall asleep soon I'll be a mess the next day. Anyway, I have found that Tylenol pm works great! I have a deep restful night's sleep and no groggy after affects at all. Just wanted to share that. Also, does anyone else suffer non-pain related sleep problems? Just wondering how prevalent that is.Honey,
I have non-pain related sleep problems for sure. I usually don't have trouble falling to sleep (though that CAN be a problem too), but I wake up several times during the night. I can't remember the last time I "slept the night through." If that happened, I think I would think I died or something!
I can't take Tylenol PM because the benadryl really makes my RLS crazy. I don't take anything but avoid things like caffeine too late in the day, I seldom nap, things like that.
Jeanne
Honey I have sleep problems at times too. I've taken tynenol PM for years up until the last couple of years where I've been on other pain medications that also make me sleepy.
I can't say that mine isn't pain related though. When you can't get comfortable....it's difficult to sleep. Quite often that's my problem.
I see where Advil also ha a PM medication now too. Any body tried that? Advils always been my first choice in OTC.
Definitely have sleep related problems, pain, sleep apnea, RLS, etc. I also have an overactive mind. Darn thing never shuts down.
It causes me lots of problems as a lack of sleep increases my pain proportionally.
I've been waking up once an hour, every hour, since I started Arava. It's a little disturbing, but I do go back to sleep. I look at the clock each time and say yep, an hour has passed. I have trouble getting to sleep and trouble with pain. The fatigue is debilitating so I had a sleep apneoa test done as I have gained so much weight on all these drugs and due to lack of exercise with the pain. The test was positive, severe sleep apneoa, 73% oxygen levels, 127 sleep apneoas overnight and no REM sleep which is the important section of your sleep!!! So now I await the arrival of my mask which is very comfy and I quite enjoyed the nights sleep I had in the hospital with the mask. Apparently this will improve my fatigue and possiblly my pain levels, I will let u know. Regars Janie. PS I am not allowed to take nighttime drugs that make me sleepy as I have a depressed respiratory system now!!!! I am very frustrated as I get worse at night a lot of the time.I'm a clone of Deanna. Although I sleep better with the Cabaser for the RLS, I don't normally sleep more than about 4 hours (on a good night).
I only get level 1 & 2 sleep, no 3 or REM. Not very refreshing.
I used a mask and machine for sleep for a while but didn't have the 1000 to buy one. Maybe now that I have insurance I could try to claim one. It might make a difference with the sleep apnea.
Fortunately the RLS eases off in the morning and I can usually get an hour or two after my hubby goes to work in the morning.
I have sleep problems too. My Rheumy said that not getting good sleep adds to pain & fatigue-of course. I tried all kinds of things. The only thing that has worked for me without that morning hangover feeling, which would ruin my day, is Klonipin. I take the very lowest dose and it has worked for 2 yrs. Although, I have a very low tolerance for drugs in generally-very bad side effects, don't work at all or too much etc....
Peace, Tam
I stopped sleeping the week my pred increased to 20 mg. I maybe slept 2 hours a night. My Rheumy RX Lunesta, I take 2mg. each night. I wake up a few times but fall right back to sleep. In the morning I don't feel drugged at all. I've been on Ambein (sp?) for about 2 years now. Although, I don't sleep a full night most nights it's a lot better than not sleeping at all or feeling like I haven't slept. I can't remember the last "good nights" sleep I've had in the past 5 years. Not getting proper rest does escalate the pain the next day for me too. I am now getting back into a better sleep pattern myself. I worked for about ten yrs on 3rd shift, then I was having all the problems these past 5yrs with ra, pa and oa, my rd wanted me to get off 3rds, which wasn't easy, now I am on 1st shift. I restrict what caffeine I have after a certain time, watch that I don't eat anything after 6pm and am in bed by 9pm at the latest, if I have to work the next day. I had to use a mild version of an anti-depressant to help relax my body ,at first, but now I am able to get myself into a pattern for sleep now. Yes I wake up a couple times during the night, I just turn over and go back to sleep. I am sleeping better now then I did when on 3tds, at that time I was only getting 3-4 hrs of sleep a dya, because I was still trying to have a life with my husband and daughter. things are alot better now and I actually feel like a human being. memeHigh pred doses will keep you wired. I have found that if I take my pred first thing in the morning I sleep better than if I forget and take it later in the day.I sleep about 4 or 5 hours a night. I know this is due to the Pednsone. I thought of asking the doctor today for a prescription for Lunesta, but I am concerned that I may become dependant on it and when I am done wth the Pred I will still need it.