Hi everyone. I am hoping to get some advice and you all seem very knowledgible and supportive. I was diagnosed with Ra almost 2 years ago. I am just taking plaquenil and celebrex for now. I was wondering if anybody has trouble staying asleep. I wake up several times during the night, some muscle aches, not sharp pain, just annoying. Is that fibro or Ra and what do you do?Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
A lot of people have this problem. Gee, that's why I'm onlne right now. I can't sleep. I have medications that help me go to sleep, but by 2 or 3 in the morning, I find myself waking again.
Quite a few people have gone to their Rheumys and asked for something like Ambien to help them get that full nights sleep. Without it, you end up in even more pain.
I find that tylenol makes me sleepy and eases the pain. I don't know if you are allowed to take that with Celebrex. You might be allowed Ibuprofen instead. But I find it usually helps cut back enough on the pain that my body relaxes and I can get back to sleep.
I don't like to take drugs if I don't have to (so much for that!) so I tried to change how I sleep. I bought one of those swedish foam beds which helps A LOT. I also sleep by hugging a big body pillow which I use to prop up my leg and arm while laying on my side.SuzQ - it could be either the fibro or the RA...I have had issues too. You could also try Elavil (generic = amitriptyline). It's a type of an anti-depressant - but is used all the time for Fibro...gives you GREAT sleep! Michele is right lack or REM sleep makes Fibro worse.
Good luck, Trixie
I take 2 mg. of Lunesta, I've been on Pred for 6 months and it really keeps me from sleeping if I don't take the Lunesta, I usually sleep through the night, but even if I wake up, I fall back to sleep very quickly Thank you all very much for your suggestions. Who writes the prescriptions? The Ra Dr. ? My Rheumy doesn't seem to be too in favor of drugs besides ones that control the disease. Suzq How is waking up in the morning for everyone that takes something to help them sleep? I'm not sleeping well and trying to decide what to do about it. I am afraid if I take anything I will be sluggish in the morning. Well, more sluggish than normal lol. My husband works 2nd shift and I normally pry an eyelid open to say hi to him, ask him how his night was, and get a kiss. Would I be able to do that on sleep meds? I know that sounds kind of like a small concern but after an evening home alone with teenagers I need a kiss lol! I don't have to get up and go to work but I do have to get up and drive kids to school. My town has no school buses and of course we live across town from school lol.
groogy!! I took ambien last night because I haven't slept well the past few nights. It's hard to get going.
I usually just take tramodal; but sometimes that doesn't help.
I love my ambien! It doesn't give me the groogy feeling like excedrin PM. I sleep great, except for the 2 times I must go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, but fall right back to sleep and wake up just fine.