I don't always know what's best for me, or understand the symptoms of fibromyalgia, but I have learned one thing. I have learned that when my body says, "Sleep!", I sleep. And when I cannot sleep, I no longer toss and turn in bed. Instead, I get up and do something constructive - like logging on to Gather.com.
Last night about midnight, one of my neighbors came by as I sat on my porch.
"Do you ever sleep?" she asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I've seen you on your porch at all hours of the day and night, watching the world go by."
That's probably true. But doesn't it beg the question, "Does she ever sleep?"
Just wondering.
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Comments: 21
God Bless u!
Fibromialgia - or however it's spelt - means your body needs a high protien diet. For some reason the medical profession doesn't tell you that. Maybe it would interfer with their bottom line profits.
Get some protien, lots. Then in a mont or two, get some exercise. Take it easy but do it. Be happy and healthy.
I'm awake till daylight sometimes. My ex used to think I stayed up all night so I wouldn't have to sleep with him...LOL
Most nights, I have no problem going to sleep. When I had severe migraines, I learned to hypnotize myself and escape into sleep, cued by three deep breaths. It isn't always the deepest or most refreshing sleep, but it's pretty reliable.
For the nights I can't get to sleep early enough to wake up for an early (noonish) appointment, one of my doctors gives me a few samples each visit of one of the newer sleep meds, either Lunesta or Sonata. They will both knock me out, although again, it isn't always deep or refreshing sleep.
What I found a few years ago is The Delta Sleep System, by Dr. Jeffrey Thompson. On the nights I used it, I generally awoke feeling like I'd had good sleep. I wore out 2 sets of the CDs and several CD players. I haven't found the CDs since moving, and haven't gotten a CD player for my bedroom, either. Time to do both of those things.
For those of you who have problems getting to sleep, here's a tip I've given other people that seems to work: Keep lighting in your house low after sundown, to increase the natural melatonin your brain produces in response to dark. (Ever notice that when the power is out, you tend to go to bed to stay warm and fall asleep? This is the power of darkness on your sleep center.)
Modern lighting is responsible for many of the sleep problems reported in the media over the last few years, I think. Our homes are brightly lit at night, often by halogen lights or the daylight bulbs used for crafting and sewing by many people.
For those of us who depend on our computers for contact with the outside world, especially in the evenings, the computer monitor is a potent source of bright light shining right into our eyes from close range. Unfortunately, that light destroys melatonin, so we don't get sleepy until several hours after the computer is turned off. In my case, that's usually well after the sun is up.
I can remember reading a study of ADDers that said computer monitors stimulate dopamine, which is the reason ADHD kids usually find it easier to concentrate while on the computer than while reading a book. (or was the article about autistic kids? arrrrgh, wish I could remember where I read all this stuff I cite. All I remember for sure is dopamine and the bright light from computer monitors.)
If you have problems getting to sleep, I dare you to try turning off the computer at dusk, and to keep the lighting in your house lower than normal, and preferably indirect, for just one week. If you have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, use nightlights or a dim flashlight rather than turning on overhead lights. Let me know how it works. If you're like most of the people who've tried this experiment, you'll get to sleep earlier and more easily.