Anyone else out there with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia have trouble sleeping some nights?
And are you taking medication for these medical problems?
Public Comments
1. I have had Fibro for about 15 yrs. I use to have trouble sleeping but not so much anymore. I took Ambien for a while but Dr. did not want me getting too attached to it. When I do have trouble sleeping I find that tylenol PM works great - I don't get that groggy feeling in the morning like you do with alot of the prescription meds. You might want to look into getting some massage therapy by someone that has been trained to work on patients with Fibromyalgia. It worked wonders for me and I swear by it. I think it should be the main treatment for Fibro patients instead of giving them all the medication. At one time I was taking something to sleep, something for pain and something for depression. Since getting the massage therapy I no longer take any of those prescription meds. I would check with your doctor first before trying anything - I gave myself an ulcer from abusing ibuprophen for the pain - you have to be careful with tylenol you don't want to take that on a regular basis also. Not sure about the Rheumatoid Arthritis and the meds you take for that - best to check it with your doctor. Hope this helps - your not alone out there. Good Luck.2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PvSj3gGAjs
i don't know if you're gonna believe me but my mom had rheumatoid arthritis and she's now completely healed :)
3. Yes i have had FM for 6 years..and i always have trouble falling asleep, sometimes im up for 2 to 3 days! right now i just started using trasadone 50mgs, and when i build up a tolerence for 50 mgs i will go to 100mgs. you should ask your doctor to give you something to help you. do you have trouble falling asleep or just staying asleep?? And could it be one of your other meds you are taking that is keeping you awake??
4. Yes, either one of these diseases can cause you to not sleep well. I have been diagnosed with these diseases for about 20 years and I think the not being able to sleep is one of the worst affects of the disease. I think it had a large part in leading to my divorce. Because as you know if you don't sleep, you become grumpy and irritable. Like one of the other people said, Ambien works well, but your doctor will not let you use it long. Sometimes I go as much as 4-6 days, without going to sleep.
And you would think you would get so tired you would fall asleep, but I don't. I usually end up taking something (prescribed by my doctor, to relax me). Tylenol PM or Advil PM helps some nights. But mostly I have found that it is a side affect I have just had to live with. I pray you have better results, and that everything works out for you.
Talk to your reumatologist about it. I can't take a lot of the medicines because of other health conditions. But, a reumatologist can help you better than your regular medical doctor. Godd Luck, I will keep you in my prayers, God Bless.
