6th July 2006
June,
Although I didn't know I was experiencing a problem with sleep for those three years, I may actually have been. When diagnosed, I had widespread pain, pain in trigger points, but not as much achiness or fatigue. I had been recovering from a spinal surgery and was in tons of pain, but slept just fine. As time passed, the pain, achiness, and fatigue became worse throughout the day. At night, it took a little bit longer to relax just because my muscles were so tense.
After reading more about fibromyalgia, I learned about the stages of sleep. I realized that my muscles were tired and in pain, yet I must not have been reaching the deepest stage of sleep, which is the restorative stage. That stage is the one that allows our body and brain to heal and restore itself to a refreshed state. Little by little, I began to wake up just as tired as I was when I went to bed. Now, even though I fall asleep fine and I don't have a problem staying asleep, I realize that somehow my brain is not entering into that deep sleep.
Currently I can not take much medication due to the fact that I'm breastfeeding my baby. However, previously I took a muscle relaxer at bedtime (Cyclobenzaprine, generic for Flexeril). I woke up feeling much more refreshed. It might be possible that I needed that med to help my body enter that stage of sleep- not sure. Some people take other sleep aids.
Now I am trying to do what I can to get the best rest possible. We have a new mattress, a memory foam pillow, aromatic lotion for bedtime, a dark room, a bath before bed, etc. Even though I seem to sleep fine, I'm trying to allow my brain to fix my body while I'm sleeping! (It's not working, though, because I have a hungry little 8 month old!)
Does that make sense, June? Let me know!
Although I didn't know I was experiencing a problem with sleep for those three years, I may actually have been. When diagnosed, I had widespread pain, pain in trigger points, but not as much achiness or fatigue. I had been recovering from a spinal surgery and was in tons of pain, but slept just fine. As time passed, the pain, achiness, and fatigue became worse throughout the day. At night, it took a little bit longer to relax just because my muscles were so tense.
After reading more about fibromyalgia, I learned about the stages of sleep. I realized that my muscles were tired and in pain, yet I must not have been reaching the deepest stage of sleep, which is the restorative stage. That stage is the one that allows our body and brain to heal and restore itself to a refreshed state. Little by little, I began to wake up just as tired as I was when I went to bed. Now, even though I fall asleep fine and I don't have a problem staying asleep, I realize that somehow my brain is not entering into that deep sleep.
Currently I can not take much medication due to the fact that I'm breastfeeding my baby. However, previously I took a muscle relaxer at bedtime (Cyclobenzaprine, generic for Flexeril). I woke up feeling much more refreshed. It might be possible that I needed that med to help my body enter that stage of sleep- not sure. Some people take other sleep aids.
Now I am trying to do what I can to get the best rest possible. We have a new mattress, a memory foam pillow, aromatic lotion for bedtime, a dark room, a bath before bed, etc. Even though I seem to sleep fine, I'm trying to allow my brain to fix my body while I'm sleeping! (It's not working, though, because I have a hungry little 8 month old!)
Does that make sense, June? Let me know!