Comments on: Mr. Sandman

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:07:29 +0000

Using a sleep aid has definitely helped me. I still have wake-ups, but fewer of them. Also, it is so hard to sleep when the pain is bad. When I am in pain at night, I will take the prescribed pain medication (which I loath taking!) Daytime naps really help. When I was still working in a high-stress job, a 45 minute rest at lunchtime was my lifeline.

By: RA Guy

RA Guy — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:42:44 +0000

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions, I’m going to see what helps me and I will let you all know! Sweet dreams…

By: Kali

Kali — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:26:58 +0000

Have you spoken to anyone about adding a small dose of trazadone? It won’t make you fall asleep (for me, at least), but once you are asleep it’ll keep you in a deeper sleep cycle which makes the wake-ups less frequent.

It’s a total life-saver for me. I was on it ages ago when I messed up my shoulder for the…third time? At that point, the pain was messing up my (already bad) sleep. I’m on it again, as I officially have a diagnosis for my poor sleep. The trazadone is a marvelous drug, for me.

~Kali

By: Sadie K.

Sadie K. — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:01:53 +0000

As part of my diagnosis, my rheumatologist sent me to a sleep clinic to have sleep studies. $700 later, I can safely say it was interesting and informative, but not really helpful (or worth the money). However, my doctor did give me a few important insights, such as:

-No one can tell you how much sleep you NEED except you.
-Don’t beat yourself up over your sleep patterns, whatever they may be.
-Accept that sometimes you’ll be tired, no matter what you do.

I am a terrible sleeper, and that was the case long before I had R.A. I almost never sleep through the night without a period of being awake, and I can’t nap unless I’m critically ill. Many people have tried to make me feel as though I’m exacerbating my R.A. because I don’t sleep more, but I physically can’t. I’ve finally decided that’s ok, because it has to be.

As an aside- who has TIME for ten hours of sleep?? I’d have to go to bed at 8pm to sleep for ten hours– and sometimes I’m not home until 6! Forget that noise.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:30:31 +0000

Love your post. My entire approach to rest is ever evolving and expanding since RA creaped into my life. I must have a nap most days. Resting joints is important. Getting a full night sleep is something that may happen a few times a week. Anyone else take ambien or something similar at night?