Any suggestions for sleep ? I am taking one Advil PM and a 5 Mg melatonin which helps me fall asleep. But I am averaging 3-4 very fitful hours per night. I work full time. This is killing me to be so tired and rummy.
Hi MaggieGrace, i had problems sleeping and found if i had a banana and low fat plain yougurt about nine oclock, (I go to bed at ten thirty and read for a couple hours)
i now wake up any time after seven, i know it could be a fluke, buts it has worked for five days now for me, i was always awake at 4, then 5 so on. But i am sure some of these great ladies can help ypou better than me, as i am still a newbie.
take care
Hello, Like Margaret has said a banana helps (tytrophan I think) as does warm milk with it...lots of us have the problem with pred keeping us from a good night`s sleep....just when we need it, and it also worrks for my 13 year old grandson, so worth a try!! Good Luck....Linda
Maggi, unfortunately trouble sleeping is a very common complaint when on steroids, particularly at the higher doses. We always recommend taking a nap (or two!) during the day to catch up with sleep missed overnight, but when you are working full-time this is obviously not an option. I assume you are taking your full full steroid dose early in the morning - any later can worsen problems with sleeping.
Avoid coffee or any other caffeinated drink later in the day, also chocolate. Chamomile tea is good, helping to relax the body. Include as many soporific foods into your diet as your can. A friend swears by her lettuce sandwich (must be wholemeal bread) every evening following her work on the computer and before going to bed.......a couple of slices of turkey added to the sandwich should have you packed with the best of sleep-inducing nutrients. A little evening walk can also work wonders. Meanwhile, if you are really finding it difficult to cope due to lack of sleep then do consider some time off work to re-charge your batteries and give those steroids every chance to do their job.
You really must consider yourself - if you have GCA you MUST rest in order to recover better, if you have PMR you need the rest to be able to cope otherwise. It doesn't mean you need to rest/sleep all in one go at night as you are used to so sleeping any time you can does help as does learning to relax somewhere even though not asleep.
I realise you are probably in the USA and you probably need your job for healthcare cover but surely you are able to have some sick leave?
I have been taking cyclobenzaprine for my PMR. This helps me to sleep. I take 10 mg of this.
Yes, I am in the USA. Yes, I (desperately) need my job for health care benefits. I do have sick leave time in my account at work, but am trying not to use any more than I absolutely must. I find working also helps to take my mind off any discomfort I feel and helps me stay upright. I did sleep a little better last night after taking an additional dose of melatonin.. About 5 hours. But then Because I slept pretty soundly, I woke up more stiff than ever !
i take my pred about 5AM, then get up about 530.
I have tried this a night or two, but I have severe next day grogginess when I use this drug, which create problems where I work. :-(
Thanks for the suggestion...
Thanks MrsO. Will give these suggestions a try!
The optimum time to take pred to avoid morning stiffness is 2am but noone really wants to wake then if they aren't sleeping too well anyway - what about trying taking part of your dose just before you go to bed and then the rest in the morning with your breakfast or even a bit later? Some doctors, especially in the US, suggest splitting the dose and several people have found it works well for them.
I've never heard of that being used for PMR before. It isn't spasmed or tight muscles that causes the pain - it is inflammation so I don't really see how it would help. Does it make any difference apart from sleeping better?
Hello, I have split my dose 7mg pred, with breakfast, and 7mg with evening meal, I have found this to be better for me....not so much blurred vision, and dizziness, heart palpitations ect, my sleep is better too...only been doing this for 5days, and noticing a difference. Will be telling my Rheumy on Tueday weather she agrees or not!...unless of course she comes up with the magic answer Linda
No it does help with the pain. Just the sleeping.