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ME/CFS Feeling Empty – Sleep Deprivation

10/30/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
I haven’t been sleeping well lately.  There’s a lot going on and I’m caught up in too much brain activity.  After several restless nights, of course I began to think about ME/CFS.
 
I remember when the exhaustion was so pervasive.  I had a mental flashback to the lowest days of my ME/CFS years when even holding a glass of water was beyond my strength and the brain fog was so thick that I couldn’t remember my thoughts for more then a moment or two.  It was long days of running on total empty.
 
It wasn’t until I understood the role that sleep deprivation was playing in my struggle with ME/CFS that I began to improve.  We dissected everything about my nights in order to improve my sleep – Comfort, light, sound, timing and medication.  We tweaked and tweaked.  When we finally got it right, I was getting about 6 hours of solid, uninterrupted sleep every night.
 
So yesterday I tweaked a few things in my current sleep environment and I finally slept for 7 hours last night.  Even my active brain couldn’t keep my body from finally getting some needed rest.  This morning I felt a little more energy and gratitude for the hard earned lessons of my past.

 
What’s the status of your sleep patterns and environment?  What needs tweaking?  Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.  And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.
 
Be Well Again,
Martha

​

2 Comments

ME/CFS Sleep Deprivation – Switch to Rejuvenating REM

5/8/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Everyone experiences periods of lousy sleep.  It can be due to illness, disrupted schedules, emotional distress, worry, etc.  Eventually, if it goes on for too long, we start to feel sleep deprived.  If you’re struggling with ME/CFS, this can become status quo layered on an illness that already robs you of desperately needed deep sleep.  For ME/CFS patients, it’s imperative to create optimum opportunity for restful and rejuvenating sleep.

First, be sure that your sleeping environment is perfect for you.  Mattress, pillows and covers should be just right – Goldilocks style.  The degree of darkness vs. light and silence vs. sound need to suit you.  Do you share the bed with a partner or a pet?  Ensure that you have plenty of space and that no one disturbs you.

Second, you need to have a sleeping schedule that is adhered to religiously - no exceptions.  Plan your evenings and days around bed and naptimes.  Everything else should be secondary.  This sounds like it could be impossible but if you plan around it, it’s doable.  And it pays off.

Lastly, once you have a good environment and a regular schedule, all you need is to get to REM.  For me, this was elusive while I was struggling with ME/CFS until I worked with my doctor to select the right medications for me.  Pain was the main reason that I woke up frequently during the night so I took a combination pain reliever and muscle relaxant half an hour before bedtime.  Then we added a non-addictive sleep aid.  After a few weeks, I was starting to see some improvement.  After a few months, I could begin to feel the difference.  I was finally beginning to get some solid REM sleep for the first time in more than a year.


So how is your sleeping environment?  Do you keep religiously to a bedtime and rest schedule?  Do your sleep aids work for you?  How would you rate your quality/quantity of REM sleep?  Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.  And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,
Martha


0 Comments

ME/CFS/SEID Feeling Empty – Sleep Deprivation

10/4/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
I haven’t been sleeping well lately.  There’s a lot going on and I’m caught up in too much brain activity.  After several restless nights, of course I began to think about ME/CFS/SEID.
 
I remember when the exhaustion was so pervasive.  I had a mental flashback to the lowest days of my ME/CFS/SEID years when even holding a glass of water was beyond my strength and the brain fog was so thick that I couldn’t remember my thoughts for more then a moment or two.  It was long days of running on total empty.
 
It wasn’t until I understood the role that sleep deprivation was playing in my struggle with ME/CFS/SEID that I began to improve.  We dissected everything about my nights in order to improve my sleep – Comfort, light, sound, timing and medication.  We tweaked and tweaked.  When we finally got it right, I was getting about 6 hours of solid, uninterrupted sleep every night.
 
So yesterday I tweaked a few things in my current sleep environment and I finally slept for 7 hours last night.  Even my active brain couldn’t keep my body from finally getting some needed rest.  This morning I felt a little more energy and a great deal of gratitude that ME/CFS/SEID is a nightmare from my past.

 
What’s the status of your sleep patterns and environment?  What needs tweaking?  Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.  And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.
 
Be Well Again,
Martha

2 Comments

SEID/CFS Sleep Deprivation – Switch to Rejuvenating REM

2/9/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
Everyone experiences periods of lousy sleep.  It can be due to illness, disrupted schedules, emotional distress, worry, etc.  Eventually, if it goes on for too long, we start to feel sleep deprived.  If you’re struggling with SEID/CFS, this can become status quo layered on an illness that already robs you of desperately needed deep sleep.  For SEID/CFS patients, it’s imperative to create optimum opportunity for restful and rejuvenating sleep.

First, be sure that your sleeping environment is perfect for you.  Mattress, pillows and covers should be just right – Goldilocks style.  The degree of darkness vs. light and silence vs. sound need to suit you.  Do you share the bed with a partner or a pet?  Ensure that you have plenty of space and that no one disturbs you.

Second, you need to have a sleeping schedule that is adhered to religiously - no exceptions.  Plan your evenings and days around bed and naptimes.  Everything else should be secondary.  This sounds like it could be impossible but if you plan around it, it’s doable.  And it pays off.

Lastly, once you have a good environment and a regular schedule, all you need is to get to REM.  For me, this was elusive while I was struggling with SEID/CFS until I worked with my doctor to select the right medications for me.  Pain was the main reason that I woke up frequently during the night so I took a combination pain reliever and muscle relaxant half an hour before bedtime.  Then we added a non-addictive sleep aid.  After a few weeks, I was starting to see some improvement.  After a few months, I could begin to feel the difference.  I was finally beginning to get some solid REM sleep for the first time in more than a year.


So how is your sleeping environment?  Do you keep religiously to a bedtime and rest schedule?  Do your sleep aids work for you?  How would you rate your quality/quantity of REM sleep?  Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.  And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,
Martha

2 Comments

SEID/CFS Sleep Deprivation - Switch to Sweet Dreams

8/12/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
I’ve been struggling with a stubborn cough for almost a week.  The worst side effect is that I haven’t been sleeping well due to persistent coughing at night.  After several nights of this, I began to feel the lack of sleep catching up with me and experienced a small taste of the devastating sleep deprivation that I suffered when I had SEID/CFS.

In the beginning of my struggle with SEID/CFS, I didn’t understand the connection between my exhaustion and the quality of my sleep.  My perception was that lack of sleep couldn’t be my problem as I was in bed sleeping for eight or more hours at night and resting/napping a lot of the day.  It took me a while to realize that not all sleep is equal.  Yes, I was in bed sleeping but I was frequently waking up throughout the night because of pain and discomfort.  I wasn’t getting to REM sleep which is where all the rejuvenating sleep happens.

Once I understood this, I focused on creating the optimal environment and schedule for my sleep needs.  And after adding a safe medication, I was finally able to get the deep restful sleep that SEID/CFS requires in order to begin the path back to health.  How do you manage your need for rejuvenating sleep?  What are your strategies for achieving sweet dreams?  Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.  And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha

2 Comments

ME/CFS Feeling Empty – Sleep Deprivation

9/23/2014

6 Comments

 
Picture
I haven’t been sleeping well lately.  There’s a lot going on and I’m caught up in too much brain activity.  And night after restless night, of course I began to think about ME/CFS.

I remember when the exhaustion was so pervasive.  I had a mental flashback to the lowest days of my ME/CFS years when even holding a glass of water was beyond my strength and the brain fog was so thick that I couldn’t remember my thoughts for more then a moment or two.  It used to be long days of running on total empty.

It wasn’t until I understood the role that sleep deprivation was playing in my struggle with ME/CFS that I began to improve.  We dissected everything about my nights in order to improve my sleep – Comfort, light, sound, timing and medication.  We tweaked and tweaked.  When we finally got it right, I was getting about 6 hours of solid, uninterrupted sleep every night.

So yesterday I tweaked a few things in my current sleep environment and I finally slept for 7 hours last night.  Even my active brain couldn’t keep my body from finally getting some needed rest.  This morning I feel a little more energy and a great deal of gratitude that ME/CFS is a nightmare from my past.


What’s the status of your sleep patterns and environment?  What needs tweaking?  Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.  And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha


6 Comments

ME/CFS Sleep Deprivation – Switch to Rejuvenating REM

3/11/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
Everyone experiences periods of lousy sleep.  It can be due to illness, disrupted schedules, emotional distress, worry, etc. Eventually, if it goes on for too long, we start to feel sleep deprived.  If you’re struggling with ME/CFS, this can become status quo layered on an illness that already robs you of desperately
needed deep sleep.  For ME/CFS patients, it’s imperative to create optimum opportunity for restful and rejuvenating sleep.

First, be sure that your sleeping environment is perfect for you.  Mattress, pillows and covers should be just right – Goldilocks style.  The degree of darkness vs. light and silence vs. sound need to suit you.  Do you share the bed with a
partner or a pet?  Ensure that you have plenty of space and that no one disturbs
you.

Second, you need to have a sleeping schedule that is adhered to religiously - no exceptions.  Plan your evenings and days around bed and naptimes. Everything else should be secondary. This sounds like it could be impossible but if you plan around it, it’s doable.  And it pays off.

Lastly, once you have a good environment and a regular schedule, all you need is to get to REM. For me, this was elusive while I was struggling with ME/CFS until I worked with my doctor to select the right medications for me.  Pain was the main reason that I woke up frequently during the night so I took a combination pain reliever and muscle relaxant half an hour before bedtime.  Then we added a non-addictive sleep aid.  After a few weeks, I was starting to see some improvement. After a few months, I could begin to feel the difference.  I was finally beginning to get some solid REM sleep for the first time in more than a year.

So how is your sleeping environment?  Do you keep religiously to a bedtime and rest schedule?  Do your sleep aids work for you? 
How would you rate your quality/quantity of REM sleep?  
Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post
them with your permission. 
You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.  And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha

2 Comments

ME/CFS Sleep Deprivation - Switch to Sweet Dreams

11/13/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
© 2012 TSM
I’ve been struggling with a stubborn cold for almost a week.  The worst side effect is that I haven’t been sleeping well due to congestion and persistent coughing.  After several nights of this, I began to feel the lack of sleep catching up with me and experienced a small taste of the devastating sleep deprivation that I suffered when I had ME/CFS.

In the beginning of my struggle with ME/CFS, I didn’t understand the connection between my exhaustion and the quality of my sleep.  My perception was that lack of sleep couldn’t be my problem as I was in bed sleeping for eight or more hours at night and resting/napping a lot of the day.  It took me a while to realize that not all sleep is equal.  Yes, I was in bed sleeping but I was frequently waking up throughout the night because of pain and discomfort.  I wasn’t getting to REM sleep which is where all the rejuvenating sleep happens.

Once I understood this, I focused on creating the optimal environment and schedule for my sleep needs.  And after adding a safe medication, I was finally able to get the deep restful sleep that ME/CFS requires in order to begin the path back to health.  How do you manage your need for rejuvenating sleep?  What are your strategies for achieving sweet dreams?  Please COMMENT or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha

2 Comments

ME/CFS Feeling Empty – Sleep Depravation

2/1/2012

4 Comments

 
Picture
© 2012 TSM
I haven’t been able to sleep much since last Thursday.  My mother-in-law, who we were very close to, suffered a major stroke and then struggled mightily for a few days before she passed away on Sunday.  With our hearts broken, we’ve been wading through all the ‘must dos’ as we prepare for her funeral on Friday.

And night after sleepless night, of course I began to think about ME/CFS.  Yesterday, the exhaustion was so pervasive that I had a mental flashback to the lowest days of my ME/CFS years when even holding a glass of water was beyond my strength.  I tried to blog yesterday but the brain fog was so thick that I couldn’t remember my thoughts for more then a moment or two.  It was a long day of running on total empty.  And I thought often about those who are struggling with ME/CFS and it strengthened my commitment to be part of the conversation.

Blessedly, I slept for 5 hours last night.  Even my active, mourning brain couldn’t keep my body from finally getting some REM rest.  This morning I feel a little more energy and a great deal of Gratitude that ME/CFS is a nightmare from my past.

Wishing everyone the strength and opportunity to regain their health.  Please COMMENT or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha

4 Comments
    Picture
    Hello,  I'm
    Martha Kilcoyne

    Welcome
     to our Community!

    After struggling with CFS for four years I am fortunate now to be fully well and making choices about how I want to live my healthy life.  One choice is to be an active part of the CFS community and to offer one voice from the fully recoverd to the dialogue.  I'm glad you're here!   For more about me, here's my Bio.

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