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ME/CFS Feeling Empty – Sleep Deprivation

9/23/2014

6 Comments

 
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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
Donna
9/23/2014 11:20:02 pm

Yes, sleep continues to be my biggest challenge on the pathway to health. My doctor and I have tried many different combinations to increase the length of my nighttime sleep. The best that I can get is five hours. The reason is that my adrenal function goes sky high at night. My compromise is a few hours of sleep in both the morning and afternoon. It's not ideal; I'm out of synch with society. I must guard my nap time like a sentry to avoid sleep deprivation! :-)

Reply
Martha
9/24/2014 01:04:44 am

When I was finally starting to truly recover from ME/CFS, I had gotten my nightly sleep up to a solid 6 hours AND I was taking two naps a day - two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. I did this for months even after I wasn't feeling very tired. I just kept resting ad nauseam. I hated it but it paid off. Stay with it Donna! Thanks!

Reply
Tim Boland
9/28/2014 10:21:25 am

This was really helpful Martha, to see how you split up your sleep time, still allowing lots of rest at night and day time. by the way, I rested this afternoon quietly and arising felt much better. Do I receive a gold star today? thank you in advance :))

Tim Boland
9/24/2014 12:07:28 pm

That’s excellent Martha that you continue to this day to work with the protocol that you discovered through your struggles with CFS. Your ardent struggle and words remind me that though I have suffered with this illness, as anyone who has it has, your symptoms as far as being too weak to hold a glass of water, reminds me of how far you have traveled. I recall in the early stages being stunned that I felt a little winded walking to the end of the culdesac where I live.

Lately I have been very upset with things I read in the newspaper. I am reading a book by Thich Naht Hahn, the Buddhist teacher. He advises not ‘ingesting toxic things’, those things which leave us feeling sad, anxious or depressed. I decided it is not in my best interest to read or look at those things which bring up those feelings though it is probably not possible to avoid them completely.

The night before last I did not sleep well being preoccupied with a business difficulty and daily news. Last night was much better as I allowed myself time to relax and tried not to take my troubling thoughts to bed with me, and I awoke this morning with far less pain. Sleeping well does make a huge difference for me as well.

Reply
martha
9/24/2014 01:04:11 pm

Smart strategy Tim. Thanks!

Reply
Martha
9/28/2014 10:53:45 am

Tim,
You only get a gold star after you've done it seven days in a row! :)

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    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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