I have spent several evenings in the recent weeks keeping my beloved company while he has to do an all nigher for work.
It's far from ideal but He is always there to support me and helps in every way. DD likes his sleep and when he is tired he finds it hard to battle on. So, I decided that the least I can do is help him with the battle.
The problem is, my already precarious sleep patter is now all gone to hell again.
Twice in the last week I didn't sleep at all.
Being aware of my tossing and turning, not mention the huffing and puffing turning over in bed creates due to back issues, I eventually got up and did a few chores.
Last night I decided to combat this with a dose of over the counter sleep aid. It did nothing.
After four hours I tried a second dose. Still had trouble getting off. Around 3.30 to 4 am I finally fell asleep.
Then I woke up at 6, then 7, then 8, then 8.30 then 10.30 and got up around midday.
Being tired is making me a grumpy bunny.
I will try to get a better night tonight (as I always do) I will dig the valarian out and so on.
Here's hoping
H x
Showing posts with label Sleep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sleep. Show all posts
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Feeling flat.
It's days like this I really realise I have a chronic syndrome and it ain't easy. I'm not one to want to moan to everyone and feel the power of positive thinking goes a long way.
Well, today I am moaning.
For those of you who read this blog (whoever you are) I hope you find it a positive and informative place. I am more than happy to wax lyrical for hour upon hour about the benefits of being synthetic drug free. I am happy to count my blessings and keep a silver lining on my world.
However, that would not be a realistic picture of fibromyalgia. There are good days and staying the course with positive vibes is essential.
But, today I hurt. I have had a few weeks of differing stressful times. Just the basic raising of two pre teens can stir up enough emotion and exhaustion for any parent. There is the world of chasing them to do homework, raising them to have respect for their environment and the people in it and of course just making sure they pick up a bar of soap once in a while.
On top of the normal stresses I have also had the worst cold I have had in some time. I still have horrible blocked sinuses that are giving me a headache.
Then there is the world of useless solicitors. Making a reasonable simple procedure (that could have taken six weeks but has taken three years) into a minefield of recrimination and emotional turmoil.
I just want to curl up and hide from the world. I don't want to socialise, I don't want to do anything. I can hardly keep my eyes open to read a book.
My fingers ache and feel like they are the size of sausages. I have shooting pains in my thighs. My joints burn and I just want it to stop.
ho hum.
Time to paint a smile on my face and go to the shop. Then make dinner for my family.
When can I go to bed?
Thursday, 17 November 2011
one step forward, two steps back.
 |
| harumph! |
Unfortunately, due to excessive weight and a deteriorated sacroiliac joint my back had other ideas. Even walking up and down the stairs today has been agony. So I meandered back to the comfort of my supporting pillow mountain with a book. I awoke a couple of hours later, specs on the end of my nose and book in my lap. Ever U2 on the ipod didn't keep be awake.
I know I just have to wait it out for the anti d's to leave my system but I felt I was getting somewhere yesterday. Today I am grumpy and fed up! This could be constant pain, poor sleep, pmt, or frustration at not being able to move forward with my retraining. All in all I'm possibly not the happiest of bunnies today
So today I am grumpy, shaky, tired, spotty, hurting, dizzy, have pins and needles in my hands and feet,
and feeling sick!
God damn you fibro!
Friday, 11 November 2011
Rip Van Winkle
To aid the insomnia I thought it would be a good idea to try to reset my body clock with Nytol. Not a bad decision as I'm aching less and have caught up on some sleep. Unfortunately I don't think catching up on sleep at the rate of 14-16 hrs a night is idea. Yesterday I slept until 2pm. If that wasn't bad enough I halved the dose yet still slept a similar amount today. Where is my life going? I don't want a life of dreams and snoring. I want a normal sleep pattern.
Is that too much to ask?
I have my Ma and Pa visiting tomorrow and am growing concerned I may end up face down, snoring in my lunch.
I dearly hope I'm not going to wake up one morning and find that I've slept for 20 years and missed my children growing up or DD has moved on :0
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Things that go bump in the night
and drip, drip, drip; meow; scratch scratch scratch; claw, claw, claw.
When one has a raging bout of insomnia even the most peaceful and restful place in the world can seem like the noisiest.
I am currently having a foul dose of insomnia. My body clock is kaput and I am exhausted.
My dear DD is a nocturnal rambler. This is actually not a problem and rather amusing. I do my best to remember all his quips about expendable legs and dreams about cat food for both of out amusement.
The problem is every little noise through the rest of the night. I have a beautiful pooch who snores like a warthog no to mention scratches in the middle of the night. And three cats. Slinky is a right obstreperous madam who has taken to knocking things off if they get in her way. Even at 3am! Harry is vocal at a variety of silly times and likes to announce when he is entering a room. And then Buffy who has taken to clawing the carpet to get attention. This works as she knows we will get up to stop her causing pounds worth of damage.
Then there is the condensation and.or guttering dripping in the rain. Drip, drip, drip. There is the flash of the carbon monoxide monitor that lights the room like a solar flair. The blinding glow of the clock and the sound of my own breathing.
Let's not forgo the sleep depriving agony. When asked how I feel I only ever tell DD the truth. But for you dear reader, here goes. Imagine you have just run the London marathon. With ten pond weights on each limb. Been hit by a buss on the way around and had someone pour acid into your muscles. Then you take a hot knife and slip it between your joints and prise them apart. Add in an excruciating headache and an inability to make your back work and bingo you are half way there.
Is it any wonder I can't sleep?
Don't get me wrong. It isn't always like this. Sometimes I feel fine.
One thing I will always try to do, though is stay sunny. I'm probably going to have times when I feel like this throughout my life so what would be the point in being miserable about it? I can't change who I am! I can however, try to control it and live a full and memorable life.
In the mean time. Sleep, perchance to dream!
When one has a raging bout of insomnia even the most peaceful and restful place in the world can seem like the noisiest.
I am currently having a foul dose of insomnia. My body clock is kaput and I am exhausted.
My dear DD is a nocturnal rambler. This is actually not a problem and rather amusing. I do my best to remember all his quips about expendable legs and dreams about cat food for both of out amusement.
The problem is every little noise through the rest of the night. I have a beautiful pooch who snores like a warthog no to mention scratches in the middle of the night. And three cats. Slinky is a right obstreperous madam who has taken to knocking things off if they get in her way. Even at 3am! Harry is vocal at a variety of silly times and likes to announce when he is entering a room. And then Buffy who has taken to clawing the carpet to get attention. This works as she knows we will get up to stop her causing pounds worth of damage.
Then there is the condensation and.or guttering dripping in the rain. Drip, drip, drip. There is the flash of the carbon monoxide monitor that lights the room like a solar flair. The blinding glow of the clock and the sound of my own breathing.
Let's not forgo the sleep depriving agony. When asked how I feel I only ever tell DD the truth. But for you dear reader, here goes. Imagine you have just run the London marathon. With ten pond weights on each limb. Been hit by a buss on the way around and had someone pour acid into your muscles. Then you take a hot knife and slip it between your joints and prise them apart. Add in an excruciating headache and an inability to make your back work and bingo you are half way there.
Is it any wonder I can't sleep?
Don't get me wrong. It isn't always like this. Sometimes I feel fine.
One thing I will always try to do, though is stay sunny. I'm probably going to have times when I feel like this throughout my life so what would be the point in being miserable about it? I can't change who I am! I can however, try to control it and live a full and memorable life.
In the mean time. Sleep, perchance to dream!
Valerian in the treatment of insomnia
Valerian in the treatment of insomnia
Kingdom: Plantae
Family: Valerianaceae
Genus: Valeriana
Species: Valeriana officinalis
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century.
Native to Europe and parts of Asia. Other names used for this plant include garden valerian , garden heliotrope (although not related to Heliotropium) and all-heal. The garden flower red valerian is also sometimes referred to as "valerian", but is a different species from the same family and not very closely related.
Actions
Uses
Insomnia
Valerian is a useful remedy against insomnia, whether caused by anxiety or overexertion and excitement. Valerian has an effect that is calming but doesn't cause sleepiness the following day. When used as a sleeping aid, valerian appears to be most effective on users who have difficulty falling asleep, however valerian has been shown to have positive results on users who wake up during the night. Valerian often seems only to work when taken over longer periods (several weeks), though many users find that it takes effect immediately.
Effective relaxant
Valerian relaxes overly contracted muscles, and is helpful in shoulder and neck tension, asthma, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle spasms and menstrual pain.
High blood pressure
Valerian is used alongside other herbs in remedies for high blood pressure caused by stress and anxiety.
Large doses may result in stomach ache, apathy, and a feeling of mental dullness or mild depression. Because of the herb's tranquillizer properties, it may cause dizziness or drowsiness, effects that should be considered before driving or operating heavy or hazardous equipment. In some individuals, valerian can cause stomach ache, anxiety, and night terrors.
Though some people like the earthy scent, many others find it unpleasant, even comparing the odour to that of unwashed feet. In rare cases, valerian may cause an allergic reaction, typically as a skin rash, hives, or difficulty breathing.
Because the compounds in valerian produce central nervous system depression, they should not be used with other depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or opiates. Long-term use in a male has also been associated with benzodiazepine-like withdrawal symptoms, resulting in cardiac complications and delirium.
The very limited animal and human data do not allow a conclusion as to the safety of valerian during pregnancy. Moreover, as a natural, unregulated product, the concentration, contents, and presence of contaminants in valerian preparations cannot be easily determined. Because of this uncertainty and the potential for cytotoxicity in the foetus and hepatotoxicity in the mother, the product should be avoided during pregnancy. The risk to a foetus from short-term or inadvertent use during any part of gestation, however, is probably low, if it exists at all.
Doseage
powder/capsules
For insomnia take 1-2, 500mg at night
Kingdom: Plantae
Family: Valerianaceae
Genus: Valeriana
Species: Valeriana officinalis
Native to Europe and parts of Asia. Other names used for this plant include garden valerian , garden heliotrope (although not related to Heliotropium) and all-heal. The garden flower red valerian is also sometimes referred to as "valerian", but is a different species from the same family and not very closely related.
Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Know to Dioscorides in the 1st century AD. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed it as a remedy for insomnia. In medieval Sweden, it was sometimes placed in the wedding clothes of the groom to ward off the "envy" of the elves. Valerian can also be consumed as a kind of tea.
The plant is grown from seed in spring and the root and rhizome of 2-year-old plants are unearthed in the autumn for pharmacological use.Actions
Sedative
Relaxant
Relieves muscle spasms
Relieves anxiety
Lowers blood pressure
In ayurveda, valerian is considered to work on the nervous, digestive, and respiratory systems as a stimulant, antispasmodic, stomachic, sedative, analeptic, carminative, and nervine.Insomnia
Valerian is a useful remedy against insomnia, whether caused by anxiety or overexertion and excitement. Valerian has an effect that is calming but doesn't cause sleepiness the following day. When used as a sleeping aid, valerian appears to be most effective on users who have difficulty falling asleep, however valerian has been shown to have positive results on users who wake up during the night. Valerian often seems only to work when taken over longer periods (several weeks), though many users find that it takes effect immediately.
Stress related disorders
Valerian reduces mental over-activity and nervous excitability, helping those who find it hard to relax and “switch-off”. It is beneficial to almost any stress related condition and generally has a calming rather than sedative effect on the mind.
Anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety, including tremors, panic, palpitations and sweating can be relieved with valerian.Effective relaxant
Valerian relaxes overly contracted muscles, and is helpful in shoulder and neck tension, asthma, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle spasms and menstrual pain.
High blood pressure
Valerian is used alongside other herbs in remedies for high blood pressure caused by stress and anxiety.
Contraindication
Though some people like the earthy scent, many others find it unpleasant, even comparing the odour to that of unwashed feet. In rare cases, valerian may cause an allergic reaction, typically as a skin rash, hives, or difficulty breathing.
Because the compounds in valerian produce central nervous system depression, they should not be used with other depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or opiates. Long-term use in a male has also been associated with benzodiazepine-like withdrawal symptoms, resulting in cardiac complications and delirium.
The very limited animal and human data do not allow a conclusion as to the safety of valerian during pregnancy. Moreover, as a natural, unregulated product, the concentration, contents, and presence of contaminants in valerian preparations cannot be easily determined. Because of this uncertainty and the potential for cytotoxicity in the foetus and hepatotoxicity in the mother, the product should be avoided during pregnancy. The risk to a foetus from short-term or inadvertent use during any part of gestation, however, is probably low, if it exists at all.
Doseage
powder/capsules
For insomnia take 1-2, 500mg at night
or
Tincture
20 drops in water.
Decoction
take 25-100 ml 20 mins before sleep.
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