8 replies to this topic

[Hunter88]

Over the last few weeks my sleep habits have changed a lot. I've always been a person who loved sleep and a very sound sleeper, people would joke that the ceiling could fall in and I'd remain sleeping. I haven't been able to sleep more them 3 or 4 hours a night over the last few weeks, I've also become a light sleeper. It's not effecting me a lot, still able to get through the day issue free. It just seems odd to me that my sleep habits made such a big change with no reason that I can think of. Is this something others have went through after a sci? If so did it take time before it happened to you after your injury, mine is over a year ago now.

[mellowgator]

i wake up every few hours because i need to cath. i haven't slept thru the night since i've been injured.



mellowgator

[KayDub]

I only got out of the hospital in June and I've been having a lot of sleeping problems too. It's gotten to the point where I pass out in most of my classes, which is really problematic. I've become more of an insomniac, but then when I finally fall asleep I can't wake up in the morning. In the past I could function off a lot less sleep. I'm on a fair deal of medications (my paralysis isn't caused by an SCI, rather a combination of diseases and infections) and that could have something to do with it. I'm even on pretty heavy painkillers (30 mg of oxycodone every 8 hours and 20 mg of methadone every 12 hours) and I still can't get to sleep. I was also having horrendous nightmares, really vivid. I'd even have to wake up and turn the light on and try to read a book because as soon as I closed my eyes they'd come back. I stopped taking one of my meds (Dilaudid) and they've gone down a bit. My fiance suggested I could be tired because I'm working different parts of my body (arms instead of legs) that I'm not used to. Also just going about a day it a lot more taxing. It's kind of strange how exhaustion like that can sometimes cause sleep problems, you'd think it would make sleep easier. At least that's my experience.

What's begun to help me is keeping a schedule. Even if I sleep like crap, get up at the same time, and if I need to, nap in the afternoon. But not too long or else I feel like crap and can't sleep at night. Also I swim a lot. The days where I'm in the pool and have a really good swim are definitely the days when I sleep better. I think SCI or other paralysis changes people's schedules which affects sleep. When you add physical trauma, meds, etc. that's probably the cause of it. So yeah, a schedule, any sort of exercise (even if it's rolling around outside in your neighbourhood, fresh air is sooooooo good) and then even a nice night schedule (if I'm on my laptop or watching TV until I go to close my eyes I sleep worse than if I drink a cup of tea, read a book, cuddle with my fiance, etc.) Hope these things can help you like they've helped me. They're not cures, but definitely make things a bit better. If it stays that bad, talk to your doctor. I have Ambien for nights where it's really bad, I prefer not to take it but it's good to have just in case. Sweet dreams!

[greybeard]

She'll probably let you sleep for longer now she's pregnant again.

[DannyR]

I haven't been able to sleep well from the beginning. Now 2 1/2 years later still not sleeping. I have ambien but don't like to take it regular. It makes me groggy and strung out. I will take it on occasion when things get to bad. I sleep about 3 maybe 4 hours at a time. It is frustrating!

[pinkcloud]

Hi Hunter, yeap same past history of lurving sleep I do share.

I often say me body parts make me mobility on par with a 110 year old, its well known most older people dont sleep as much, so its premature aging me thinks

Waking up at night for me means one thing....infection. Its a sure sign somethings going on i dont know about.

When i getting a real mad bad night, i wake up from nightmares, normally that i'm in a real dangerous situation and i awake thinking/saying 'oh ###### thank God i awoke, i was dreaming i was being jump started on heart machine revivers shock waves...actually i awake to spasms real big.

I sleep whenever me body decides..i just drop sleep anywhere..even if its in me wheelchair, sleep is not fussy where or when it strikes. Afternoon naps are me saviour. And i make the most of every single secomd i am awake. So i dont feel sad no more..everything takes 100 times longer since me body became 110 years old, so i need them extra hours to get everything done in the day

Edited by pinkcloud, 12 September 2011 - 02:58 AM.

[Niceparalegs]

Mellow: you have to cath at pm? Do u stop drinking a couple hours before?

[Tetracyclone]

 Niceparalegs, on 28 February 2012 - 04:14 PM, said:

Mellow: you have to cath at pm? Do u stop drinking a couple hours before?

I stop drinking 2 hours before bed but still have to cath 3 times before morning.

[Niceparalegs]

Yikes! I'm sorry. I go all pm. I maybe have to cath once.