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Sleep

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 6:12 am
by Polar Bear
Although this is about sleep it is not about rls diffs.

I have been on 50 mg daily predisone for over 3 weeks, hopefully if my next bloods are ok the doc will start to slowly reduce.

However one of the side affects is insomnia..... just the last thing I need, I already have diffs and have been working on around 4 hours (broken) nightly even with using Lunesta (plus the occasional Ambien in the middle of the night, and even also 4 mg diazepam when desperate) none of which gives me a nights sleep, even when rls symptoms are medicated and controlled.

Today it is Saturday 7am. I have been up all of last night, I was up all of Thursday night. The last sleep I had was 2 hours on Wednesday night.

Last night for instance - Floors are washed, breakfast prepared, kitchen spotless, gifts wrapped, dishwasher sorted and 2 loads of laundry done.

I've checked out a special weekend away for hubby and myself, but no point in booking to go away until I am able to find sleep.

I am totally energised..... at the moment I am at the pc and I am also watching Super Nanny USA .... at 7 am ?????? This is not me !!! I don't do daytime/morning tv. Another side affect is excitability and cheeryness....... ..... I have been in such a good mood.

I can feel my body a bit weary and tired but not desperately so, and I'm still on the go.

I do understand that once steroids are reduced these side affects disappear (I assume it is the steroid) but reduction will be long and drawn out.

Has anyone else experienced this.
How long can the body go on without sleep and rest.

Any ideas anyone.

Does the body just keep going until.... wham....a big sleep?

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 6:36 am
by ViewsAskew
Wow, Betty - it sounds a lot like the manic phase in bipolar. I wonder if you researched bipolar if you'd find some of those answers.

I get short periods of being absolutely awake and fired up, but they don't last like yours has. When they are done, I get tired, sleep a bit more than normal, and it's done.

My dearest friend has lupus and was on prednisone for several months. I recall her having difficulty sleeping (she was also going through menopause at the same time) and not sure how much was the prednisone and how much the hormones and hot flashes. But she didn't have the energy you are getting from it.

I hope you get answers. And, you have all my sympathy for having to go through this. It must be a difficult time.

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 7:47 am
by Polar Bear
Thanks Ann.

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 2:21 am
by SquirmingSusan
Wow, I'm glad you feel awake and energized with all of that going on. I also thought of mania when reading your description. You may want to ask your doctor about not being able to sleep. I'm guessing that at some point you will crash and need to catch up a bit.

I have a brother in law who has been in the hospital for 11 days, and just yesterday they diagnosed him with vasculitis and started treating him with IV steroids and some oral chemo drugs. Darned autoimmune conditions :evil:

I do hope you're feeling better overall, and that soon you'll be weaning back off the steroids and able to relax a bit.

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 4:54 am
by Polar Bear
Doc C is my usual GP doc.who treats me and my rls medication etc.

Dr Mis also a doc of the practice. After having seen in middle of the night by emergency doc a dew weeks ago, it was Dr M who picked up the pieces the following morning, got bloods done and started me on steroid and whom I have been attending for management of my condition.

I mention poor sleep to Dr M and he was reluctant to interfere with this med, and suggested I talk to Dr C about it, as he was the original prescriber. I know that Dr C will not be happy about going beyond the 7.5 Zopiclone that I am already on. But of course that would have been pre GCA,

I think I will ask the health centre to have Dr C call me - even if got something of a strenth that I could just take every 3 or 4 night to guarantee some sleep, while steroids are reduced.


\Bonus so far is my aches and pain are non existent, Just no sleep and a slight 'tremor in my hands,, (so Far)
To date I have 3 hours sleep on Wed night, and 1 hour yesterday (Saturday lunchtime.

Last night slept from 3.30 to 5am. - one and a half hours, this took a double dose of zopiclcone and anhour later 2 x zolpidem.

I can still feel the mediction in my system and so its back uo tp bed with fingers crossed. Mabe aother hour ????

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 5:19 am
by ViewsAskew
I sure hope you get some sleep. Ye gads dealing with med side effects is the pits!

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 7:06 am
by Polar Bear
I got -------- 1 and a half hours sleep, then up a wee while and did laundry etc. etc. prepared Sunday lunch......

Then I got another 1.5 hours. sleep..... Up and put on more laundry.

I will now try back to bed again, and read, and see if another wee doze will come. maybe expecting a bit much.

I feel like I've won a prize.
3 hours sleep (in 2 halves),
Mind you, it took a double dose of zoplicone at the start of the night,, and a later double dose of zolpidem at around 3 am - NOT TO BE RECOMMENED.

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:59 am
by badnights
your idea of something stronger to take every 3-4 nights sounds reasonable to me, as long as the problem is temporary. You would need a better solution if it's going to last any amount of time.

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 3:17 pm
by Polar Bear
This particularly severe bout of insomnia would seem to be a side affect of the prednisone. So its sort of temporary/permanent :roll: for as long as I'm on a dose that's high enough to cause the side affect.

At the minute something stronger every 3rd or 4th night would be like winning the lotter.

Thanks all for your support.