Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Discouraged and sleepy

Sorry it has been a while. Very busy at school lots of projects. Last doctor appointment found out my vitamin D and magnesium were low. Started me on vitamins. Felt tons better. Started to fool myself into thinking this was the answer. Wrong! I am flaring again. Probably stress induced but I hate this cycle.

I get to hurting right now it is my shoulders. Then I cannot sleep. Hurt more from no sleep. Then cannot sleep even more. So often I think I would be better if I could just sleep.

My mom wants me to try a pain pill just at night when I am having a bad flare. Just to break this loop. What do you all think about that. I am not sure.

I hear you. I know that cycle well.

Everything is a personal choice, but I make sleep my highest priority. Like the song says, "Whatever gets you through the night, it's all right, it's all right."

I avoid pain medications as much as possible, but not sleeping due to pain is no good for me. I've also learned to take my probiotic at bedtime. It seems to actually help my sleep and as most of the important digestive functions happen during sleep (another reason to make it a top priority,) taking the probi at night makes sense.

Adhesive capsulitis?

I don't take pain medication per se, however, the muscle relaxant zanaflex (i've heard others say similar things about skelaxan) is really really good for bedtime. It lowers my BP after about an hour and makes me really drowsy. Lasts in the blood stream for 6 hours so I don't wake groggy.

I also will take a hot bath or shower just before bed, that helps me sleep.

When things are really bad, I'll take another bath or shower if I wake ½ way through the night.

I'll also sleep with ice or a heating pad or heated mattress pad if I need to. Be careful with the heat, it can cause more inflammation.

Little things can be really helpful.

First off I'd make sure that your rheumie knows how you are feeling, as it sounds like maybe your treatment isn't working as well as it could. Also, if you are prescribed NSAIDs but have only been taking them "for pain", maybe you could take them regularly "for inflammation" until things calm down again. Single doses of NSAIDs aren't likely to do a lot, but you may find a couple of weeks on them does do something to break the cycle.

Katy,

You sound very discouraged and it's a viscous cycle of pain and no sleep, heavy fatigue through the day and it just goes round and round. You need to first break the cycle of pain. Take that pain pill and call your Dr. on Monday and he may put you on a quick Medrol pack to get over your flare if it has been going on for some time and this should pull you out of the cycle. Sorry your feeling discouraged. It can be very discouraging but make sure your Dr. knows as soon as possible.

Took my last final today. Looking forward to a lazy summer. All I am going to do is nanny two days a week. The girls are 10 year old twins and sweet so this is easy.

I want to also build up my exercise and swimming routine. Went to pool for first time in a few weeks and shoulder really loosened up.

So excited.

One of my professers put me in for a scholarship. She was impressed because I never missed one day of class. She check all my education classes and found this to be true. I wanted to tell her that was a big deal with AS it is hard to get moving some days. But I didn't because no one knows at school. It was nice to be recognized. I am proud of never missing a day in any class.

Off to bed maybe I will finally sleep.