Posted by TENA/ DIAMOND on 12/5/2008, 7:20 pm
Fibromyalgia and Sleep #1
Are you having trouble sleeping because you have fibromyalgia? Most people with fibromyalgia complain of trouble sleeping. No matter how long they sleep, it is rarely restful. Here's some information that can help you get a better night's sleep.
What sleep problems are common with fibromyalgia?
Sleep problems with fibromyalgia include insomnia or difficulty falling asleep as well as frequent awakening in which you become awake enough to remember them the next day. An even more common problem is awakenings that you don't remember but that definitely interrupt your "deep" sleep. Also, other sleep disorders -- such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea -- may be more common in people with fibromyalgia.
People with fibromyalgia talk about waking up day after day feeling exhausted with no energy. Usually, they feel more tired in the morning, and many go back to sleep during the day to ease their fatigue. Also, it's common for people with fibromyalgia to have great difficulty concentrating during the day, a condition called "fibro fog."
Why can't I sleep at night with fibromyalgia?
Some researchers believe it's the constant pain of fibromyalgia that causes sleep interruptions. Others have found evidence that fibromyalgia may be related to an abnormality of deep sleep. Findings have shown abnormal brain waveforms in deep sleep with fibromyalgia patients. These patients tell of feeling "awake" or being in a shallow state of sleep throughout the night, instead of experiencing restful, deep- level sleep.
The problem with achieving only a shallow state of sleep is that, during deep-level sleep, your body repairs and replenishes itself. For example, studies show that people with fibromyalgia have a low level of a hormone called somatostatin. Somatostatin is produced during deep sleep and is vital for maintaining the health of muscle and other soft tissue. If the amount of deep sleep you get is reduced over a long period of time, your body may have less ability to "repair and replenish" energy as well.
What stages of sleep are important in fibromyalgia?
People with fibromyalgia lack the deep, restorative level of sleep, called "non-rapid-eye-movement" (non-REM) sleep. Consequently, patients with fibromyalgia often wake in the morning without feeling fully rested. Some patients wake up with muscle aches or a sensation of muscle fatigue as if they had been "working out" all night.
Is restless legs syndrome related to fibromyalgia?
Restless legs syndrome is a neurologic disorder characterized by an overwhelming urge to move the legs at rest. It's true that restless legs syndrome is more common among those who have fibromyalgia than in those who don't have fibromyalgia.
There is treatment for restless legs syndrome, so talk to your doctor if you have this problem.
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