Sleep and CFS - Chronic Fatigue Message Board

mletters · 03-07-2005, 09:23 AM

Hi,

I have been dx as having ME/FMS/CFS by a Rheumo and Clinical Immunologist.

I don't have any problems falling asleep at night but am sick of waking up in the middle of the night (sometimes with memories of vivid dreams/nightmares), BUT the strangest thing of all is that I ALWAYS wake up around 06:00 EVERY day! I also used to be able to nap for 20-30 minutes during the day when needed. Now I cant even do that. The only time I sleep is late at night.

THe strangest feeling is when I am jolted out of sleep at 06:00, I lay for around 10-20 minutes and then feel kind of tired again, but this time when I try to sleep from 06:30 until 08:30 (time to get up for work) I don't seem to be awake or asleep. I will drop off for maybe one hour but it feels like I've been asleep for hours - I also have the strangest nonsens thoughts running through my head (I am thinking of having a sleep study done to find out why I am being jolted out of sleep every day at 06:00).

Im just not sure what is causing this. Recently I have had a lot of upper back and neck pain (and headaches) in the morning. Also, whenever I wake up my fingers always seem to be numb. I am aware that I tend to curl up alot more when I sleep now with my hands facing inward. This worries me!.

I tought it was the way I was sleeping so I bought a cervical neck pillow. Even that doesn't seem to work. I was so concerned at the neck pain that I had a Cervical Spine MRI which just came back with a slight loss of disc height at C5-C6 and the conclusion was 'a normal MRI with degeneration comparable with that of other people seen of my age!'.

At the start of all this, I couldn't get to sleep or stay asleep. Now it's just that latter that bothers me.

I have tried EVERYTHING from sleep hygene, sleeping tablets, warm baths, meditation, melatonin, herbal. NOTHING seems to keep me asleep. I was even prescribed AMYTRIPTILINE (10mg) and tried this fot a few weeks with no luck

Thankyou for any advice.

P.S I am also intolerent to any antidepressants. I've been proscribed SSRI's and Tricyclic. The only ones I didn't have a bad reaction too was Dothiepin. But even then, it didn't work either way! When I tried Venlafaxine, Prozac and Mirtazapine (All either SSRI's or SNRI's) I had VERY servere reactions after just taking one tablet!. Why SSRI's? but sort of ok with tryciclics? Can anyone with advice please help?

Mike.

thomas3000 · 03-07-2005, 10:05 AM

Mike,

I urge you to read the thread on drug resistant depression....If you have any questions, just ask...It's in the depression category..

Chris1968 · 03-08-2005, 04:22 AM

Hi Mike,

I havnt really any advice, but just wanted to say sorry you are still having so many problems especially with sleeping. I wake up so many times in the night from vivid dreams and nightmares but do generally get back to sleep after a while.

I have my appointment with Dr Peatfield on Sunday regarding adrenal fatigue - will let you know how it goes.

Take care

Chris x

peregrine · 03-08-2005, 08:19 AM

[QUOTE=mletters]Hi,

I don't have any problems falling asleep at night but am sick of waking up in the middle of the night (sometimes with memories of vivid dreams/nightmares), BUT the strangest thing of all is that I ALWAYS wake up around 06:00 EVERY day! I also used to be able to nap for 20-30 minutes during the day when needed. Now I cant even do that. The only time I sleep is late at night.
OTE]

In Chinese medicine attention is paid to the time of day symptoms occur, which would include sleep patterns, i.e. exactly when you awaken during the night. 6:00 AM is associated with the large intestine. Any problems in that area i.e. constipation,diarrhea? This is indicative of constipation or diarrhea on more than the physical level as well. Another indication of an imbalance in the large intestine meridian would be arm, shoulder, neck pain as the meridian for the LI runs along those areas.

mletters · 03-09-2005, 09:04 AM

Hi Peregrine,

I don't have any specific IBS problems at the moment. I do need to go to the toilet most mornings when I wake up at 6am though.

The one worrying symptom is that I cannot seem to talk to anyone as when I make eye contact I panic. Also, when I am faced with any kind of stress or am nervous I feel jumpy, I get a face fullness feeling (pressure behind the eyes and forehead, neck and jaw goes stiff) and I feel stupid and can't comprehend what people are saying to me.

I also have a host of other symptoms which are :

Waking up 06:00 every morning with broken sleep (neigher awake/asleep from 6am - strange thoughts run through mind automatically)
Vivid dreams and nightmares every night
Random Episodic Anxiety
Random Episodic Panic Attacks
Random Episodic Depression
Crying outbusts for no reason
Extremely sore neck and shoulders (worse when in bed)
Sore Leg calf muscles and knee cap joints (worse at rest)
Burning Eyes but no redness
Puffy Eyes
Thick bushy eyebrows
Hoarse voice (loss of lower ranges)
Discolored phlegm (sputum) - worse when lying horizontal
Tinnitus
Dizziness
Carpal Tunnel (mild)
Clumsiness
Short term memory loss
TMJ
Face fullness episodic jaw pressure
Forehead pressure
Random short headaches
Neck pain/forehead pressure worse when lying down with pressure on back of head.
Intolerence to Antidepressants of SSRI kind (can tolorate Tricyclics but dont do anything)
Nasal openings swell and extremely painfull to touch for days (one sided)
Post nasal drip
Periodic Belching
Periodic Excessive Flatulance
Cant walk into large buildings (mall's, supermarkets etc)
Cant tolerate excessive loud noise
Muscle twitching
Strange drugged feeling which comes and goes throughout the day

I'm so fed up of feeling like this but find doctors either think i'm a hypochondriac or just depressed!!! I know otherwise. I know how I used to be before all of this started. If I am depressed it is only since all of this started.

Take care,

Mike.