Fibromyalgia and Insomnia?

Question

My mother has fibromyalgia and unfortunately I am starting to exhibiting some symptoms. As it progresses, she has not begun to suffer from insomnia, managing only 2 hours of sleep per night and barely functioning at work. Any suggestions to help her sleep? She is adverse to sleep pills.... it's really worrying me because I hate to see her like that and additionally it seems to be a mirror of what I will have to suffer.

Answer 1

I have fibromyalgia and used to suffer from insomnia also.
the doctors had prescribed Amitriptyline, which is a sedating anti depressent specifically used these days for fibro patients with difficulty falling asleep. Unfortunetly, these drugs made me (and many others) feel very zombie like, and "hung over" the next morning. I wouldn't recommend them.

The thing that helps me is simple relaxation and trying NOT to fight it. I find it i lay in bed and try to fall asleep for hours, it won't happen. I just let up, take a warm bath, crawl back in bed, and start to read a book, and before i know it, i'm sleeping.
The other thing that helped me was self hypnosis tapes. I found that my insomnia was really based by being anxious and nervous a lot during the day. My body would be physically exhausted, but my mind would not "turn off" - if this is the case for your mom, I'd recommend hypnosis sessions or cds...soft music, etc.

other things:

don't drink caffiene (chocolate has caffiene, also..)

if you're against medication, but open to natural things- try some chamomile tea, or some natural remedies.

warm baths! they not only help the pain of fibro, but do make you tired.

I sincerely hope your mom feels better and starts sleeping better soon. I relate to what she is going through 100 percent, and i hope this will stop soon and that she will get some sleep.

Answer 2

Could the insomnia be attributed to your Mother's lack of
physical activity during the day?

There are OTC sleep aids, such as Tylenol PM and Simply Sleep.

In any case, your Mother's neurologist or at the very least, PCP could prescribe something low-dose to help. Perhaps even some counseling.

I wish you both peace, dear one.