I often organize my closet when I can’t sleep or creep quietly out to the family room to cuddle up on the couch with my laptop (which I’m doing right now). Since having Fibromyalgia/ ME/CFS, sleepless nights are a common part of life as they change the normal cycles of sleep.
Like a mouse I arose from my bed tonight, careful not to awake my sound to sleep hubby. We have a walk in closet that is off of our bathroom rather than our bedroom. I can turn on the closet light and work quietly without waking him. This week I’m in the midst of Spring Cleaning our closet. I just finished filling a laundry basket with clothes I no longer wear.
Most sleep difficult nights, I’m able to nod off sometime before dusk. When I wake and walk into my closet to dress, I enjoy finding it more organized than when I got into my pjs the night before. I enjoy it most when I forget that I was up working in the night; IT FEELS AS IF I PURPOSELY SET OUT TO SURPRISE MYSELF. (Imagine its similar to how the shoemaker must have felt in the “Elf and the Shoemaker” when on rising he finds the shoes he thought he’d toil over the following day, complete and lined up neatly in pairs.)
What do you do when sleep alludes you?
I am one of those with CFS/ME who has very few nights where I cannot sleep. But on those occasions, I actually try to pray, and practice some deep breathing. When I go through my meditiation cd in my head I often fall back to sleep UNLESS I wake up between 4-6 am. Then I pray, write on the tablet and pen I keep by my bed, OR just toss and turn
I like your ideas better as they are more creative.
Usually I work! Since all my work is online, it’s just easy to kick back in the recliner with the laptop and work till I get sleepy. Sometimes I read if typing is just too clumsy from fatigue.
If I don’t fall asleep within an hour of going to bed, I will get back up and try to read, watch television, pay bills, or I will work on my website. I end up spending more nights on the couch than I do in bed with my husband (unfortunately) because of pain in my legs. I have to move around so much I wake him up if I stay in bed.
Frankly I have trouble staying awake. But I remember a time when I’d wake up a few hours early and have trouble getting back to sleep. So I read. I always keep something on the night stand because sometimes I read before I go to bed.
Lately my wife has been staying up late and crashing after breakfast. She uses coffee to fight the fatigue. But if she drinks it too late in the day, it can keep her up all night.
Sandy, I get a lot of pain in my legs which has become increasingly worse (especially when I’m sitting or lying down). This is an issue I am planning to talk to my CFS doc. about at my next appointment, but hope I can email you and see what you’ve learned about it.
Square Peg Guy, Like you I keep a book or four on my night stand. I always try reading before getting up. Interesting about your wife…seems to be a common theme for those of us with systemic illness…sleepless nights and sleepy mornings!
Since i’ve had Fibromyalgia,,i’ve been struggling with it, i’ve found out other illnessess,you can get from it, like loss of memory,etc.I also have Gastroparesis, which has gone full bloom,My plate is full,and i’m tring to find a blog that i can get updated info on.Is there any and where?It would be greatly appreciated.Thanks cathy at caty007@windstream.net