Tag Archives: sleep

by

LDN Day 10…grasping at straws??

Yesterday, I tried to ever so gently push myself. I went to my sister’s place to visit her puppy, but was very careful about minimal exertion. My friend came to meet me there for a coffee and we had a mellow chat and I got to visit with her baby (a sweet, innocent, happy, smiley, perfect-skinned, perfect-immune-systemed, beautiful wee cherub, with no phobias, anxiety, depression, fears… I just want to protect her!). Again, minimal exertion with the visit. I came home, meditated/drifted off to sleep for 45 minutes, then forced myself to the dog park. I was careful again ~ walked slowly, frequent rest breaks. When I got home, I was achy and my muscles were buzzing, but I wasn’t a drooling, slurring puddle on the couch, so that’s good! I even threw together some soup. I sat in the hot tub and used my TENS unit (not at the same time). I had a bad sore throat and a headache in the evening and I felt like I was getting a cold (shocker). My left ear was bugging me and my nose was alternating between stuffy and runny. The nausea and pressure from constipation were causing problems (see my “Diet Day 3” post), but, I was really hoping I would sleep long and hard. No such luck. 11 hours in bed produced 7 hours of sleep. I was waking constantly, uncomfortable, in pain. Tonight, I might try to take a painkiller closer to bed time.

The best BEST BEST news of the last few nights? No drenching, shaky, feverish, malarial night sweats! If I’m feeling at all stronger, it’s because of no night sweats and a bit more sleep. I don’t think it’s the LDN causing the change ~ the night sweats had eased up the week before I started LDN. As far as I can tell, LDN = weight gain + trouble sleeping. And that’s about it.

This morning, I am not as muscle fatigued as I thought I would be. “Fatigued” is a useless word to describe it. When I crash, I have zero muscle strength and extreme muscle pain. It feels like all of my muscles have been pumped full of lead to the point of bursting. They ache, they’re difficult to move, when I do move, they may pull/sprain without warning. This is from the base of my skull to my feet. Awful. I’m feeling it today, but not to the normal degree after an active day like yesterday. I took some Miralax today. I’ve never taken it before, so I only took a half dose, but I’m hoping for some help. My IBS problems have a tendency to cause vasovagal syncope. I’ve collapsed with very low blood pressure and pulse and wound up in the emergency room five times. I’m praying there will be no cramping or pressure from the Miralax. My bff says it’s gentle ~ she takes it daily.

I’ll give you an update later.

by

LDN Day 9… Just need the GOOD to kick in.

Last night, I got 8 hours sleep, thank goodness. But, I was in bed for 11 hours to achieve that because I wake up constantly throughout the night. I thrash about, grind my teeth, tense all my muscles, tweak my neck etc. But, I am thrilled with 8 hours, so I’m not complaining.

This morning things are much the same as every morning: swollen eyes, sore hands, stiff, immobile muscles. I am still having an acne breakout and constipation, which is getting frustrating.

And, just my luck: one of the stool sample vials was compromised (looked like the formaldehyde had leaked in transit), so I have to do the whole thing all over again. They’re sending me a new kit. Aahh!

Today I have two things on my calendar: going to visit my sister’s puppy and coffee with a friend. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to move tomorrow, so this will be a test to see if the LDN is doing anything for my stamina or muscle strength at all. Unfortunately, I highly doubt it. I feel no different. I seem to be the only story on the internet about LDN that does not proclaim it to be a miracle cure. Typical with my body. I want my miracle cure, dammit!

by

LDN Day 8: O Frabjous Day!

You won’t believe it. I don’t believe it! I got 9 1/2 hours sleep. I have been wearing my Zeo headband for years ~ long before I got sick ~ and that is the longest sleep time it has ever recorded. A lifetime record! So, yesterday, this is what I did that was different than most days: I took a painkiller (we’re talking only 500mg of acetaminophen; remember, I hate drugs), I took my nasal spray right before bed, I didn’t eat very much at night, I pushed myself to go to the dog park (it was awful, I made my husband go with me and I spent the whole time crying. It just felt like I had major flu and someone had forced me to walk around a dusty, loud, hot, dirty park), I pushed myself to do some gentle stretches right before bed, and I used a different pillow. I usually use an orthopedic pillow with a lump to support my neck, but last night I wound up using a regular $5 fluffy one that I had been using between my knees. Hhmm. Maybe I was simply so exhausted, there was no other option but to sleep.

I already feel different this morning, but I think it’s just in attitude. My eyes and hands are still swollen, my muscles are still sore and my head still hurts, but I am elated that I got so much sleep, so nothing can bring me down.

The LDN does seem to be constipating me and I still have not noticed any good repercussions from taking it ~ only bad. But, I’m sticking with it. Part of me thinks, if I could get 9 hours sleep every night for a month ~ or 6 months! ~ I would be better. Or, at least, it might give me the mental strength to be positive and hopeful.

by

LDN Day 7…the insomnia pill.

Low-dose naltrexone is the opposite of a sleeping pill. I have been a bad sleeper my whole life, but I have never experienced anything like this. In the past, when I had insomnia it was because my mind was racing, even though I was exhausted. This last week, my mind isn’t racing, I am just wide awake. Wide awake with my eyes closed. Mind alert and blank. Eyes wide shut.

Take a look at the Zeo graph ~ there should be more black than blue. There should be fewer graph lines showing because you are asleep. You want empty space, not these huge blocks of blue that show you were awake (the top line = “W” for “wake”). I was in bed from 10pm until 9am. I didn’t sleep. Even when I was asleep, I wasn’t really asleep. Each of those graph lines represents 5 minutes. I would be in deep sleep for 5 minutes and then awake again.

Also, that bright light in my eyes was a constant last night. I am lying in a dark room with my eyes closed, but it feels like someone is shining a spotlight on my face. I would open and close my eyes and what I saw with my eyes opened was darker than what I saw with my eyes closed. How does that happen??

So, needless to say, I am tired today. My eyes are very swollen, my hands hurt. My back and shoulder muscles feel a little better than yesterday and much better than the day before, but I have a headache. I even had a massage yesterday and I fell asleep during my daily meditation ~ you would think I would be so relaxed for bedtime.

My chest was still tight last night and, for the first time, I got some nausea right before bed. Other than that, I can’t tell that LDN has done anything. I will stick with it, but I better start sleeping more or feeling better during the day ~ either one will do.

by

LDN Day 6…a better night.

Last night, I slept better than I have in the past 5 nights. That doesn’t mean I slept well, but I slept better. I think I might have actually hit 8 hours. Zeo says 6 hours and 50 minutes but it looks like the headband fell off or lost contact with my forehead for over an hour. I still had crazy dreams (about saving my dogs from danger. I always have this dream. What do parents of human children do? I think I would never stop dreaming about keeping them safe). I also woke up with no blood in my arms multiple times and pain in my neck, as usual, but what was different from the other nights? Well, yesterday, I got a bit of exercise at the park (walking slowly, but something), I used arnica and took a painkiller for the muscle pain, I took my antihistamine nasal spray twice, I used my neck stretcher thingy (like a mini-rack for your spine), I did mild leg and arm stretches, I didn’t eat last night after 5 or 6pm, and I did a little mental preparation before I went to sleep, telling myself that everything was great and the diet would be exciting and tomorrow I would have energy and, oh, I LOVE bed! (lie ~ this year, bed has become all things bad) Also, the temperature dipped last night and my room was much colder than usual (which is typically not a good thing for me because I get chilled and my head and ears get cold. Back in January, when this sickness started in earnest, I would wear a woolly cap to bed every night, as well as have the electric heater on, as well as cuddle a hot water bottle. I’m going to invest in an electric blanket this winter). I don’t know what, if anything, helped me get more sleep, but I want to track it. I know if I just popped a bigger, better painkiller and a muscle relaxer, I would sleep much better, but I still refuse. It freaks me out. If I stop the LDN, maybe I will try other options, but, for now, one drug at a time, sweet jesus.

Today, I am stiff and achy, of course. My eyes are VERY swollen. I am going to chalk that up to sleeping longer and maybe a bit deeper and pretend it is a good thing. My hands still hurt and are swollen and the left thumb is still one raw nerve. Oh, I keep forgetting to tell you about this one crazy side effect I’ve been having at night since starting the LDN. I wake up in the night from a light in my eyes, but, when I open them, the room is black. This keeps happening! From behind closed eyes, I think someone has opened the blind or something, but when I come fully awake and open my eyes: darkness. Bizarre. Also, LDN seems to be affecting my skin ~ I have a bit of a break out on my chest (never happens) and face.

Yesterday, I did make it to the dog park, but not the pharmacy or the grocery store. I was just so wasted and the weather was crappy. So, I haven’t started the diet or the supplements yet. I’m having my tea with milk and splenda and savouring every sip. The Good Doctor dropped another bombshell about my diet late last night via email: NO BEANS. That means NO PEANUT BUTTER, NO HUMMUS. That kills me. Hummus can replace so much ~ eat it with veg to feel more full, put in on sandwiches (or, in my case, lettuce wraps. Yum), baked hummus chicken is good… But peanut butter I will truly mourn. Peanuts are my go-to food. She also said it is essential to have no refined sugar. That made me want to punch her in the face. If you ever read this, Good Doctor, I don’t really mean that. I don’t want to hurt you, you are my only hope, but I am just so overwhelmed by what I have to do, what I can’t do, how NOT easy eating is going to be.

I’ll start the diet tomorrow. I promise. I’ll go shopping today. I’ll have to make homemade soups. Lots of homemade soups, salads, nuts for snacks and … what about breakfast? I still feel discouraged about breakfast. I’ll have to develop a liking for the fake yogurts made with soy or coconut milk. I could add fruit and crumbled Lara Bar and pretend it’s granola or muesli. Then, to stop my blood sugar dropping, eat a bunch of almonds. This is going to fun. You are going to feel great.

Have I mentioned my blood sugar? If I have, forgive me ~ no memory. I have reactive hypoglycemia. I can fast for 10 hours and my sugar is fine, but, as soon as I eat breakfast, I have to watch out. An hour or two later (depending on what I had to eat), my BS plummets. I usually catch it in the 60s and 70s, once I start to feel the shakes. Last week, it was 58. The week before it was 43. That’s low. Way too low. It had an effect on my whole day. So, now I am trying to be very mindful of what I eat in the mornings.