Re: / Sharry Strange sleep patern

November 12, 2003

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 10 years ago, and have taken Tryptophan

ever since. That worked fine until this spring, when the doctor put me on the

morphine, as a last resort for the hip pain. Now even though I've been off the

morphine for 7 months, sleep is an elusive commodity....

Sharry

/ Sharry Strange sleep patern

Sharry / ,

l began to experience what you describe 12 years after l had

bilateral inginal hernia surgeries and the quality of my sleep has

been a ninghtmare eversince. l had not experience any trouble for

sleeping before. l tried so many things without any lasting relief. l

was just about to become crazy. lt took three months and many doctors

and lt was finally diagnosed that l suffer fibromyalgia. the

diagnosis was confirmed by a rhumatologist afterward. Fibromyalgia is

not a desease as such, but a symdrom of symtoms among which bad

quality of sleep over a period of three months is one. l have been on

non adictive medication ever since. l do not think it would not be

wise that l try to explain the symtoms because l do not want to

misinform you. Infos should easily accssible on internet. l thought

that you and others would appreciate to know that fibromyalgia can

manifest itself after a surgery as it happened to me.

Sincerely l hope it is not the case.

c+ 8/9/2003

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > ive never heard of anyone being prescribed

oxycontin

> > > > > > after this type of surgery . hydrocodone ( vicodin )

> > > > > > percacet ( sp )are pretty common

> > > > > >

> > > > > > where did you have your surgery ??

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > In Baltimore with Dr Mont. Many of the people were

given

> it.

> > I'd

> > > > hear

> > > > > the doctors and nurses talking to the patients about it.

> > > > >

> > > > > Tom in S F

> > > > > ///////

> > >

November 12, 2003

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > ive never heard of anyone being prescribed

> oxycontin

> > > > > > > after this type of surgery . hydrocodone (

vicodin )

> > > > > > > percacet ( sp )are pretty common

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > where did you have your surgery ??

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > In Baltimore with Dr Mont. Many of the people were

> given

> > it.

> > > I'd

> > > > > hear

> > > > > > the doctors and nurses talking to the patients

about it.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Tom in S F

> > > > > > ///////

> > > >

November 12, 2003

Sharry,

l understand that you are having a difficult time sleeping.

Trytophan presents risks of dependance and toxicity similar to

barbiturics. ldeally Trytophan should be taken for few weeks. But as

your are bibromyalgic you have no choice to take med that works for

your condition.

Sleeping pills have never worked for me more than a week or

two. l take flexeril and elavil, the standard meds for fibromyalgia,

for over 12 years. lt does not work good but l have to add something

else ocasionly. l cannot complain, l was very active till my doctor

stoped me last year. Maybe these meds are suited for you too.

l was afraid to have to add morphine to my cocktail for the

surgery. l worked at night in paliative cares and saw how our

elderlies slept very litle. lt turned out that l took morphine for a

few nights only.

Also my recovery is surprising. l have no pain from the

surgery after i'm up for 10 minutes. l do my physio at work. This is

a huge privilege. l do two hours in the morning and the same in the

afternoon, and l devote 2 hours after supper. l also work very hard

to strenghten my old hip. l even lost 12 pounds since the surgery. l

was asked to stop to use the cane for walks shorter than 10 minutes.

If l'm to tired, l use the cane. l still have a very little limp.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > ive never heard of anyone being prescribed

> oxycontin

> > > > > > > after this type of surgery . hydrocodone (

vicodin )

> > > > > > > percacet ( sp )are pretty common

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > where did you have your surgery ??

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > In Baltimore with Dr Mont. Many of the people were

> given

> > it.

> > > I'd

> > > > > hear

> > > > > > the doctors and nurses talking to the patients

about it.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Tom in S F

> > > > > > ///////

> > > >

November 12, 2003

Sharry,

l understand that you are having a difficult time sleeping.

Trytophan presents risks of dependance and toxicity similar to

barbiturics. ldeally Trytophan should be taken for few weeks. But as

your are bibromyalgic you have no choice to take med that works for

your condition.

Sleeping pills have never worked for me more than a week or

two. l take flexeril and elavil, the standard meds for fibromyalgia,

for over 12 years. lt does not work good but l have to add something

else ocasionly. l cannot complain, l was very active till my doctor

stoped me last year. Maybe these meds are suited for you too.

l was afraid to have to add morphine to my cocktail for the

surgery. l worked at night in paliative cares and saw how our

elderlies slept very litle. lt turned out that l took morphine for a

few nights only.

Also my recovery is surprising. l have no pain from the

surgery after i'm up for 10 minutes. l do my physio at work. This is

a huge privilege. l do two hours in the morning and the same in the

afternoon, and l devote 2 hours after supper. l also work very hard

to strenghten my old hip. l even lost 12 pounds since the surgery. l

was asked to stop to use the cane for walks shorter than 10 minutes.

If l'm to tired, l use the cane. l still have a very little limp.

Good luck

c+ 8/9/2003

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > ive never heard of anyone being prescribed

> oxycontin

> > > > > > > after this type of surgery . hydrocodone (

vicodin )

> > > > > > > percacet ( sp )are pretty common

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > where did you have your surgery ??

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > In Baltimore with Dr Mont. Many of the people were

> given

> > it.

> > > I'd

> > > > > hear

> > > > > > the doctors and nurses talking to the patients

about it.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Tom in S F

> > > > > > ///////

> > > >

November 12, 2003

Hi Sharry,

This issue of sleep was one that has bothered me for sometime too...........

It is only after 12 months post op that I started to get any that I class as

meaningful........... Pain from back, newly working muscles in the hip,

anxiety, possums spending the night playing on my roof, the dog barking -

you name it.............. all contributed to nights I often preferred to

forget...... I also just left the TV going as I found it helped distract me

enough to get to sleep.........yes we have some very boring

programs......... and of late I finally got a CD player and set up some

tapes........ which is better than the TV.......no flashing light

changes............and no waking at 3 am when someone lets out a scream on

the TV.............

I have put it all down to the body/brain needing to adjust to another life

in my case and the big struggle with getting everything working

again..............like the brain was in overload and found it hard to relax

on a subconscious level............. I did resort to valium at times but

tried to stay away from that being a regular habit........... Of late I am

getting nights of just laying down and sleeping even with no

painkillers.............. and am feeling somewhat grateful............as you

may well understand......... hopefully you will find that point somewhere in

the future too.

Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02

>

> I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 10 years ago, and have taken

Tryptophan ever since. That worked fine until this spring, when the doctor

put me on the morphine, as a last resort for the hip pain. Now even though

I've been off the morphine for 7 months, sleep is an elusive commodity....

> Sharry

November 13, 2003

Thanks for the feedback, Edith. It is really nice to hear about when others

have had similar problems. I had to chuckle about the image of 'possums on the

roof' - do you live in the country?