SLEEP AND FIBROMYALGIA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/20/2005 9:28:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,

garyland@... writes:

> Most patients with fibromyalgia also normally have abnormal sleeping

> patterns. This may add to the feeling of being constantly fatigued.

> You may find that you wake up tired and un-refreshed even though you

> got plenty of sleep

well - isn't that interesting...because the EXACT same thing happens to hypo

folks...

in fact just today, I was commenting to my husband what a blessing it was

after 20 years to once again wake up in the morning and feel like doing

something

right away...because I felt rested and refreshed.

cindi

[Guest guest]

1) Alpha-EEG Anomaly

Most patients with fibromyalgia also normally have abnormal sleeping

patterns. This may add to the feeling of being constantly fatigued.

You may find that you wake up tired and un-refreshed even though you

got plenty of sleep. The sleep disorder most common in fibromyalgia

patients is something known as alpha-EEG anomaly. Level 1 sleep

(alpha stage), is the lightest sleep we get. Delta is the deepest.

With this condition, people are able to fall asleep without much

trouble; however, their delta level sleep (also known as stage 4

sleep) is constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain

activity. As soon as people with fibromyalgia reach the deep level

sleep, alpha brain waves intrude and jolt them back to shallow sleep.

Not only are you denied refreshing sleep, but deep sleep level is

when the body does its repair work and chemical replenishment. If you

find that you consistently wake up not feeling refreshed, you are

probably experiencing some type of sleep disorder, most probably an

alpha-EEG anomaly. New studies using actigraphy – a small wrist-worn

device – allows sleep specialists to monitor your activity and sleep

patterns in your own home.