This pain is trying to kill me.
I do not like taking so much medicine… but I can’t function. I can’t sleep. I can’t think.
I wish I knew what I did. Then again, I honestly don’t think I did anything.
I just want it to stop!!!!
Tag Archives: insomnia
Summary of A Pilot Study Using AVS for Insomnia in Adults and Chronic Pain Patients
Here is my paper. I had to write a summary of the article that I read. At the bottom is the reference, which includes all of the information for the article if you are interested in finding it for yourself.
Summary of A Pilot Study of Audio-Visual Stimulation as a Self-Care Treatment for Insomnia in Adults with Insomnia in Chronic Pain
Chronic pain and sleep disturbances are comorbid conditions, meaning they are often diagnosed in the same patient. It is estimated that one in three Americans suffers from chronic pain, and as many as 88% of those suffering from chronic pain also suffer from some sort of regular sleep disturbance (Tang, Vitiello, Perlis, Mao, & Riegel, 2014); that equates to about 78 million American adults suffering from chronic pain, with about 68 million also suffering from sleep difficulties (Howden & Meyer, 2011). These statistics show a shockingly high level of comorbidity, and a need for a solution. It has also been suggested that the relationship between pain and sleep may be bidirectional, meaning that increased sleep disturbances increases pain levels and increased pain levels increases sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances have also been linked to other physical and psychiatric problems, which have also been shown to cause chronic pain problems, suggesting that treatment for chronic pain should focus on sleep disturbances.
Soon I’ll Have Research to Share
The paper I’m writing for psych isn’t a traditional research paper. Instead of a research paper, we had to find a short article related to psychology and then summarize it in plain English (I think it’s so we can have more practice in reading and understanding scientific articles). I chose an article that is related to insomnia and chronic pain. Once I get my paper turned in, I’ll share it with you guys because I find it very interesting.
Here’s my paper: Summary of A Pilot Study of Audio-Visual Stimulation as a Self-Care Treatment for Insomnia in Adults with Insomnia in Chronic Pain
Sometimes Complaining Happens
Sometimes you just need to get it off your chest. I’m desperately hoping it’ll help.
For some reason, this flare just won’t go away. I feel as though I’m 60+ years old: limping after I get up, unable to bend, getting stuck when I do bend… It’s awful. I think it might be the weather and lack of exercise, but I’m miserable. I really hate admitting it, because I feel so whiny when I do and the people that love me hate knowing I’m crappy (hate in the same way you hate watching a loved one with the flu). Something just isn’t right in my body.
I did discover from Joleen that apparently some of my nerves are being compressed by my spine, causing compression all along them, causing my never fibers to shorten, causing me pain. My medial and ulnar nerves (two main ones in the arms) are extremely tight… She could only stretch then about 50% of the range of motion they should have. No idea why this happened.
My allergies are randomly going bonkers. I think my allergy shots are maxing out my system so that the exposure I’m getting at home just instantly puts me over the edge. They aren’t helping with the flares though.
I’m really wishing that we can figure out a way to get the tub to hold water for a bath… That’s the only thing I can think of that might help, well, that isn’t a pharmaceutical.
I’m going to be trying a new Pilates class next week. If I like it and it seems easy enough, I might add it into my routine so I’d be doing two a week. Maybe that’d help.
I’m writing this post at almost 2am because my eyes and body are so irritated I can’t get to sleep. I really hope the meditation can help, because I might go crazy if I don’t get sleep.
Good news though: progress is being made around the house this week! It’s awesome and I plan to update you soon on some of the changes!!!
Chronic Living – Buzzfeed
Living With A Health Problem | Buzzfeed
Here’s a collection of good quotes about living as a young adult with chronic health issues.
Short Life Update… because, Insomnia
Mom is leaving to head back to CA tomorrow… actually, today… in, like, 5 1/2 hours. And I’m not sleeping. Oops. I told her I’d make her some maps. So what do I do? Decide I can’t stand the new way that Google prints maps anymore, so I decide to make my own. Now, they turned out really well. But I’m dumb, “Yes, I feel ill… so let’s spend three plus hours making maps from screen shots and typed directions.” Oh well, she shouldn’t get lost at least 
Though I suppose their could be random construction detours that weren’t marked… you never know on road trips.
Brain ‘splode!
Crazy Life… But, Gotta Love It! Right?
Life has been crazy.
- I’m still recovering and it’s taking a LOT of energy. Though, I’m making major progress on my ear pain and have been able to reduce the pain killers.
- School. School = homework. Right now: homework = reading multiple chapters. ‘Nuff said.
- Fibromyalgia is a … unwelcome guest. I was doing so well, too. Oh well, I knew getting my hopes up that this surgery wouldn’t trigger a flare was a bad idea.
- POTS is also unwelcome, but doesn’t care that I don’t want it around. And my insomnia is flaring up too. Overall, not much fun on the Chronic side of things, and too many unwanted guests hanging around.
So much going on, so many spoons that I want to spend, so many spoons that I don’t have. I also don’t tend to post much on weekends because Dan is home. I adore Dan, and I love spending as much time with him as I possibly can while he’s home. Monday was Labor Day this time, so he was also home; and now he’s on a business trip, so I definitely was not going to be on my computer. I didn’t even turn my computer on Sunday or Monday!
Insomnia is Always Unwelcome
Going to the museum tomorrow (super excited! we’ve been meaning to go for months now for special exhibits). Fantastic, except I can’t get to sleep…
I even took a Tramadol… which usually helps me get to sleep pretty quickly. If nothing else, it’ll make me sleep very soundly.
And I’m dead tired because I’m fighting off a head cold (or awful allergy season, hard to tell)… and have been doing lots of chores… and I’m still recovering from the Botanic Gardens.
Off to try to sleep, again.
Flare Week
My allergies have been so horrendous that my symptoms have been extremely flared up all week. There is a ton of pollen in the air 😥 I have been dealing with fibro pain, crazy POTS things, headaches, and my insomnia has decided to join the party too. This does not make for a happy Lizzy… ugh.
yes, that’s 85 bpm and 96% oxygen… while lying down. and my wedding ring isn’t on because my hand is swollen.
Have I also mentioned that my wrist has been extremely messed up since Monday evening? Not sure what happened, but if it’s still this painful tomorrow, I’m going to go to Urgent Care… otherwise I’m just going to wait until I see Joleen on Monday so she can evaluate it (so I don’t look like a druggy).
Overload Meltdown
System overload.
Most uncomfortable thing that happens to me, on a regular basis; especially since all my chornics started up. Yes, since means it happened before the chronics. It didn’t happen as often, but it would happen, and it sucked just as much. Now, the overloads are triggered a lot easier, come on harder, and are even more uncomfortable.
Finding Life's Silver Sun 