Numerous people with MS experience sleeping disorders, including insomnia. Insomnia may include difficulty falling asleep, waking up sometime during the night and staying awake, or frequent nighttime waking. Most of the time, the trouble is not the MS itself, but instead, secondary symptoms that contribute to the lack of sleep. For example, some medications (like Steroids) can interfere with sleep and also side effects of MS – including bowel and bladder control, overheating, and reduced physical activity, can hinder a good night’s sleep.
Insomnia may worsen other MS-related ailments such as fatigue, memory problems, depression, or pain. Prolonged insomnia can disrupt the quality of life.
If you experience sleeping problems, you should discuss it with your health care team and talk about the difficulties you are having, so you can get the help you need.
Some Belong users that discussed this issue within the community groups, recommend remedies that worked for them. They include regulating the room temperature to your liking or experimenting with aromatherapy such as lavender oil. Other suggestions include avoiding drinking before bedtime and making sure to empty your bladder before getting into bed. Some recommended relaxation techniques before bed and sticking to a sleep schedule of the same nighttime and wake up time every day. Others propose physical activity throughout the day, to soak some vitamin D and not to do it too close to bedtime.
This content is provided for your general education and information only. It does not necessarily reflect Belong’s views and opinions. Belong does not endorse or support any specific product, service, or treatment.
