Interesting so many of you have sleep problems. I have had almost no trouble falling asleep or staying asleep since coming home from the hospital and one month in a rehab facility six years ago. Two months before I was stricken with TM, my husband and I purchased a Sleep Number bed and I found I was able to set it so soft it enveloped and supported my hyper-sensitive body perfectly.
The only problem I encountered in the beginning was only taking three doses (at eight-hour intervals) of pain and nerve medication a day. My last dose for the day was typically after dinner, so by the time I woke up in the morning (nearly 8-10 hours later), I was so crippled with pain I could barely get out of bed, walk to the bathroom and get downstairs to eat and take my first dose for the day. After discussing it with my doctor, she agreed I could instead take four doses at six-hour intervals, which kept a steadier amount of medication in my system. Unless I over-exert myself on any given day, for which I am more than ready for my med dose when the time comes, I now otherwise function pretty well at the six-hour intervals. It seems many of you try to go as long as possible before taking any kind of pain medication, whether out of fear of addiction or whatever, but I feel this is an incurable situation involving chronic, severe pain and I, for one, cannot see myself going through the rest of my life in severe pain. Pain can age a body way beyond its years in no time. TM has already robbed me of many things - I can no longer run or skip, let alone wear cute fancy shoes or sandals; my hands have been crippled to the point of making it not a pretty sight to watch me try to cut my food and feed myself; I now must "hunt-and peck" two-fingered on the keyboard, when my fingers used to fly upon the keys; my artistic passion has been taken away as I can't hold a decorating bag and squeeze to create the beautiful cakes I used to decorate for family, friends and co-workers; and because of all this, some degree of happiness has been stolen by TM. I see no reason to compound this situation by trying to function through severe pain. There is always now some level of pain there - I am always conscious of it. But with the help of the medicines I take, I can sometimes be distracted enough in what I'm doing - such as answering my emails, playing games on the computer, or researching my genealogy - that I "forget" about the pain for a bit. Sleep helps to restore the body - I hope all of you find whatever works for you that eases your pain and allows you to attain that sleep. Betty (in Northern California) _____ From: Linda Cherpeski [mailto:cherp...@msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2012 6:51 AM To: rn11974; TM List Subject: RE: [TMIC] cancer vs tm Hi Cheryl ~ I've been thinking about you and so glad you posted. Great news on the cancer! Speaking for myself here, I have to agree with you. The cancer is under control and the TM pain just goes on and on. This may not be true for all, but from the posts it is certainly true for many of us. My pain is usually 24/7 and sleep is - well I almost don't remember anymore what it is. And you're so funny, yes I think your cancer group would think you're crazy! I hope for you and all of us the pain will let up and we will once again know what Sleep is! Linda _____ Date: Sat, 5 May 2012 13:49:21 -0700 From: rn11...@yahoo.com To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Subject: [TMIC] cancer vs tm Hi, As many of you know I was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer last year (spread to bones). No surgery,radiation,or chemo.Just an anti hormonal pill daily.Just had a PET/cat scan and it is markedly improved. I possibly can survive for years this way. So,I was thinking. If I could have a choice,what would I choose? I would keep the cancer. I have such terrible burning in my legs,the banding around my trunk is awful,and I'm just so sick of this crap. I hate having no real life anymore;wake up with pain,suffer all day,and go to sleep in pain. Nothing helps. I know that those of you with tm will understand this; I think if I posted this at the breast cancer sites I belong to,they would think I'm crazy. Thanks for listening. Hope you are all doing well. Cheryl
