Waking up every night

Disturbed sleep

by Gemita - 2020-12-02 09:02:02

Yes John,

At first I was getting horribly disturbed night after night.  From sleeping badly prior to my pacemaker with a heart rate falling to below 30 bpm, I suddenly found myself with a minimum regular heart rate of 70 bpm and above and for a period of several months, reaching tachycardia levels while I was trying to drop off.  I felt over warm, restless and either had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.  I felt completely wretched, so I know where you are coming from!

At that time I also had another implant still in place (Reveal Linq) which was downloading data to my clinic each night at 0100 hours GMT, which was often the time that I was awakened.  I wonder if you have any pacemaker maintenance or something like this occurring at night and waking you at these specific times.  Something to ask the clinic when you go in?  

What to do about it . . . ah that is the difficult part.  If you find yourself tossing and turning in an attempt to fall back asleep and cannot, I was advised to leave the bedroom, go to the kitchen and make a warm drink (non caffeinated) and sit quietly until I felt relaxed and sleepy again, then return to the bedroom and try again.  Avoid looking at a computer screen during your sleepless periods because the blue light that screens emit can disrupt your sleep cycles.  I was given some Melatonin (low dose) to help me through.  After around 3 months, my tachycardia stopped and I was feeling so much better.

I was once told by my sleep consultant bed is for sleeping only (!!!) so whatever you do, get used to reading, computer work for example in another room and then only go to bed when you are feeling relaxed and ready for sleep.  

John I wouldn’t resort to sleeping pills because you might become addicted and they will leave you feeling drowsy during the day.  Are you by chance on any medication that could be causing your difficulties?   I am sure when your heart rates are adjusted you will feel much better and get a good night's sleep.

Finally, sleep hygiene is vitally important.  Go to bed and get up at the same time each day.  If you cannot sleep, get up and go to another room until you feel relaxed and ready to sleep again.  Whatever you do, don't associate bed as the place where you struggle to sleep.  Happy dreams

Very useful

by quikjraw - 2020-12-02 10:46:32

Gemita this seems sound advice and I will note all these key points down and start to put in place tonight.

I'm not on any medication by the way.

I stumbled across melatonin yesterday on the internet on the NHS website but at the end of the page it said not suitable for people with autoimmune diseases! Not sure why though.

Thanks John

Try some yoghurt before bedtime

by Gemita - 2020-12-02 11:39:16

If you like plain, good quality organic yoghurt, try a few tablespoons before bedtime.  It is packed full of magnesium and calcium (both help to relax us).  Contains tryptophan (amino acid) which increases serotonin and melatonin naturally.  It usually works for me.  Sometimes I take a magnesium supplement which is good for my AFib and I also find Vit C (non acidic form Magnesium Ascorbate) really helpful (with doctor's knowledge).

Just checked, "Melatonin may stimulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other mediators in Rheumatoid Arthritis" but I do not think this has been completely proven.  In other studies it seems that melatonin has a anti-inflammatory effect, so best speak to your doctor.

Sleep

by jfbuffy - 2020-12-02 19:48:00

Gee are you sure this isn't age related and normal ? I wake up about every two hours regularly.  I've never really given it a lot of thought because generally I go right back to sleep. 

sweet dreams

by quikjraw - 2020-12-03 05:27:46

Thanks Gemita - I do eat Kefir from time to time so might try that last thing at night. I won't be touching melatonin then!

Ar_Vin i think you are right it is more likely to be associated with me now pacing at night as I can see on my HR monitor the pacemaker is kicking in many hours through night and pacing at 60.

Swangirl I will give those sounds a try thank you

jfbuffy - its entirely possible but this all seems to have happened in the last three weeks when my pacemaker was fitted. I cannot lie I did wake up in the night prior to the pacemaker being fitted on random occaisons but this is different it is every night at around 2am and then often at 5am.

I have no problem at all getting to sleep in the first place.

Thank you John