Hi all, the last week has been rough. At least 3 nights I couldn’t sleep, had to take srong meds to give me some sleep, horrible experiance. I just couldn’t get to sleep. I had been really good on the Thursday but that night i was struggling to sleep. Then 3 nights after I just couldn’t get to sleep. Ive been feeling very weak, just finished the meds and had a reasonable sleep last night. But feel very weak. For some reason all the things that have happened to me the last 10 months of my stroke have come crashing down, and because I can’t do simple things It just got to me.
Jeff
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Hi Jeff. I think we all feel lik that at times I know I do. I’m lucky in that I nearly always sleep well but I worry about the things I can’t do and feel I’m at a standstill and getting nowhere. I wonder if I will ever walk without a stick - I’m sure that won’t happen - think about all the things I used to do like going for walks, dancing, exercise classes etc. Much more socialising than I do now as I was totally independent while now I have to rely on my wonderful husband. Hope that you’ve just had a few bad days and will start to feel better soon. Best wishes Janet
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Hi Jeff,
I’ll just throw in a couple of my suggestions. Montmorency cherries:
Montmorency cherries are known for their potential sleep-enhancing properties, primarily due to their high levels of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep cycles. They also contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can support overall health, potentially aiding in better sleep.
Here’s a breakdown of how they might help with sleep:
- Melatonin Content: Montmorency cherries contain natural melatonin, which helps regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Some studies suggest that consuming Montmorency cherry juice or extract may help people fall asleep faster, improve sleep quality, and increase sleep duration.
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties: These cherries are high in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory effects. Reducing inflammation can ease conditions like arthritis or sore muscles, which may interfere with restful sleep.
- Improved Sleep Quality in Studies: Some small studies have shown that people who drank Montmorency cherry juice experienced improvements in sleep quality and duration. The juice was found to be beneficial especially for individuals with insomnia or older adults with sleep difficulties.
If you’re interested in trying Montmorency cherries for sleep, drinking about an ounce or two of tart cherry juice an hour or two before bed may help. Alternatively, you could consume a handful of fresh or dried Montmorency cherries in the evening.
Vitamin D will require a bit of research if you want to tread this path ; it’s worth it though, in my opinion.
Vitamin D plays an important role in sleep quality and duration, as well as in overall health. While it’s mostly known for supporting bone health and immune function, research suggests that vitamin D also has links to sleep regulation.
Here’s how vitamin D may affect sleep:
- Regulation of Sleep-Wake Cycle: Vitamin D receptors are found in areas of the brain involved in sleep regulation, suggesting that vitamin D might influence sleep patterns. It may help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, supporting a natural sleep-wake cycle.
- Improved Sleep Quality: Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to poor sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, and shorter sleep duration. Research suggests that people with low vitamin D levels are more likely to experience disrupted sleep and feel less rested.
- Reduced Risk of Sleep Disorders: Deficiency in vitamin D has been associated with sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea. Some studies have indicated that adequate vitamin D levels might help improve symptoms of these disorders, potentially because it reduces inflammation that can contribute to airway issues in sleep apnea.
- Mood and Mental Health: Vitamin D is essential for mood regulation, and low levels are associated with depression and anxiety, both of which can disrupt sleep. Adequate vitamin D may support mental well-being, indirectly contributing to better sleep.
To support sleep, it’s generally recommended to maintain optimal vitamin D levels through moderate sun exposure, dietary sources (like fatty fish, fortified dairy, and egg yolks), or supplements if necessary.
There are other ideas like photo biomodulation / serotonin / Magnesium / exercise is great ; I wish I could get more, myself. It will take 1 to 2 months to build up adequate levels of vitamin D. The bottom line with weakness is that after a stroke our mitochondria are somewhat dysfunctional. Hope you pick up soon
Good luck, Roland
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Janet,
think of all the things we can no longer do, which also highlights all the things we can still do! Glad you sleep well ; that’s over half the battle won, right there !!
Good luck, Roland
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Hi Jeff, I think your first plan of action is to relax and stop worrying about not sleeping. That in itself can stop you from sleeping and can spiral it out of control.
If you’re not having to work, don’t have dependents to care for, there’s really no reason for worrying about not sleeping.
You had a bad reaction to your covid jab a couple weeks ago, did you also have the flu jab? Plus the clocks went back an hour. Then you’ve had strong meds to aid your sleep, these can also wipe you out and can make you weak as dish water. Plus, coming off that sleep med can also make you feel down. Some sleeping medications can cause depression as a side effect or other mood changes. So keep an eye on that, but don’t worry as yours were only a short dose.
If you are not getting much exercise as a result of all this, on top of your stroke, you could be suffering from muscle atrophy too. Lack of good muscle tone will make you feel weak. You get lethargic and so do even less, so everything becomes an effort.
Set yourself a relaxing bedtime routine to prepare yourself for sleep. Go to bed at the usual time, at least keep your eyes closed and give it an hour or 2. If not asleep then either read a book, listen to some soothing music for an hour, then try again. Tell yourself stories or sing to yourself while lay there. During the day, try going for a walk if you can or do some exercises around the house.
I’m no medical expert, I can only speak from my own experience of not sleeping after my stroke. It took me about 18mths to get any regular sleep. I just about get 8hrs now but that’s from around 2am to 10am and I’m stuck on that. And if I have to get up for an early appointment, I need my alarm but I won’t get sleep any earlier that night, it does catch up with me eventually though.
But I think for you it’s just a combination of all that’s happened recently and hopefully things will settle down now over the coming weeks. So just try and relax, go with the flow, and don’t stress about it.
You could be a little run down after it all and maybe just need a bit of a boost, multivitamins or Complan or something like that.
Lorraine
Stroke Improvement Group
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Hi @Jeff1 sorry to hear you’ve had a bad week. Hopefully this week will be a better one & last week was just a blip.
If you’re not getting enough sleep everything will seem much worse & that causes you to worry more & then you can’t sleep & then the cycle starts all over again.
If you can’t sleep at night are you able to have a short nap on the day? Not a long term answer but might help for now. As @EmeraldEyes says if you don’t need to be up & at it then don’t worry about getting to sleep late & staying in bed later. Night time routine is important as are finding ways to relax & switch off.
Fingers crossed this is a short term thing & you’ll soon be sleeping better.
Best wishes
Ann
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+1 for the benefit of sleep when your body tells you it is needed. 
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Think the occasional bad day or even week goes with the territory. And we have to find our own way out of it. But others advice is always welcome. I attend my local support group once a week ,only for two hours , chatting with people of all age’s professions and backgrounds lifts spirits. Return exhausted but in a better place
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I agree with emerald eyes on this one nearly 4 years since my stroke and 4 years of insomnia which is beginning to take its toll on me as sleep Is virtually impossible . Am definitely obsessed with thinking about it and all the doctor does is give me things to make me sleepy which I don’t have a problem with as I’m permanently sleepy but just can’t go to sleep. He won’t prescribe actual sleeping tablets a lot of doctors won’t now . So I just carry on best I can and try to stay optimistic that it will eventually improve . Will definitely try pando’s advice about the cherry juice.
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