A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia Sleep Center

“If you don’t get a good nights sleep you’re not going to get well. It really is that simple”. Dr. Murphee​

The First Symptom

ME/CFS and FM doctors agree that getting as good a night’s sleep as possible is essential for improving your health.

Dr. Bested, an ME/CFS/FM practitioner asserts that “improving sleep, even a little, can make a tremendous difference to a person’s […] quality of life”.

“The most effective way to eliminate fatigue and pain in CFS/FMS is to get eight to nine hours of solid, deep sleep each night on a regular basis.” Dr. Teitelbaum
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Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are not sleep disorders and improving your sleep will not cure them but getting better sleep will help you feel better (and vice versa).

Studies indicated that just a few nights of poor sleep result in increased sensitivity to pain and increased fatigue – two key elements of ME/CFS and FM.

Plus studies suggest that up to 20% of ME/CFS patients may not have ME/CFS at all, but an identifiable and treatable sleep disorder that could be uncovered during a sleep study. Eighty percent of people with the most common sleep disorder - sleep apnea - undiagnosed.

Learning About Sleep

Overviews

• Deconstructing Sleep in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – From Dr. Bateman
• Can ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Research Help You Sleep? A video from Dr. Bateman and the Solve ME/CFS Initiative
• Sleep and ME/CFS - Video Featuring Suzanne Vernon PhD
• The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Sleep Survey Results
• Science For Patients Video Series #4: Dr. De Meirleir on Sleep
• Discuss SleepTreatments and Issues on the Health Rising Forums

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Sleep Research

• Empowering Research… While You Sleep - how a new tool may help researchers understand sleep problems in ME/CFS and FM
• Sleepless and In Pain - A Link Between Fibromyalgia and Sleep (WebMD)
• Hands Up! A Key to the Fatigue, Sleep and Pain in Fibromyalgia Found?
• Cellular Havoc: Zeroing In On The Sleep Problems in Fibromyalgia?
• Study Illuminates the Cause of the Sleep Problems in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Finally)

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Sleep apnea - can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness and cognitive problems as well as affect the heart and other organs. It is largely undiagnosed.

• Eighty Percent of People with Sleep Apnea are Undiagnosed.
• Sleep Apnea and Fibromyalgia - A Growing Concern
• When It’s Not All ME/CFS/FM: How a Sleep Study Turned One Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patient’s Life Around
• Apps to Detect Sleep Apnea - see Sleep Monitors below
• Sleep Apnea Videos - Sleep Apnea Home Test / Tracking Sleep Apnea with Smartphone

Getting Better Sleep - Treatments

Mind/Body/Environment

• A High-Tech, Low-Cost Path to Better Sleep with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia - use mind/body techniques to get better sleep
• Good Sleep Practices for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia - Dr. Bateman on non-drug ways to improve your sleep
• Heads-Up! Are You Missing an Easy Way to Improve Your Sleep and Health? - how raising the head of their bed improves some people's sleep
• Suggestions on Mattresses for Better Sleep (Health Rising Forums)
• Yoga Nidra or ‘Lucid Sleeping’ for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

Drugs

Blogs on Sleep Drugs

• The ‘First Symptom’ – Sleep - IACFS/ME Primer recommendations for drugs to help people with ME/CFS sleep
• ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Patients on the Drugs That Help Them Sleep
• ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Patients on the Drug Combinations That Help Them Sleep
• Help for Sleep in ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Coming? New Sleep Drug Suvorexant Expected to Hit the Market This Year
• Novel Fibromyalgia Sleep and Pain Improving Drug Moves Forward

Sleep Drugs

• Amitriptyline (Elavil)
• Antihistamines
• Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
• Clonezepam (Klonopin)
• Doxepin Elixir (Sinequan/Silenor)
• Sodium oxybate (Xyrem)
• Trazodone (Desreyel)
• Zoplicone / Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
• Zolpiderm (Ambien)

Supplements for Sleep

• Alteril (L-Tryptophan, Melatonin, Valerian Root, Glycine, proprietary herbs)
• Melatonin
• Enhancing Sleep With 5-HTP
• Vitamin D's Possible Connection to Sleep

Tools For Better Sleep

Sleep Tools and Apps

Tracking Your Sleep

• Tracking Your Sleep For Better Health in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Better Sleep for Fibromyaglia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using the FibroMapp App
• Personal Sleep Monitors - Do They Work?
• The Ultimate Guide to Tracking Sleep
• How Sleep Apnea Testing Came Home

Sleep Monitors - Apps

• Android Sleep Apnea Apps
• Best IPhone Apps to Detect Sleep Apnea
• Free Sleep Tracker
• Better Sleep for Fibromyaglia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using the FibroMapp App

Tools To Help You Sleep

• Android apps to rest and relax you for better sleep
• Aurora dream enhancing headband
• Nora - Stop Your Partner From Snoring
• Chrona - A Smart Pillow to Help You Sleep
• Eight hours of Relaxing Music For Sleep

Sleep Resources

• ME/CFS and FM Sleep Resources - Health Rising
• Sleep Video's - Health Rising
• Sleep Junkies - get updates on new sleep treatments
• A Visual Guide To Sleep Disorders
• The Drift - The Slate Blog Series on Sleep - @30 blogs over six weeks