Multiple Sclerosis Hug

Sleeping Problems

So I haven’t ever written about my problems with sleeping on this blog but I feel I need to write about it because there may be other people out there struggling with the same things. I also hope that someone out there may have some suggestions for things I have tried yet to try to help me sleep. I have always had problems sleeping but in the last few years it has gotten 100 times worse.

I first really started to notice my sleeping problems when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was 15 or 16. I have always had problems sleeping but I really started to notice them in high school and college. From the age of about 16 I was given prescriptions for Ambien and Sonata which are both sleeping pills. So at this point those two no longer work for me. When I was in my mid twenties they prescribed me Lunesta which for me was a wonder drug because for the first time I was able to sleep and I didn’t seem to get used to them.

I took those on and off for years. The insurance I know have through work refuses to pay for them and there is no way I can afford to pay over $200 a month for them so I haven’t been able to get them. Since I haven’t been able to get them I have had to start trying all the over the counter sleeping medications and I haven’t had much luck with them.

I have tried taking Melatonin and I will still take it sometimes but I have found that I have to take so much of it to get me to sleep that I end up with a huge headache the next morning. The only thing I have found that works is taking a combination if Tylenol PM & Ibuprofen PM along with a time released Melatonin pill to help me stay asleep longer because lately I manage to take enough stuff to fall asleep but I can’t stay asleep to save me life.

I have also stopped watching TV after work and I try not to use my cell phone once I am home so that I can try to wind down from the day but no matter what I try nothing seems to be working for me.

Does anyone know of anything else I can try to use for sleep? I will take any and all suggestions at this point!

I haven’t posted about Multiple Sclerosis for awhile because I really haven’t had anything new to write about but the past few weeks I have been experiencing what people call the Multiple Sclerosis Hug. The first time I heard about it was a few months ago and now that I have researched it I think it may be what some of back pain has actually been this whole time.

Anyway lets get to what the MS Hug is a “band-like” sensation that feels like a tight strap or girdle wrapped around the torso area. This is the best description of it I could find. I have looked high and low for more information on this and anything else I could find about it and I am having no luck. Which I am finding to be a pretty common this when it comes to some of the symptoms that I have been having as of lately.

That being said those that know about the medication I am on might worry that it could be a serious side effect of the medication I am taking and I can assure you it isn’t that. I have felt these ways for years I just never put everything together. I should have figured it all had something to do with the MS but since they come and go I usually forget about it after they pass.

I couldn’t really find any statistics on how often it happens but one site did say up to 75% of will experience pain but they don’t have one for how many people experience the MS Hug. They say it cause by a lesion on the spinal cord that affects the muscles between your ribs.

I haven’t talked with my doctor about this yet but I will be talking to her at the end of the month after I have an MRI so I will see what she recommends when it comes to treatment and things like that. I did see there are a few medications you can take to try and help with it but I don’t think I will do anything for mine at this point because it does come and go. Now if it ever sticks around for awhile I will for sure figure out some treatment options.

Is there anything you would like to know more about? If so please leave a comment and I will write about it in the next few weeks!

The World As I See It

My Sleeping Problems

MS Tuesday Multiple Sclerosis Hug