I Need My Beauty Sleep

I know you all with psoriatic arthritis can relate to this. It’s not just getting sleep; your body is so tired. It is a tired that is deep down in your soul. This is beginning to be my new norm.

Losing sleep because of my psoriatic arthritis

This disease can be so different each day. We have joint pain and swelling which flares one day and can be okay the next. I am affected by morning stiffness daily, but just when I think I have figured out my condition something else happens. I had to buy a computer that I can speak into because my fingers are all swollen in my right hand and it is painful most of the time. This has caused me to lose a lot of sleep. My rheumatologist suggested I wear compression gloves at night.

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t talk to someone who has psoriatic arthritis that is fatigued and can’t get their proper rest. I was like this and still am. I take sleeping pills, but they make me so out of it that I can’t wake up on time for work. I try to only take them when I am in pain and not when I need to sleep.

The importance of sleep with psoriatic arthritis

We need our sleep. Lack of sleep is not good for us. It can cause depression, heart disease or lead to other chronic illnesses. As many of you know when we don’t get enough sleep, we are forgetful, sluggish, and not aware of what is going on around us. You don’t even realize how tired you really are. A sleepless night is a part of my arthritis journey. I know it’s coming and try to prepare for them. I sometimes feel like I’m walking around in a daze.

I have psoriatic arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure along with psoriasis. My doctor warned me that lack of sleep could affect my mood and my judgment, and the crazy thing is that continued sleeplessness can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases.

Sleep as part of my treatment plan

My doctor asked me how much sleep I get a night. I remember telling him around 5 hours. This is when he started putting me on sleeping pills. He told me that not getting enough sleep would cause me to become angry, depressed and feel stressed. He said that part of my treatment plan should include sleep.

How much sleep do I need?

Do you know how much sleep we really need? I know when I was a teenager, I could sleep for 12 to 14 hours a night and still didn’t feel like I had enough sleep. I guess the amount of sleep depends on your age. I know my father who is 85 sleeps about 7 hours night and up every morning by 5. I know kids need between 9 to 11 hours a night.

What do you do when you are so tired that you can’t even sleep and feel exhausted beyond control? You don’t even feel like yourself. You feel like a ton of bricks. Don’t take sleep for granted; there are some of us who can’t. I have learned to take this one restless night at a time.