Topic: Anyone else feel WORSE after a 45-55 min. afternoon nap?
henson2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 463
posted
Hi,
I'd be so interested to know if others experienced this.
In the morning I rest a bit after breakfast, before showering and dressing. THAT rest and/or sleep really helps!!
But if I need a nap in the afternoon -- and they always say to keep naps under an hour so you don't mess up going to sleep that night -- how come I wake up from sleep feeling WORSE? More achey, more flu-like aches. Ow, ow.
This happens often.
What is the deal with feeling worse after sleep?
I almost want to say that the best kind of rest during the day is AWAKE rest -- but why?
Anyone else?
Thank you for any ideas about this. I'm still trying to figure out my best academic work times around being back on abx. Warm wishes to all for feeling better Posts: 1066 | From East Coast | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
Oh yes,first time Ive seen this on here.Henson,Ive been complaining about that for 3 years.Alot of days I have to lay down in the afternoon and I know I will just wake up feeling rotten,alot of time it hard to even get up.You would think that afternoon nap would make you feel better.I can only take a guess and say that the blood isnt flowing as fast while napping.Lyme stinks,cant even enjoy a nap.You asked why -chainsaw-its for carving wood,what I use to do alot of.
Posts: 308 | From new bedford,Ma. | Registered: Dec 2004
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Hensen, I'm a terrible afternoon napper. I've periodically tried, because my symptoms always get worse as the day progresses.
So I may feel tired or achey in the afternoon, but if I actually lie down and try to nap, I wake up feeling much much worse.
What does help me is getting off my feet and just relaxing. Maybe listening to some music or reading.
I understand, though, about trying to accommodate your life to this disease's schedule (however it manifests in you).
I've ended up socializing at brunch and lunches...
Probably just as well, since I'm pretty useless after about 8 these days
Hope you're able to find something that works for you.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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posted
"Henson2", I can relate , I'll have to do some reseach on why this happens .I must pace myself daily or I'll pay dearly. If you find out before I can get any info., please post. "Peace be with us all", Robin (P.S. I haven't been in Cambridge, MA in about 25yrs., I,ve have wonderful memories of the area)
Posts: 139 | From Panama City, FL., USA | Registered: Jun 2005
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henson2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 463
posted
Hi, Chainsaw, Andie, and Robin,
Thanks so much for your replies!
Yes, chainsaw, it is SO unfair we can't enjoy an afternoon nap! (BTW, I am very impressed you remembered I asked in another thread about your screen name -- you have a terrific memory! Thanks! ) (Did you hear that in a MA town, some teenagers got arrested for chasing trick or treat-ers with chain saws? The teenagers thought it was a joke, but the police and town were NOT amused).
I'm sorry others go thru this - but once again I'm relieved I'm not alone.
If anyone finds out any research about this I'd be interested.
I wonder if in sleep, our immune systems kick in. A relative who is a doctor always says the immune system does its work at night. So if your body thinks it's nighttime, maybe it kicks into high gear, fighting the bad bugs.
Maybe a nap activates the immune system in a way that "awake" rest doesn't.
That just occurred to me.
Do people find DVD's helpful? I have been thinking of getting the "All Creatures Great and Small" series. Someone gave me a gift certificate and maybe I'll splurge on that.
Thank you for the replies -- it helps me to know I'm not alone. Do let me know if you have additional ideas or find any info about this.
Warm wishes to everyone to feel better.
[ 19. May 2007, 01:38 AM: Message edited by: henson2 ]
Posts: 1066 | From East Coast | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
Man it's good to know I'm not the only one suffering after the afternoon nap. I had my first good one today, it was after an early dinner of fish tacos and one cold newcastle beer . I wouldn't try this usually, but something about this combo made me sleep like a baby and wake up refreshed for the first time in months .
Posts: 20 | From San Diego, CA, USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
Most of the time when I get to have an afternoon nap, I feel better afterwards, but sometimes I feel really toxic and like I'm existing in a twilight world for hours afterwards, and sometimes also shaky.
DLL
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
Boy, me too. I've been saying when I rest I feel worse. If only I could just keep moving. I thought it might be because when you rest your lympth nodes are not moving and since they carry lots of toxins to the organs to eliminate, you start to swell from lack of movement.. However, I like the suggestion the immune system works best when we rest and therefore is killing more 'chetes!
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Well they say healing only happens during sleep. I wonder if the short nap time sleep makes us feel worse due to being a short cycle that was disrupted before the body has finished it's work.
Just relaxing and laying down in the afternoons is now enough for me and a small second wind to get me through the evening.
Take care, Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
hey Guys, did u ever think it may be related to the coinfections? I know bartonella and riscko- whatever they're called type infections attack the blood vessels causing vasculitis : blood clotting, inflammation. So, I find atleast after a nap I also feel sick and I feel pressure and have a headache-just a s someone mentioned above the blood flow is interupted. Can lyme affect the blood flow as much as the coinf.? I find if I take a nap that is just perfect, not too long, then I feel fine. As long as the blood flow is fine I guess
posted
Hi Hensen and everyone, Oh yes, know that one - I find myself saying that to most messages! Through the winter it seems to be much worse - the fatigue in the afternoon- so much so that I have to lie down and go to sleep even though I know I'm going to feel worse.
I wake up feeling as though I've been hit by a truck - muzzy headache, hands feelings swollen and generally achy.
I have found that a bath or shower after the nap can really help to wake me up and ease the aches. Especially with some drops of T tree & lavender oil thrown in!
Posts: 229 | From United Kingdom | Registered: Jul 2005
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I awake from a nap in a fog I just can't shake. I never really get going again. I've been this way my whole life and may have had Lyme the whole time.
I think my body starts some sort of process that isn't finished when I wake up from a nap leaving me in an altered state.
Resting on the sofa, propped up on pillows does help though. I rarely shut my eyes, just kind of zone out. When I was sicker I spent most of the day resting and staring into space. It is just the last few weeks that I am able to read (and comprehend) to relax.
Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1584
posted
My sleep MD said that during a nap the body goes into "sleep inertia," and thus the sensation of being foggy and unable to pull out of the daze.
He described it as an inibility to gain restorative sleep REM and deeper levels, as with a full night's rest, thus the lag time to rebound. One can only imagine that this is exacerbated by Lyme.
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Well, I am puzzled by what you guys are saying. When I lie down to deep breathe, relax, and meditate, I sometimes fall asleep, and I wake up feeling so much better.
This is the method I use to reduce my body pain, although it doesn't always work for headaches, unless I medicate.
Have you tried taking pain medication before you lie down? By the time you get up, the med should be working.
Do you meditate? Achieving the "relaxation response" is crucial to reducing pain levels.
Hmmm, I just remembered that when I was first showing signs of Lyme, resting for one to two hours often didn't help a bit. This was horribley frustrating, as I had two small children, and I couldn't get anything done due to the fatigue and pain. I figured I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
I think being trained in "Relaxation Therapy" was what turned it around for me.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1584
posted
Carol, interesting point: I went to Dr. Benson's program at the same hosp as sleep MD. The "relaxation response" was helpful but unfortunately a 3 month diversion from getting my Lyme diagnosis. I do agree that it can help chronic pain and one's mood. It can slow the heart rate lower bp & anxiety but MD at sleep ctr said not clear that it can increase REM or improve sleep quality.
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. I wouldn't try this usually, but something about this combo made me sleep like a baby and wake up refreshed for the first time in months 
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