Sleep Schedule

[MeatwadsKidneyCar]

Hello!  I did a search on sleep to avoid making a redundant post.  However, I found most people have trouble sleeping and not the other way around from the search.

My brother is on Peritoneal Dialysis.  He is on 7 cycles for about 8 and 1/2 hours a day.  He uses two 1.5% and one 2.5% 5L bags.  My brother is also in bed 24/7 due to his condition (He does turn/roll, have a Hoyer lift, etc. to move.)  He is also on pain medication and several other medications that make him sleepy.   I am just listing this information in case it is necessary.

So with all that said, he is worried if he is sleeping too much.  He asked his nephrologist and his primary and both don't seem to think it is a problem.  But he still worries and wanted me to ask here.  Some days he'll sleep 13-14 hours.  With dialysis taking a lot out of you and being in bed and with all the medications...that seems pretty normal to me. 

What are your thoughts if any?

[Paul]

I cannot speak for PD, but HD sometimes tires me so much that I more than sleep the clock round. Also, when I found myself bedridden for three months, I found I was sleeping over twelve hours a day. Could be either of those things, or neither, or a bit of both.

Sorry that does not sound as helpful when I typed it out as it sounded in my head when I started this reply.

[coldhoist]

My sleep cycle is so screwed up, I cannot sleep like I used to. About an hour after I get home from dialysis , I have to lay down. I am in the bed for maybe one hour, but is throws off my cycle the rest of the night. I am in and out of the bed like every 45 mins. 3 o'clock in the morning, I am up pacing around trying to go back to bed. I am sleepy but my body just will not go the sleep. The next day it is the same thing, in and out of the bed. I never feel like I have any energy and I am always fatigued and just beat. I get in the bed and all I do is toss and turn. It is a bad feeling wanting to go the sleep but you cannot.
I never had this problem before I started dialysis.

[lulu836]

Tylenol PM.  It's magic.

[kickingandscreaming]

I have been a bad sleeper.  It was awful.I have solved that problem by using medical marijuana every night before bed. I use the Indica strain that really mellows the body out (with barely a buzz) allowing me to sleep like a baby.  I've been using this for 2 years now and I now can trust that I'll fall asleep.  Is that something you could try in your state?

[lulu836]

Don't think I would go so far as doing hemp but whatever floats your boat?~ is a good thing.LOL

[kickingandscreaming]

Since I'm looking for good sleep-- and not boat floating-- it does a very good job.

[GA_DAWG]

I don't really worry about when I sleep, just that I sleep. As was mentioned, after dialysis, I normally come home, have some lunch, which comes about 4 in the afternoon, then take a nap, sometimes two hours, sometimes more. After that, I do not try to force myself to sleep that night. I go to bed when I feel sleepy and sleep until whatever time the next day, but I try to get 8 hours whn all is taken together. I still have plenty of time to get whatever done I need. The only thing that can be a problem is really early doctor appointments. Then it is a choice between an early appointment and a short waitinng time or later in the day when you never know how long you will wait.

[Charlie B53]

Pain meds for chronic pain from far too many permanent injuries have always caused me  to sleep too much, add that to the exhaustion of poor kidneys and I do not get much done far too many days.

Then the side effects of the opiates, brain fuzzyniss, constipation, not caring much about anything just I am so messed up and yet I am ST
ILL in PAIN.    It just sucks.

My Pain Dr started me on Fentenyal Patches.   I was AMAZED how well it worked.  Serious reduction in pain without the side effects of the opiates.  It was GREAT!!!   For a couple of years.  Sadly, you get used to it and the dose needs to be increased.   Eventually Dr tells me we have to start tapering down.  Withdrawal is a Bitch.   Dr prescribed Methadone.  I told him I've NEVEr BEEN A hEROION USER, i DIDN'T NEED THAT STUFF.  tHEN dR EXPLAINED HOW mETHADONE WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED AS A pAIN mED.   dAMN cAPS lOCK BUTTON

So for the last couple of years I have done very well with my morning/night small doses of Methadone.  Again, no brain fuzzyness and no constipation yet a marked reduction of pain.   I can get up and move around again.  Such a relief.

Talk with your Dr.

[SweetyPie]

I was on Pd for 6 years. Let me tell you this no matter how much I slept I never really felt refreshed. This is hard but you need to get out of bed and be even a tiny bit active. The more you sleep won't make much of a difference. Getting 8 to 9 hours is enough. I want to know the reason for the pain meds, the pain meds could contribute to the sleepiness. Also incorporate fruits in your diet this makes a huge difference

[Mr Ken]

My brother is on Peritoneal Dialysis.  He is on 7 cycles for about 8 and 1/2 hours a day.  He uses two 1.5% and one 2.5% 5L bags.  My brother is also in bed 24/7 due to his condition (He does turn/roll, have a Hoyer lift, etc. to move.)  He is also on pain medication and several other medications that make him sleepy. 

His session is not that long for 8 exchanges. The dwell times must be short....

[Paul]

Also incorporate fruits in your diet this makes a huge difference

I find green leaf vegetables (eg cabbage) even better for this.

[MeatwadsKidneyCar]

Also incorporate fruits in your diet this makes a huge difference

I find green leaf vegetables (eg cabbage) even better for this.

Sorry I haven't checked in some time.  I didn't notice the newer replies.  He is actually eating more greens and the dialysis has increased with an additional 2 cycles.  However, you recommending the greens was great advice and it makes me feel better that 8 cycles isn't a lot.  Being relatively new to this we are still finding our feet so to speak.  If I may ask - what would you consider a number of cycles that is long?

[MeatwadsKidneyCar]

My brother is on Peritoneal Dialysis.  He is on 7 cycles for about 8 and 1/2 hours a day.  He uses two 1.5% and one 2.5% 5L bags.  My brother is also in bed 24/7 due to his condition (He does turn/roll, have a Hoyer lift, etc. to move.)  He is also on pain medication and several other medications that make him sleepy. 

His session is not that long for 8 exchanges. The dwell times must be short....

The dwell times are about 50 minutes, a little longer now.

[MeatwadsKidneyCar]

I was on Pd for 6 years. Let me tell you this no matter how much I slept I never really felt refreshed. This is hard but you need to get out of bed and be even a tiny bit active. The more you sleep won't make much of a difference. Getting 8 to 9 hours is enough. I want to know the reason for the pain meds, the pain meds could contribute to the sleepiness. Also incorporate fruits in your diet this makes a huge difference

Thank you!  He is actually eating a lot more fruits and veggies now!  He even got clearance to eat bananas, a fruit he loves but had to avoid before because of the potassium.  Sadly, the activity is hard for him due to his disability.  Being bedridden 24/7 (aside from rolling for bed sore checks, washing, etc.) makes him always sleepy to begin with.  We were doing a lot better after the last program change - he had more energy but once again he is feeling run down.  The program made need changing again.