I’ve had a tough time sleeping lately. Part of it is because of this lingering cough that I’ve had since Christmas. The other part is me being me. I’ve never been a sound sleeper. I wish I was one of those people who falls asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, but I have to toss and turn for 20-30 minutes before I can fall asleep each night. I also wake up several times a night. Some of that is from my legs twitching and some comes from just being a restless sleeper.
Last night was a particularly bad night. I got to sleep fairly quickly, but then woke up after about an hour and could not get back to sleep. No matter how hard I tried, sleep eluded me. I finally got to sleep somewhere around 2:30 am, only to wake up at 4:00 am. I knew there was no way I was going to be able to get back to sleep, so I just got up.
I never considered that some of my crazy sleep issues could possibly be part of Myasthenia Gravis, but turns out sleep issues are quite common in individuals with MG. Sleep disturbances attributed to MG can come from any of the following:
- Muscle Weakness and Fatigue – muscle weakness can affect breathing and respiratory muscles, leading to difficulty maintaining proper oxygen levels during sleep. This may result in sleep apnea or hypoventilation.
- Daytime Fatigue – people with MG often experience significant daytime fatigue. Poor sleep quality can exacerbate this fatigue, creating a cycle of tiredness and insufficient rest.
- Medications – steroids like prednisone and other immunosuppressants used to treat MG can cause insomnia or restlessness. In addition, cholinesterase inhibitors like pyridostigmine (Mestinon) can sometimes contribute to muscle cramps or twitching, which disrupts sleep.
- Anxiety and Depression – living with a chronic condition like MG can increase stress, anxiety and depression, all of which are linked to poor sleep quality.
- Disrupted Sleep Patterns – MG symptoms are often worse in the evening, potentially making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
I know it’s time for me to have a discussion with my neurologist about my sleep issues. I dread having it, but I know I can’t keep depriving myself of sleep or I’ll end up in even worse shape.
If you’re experiencing sleep issues, talk to your doctor so together you can develop a plan that works best for you.
To sleep, perchance to dream.