1. < Sleep Health

Non Restful Sleep WITH Exercise

Posted by darkelliam @darkelliam, Jan 4, 2019

Hello Everyone,

I am hoping to find a solution to a unique issue I have been dealing with for the past 2 years. I do not get restful sleep on days that I exercise. Any weight bearing exercise (bodyweight, light weights, heavy weights) will result in me not getting restful sleep and feeling incredibly groggy the next morning. I am 23 years old, 172 pounds and roughly 6ft tall. I consider myself above average in terms of physical fitness but it took me a long time to realize my sleep issues seem to be correlated with my workouts. I have a healthy diet and no known other health problems that may cause this, but I was shocked when I realized on days that I simply do NOT exercise, I am able to sleep fine and feel refreshed the next morning. I have done lots of research and most people are supposed to sleep better with exercise, yet I am experiencing the opposite. I do not want to just stop working out and lose everything I worked so hard for, but I am also aware sleep is a critical necessity for everyone. I also train in the mornings and do not consume caffeine anywhere near bed time, I just notice that I wake up extra achy with very low energy on the following day after I train. I typically do compound movements but have experimented with different types of workouts to see if there is a difference but I have had no luck. I am hoping someone can either relate, or a doctor can respond to propose some solutions. I am considering seeing a neurologist to see if I have central nervous system burnout. I have spoken to my doctor a couple of times pertaining to this and he thinks its psychological but I disagree. I have also had my cortisol levels checked and they were in the healthy range. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Thank you.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 23, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "Several of you talked about challenges with not getting restful sleep on exercise days and offered..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Several of you talked about challenges with not getting restful sleep on exercise days and offered suggestions on how this might be overcome. I'd love to hear an update and anything new you may have learned along the way that might be helpful to others in this discussion.

@darkelliam - how are the sleep issues going on the days you weight train?

Hi, @ihatediabetes - you talked a bit about the clothing one wears during exercise, specifically compression pants. Will you share more about this and how these might be helpful to @darkelliam or others?

@hopeful33250 - you talked about facing this issue, too, with having trouble sleeping on the days where you exercise. Are you still finding this to be the case? If so, which of the self-care tips you mentioned do you find works the best: warm shower at bedtime, ibuprofen (Advil) in the evening, heating pad or electric blanket, deep breathing exercises or Tai-Chi?

Jump to this post

Hi @lisalucier

Thanks for asking again about this. Yes, I'm feeling like I'm making some progress in this direction, but it was not what I thought it is was originally. I see an endocrinologist periodically and was talking about the possibility of malabsorption of nutrients due to several surgeries of the upper digestive tract. I did some research and discovered that the area of my surgeries was where Vit D, Vit A, and Magnesium were absorbed. I was looking through my blood test results (as doctors are always checking them) and my Vit D level (which is always low) as well as the magnesium level. I noticed that while my magnesium level was still within the normal range, it was at the lowest area of the normal range.

She concluded that might possibly be my problem with the unbearable fatigue/pain I experience after exercise. She said that magnesium fuels the muscles of your body (which includes the heart). Since I have a low normal level of magnesium when I exercise I don't have a magnesium reserve and therefore it dips even lower, so the muscles of my body (including my heart) do not have much help. I've begun upping the magnesium supplement but more importantly before I exercise I eat something high in magnesium. This has helped me.

I still use breathing exercises if I'm feeling restless at nights and a heating pad (or now an electric blanket) as well as OTC lidocaine patches for pain. Therefore, sleep is much better now.

REPLY
1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Feb 23, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hi @lisalucier Thanks for asking again about this. Yes, I'm feeling like I'm making some progress..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hi @lisalucier

Thanks for asking again about this. Yes, I'm feeling like I'm making some progress in this direction, but it was not what I thought it is was originally. I see an endocrinologist periodically and was talking about the possibility of malabsorption of nutrients due to several surgeries of the upper digestive tract. I did some research and discovered that the area of my surgeries was where Vit D, Vit A, and Magnesium were absorbed. I was looking through my blood test results (as doctors are always checking them) and my Vit D level (which is always low) as well as the magnesium level. I noticed that while my magnesium level was still within the normal range, it was at the lowest area of the normal range.

She concluded that might possibly be my problem with the unbearable fatigue/pain I experience after exercise. She said that magnesium fuels the muscles of your body (which includes the heart). Since I have a low normal level of magnesium when I exercise I don't have a magnesium reserve and therefore it dips even lower, so the muscles of my body (including my heart) do not have much help. I've begun upping the magnesium supplement but more importantly before I exercise I eat something high in magnesium. This has helped me.

I still use breathing exercises if I'm feeling restless at nights and a heating pad (or now an electric blanket) as well as OTC lidocaine patches for pain. Therefore, sleep is much better now.

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 Hi Theresa you haven't talked about this since I've been on but wow you have alot of problems Do you use Epsom Salts this is magnesium I can't get in bathtub anymore but wring out a washcloth and use where needed especially after exercise ,sourdough bread is easier to digest ,you may already know this. You are so graceful on here I would have never known I'm impressed with your attitude .Good for you

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 23, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@hopeful33250 Hi Theresa you haven't talked about this since I've been on but wow you have..." + (show)
@lioness

@hopeful33250 Hi Theresa you haven't talked about this since I've been on but wow you have alot of problems Do you use Epsom Salts this is magnesium I can't get in bathtub anymore but wring out a washcloth and use where needed especially after exercise ,sourdough bread is easier to digest ,you may already know this. You are so graceful on here I would have never known I'm impressed with your attitude .Good for you

Jump to this post

Thanks, @lioness. Yes, I have been soaking my feet in Epsom salts periodically, especially on days when I have been more active. I did not know that sourdough bread was easier to digest. Thanks for that tip.

Yes, if you read my Spotlight (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/meet-hopeful33250-striving-so-no-one-ever-feels-alone-in-their-personal-health-challenges/), you will learn a bit about my medical history with lots of variety, including a paralyzed vocal cord, Rheumatic heart disease, hypoparathyroidism among others. I suppose I'm like a lot of Members on Connect in that I realize my attitude is all I have control over so I might as well be as upbeat as possible So, like you, I count my blessings instead of my difficulties and move forward.

REPLY
2 replies
JK | @contentandwell | Feb 23, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Thanks, @lioness. Yes, I have been soaking my feet in Epsom salts periodically, especially on days..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Thanks, @lioness. Yes, I have been soaking my feet in Epsom salts periodically, especially on days when I have been more active. I did not know that sourdough bread was easier to digest. Thanks for that tip.

Yes, if you read my Spotlight (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/meet-hopeful33250-striving-so-no-one-ever-feels-alone-in-their-personal-health-challenges/), you will learn a bit about my medical history with lots of variety, including a paralyzed vocal cord, Rheumatic heart disease, hypoparathyroidism among others. I suppose I'm like a lot of Members on Connect in that I realize my attitude is all I have control over so I might as well be as upbeat as possible So, like you, I count my blessings instead of my difficulties and move forward.

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 Teresa, you, like many others on here, are a trooper. It’s humbling to hear what so many of you have gone through. Any current problems I have pale in comparison.
JK

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Feb 23, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Thanks, @lioness. Yes, I have been soaking my feet in Epsom salts periodically, especially on days..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Thanks, @lioness. Yes, I have been soaking my feet in Epsom salts periodically, especially on days when I have been more active. I did not know that sourdough bread was easier to digest. Thanks for that tip.

Yes, if you read my Spotlight (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/meet-hopeful33250-striving-so-no-one-ever-feels-alone-in-their-personal-health-challenges/), you will learn a bit about my medical history with lots of variety, including a paralyzed vocal cord, Rheumatic heart disease, hypoparathyroidism among others. I suppose I'm like a lot of Members on Connect in that I realize my attitude is all I have control over so I might as well be as upbeat as possible So, like you, I count my blessings instead of my difficulties and move forward.

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 I so agree with JK you are a trooper here and a wise person to know attitude does make a difference in your pain level also being positive makes you feel better but negative feelings make you hurt more Good for you

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Feb 23, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@hopeful33250 I so agree with JK you are a trooper here and a wise person to..." + (show)
@lioness

@hopeful33250 I so agree with JK you are a trooper here and a wise person to know attitude does make a difference in your pain level also being positive makes you feel better but negative feelings make you hurt more Good for you

Jump to this post

@lioness I agree totally. I think my pre-transplant attitude attitude really helped me tremendously. I was determined to just continue doing what I had been doing, except of course when HE episodes interfered. Maybe that’s not what helped, maybe I was just lucky, but it sure didn’t hurt.
JK

REPLY
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