I also have fibromyalgia and other autoimmune diseases. Severe fatigue is a symptom, and you can not expect to feel refreshed when you wake up in the morning, even after eight hours sleep. Your cells do not receive restorative energy as those for somebody without fibromyalgia. I am more exhausted when I wake up than when I go to bed. And that’s if it’s a night of being walking with pain or if I sleep straight through. I was referred to a pulmonologist since he would also be considered having a specialty in areas including sleep, which is the first thing that is looked at. Standard testing is a sleep study for sleep apnea which is done overnight while being monitored. Results showed that I do not have sleep apnea, but I do not reach a level of restorative sleep. My daytime, excessive sleepiness included taking three naps a day. Naps during the day were not helping me optimize my “good sleep habits” obviously. After another round of overnight testing, they continued into the morning to test for excessive daytime sleepiness. Between 7 AM and 11 AM after sleeping the full night, I slept “on command” four times. Which I call napping on command. My daytime condition was diagnosed as hypersomnolence, which falls under the umbrella of narcolepsy. And addition to building and strictly following my sleep management, I was prescribed various medications to address symptoms of hypersomnolance during the day. For me, and everybody’s experience with medication is individual, it was not extremely successful, although I guess I would have to say somewhat helpful. I find that by managing my sleep factors throughout the day and continually focus on how it affects my sleep habits has helped the most. The insurance companies make it very difficult to obtain the medication‘s. In addition, indivually I metabolize the medication in a way that minimizes the time and effectiveness effects, therefore, it out of the range of standard effectiveness. For instance, an eight hour medication may last two hours. I try to recognize the cycles in my day and plan around them. I no longer work for a corporation, but still have many responsibilities that require significant levels of functionality. We’re not supposed to be self critical, as it puts negativity around us, which creates more negativity, and less ability for a happy and successful days, but I do consider myself non-functional when it comes to managing, focusing, completing tasks that prior to being sick I had complete confidence in handling before. My mind and body is sluggish. The piles get bigger on the desk, in the house, and I do know that it is additional self management that I need to focus on. It’s self management items that only one at a time I can focus on, try to make a habit, then cement it into my day , that makes more of a difference than any medication.

I wish I had stronger and more reliant self discipline. Not being a strong part of my character, with conditions where “self management” is most effective Rx, I always feel that I only have myself to blame! (Ugh! There goes that negative talk again!!)
Taking pressure off yourself with your own routine can help. We don’t need to match the same schedule friends and family may be on. And find and build overtime little things that make it pleasant for you vs a punishment. It all takes time to feel it’s ok to take care of yourself this way. Self management is not easily respected by others. And we tend to feel it is selfish, especially with conditions that may not be easily visible.
Wishes for gentleness and quality of YOUR life!

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