My wife often has trouble sleeping. It seems like she either can’t stay awake or she can’t go to sleep, and this cycles back and forth every few weeks. Once she goes to sleep, she can stay asleep, but it’s the getting to sleep part that’s often difficult. I suspect that the insomnia is related to certain medications, but it may also be related to the illness itself. Like many lupus sufferers, my wife has tried a variety of sleep aids, including Lunesta and Ambien; however, they tend to work well for a couple of weeks and then lose their effectiveness.

This has had an effect on my own sleep patterns, and I’m feeling exhausted both physically and mentally. I get up at 5:30 AM so that I can get to work, and when you don’t get to sleep until 1:00 or 2:00 AM, this quickly becomes a problem. We need to find a solution or we’re going to have to take turns on the couch, and that just makes both of us sad. We have young children, and that time between 8:00 PM and bedtime is really the only time we have alone together.

The Better Sleep Council has an extensive website dedicated to helping people get the sleep they need. They have listed Ten Tips for Better Sleep:

1. Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends.
2. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.
3. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.
4. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
5. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex. It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment.
6. Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.
7. Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.
8. Avoid nicotine (e.g., cigarettes, tobacco products). Used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep.
9. Avoid caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.
10. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. It can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.

Unfortunately, we have followed almost all of these suggestions and my wife still can’t get to sleep regularly. Has anyone had similar problems? If so, what has helped?