or as well as possible with fibromyalgia! There are so many recommendations out there, so to keep this entry from being too long I’ll write about the ones I use.

When I think about sleep, I first think of the place I do it, my bedroom. I do not have a TV in it nor do I spend any time in it unless I am in bed or getting ready for something. If my room is not dark I cannot sleep, so I have lined curtains and sheers. My pillows have an inner Allergen Blocking Pillow Case so allergens won’t effects my sleep. I believe that having comfortable bedding is also key. So far, my favorite sheets are Hotel Collection 600 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Sheets. I hear Costco has some great, high thread counts sheets, for less. I also have a small pillow that I keep within reach of the bed. I use it between my knees when my back hurts or to prop up my wrist if that is hurting. When my neck is in pain and I can’t get comfortable, I roll a hand towel up and use that under my neck.

I definitely have a routine I follow before going to bed and it starts with me turning down the thermostat an hour or more before bedtime. Right before going to bed I wash my face, put on nighttime skin products, go to the bathroom, change into my pajamas, brush my teeth and take a drink of water. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with a very dry throat, so I leave water on my bedside table. I also make sure I have Optive Lubricant Eye Drops, lip balm and lotion in my bedside table. The eye drops are a major sleep saver since sometimes my eyes are so uncomfortable from being dry that I cannot sleep. My doctor recommended this brand as it was not one that would cause problems with frequent use. If I am sleeping away from home I use my favorite eye mask: Tempur-Pedic Eye Mask. This mask is soft and comfy while being able to block out every bit of light – something most other masks just don’t do!

During a bought of insomnia I also refrain from having any caffeine, try to exercise during the day (but not within 6 hours of bedtime), use Bath & Body Works Lavender Vanilla Pillow Mist and take generic Ambien if needed. Usually after I take generic Ambein for a night it sort of resets my sleeping clock again.

Sleep Well! For more tips on sleeping well, see my follow-up post: Tips for Sleeping Well, Tips & Tools for Sleeping Well – Part II, Part III, Part IV and Part V.

Some of my sleep aids