Over 90% of people living with Fibro are constantly exhausted.
Naps are often our go-to, but are naps good for Fibromyalgia?
Having Fibromyalgia myself, I know that scoring a nap is all you can think about some days.
I also know that, for me, a nap can make a bad day better or a bad day worse.
Because some days, a nap is for hiding from the pain; others, it’s because you cannot stay awake.
But then, when you wake up, it’s a coin toss whether you’ll wake up a little better or as if another semi ran right through you.
So are naps good for Fibromyalgia?
Does napping help with exhaustion or calm a flare up, per science?
(I’ve also looked into what the consensus is among Fibro moms.)
Keep reading to learn whether naps are good for Fibromyalgia, what other moms think about this stigmatized tool (if I nap, I won’t get anything done!), plus a few simple ways you can help calm flare-ups and fatigue.
Are naps good for Fibromyalgia?
Where a nap is good for you as someone with Fibromyalgia is up to you.
Peruse any Fibromyalgia forum, and you’ll read comments from others proclaiming how they can’t get through their day without a nap.
However, google “Are naps good for Fibromyalgia?” and you’ll read oodles of articles stating that naps are not good for those with Fibro.
Like this one study published in the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders journal, most articles on Google mention this small study of 1,044 adults.
The study found that people with Fibromyalgia who napped longer than 30 minutes had higher levels of depression and more trouble with memory.
They also experienced more sleep problems, pain, fatigue, and anxiety.
However, one of the authors, Alice Theadom, Ph.D. of Auckland University of Technology, found that “These findings suggest that napping behavior may be more intrinsically linked to FMS symptoms…however, causality was unable to be determined within this study.”
So while not many studies have been done to determine whether ultimately naps are good for those with Fibro, those already published can’t seem to directly link naps with worse symptoms.
The bottom line is that if naps make you feel better, then nap your butt off.
I love my naps.
Even laying down for 20-40 minutes helps.
I feel more calm, alert, energized, and focused, and I am in less pain after waking – typically.
And my kid loves tucking me in – so sweet.
So what do other people with Fibro think about napping?
What you say about napping with Fibromyalgia
If I do a quick search for “napping” or “naps” in any of my Fibro mom groups, many say that taking a nap during the day is helpful.
(If you aren’t in a Fibro support group yet, you are missing out on a great and supportive community – try Facebook and Quora for starters)
So I created a poll in a Fibro mom FB group because I was curious how other moms felt about napping.
My question was, do you find that taking a nap helps your symptoms and mental state?
Before I tell you the stats, pick a poll option yourself:
- yes, napping always helps me feel better
- yes, napping usually helps me feel better; sometimes I feel worse
- no, napping doesn’t usually help me
- no, napping doesn’t help me at all
Which one did you choose?
Out of 63 participants, 42 said that napping usually helps them, though it sometimes makes symptoms worse (i.e., more groggy, sorer muscles).
That’s a little more than 66% who say naps are usually an effective tool for managing Fibro pain and fatigue.
Many mamas chimed in saying they feel much better mentally after a nap.
(None of us seem to be immune to the Mom Guilt that comes with napping though!)
11 said (17%) that napping always helps them.
8 mamas (12%) said that napping typically doesn’t bring relief, and two mamas said napping doesn’t help them at all.
So how do you feel about naps?
If you like ‘em, how can you make space for a nap when your body is telling you to rest?
Does Fibromyalgia improve with rest?
Yes, your body and Fibromyalgia symptoms improve with rest.
Rest can ease Fibro fog symptoms and promote better focus and memory.
A nap is resting, so why wouldn’t a little siesta be beneficial to you?
Too many of us fight fatigue when it’s clearly telling us to slow down.
And mustering through that exhaustion can make you feel worse.
You can’t always slow down and stop right when you want to, but you can try harder at working to prioritize your body’s needs.
Do people with Fibromyalgia need extra sleep?
It is not so much the amount of hours slept that makes your Fibro symptoms better or worse; it’s the quality of sleep that’s the biggest factor here.
Less than 10% of people with Fibromyalgia get the coveted deep sleep they need that results in feeling refreshed in the morning.
The other unlucky 90% have to go through their day in a tired stupor.
Which camp are you in, currently?
When you don’t get enough deep sleep, you’re more likely to experience fatigue, pain, and cognitive difficulties.
And those problems make it difficult to sleep – and the cycle continues until you go insane.
Just kidding.
Until you break down and almost go insane and realize you have to do something different.
Like, take a nap.
How do you calm a Fibromyalgia flare up?
Sleep is one of the best tools you have to calm a flare up.
Honestly, it’s the only way to escape a flare up.
(Though nightmares as a side effect from the medications you’re taking is a whole ‘nother story)
Here are some of my favorite ways to calm a Fibro flare:
- take a nap
- go to bed early
- do legs up the wall
- drink plenty of water (being hydrated reduces headaches and inflammation)
- lay on the floor with a blanket (can be great for back pain)
- use headphones and/or earplugs to curb overstimulation
- stretch (try yoga with bird)
- take a bath with epsom salts
- take your mind off with something you enjoy, like video games
Whatever works for you, do that.
And don’t feel guilty about doing it, either.
Related:
Your takeaway
So are naps good for Fibromyalgia?
For your Fibromyalgia?
You’re the judge of that one.
Science is on the fence.
So far, evidence shows napping frequently for longer than 30 minutes makes Fibro symptoms more severe.
But again, you’re the one in the driver’s seat of your own body.
So nap it up if you need to.
Do you think I’m fighting to stay awake as I write this?
I’m going to go lay down for a na…
