Sleep and SCD

What can I do to avoid always feeling tired?

It will be best to start by improving your quality of sleep. Here are some tips to help with this process.

1. Establish a regular sleep schedule.
   1. Consistent sleep and wake times can help to set a proper circadian rhythm.
   2. When creating your schedule, consider your other demands/obligations.
   3. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine a few hours before going to bed.
2. Create a good sleeping environment.
3. Reduce non-sleeping time in bed (i.e., doing your work in bed).
4. Create small, realistic goals that you can maintain, and if your schedule is disrupted try to re-establish it as soon as you can.
5. If problems persist, consider consulting with your health care team for more specific plan (e.g., sleep study, psychologist for behavioral sleep changes).

What can I do to stop my SCD pain from interfering with my sleep?

1. Refer to Pain and SCD handout for in depth descriptions of techniques you can do to reduce your pain during the day so that it doesn’t interfere with your sleep at night.
2. Examine your options of medications with your health provider.