I have to admit that I am not a fan of daylight saving time. It really messes with my chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia pain. November and March are not months I look forward to for this reason.
Don’t get me wrong. I love watching the daffodils start showing their beautiful yellow selves, birds singing in the morning, and trees beginning to bud. I love everything about spring; it’s my favorite time of year … except for changing our clocks, and losing that precious hour of sleep.
Honestly, I feel the effects the very next day. As spring battles to leave winter behind, my body is just confused. Sadly, it takes weeks for my body to adjust. I’m aware that a consistent bedtime can make a difference, but I’ve never been able to manage that. Then you throw in the monkey wrench of losing an hour, and my FM fatigue goes off the charts.
I find it harder to get to sleep early enough. I keep adding 15 minutes to my sleep timer on my audiobook, because I am just not ready to fall asleep. Even if I wake later, my body is not fooled. It’s just another way to really mess with my FM and throw me off my game. Sigh.
There are constant pressure changes as we go from winter to spring, and my body is paying the price. I’m looking forward to April when my body begins to adjust.
I’m a fairly even-keeled person, but the time change makes me cranky. I mean, it’s disrupting my internal body clock and I’m not happy about that. On the positive side, days with more sunshine are a boon to our mental health. I absolutely LOVE the extra daylight.
So, I guess I’ll suck up the changes that throw me in a FM flare, and enjoy everything else about it. More daylight hours, tulips, daffodils, sweetly-singing birds, and being able to open my windows on warmer days.
How about you? How does daylight saving time affect your fibromyalgia?
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Yes!!!! I vote for us to stay on Daylight Saving Time year round. It’s not just us FMS sufferers. The average number of car accidents is higher on the day after the time change. It’s just not good for anyone anymore, especially with our modern revved-up schedules and overstimulation. Why do we keep doing this?
I know. There’s also documented evidence that there are higher incidences of heart attacks and strokes in the first few days after the time change
Daylight savings spring forward always affects me negatively. Flares of pain much more frequently for a couple of weeks. And I am tired even if I manage to get 7 or 8 hours sleep. I can definitely understand the increased car accident rate .. Mistakes happen when you’re tired. I’ve also read that statistics show an increased heart attack rate, especially the Monday after the clock change. Thanks Robin for reminding me to look at the positives too!
Karen, I’m with you…flares and increased fatigue. You’re very welcome for the reminders to look at the positives…so important!
I too have such a difficult time with the time changes, both of them. My fibromyalgia coupled with a chronic sleep disorder set me up for months of trouble only to adjust and have it be time to change again. So many people don’t understand how difficult this is for us.I’ve been dealing with for more than 30 years and it never gets easier. the fact that there is no real reason to continue with these time changes makes me feel it’s time to do away with it once and for all.
Debra, I totally agree!!
I too feel the negative effects of springing forward!!We are not alone in this many of my non-fibro friends report feeling out of sorts with the time change.I guess the word “spring” is not in my vocabulary any longer!!haha Anyway.Happy Spring everyone.
If it wouldn’t be how well I respond to more light (severe Season Affective Disorder), I would be in the same boat. So very true, Robin. ‘Any’ adjustments of weather–right now we hit a colder spell with wind–it’s the pits or like a child having a temper tantrum. I’m trying my best not to do so myself. We are always adjusting with the fickle seasons and small/large stressors and small/huge changes. Losing an hour or gaining an hour do make a difference. Stability does elude many of us. But at least my dourness and sadness and depression has lifted big time. Usually takes much longer. However, we had a mock Spring in February this year! So hanging in and trucking on. Have a joyful day!!!!
Julie, I always love your warrior attitude!! ?
In addition to the dreaded time change, pollen is a major spring issue where I live (a top 3 city in US for allergies). It affects our nervous system. My skin sensitivities are off the charts as soon as the trees start budding. I used to love spring, but no more!
Marilynne, I’m so sorry! I wouldn’t love Spring either if I had to deal with that
I just found this blog because I have just come to realize that daylight savings is really bad for my FM. I was feeling really good at the start of 2017. I joined a gym, watched my diet and lost 20 lbs. It was a slow loss, but a loss none the less. Then came the time change. My pain increased as well as my fatigue. I went to my doctor in July and when I explained I hadn’t felt right since the time change all he said was, “that was awhile ago.” I felt worse all summer long. I even let him talk me into trying Lyrica in October. I hated it and quit taking it. Then we went back to standard time. I can report that I have so much more energy and my pain has subsided. I just put 2 and 2 together and realize that yes, my body rejects the spring ahead. Now if I could sleep in every day that would probably help. But I can’t. I work. And it doesn’t matter how early I go to bed, I never feel better. Well, at least I am aware of it now. And, I have a little over two months to enjoy feeling better.
I am so happy to see other people with this problem, this is the first year that I put two and two together. Yesterday, I was thinking to myself – wow I feel great for the first time since the spring, I’ve gained 25 pounds during that time, I suffered in pain, I had a very hard time getting up on time. Since “fall behind” I am feeling SO much better – like I woke up! Why don’t doctors figure this out? Or have they and I just have not found good publications on it? I would love to see a list of things that I can do to prevent all the suffering I experience during that time 🙁