Unrefreshing sleep

Unrefreshing sleep or nonrestorative sleep is a light sleep that, even after a full night, doesn't leave you rested.

People with ME/CFS will often awaken feeling exhausted as if they have not slept.

It is a core symptom in the diagnosis of SEID (ME/CFS). Fibromyalgia patients also experience unrefreshing sleep.

Prevalence

The "Report Guide for Clinicians" by the IOM and a part of the Institute of Medicine report states: "Despite the absence of a specific objective alteration in sleep architecture, the data are strong that the complaint of unrefreshing sleep is universal among patients with ME/CFS (IOM criteria) when questions about sleep specifically address this issue. While polysomnography is not required to diagnose ME/CFS, its use to screen for treatable sleep disorders when indicated is appropriate. Diagnosis of a primary sleep disorder does not rule out a diagnosis of ME/CFS."

Symptom recognition

• In the Fukuda criteria, the symptom of unrefreshing sleep can be used to help form a diagnosis.
• In the IOM criteria, it is a mandatory core symptom.

Notable studies

• 1997, Sleep anomalies in the chronic fatigue syndrome. A comorbidity study.

• 2016, Prevalencia de síntomas de fatiga crónica / encefalomielitis miálgica (SFC/EM) y su relación con factores ocupacionales en trabajadores en una empresa de vigilancia en Bogotá, Colombia Note: The only entry criteria noted were fatigue and muscle pain which seem to be the broadest and loose of symptom definitions Reeves criteria and Oxford criteria.

See also

• Sleep dysfunction
• Insomnia

Learn more

• 2016, How I sleep at night
• 2019, Unrefreshing Sleep in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

National Academy of Medicine (NAM) - An American non-profit, non-governmental organization which provides expert advice to governmental agencies on issues relating to biomedical science, medicine and health. Formerly known as the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

See National Academy of Medicine.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

chronic fatigue (CF) - Persistent and abnormal fatigue is a symptom, not an illness. It may be caused by depression, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or many other illnesses. The term "chronic fatigue" should never be confused with the disease chronic fatigue syndrome.