I can't seem to get enough sleep!

For one thing, I am so proud of myself.  I have finally managed to get off sleeping aids that I have been on for the last 4 years (I'm a chronic insomniac).  I am sleeping great but now I feel like I can't get enough.  I wake up tired and I am tired almost all day.  Not fatigued - just like I can lay my head down and sleep all day.  I don't know if I am flaring or not - I'm in a weird holding pattern where I will have D and frequency for a couple days and then I am back to "normal" for a couple days and then back to D and frequency then back to normal etc.  I've recently had my B12 and iron levels checked and that is fine.  Do you suppose that my tiredness can be from my wean off sleeping aids?  Thinking aloud here - I also have very mild RLS (restless leg syndrome) so I'm wondering if by going off the sleeping aids that it has aggravated my RLS.  I'm thinking of asking my doc for a sleep study.  But any thoughts would be greatly appreciated to help me get rid of this tiredness!  Oh and I already excersize during the day - but light because my neck pain gets aggravated with too aggressive excersizing.

I have suffered periods of insomonia my whole life and I have no way if this could apply to you but, when a period of insomonia waned, and I began sleeping longer I actually felt More Sleepy during the day.  I actually found that by getting up earlier in the morning I would feel less sleepy during the day.  Very weird, I know. 

My natural body clock would have me go to sleep at 9pm and get up 5am for the best "rested" feeling during the day.  The less I fight that time table, the better off I am.  Can you indulge your inner clock for a while and see if it helps. 

On the other hand, UC has just about taken care of my insominia problems the last year.  Well, that and a habitual visualization program I follow at night.

Good luck.  Fatigue and sleepiness/insomia have plagued me for years so I know it can be disruptive.

Judy, yes I get cold like I just can't seem to warm up kind of cold. But no water retention or swelling anywhere. I was thinking about going to the doc to have my thyroid checked - did I mention that I am so sick of going to the doctors??? lol

Madabs, I have an internal clock too and I always follow what it says. I found that if I stray off any sort of schedule or disrupt my internal clock that my insomnia strikes up again. My internal clock says go to bed at 10pm and wake up at 6am or else! :) I've even tried getting less hours and even more hours - trying to find my happy medium and it has to be 8 hours.

Xp - not sure if it has any correlation to UC. I started noticing RLS a couple years ago when I have had UC already for 14 years. I don't know what I do in my sleep but my hubby says I twitch like crazy. But when I am awake and resting I get that uncontrollable urge to move my legs. Like I have no control over them. It's so weird. But it's not that bad and it only acts up every now and then.

you may not be getting the full nights rest like you were before. If you keep on waking up that could be why you are tired all day, like people who have sleep apnea. A study would prob be a good idea if something does not help you soon!

Yikes Red! This sounds like it could be something serious. I hope your tests give you some answers. Just what you don't need - another something to worry about.

I have hypothyroidism and take medication for it, but I still feel like I can't sleep enough. I have fallen asleep at my desk sitting up a few times, and many days I have to go use our recliner in the HR department to take a nap during lunch. Ugh. My doc says chronic inflammation can do that. Even when I'm in remission. I know it's frustrating. Hope you figure out what is causing yours and get it fixed. If nothing else, know there are others out there who feel your pain!

Interesting. I always feel so lazy! Guilt my mother gave me, about being idle. I need to give myself a break. (and a well-deserved nap).