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Why nighttime Diarrhea (the capital D is intentional)?

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Posted 2/24/2009 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I am flaring (not as badly as my first time last summer), and I have my usual morning runs to the bathroom, nothing all day, and then I'm up in the middle of the night at least three times, sometimes more, with Diarrhea--no pain, though, but incredible urgency. And it isn;t getting better.

I'm seeing my GI tomorrow (I'm on 60 mg prednisone, 11 Asacol), but I don't know what to ask for. I am also using Proctofoam, but have a feeling it's way, way to weak to help.

Thanks in advance!

Posted 2/25/2009 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Night time BMs are a sign of a severe flare. You are already on a lot of pred. What about either steroid or mesalamine enemas?

When do you take your prednisone? All in one dose? Do you split it up? I found I did better when I took it in two doses until I tapered down to 20mg or less.

I don't suggest sleep meds. I wouldn't wake up a couple of times when I should have :(

I did on occasion use Darvocet to get about 4 hours of sleep in a row w/o waking up. If I could just get to sleep and not move, it made the urgency a bit less.

I hope you get some more help form you GI.
Posted 2/25/2009 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
how long have you been on the pred? if you have been flaring and gone untreated for a while, it can take a while for the pred to give you the desired effect. you are on a good amount of pred so it should help. Try splitting the dose and taking them 3 times a day. I found that it helps better. Also i take my last dose of pred before sleeping so i can try and get a good night sleep. just hope it doesnt keep you up at night thought.... good luck.
Posted 2/25/2009 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
This was how my son was with his worst flare. We found that with the pred, he had to wait until later in the morning when all the bathroom visits has slowed/stopped to take his pred instead of early morning as recommended. How long have you been on the pred? Some people get relief right away, with my son it took 2 weeks.

Hope you are able to get some sleep very soon. Be sure and let us know how your appointment goes tomorrow.
Posted 2/25/2009 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
What time do you eat dinner? can you eat earlier? I read in a colitis book that it is better to stop eating early in the evening or have your largest meal for lunch.
I dont know if that will make a difference, but it is worth a shot.
also, if you need to have a full night sleep and this is interrupting to the point where you are tired in the morning, you could take immodium to help you get a few decent nights a week. I also read this in the book written by a reputable GI. you will still have to go, but at least it will be delayed til a.m.
However, if you take immodium in the daytime to get thru your day, I wouldnt recommned taking it at night also.
Posted 2/25/2009 10:16 AM (GMT 0)
Sistermarie,

Thank you for posting on this. I was wondering the same thing. During the day I am able to get through okay, not wonderfully. Nights and mornings are a living hell. I get up early and my bathroom trips are just non-stop:( I had no idea that I could split my prednisone dose for the day. Maybe this will help me also.
Posted 2/25/2009 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on 60 mg of pred for 5 days, and split the doses into one morning and one at 5:00 pm. I eat dinner at around 6:00, and usually have something in the evening because I am desperately trying to keep up my protein levels.

I had a slow day at work here yesterday, so was searching around on this forum, and found a thread about sleeping on your back. Many people posted saying that sleeping on your left side (which is what I do) is a sure-fire guarantee to be up and running to the bathroom every 15 minutes. So I slept on my back last night (with my heating pad), slept straight through until 5:30, got up once and went back to sleep until the alarm went off. Still had the usual morning runs, but to actually sleep!

I am seeing my GI today and am going to ask about rectal meds.

This forum is so helpful!

 

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