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Is Morning Hard For Most People?

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Posted 11/6/2009 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone!

Ever since I was diagnosed, I have had the absolute worst time in the mornings. My diarrhea totally rules my life in the mornings--I have to get up 2-3 hrs before I leave the house to (hopefully-if I"m lucky that day) make sure I've taken care of it before I go anywhere. I used to think that was just the way that my supmtoms presented themselves, but now that I'm talking to more people with UC/Crohn's, it is sounding like many people have this problem.

Two questions:

1. Is this the worst time of day for you?

2. If so, why do you think this is? Do you notice anything that makes it better/worse?

It seems like such an enigma to me. I think it has something to do with being asleep...sometimes even when I nap, I wake up and it's sketchy for a while there. Thoughts?

Posted 11/6/2009 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
80s.. sorry to hear about your morning... If i'm flairing then yes morning and nights are absolutely HORRIBLE for me... I'm coming out of one right now and my mornings just started gettin better...
Posted 11/6/2009 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Yes. I used to have to get up at least 3 hours before I had to leave the house. I would get up in the morning, go to the bathroom, stand up and then sit right back down. I got so paranoid about it I still want at least two hours in the morning.
Posted 11/6/2009 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
Mornings were ALWAYS the worst for me. That and after lunch.
When you are sleeping so is your colon. So when you wake up your colon has to too
Posted 11/6/2009 7:46 AM (GMT 0)
yea mornings are the worst, closely followed by night time.

for some reason, the middle of day is not so bad. it still sucks, but not near as bad as morning and night.
it seems that when you move around after being still all night, things inside the colon move and that hurts. then its time to get it all out!
and that hurts. and takes like 5-8 trips to the can to deal with that.

then night time after dinner is horrible too.
usually taking my first few bites of food makes me run to the toilet.
the body has this mechanism that releases something when you start chewing and salivating that makes your colon start to move and get things out to make room for the new stuff your eating.

middle of night is just as bad. im up every hour or 2 and im in there for at least 20 minutes at a time. which leaves not much sleep time.

the only thing that makes it better is my pain killers. nothing else will make it better or worse it seems.

and i know what you mean by breaking the towel bar.
Posted 11/6/2009 9:48 AM (GMT 0)
I get up early mornings and do yoga. I have to go to the bathroom several times during the workout, but the days I do yoga I have control all day and the days I don't I have more episodes around lunch or dinner times.

Mornings are bad anyway and you're awake... use the time for something good for your body, I say.
Posted 11/6/2009 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
Mornings aren't as bad for me now that I'm in remission but while flaring, yes they are absolutely my most horrible time. I don't work but if I have to get up for something, I get up about 2 hours before I have to go so I can take care of my bathroom trips before I leave. It usually leaves me wiped out for the day.

This is my theory, when you sleep so does your colon. You are at a state of rest and therefore your mind is at ease allowing tension to release from your body. Uc can be stress and emotionally driven so when you are resting, it calms your colon down. And then when you wake up unfortunately so does your colon.
Posted 11/6/2009 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
Flaring or not, mornings are bad for me - I always have to allow an hour and a half or more before I do anything outside. Even when not flaring or anything, urgency is a chronic issue with me. I was first diagnosed in 1986, so this is my life.
Posted 11/6/2009 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
I,ve been in a flare[not a major one-have at least 5bms per day] since the spring.The mornings are tough.I feel normally we can hold in whatever is in our colon in the morning except if we get the normal urge to go.But when we're flaring even the smallest amount in our colon wants to come out when we wake up,or before we wake up.I think the things that i can do to have better mornings are balance my meals -smaller but more often meals[it's not easy to do],don't make dinner such a heavy meal[it's tough when your 6-5-217lbs should be 235lbs].What foods can inflame my colon-stay away from these.Less gluten?This morning i have not gone to the boys room yet and we had Chinese food for dinner last night[no m.s.g] ,yesterday by this time i had gone twice-go figure.I have had two episodes where i was going to work and couldn't hold it in any longer[this sucks],this was when i first started flaring and i've learned to try to get it all out before i head out.I work with a contractor who understands the disease,if i'm late then i'm late.What is the best thing to keep our frustration level down?I also have more BMs when i've done a rowasa the night before,i've done a rowasa during the week where i had to take off of work the next day.Too many BMs,too late in the morning and i don't want to stink-up a house if there are people living in it.The jobs we do where there's noone living in the house are a beatiful thing-less stressful for me.GOOD LUCK
Posted 11/6/2009 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
     Mornings bad for me too.  Now...all day long is bad.  The pressure in my rectum is controlling my life.  I feel like I have to go and all that comes out is a little squiggly turd with blood and it feels like I am taking a major poo. shakehead
Posted 11/6/2009 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I get up 2 1/2 hours early. Lomitil when feet hits floor (On Tue-Fri only), 45 min drive to the clinic. Rest of day is usually ok. I usually have two or three sit downs before I am out the door, with nothing coming out of course. Sometimes I just tell my bowels they are wasting my time and I don't have to go and leave, lol. If I am still cramping a little it helps to position my seatback forward a little more to put some flexion in my upper body to take stress off the guts. I never eat within 2 hours of leaving.
Posted 11/6/2009 11:35 PM (GMT 0)

I am with everyone else in that mornings are worse.  I also get up two hours early if going out.  Otherwise, I get up about 8 and feel "normal" about 10 or 11.  My biggest problem now is nausea usually relieved by eating and coffee.  I now do not have the urgency but once I am up and around I have one or two BM's - then I am good to go.  If going out, I get up about 4 or 5 (always have to P anyway) and I take Tylenol Arthritis and 1/2 Imodium.  I take the other 1/2 Imodium when I get up.Works good for me!  I feel I am about 90% remission.  I have been eating light - but mostly carbs, little meat, cheese and fewer sweets. 

UC does often change our scheduling but we have to work around it just like we do children going to school or other appointments.  It is doable!!

ElaineNY

Posted 11/7/2009 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
The only thing that saves me from a morning flare is taking a very high dose of melatonin (20 mg) the night before. Low doses of melatonin dont help. Such large doses on a regular basis is dangerous and thats why I only take it if I have a very urgent appointment for the morning.

Posted 11/7/2009 6:36 AM (GMT 0)
It's the nature of the beast, mornings for the mojority are the most active time during flares.

:)
Posted 11/7/2009 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Mudua, how does melatonin relate to UC? I take a small dose most nights before bed and I haven't noticed any effect either way. Or maybe I have??
Posted 11/7/2009 8:29 PM (GMT 0)

Mitzo said...
Mudua, how does melatonin relate to UC? I take a small dose most nights before bed and I haven't noticed any effect either way. Or maybe I have??

Hi. The recommended dose for melatonin is 1 - 3 mg before going to bed. This helps you to have a good sleep but this dosage is far too low for any UC benefits. I read an article in a South African health magazine about a lady claiming to have gone in remission after taking 20mg of melatonin a night for 3 weeks.

I thought that 20mg sounded too much did some research and read an article of side effects from large qualities of melatonin. I decided to experiment 20mg for a single day and to my pleasant surprise I had no morning flare the following day and only one bowel movement at around 3pm that day. I only take 20mg if I have an urgent appointment and it always work for me. I am too scared to attempt 20mg for more than one day. I spoke to my doctor and he thinks that it's dangerous but he is not too sure.

Posted 11/7/2009 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Why is it so dangerous? What does it do to you?

Posted 11/8/2009 12:51 AM (GMT 0)

I try not to do anything in the morning other than what I have to.  I usually take lomotil if I have to go anywhere. 

I think Dr. A and storysinger are on the right track, though.  When I can find the right movements and/or right positions for my colon, I seem to do better.    

This whole disease is an enigma, isn't it? 

Posted 11/8/2009 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Mornings have always been tricky for me. Even a drink of water first thing in the morning had me running to the potty. I have had to stop drinking fluids at night at least 2 hours before bed so I don't wake up at night. When I do go pee at night, it is just long enough to "wake up" my colon. I end up staying up an extra 30 minutes before I can fall back asleep without any sense of urgency. These days, I wait to eat breakfast at least two hours after I wake up so I don't get that sense of urgency again ...
Posted 11/8/2009 8:50 AM (GMT 0)

80sChick said...
Why is it so dangerous? What does it do to you?


  • Lethargy
  • Liver problems
  • Eye problems
  • ="showDescription(event, 'http://nervous-system.emedtv.com/seizures/seizures.html', 'Caused by abnormal brain activity, seizures briefly alter a person\'s consciousness, movements, or actions.', 'Seizures')" onmouseout=hideDescription(event); href="http://nervous-system.emedtv.com/seizures/seizures.html">Seizures
  • Weakness
  • Disorientation
  • Psychotic thinking or behaviors
  • Confusion
  • Drowsiness
  • Speech problems
  • Dizziness
  • ="showDescription(event, 'http://headache.emedtv.com/headaches/headaches.html', 'A headache can involve pain or aching that occurs in the head, face, mouth, or neck.', 'Headaches')" onmouseout=hideDescription(event); href="http://headache.emedtv.com/headaches/headaches.html">Headaches
  • Shakiness (tremor).

    • I have experienced shakiness , lethargy and slight disorientation with 20mg. It's a risk I take occasionally if I have a very important morning appointment.

    Posted 11/8/2009 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
    Mornings are rough for me as well. The first thing I do is pop a pain pill and head to the bathroom. Lately I've been averaging four hours of sleep because of arthritis and a suspected ovarian cyst. That doesn't help the situation at all because the cyst causes the most pain in the mornings as well. I swear when one flares up, they all do!

    I'm pretty much useless until the pain meds kick in. I have to eat with the meds but, of course, that adds another hour to my time spent in the bathroom. I'm not working anymore (sadly) so it doesn't hurt my schedule too much but it surely is annoying.

    Posted 11/9/2009 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
    Yep, mornings are a nightmare for me too. Always have been.

    I have to be up for at least 3 hours before I am able to leave the house. Then I am usually okay for the rest of the day.

    This is usually manageable, except if I have to be somewhere early - like 9 am (and need to leave around 8 am) - i then have to wake up at 5 AM - ridiculous!

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