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Sleep, anxiety and UC

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Posted 2/15/2010 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have a lot of anxiety since I got UC and it really shows up at night when I try to fall asleep. I'm trying to stay off of anti-anxiety meds, but it's difficult and you definitely can get hooked on them,if I'm not already..

Any of you have any ideas of natural ways to promote sleep. I got ZMA, Zinc, Magnesium and Vitamin B-6 complex, and it seems to have worked two nights then the third it was back to the anxiety.
Posted 2/15/2010 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried meditation and yoga? and spend some time relaxing before you go to bed?
Posted 2/15/2010 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
I take 5 mg of melatonin many nights, about an hour before bedtime. Really helps to relax me. I'd also read about a clinical trial in which they were giving UC patients 5 mg of melatonin (I guess it's made in the gut, so we may not make enough of it....) so I figured it wouldn't hurt me to try this.....

I buy it at the grocery or pharmacy.
Posted 2/15/2010 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know if Melatonin is a good thing with the meds you're on, but worth it possibly to be discussed with the doc. I have read that melatonin can trigger/exacerbate autoimmine disease....

B vitamins can make one hyper....what about taking a bentyl before bedtime? that helps with spasming and relax you as well.

Do you read at bedtime? That might help.

I have a difficult time to get to sleep...life-long. Sucks.

q
Posted 2/15/2010 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Heather, I'm sorry about your sleeping problem. It's a drag. I hope it doesn't contribute to UC problems.

If mine didn't contribute to anxiety (UC trigger?) at this point, I'd probably put up with it.

My P-Doc recommended melatonin, do you recommend going from 3 to 5 milligrams? She said 4 mg. which isn't available.

I'm actually trying to ignore what I'm on and try new natural things. I just couldn't handle being put on an anti-psychotic. Things just went to far with that RX. My husband went ballistic when he saw me too sedated and has insisted we see another p-doc.

Tonight, I'm going to try -- no computer after 6 p.m., a little bit of early television and reading, melatonin and this ZMA. I'll use trileptal and the anti=anxiety med as a fall back because I have to get at least a few hours of sleep.

I may go to yoga class as well. I'm not too good at doing it on my own.

Any more suggestions would be appreciated.

ellen
Posted 2/15/2010 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi..no, my sleeping problem doesn't contribute to UC at all...I'm a nightowl through heredity...lol.

I can't advise regarding other preparations, however...others hopefully will do that.

If meds made me "out of it", I wouldn't want to take them either.
Finding the balance is a good thing.

Have you not gone on the bipolar forum on HW yet? you should...they'd be able to relate to the meds, emotions, sleeping, etc. with other suggestions.

Hope your schedule change works for you.

q
Posted 2/15/2010 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
Heather amd Zetlandgirl, meditation is a little difficult because of racing mind. Yes, I've gone on bipolar forum. I'm excited about getting out of the med mode, but bipolars should always be on some maintenance drugs, not necessarily a big gun though.
Posted 2/15/2010 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
One solution for that "racing brain at bedtime" issue is to listen to some music or audio you know well, using headphones. For me, that engages and focuses my brain enough that those distracting streams of thought can quiet down.
Posted 2/15/2010 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Heather, that is a worry I have that not sleeping would trigger UC. It triggers bipolar symptoms. good to know it has no effect on you...sonunds like you get a lot done.
Posted 2/16/2010 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
I use an otc product called "Lunasom," its available at walgreens and i think online.  I dont know the long term consequences of taking it, but it is all i need to sleep unless i'm experiencing psychological stress in which case i resort to a benadryl, although I still wonder if taking benadryl every night had an impact on my intial UC presentation.

Lunasom does me good anyway, and I'm not groggy the next day.

JMHO check with your doc

Posted 2/16/2010 6:33 AM (GMT 0)
When I was first diagnosed and in the midst of a very bad flare I had some horrible night panic incidents where I would wake up feeling like I had forgotten something very important, and be ridden with anxiety. Other nights, I was so anxiety filled I could never truly fall asleep, and my half waking would be filled with bizarre anxiety dreams about numbers or other incessant thoughts. I've never had any anxiety issues pre-colitis, minus the occasional dreams triggered by work or personal events, so I wondered if it was some sort of reaction to the medication, or possibly just fear of dealing with this disease. I found that watching tv or movies exacerbated it, so I turned stuff off about 2 hours before bed, which does help somewhat.

As the flare backed off, so did the reactions.
Posted 2/16/2010 6:39 AM (GMT 0)
Ellen....in what way could not sleeping trigger bipolar?...meaning a more depressed state or a more manic one? It wouldn't cause the disorder itself tho?

I don't get anywhere as much done as I should...lol...night owl doesn't mean I'm wanting to be busy. Now, my mom, on the other hand, would say "let's paint the bathroom"..uh, no thanks.

Hope you're able to find the balance. I know with most....schedule helps. I'm working on it to get to bed a bit earlier than I would usually. But, my husband works shifts...2 days, 2 nights, 4 days off. On the night shifts, it's impossible for me to get to bed early..sigh. Working on it, however.

quincy
Posted 2/16/2010 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Weird that I was going to post something this morning about sleep issues........signed in to the forum and found this post. 

I am going insane with my sleep/anxiety issues.  Not sure what to do about it.  I am going to bed at my usual time (between 10 and 11pm), dead tired, falling asleep, and waking at 3:30am, brain racing with thoughts.  Have stopped fighting it and instead just get up and start my day.  I work very long days so I should be tired and sleeping well, right? 

Had a scope two weeks ago and it shows that I am in remission so I am tapering off of the prednisone......only a couple days left.  Is it prednisone related?  Doubt it.  I tend to have some sort of sleep issues ongoing.  Have tried melatonin, Lunasome, Benadryl...... My doctor finally prescribed Zoplicone to help me through my worst nights but I don't want to use it regularly and she won't let me anyway.......

My fear is this...... If I don't sleep, I tend to get overwhelmed easier with stress.  If I get stressed, I will flare.  If I flare..... *sigh*.

I don't know what to do.  I have tried all of the (non drug) suggestions on here.......reading, music, deep breathing, meditation, exercise, the list goes on and on and on.  I just go through every day pretending that I am good, faking my energy levels (which does work by the way), but wow, am I tired..........

Thanks again for being here everyone.  It helps tremendously to know that I am not alone in my journey.......

Posted 2/16/2010 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
     Prednisone gives me insomnia.  In the hospital they gave me Ambien CR.  I try not to take it too often.

     Have you tried "Sleepy Time" tea?  Drink a cup before retiring.

Posted 2/16/2010 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have always had sleep issues and once I was diagnosed with UC they became worse. Even with the Lunesta and clonazepam the doctor has given me, I found sleep hard to come by. I started downloading old time radio shows onto my ipod and use only one ear bud (since I sleep on my side) and it was like a miracle. I fall asleep within minutes of listening. I keep the volume low enough to hear but not straining to hear. It usually takes me a week to get through a story because now I fall asleep so quickly. I love the old time radio shows like "The Shadow", any of the Science Fiction ones. There are lots of sites to download these stories.

I've always loved having someone read to me and I've given this suggestion to several of my friends who have had success trying this.

Just an idea.
Posted 2/16/2010 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
I take Sinequan which is an antidepressant.  I take between 10-25 mgs which isn't useful as an a/d but it is sedating and I sleep wonderfully.  It also calms down my gut and is non-addictive.  It's in clinical trials now as a sleep aid.  I've also done benedryl but it doesn't work as well.

Posted 2/16/2010 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have lots of sleep problems too. Honestly I end up taking 2 Benedryl's and Melatonin most nights. It's not as strong as Ambien but it puts me to sleep. I also take an Ambien here and there if I really need a good nights sleep. Placebo or not but since I've started taking Lexapro, I definitely don't have the racing mind issues nearly as much either. I also do yoga at least once a week and definitely sleep better that night.
Posted 2/16/2010 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Quincy, my dad is bipolar and pretty much ever single one of his manic episodes was triggered by his sleep schedule getting messed up (ie, not getting enough sleep a few nights in a row). Then, when he starts to get "up," he sleeps even less, and then things get crazy. Luckily, my mom knows what signs to look for now, and he's really reasonable about taking meds, so they're usually able to get it back under control before he gets bad enough he has to be hospitalized.

journey, can you please shorten your signature line? It must me 10 lines or less per forum rules, and yours is quite long.
Posted 2/16/2010 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
fruitgirl....ah, it helps for family to realise what's happening because an up mood or manic state would feel good.

I don't have bipolar, but I remember when I first started my antidepressants and even though it was a low dosage, I went into a very high mood. I remember coming home one evening after being out and sitting with my husband making my plans for my future to do this and do that and how hard I was going to work at it and being so positive and optimistic....blah, blah...
He looked at me with horror and said "who are you?"

The mood was gone the next day which had me feeling more depressed. I've learned to not be too excited about optimism. My night owl states are very "up" and I don't want the feeling to end....that's probably why I don't like going to bed/sleep.

I'm tapering down the Effexor to half and will be alternating for a month then to just 37.5. I'll possibly taper off this summer. I do notice the slight irritation, but I'm hoping my up night time moods lessen.

q
Posted 2/22/2010 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for all your sleeping advice. Quincy, night owls can be a little manicky, and anti-depressants kick up the mania sometimes. Since first posting, I've been peeling away from the sedatives, the bipolar meds at night (keeping it in the morning). Trying to relax at night. Believing that I don't need to be hooked on meds. Also changing pdocs because, like many of them, she's a real pill pusher.

Also, dealing with night sweats. Now that's a real sleep aid (LOL)
Posted 2/22/2010 6:45 AM (GMT 0)
Valerian Root supplements might work.
Posted 2/23/2010 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Lunasom over the counter works wonders for me and doesn't leave me groggy like when I used to take benadryl. Also make sure you are drinking enough water. After a year or two with UC I finally discovered that what I sometimes took as being anxious was really more of a physical reaction - physiological - whether being dehydrated for obvious reasons and having a strong, fast heartbeat in my eardrums or even maybe the fact that my body sometimes feels as if i'd taken a shotgun blast to the solar plexus and am in a state of physiologic shock. If you can learn to identify these feeling in your body and stop associating with mental content - backing off and realizing that just because your body feels jittery or you have a fast heartbeat - doesn't have to put your mind in a "negative attunement" and start producing racing, (of course usually negative) thoughts. It's not foolproof, but I have come so far, thank God, from the two years prior to UC dx when I was in a living hell of sleeplessness and other things.

You can kind of tell what kind of anxiety you are having if you stop and analyze it, or if it even is anxiety like i mentioned above.  Is it neurotic anxiety? Are you feeling conflicted? Are you shirking a responsibility? Avoiding dealing with a problem at work? Having symptoms of depression- negative thinking and distorted thinking?

If not, maybe it's more important to get some cardiovascular exercise (even going for a walk), drink plenty of water, yes take some good vitamins under doctors orders, like magnesium, make sure your UC is under control.  I also believe there is a link between UC and obsessive compulsive disorder, or at any rate, something very similar to OCD.  I think there is either inflammation or immune system attacking the brain at times with at least some of us UC folks.  A good book I bought and started reading that addresses anxiety from more of this type of viewpoint is "Ultramind Solution" by Mark Hyman MD.

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