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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/13/2018 6:30 AM (GMT 0)
I'm having trouble staying asleep/getting back to sleep after toilet trips in the night. I am practising all of the 'sleep hygiene' blah that the internet recommends, but I'm also under massive stress atm. Has anyone got any suggestions, medical or otherwise, that might be helpful and not mess up my gut more? It is very important that I'm on the ball right now - having to battle with hospitals for a very sick family member.
Thanks!
Posted 4/13/2018 8:38 AM (GMT 0)
Really sad for you. My doctor prescribed Belladonna with phenobarbital for mine. Sure helped a LOT. Can't take it forever, but for the short term, it may be worth asking your doctor about. Stress and trying to sleep are a terrible combination. I too, was waking up around 1 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep. Now, at least I'm able to sleep until around 4. LOL Try to relax all you can...when I find how to do THAT...I'll let everyone know! Best of luck
Posted 4/13/2018 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
I use ambien, and sleep well - but the falling back to sleep issue might need the time-release form.
Posted 4/13/2018 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
geezernow: thanks for the good wishes, always appreciated. smile I think my doctor would probably be quite alarmed if I asked for your meds, barbiturates are hardly ever prescribed here! But he's given me some benzodiazepines, maybe I'll stop being a wuss and try one.

DB: I've tried zolpidem (same thing as Ambien), but alas, horrible headache. Might ask if there's anything else with a time-release I can take though, thanks for the tip. smile
Posted 4/14/2018 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
I totally get the issue-struggled with it myself. One thing that helped me a little was leaving the light off until clean up time. I read on another thread where one person took a pillow and would sometimes even fall aslerp on the toilet. The other thing was my doctor gave me an antispasmodic, and that has helped some with the pain that would keep me up. Hope you can find some relief!
Posted 4/14/2018 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Benadryl works wonders for me and I wish I could take it every night. Good sleep and makes my gut happy too.

There was an article couple months ago stating an Alzheimers correlation with Benadryl. Not a cause but it made me cut back as ALZ showed up on my gene test and it is in my family. Rats, I say and hope they do a follow-up and say "nevermind, it's fine".

Not drinking alcohol also helps sleep for me. Even one glass of wine seems to cause worse sleep. Rats again. When will MMJ be legal? Probably about the time I won't need it.

BTW I use generic Bendryl from Walmart. I think it's Diphenhydramine and it come in 2 diff. doses. The lower dose is fine and you can always take two if needed but DO NOT take it during the day, not good for driving alertness at all.

Post Edited (imagardener2) : 4/13/2018 8:22:42 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/14/2018 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I took a pillow in with me and leaned against the wall while sitting on the toilet. Depending on the time that my "gotta go" cycle was on I would take 1/4 to 1/2 of a benadryl. (Every other night) It was the only way I was able to meet all of my responsibilities. It helped but wasn't ideal.

Clo
Posted 4/14/2018 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
You might need a prescription sleep aid, especially if you are on steroids like prednisone. Ask your doctor about them.
Posted 4/15/2018 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
For me I was diagnosed on March 7th last year and had to have my colon removed in June so I never experienced anything but an extreme flare. I slept on avg maybe an hour a night for those months. Sleeping was tough due to the pain and the fact id go in my pants on avg twice a night. Nighttime was the toughest part I would usually go 10-12 times from 9pm to 8am. I wish I could explain why that was but I've read alot of other ppl having to go more frequently at night
Posted 4/15/2018 7:47 AM (GMT 0)
imagardener & clo: I'm not in the US & Benadryl has different content here, but I just looked up OTC meds sold here with diphenhydramine and there are actually some sleep aids with it, so I'll hunt some down and give them a try. Thanks!
Posted 4/15/2018 10:49 AM (GMT 0)
I use Ambien or Tylenol/PM.
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