Lack of Sleep causing more symptoms? :(

I know I’ve been posting on here pretty frequently, as you can imagine it’s been one hell of a summer for me medically.

I started on 9MG oral Uceris last Thursday for stomach pain and occasional urgency/loose stools, and have slowly been experiencing more and more trouble sleeping. Until last night, boom, total insomnia. I slept maybe an hour and a half and am totally exhausted. Today, I’m suffering with super loose and mushy diarrhea. Been going since about 4AM (because, ya know, I was awake). Im not running to the toilet super often, but when I do go, it’s like “omg how is there so much.” Anxiety has been god awful as well.

In other random instances where I’ve not slept nearly enough, I always seem to get bowel symptoms like nausea and diarrhea afterwards (albeit, not to this extent, but I’m also flaring so). I also use Canasa supps nightly, and personally find that if I don’t sleep enough, they cause a couple extra trips to the bathroom because they didn’t fully dissolve.

I’m not sure what I’m looking for from this post - maybe reassurance that this terrible D is from lack of sleep/anxiety/undissolved supp? And not from my flare suddenly being out of control? (My last scope in May showed very very minimal inflammation, so little that my doctor was going to leave it alone until I started having symptoms). I called my doctor to ask about possibly Melatonin/something similar so I actually get some sleep while on this drug - any other recs for UC friendly sleep aids appreciated!

Or maybe I just need someone to tell me it’s gonna be alright. I’m not a frequent flare-er (last one was about 2 years ago), and I’m just feeling very discouraged. It’s also my birthday this weekend, so I’m feeling super down 😔


Meds: 9MG Uceris, 3 Lialda, 3 Visbiome Probiotics, 3 Tumeric Capsules, Canasa supps nightly

Thank you so much, that’s what I’m thinking. And I can ask my Dr. about maybe increasing the Lialda - I’d certainly be open to that before trying a different med. I’m only 4’11 but hey, the more pills the merrier. I appreciate your kindness!

For me, sleep is of utmost importance. If for any reason, I don't sleep, it definitely gives me abdominal troubles. It can be as simple as just passing gas but that's enough trigger to get out of hand very quickly.

I use slow-release melatonin as well as a quick release. I take slow-release before going to bed and if I get up anytime before 4am, I take quick release as well. If you do not take any other antioxidants, you may want to look into them too. Don't just focus on the gut, look at the body overall.

Hi all - just here with an update.

So I tried an herbal sleep supplement the next night, which caused a little bit of help. This made me feel better yesterday, but still had urgent, bad D yesterday evening. Tried melatonin last night, which helped a little better, but again woke up this morning with terrible watery D.

How could it be I wasn’t having any D of this sort before starting the Uceris/having lack of sleep? I’m totally freaked out, my colitis has never in my entire 15 years of having it, caused watery explosive D like this. And I just really have a hard time believing that all of a sudden it is.

Starting to feel really hopeless and overwhelmed. I can’t take the confusion and stress anymore. I also recently moved so I’m in between GI doctors and my previous one is getting frustrated with my constant calls. Just want someone to help me.

Hi again all - I have another update that definitely helps explain some of what’s been going on with me. Turns out - I have a 4.3 CM cyst on my right ovary, which is looking to be the culprit of all of my stomach woes. I’m meeting with a surgeon this afternoon to discuss my options. I called my GI and told him and he said to stop the Uceris so I believe he’s pretty confident this is the root of my issues. Only thing I’m a little worried about is the Diarrhea I’ve been having but from what I’ve read if the cyst is pressing against the bowel it can easily cause this problem. I’ll know more this afternoon!


Thanks to all for your kind words and support.