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Stupid Prednisone/Insomnia

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Posted 12/20/2013 9:23 AM (GMT 0)
I am really starting to not like the effects of this 40mg of Prednisone to my body. I have been only on it for a little over a week and the hobbit feet and double sized thighs, calves and ankles thru the day is getting annoying. Its pretty ridiculous when you can't fit into your own 11 size mens shoes without cutting off all circulation.

But by far the worse symptom is this Insomnia. I feel asleep at 11 AM, woke up at 1:45 to have my normal bowel movement (normal since being diagnosed with UC) and it is now 4:20 AM and I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FALL BACK ASLEEP UGH! Is this type of thing normal and is there anything I can do to help myself go to sleep??? Maybe I just have alot running in my mind right now, been alot of things happening very rapidly as of late in my ife, I have tried reading to take my mind off things and to get tired but no matter how much I lay in the complete darkness I just can't seem to fall asleep, really no point in going to sleep now I have to get up at 6:15 to get ready for a appointment with my GI and for my girlfriends first ultra sound... Lord help me!
Posted 12/20/2013 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah the pred insomnia is the pits, I had it pretty bad when I was at 40mgs of pred early in 2013. Other than sympathy, I cannot offer much help. Some people have tried sleep aids. Myself, I was too worried I'd sleep through my next diarrhea episode while on sleep aids. Just know once your pred dosage is decreased, so will the insomnia decrease. Good luck, flares are pure misery, so I hope you recover quickly!
Posted 12/20/2013 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
I've been wondering. I take a tylenol pm that seemed to be working until like my 2am potty run. Then I'd be restless until morning. Last night, even with the tylenol I had trouble falling asleep. And I'm only on 20mg a day. But I couldn't get comfy either....my body is tired of laying around and its getting achy and restless, plus I'm not good at sleeping if my tummy is unwell.
Posted 12/20/2013 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
I did a search on this forum, as I know pred insomnia is a frequent topic. Some have had success with Tylenol PM, Benadryl while others have to go to prescription-strength sleep aids in order to get some relief (e.g.,Ambien). Contact your GI and I am sure they can prescribe you some good stuff so you can get some rest.

Here's one topic I pulled up in my search:
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2411271
Posted 12/20/2013 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
just need to enjoy some of your favorite hobbies during these times - put the extra awake hours to good use - the fun times will be over before you know it, so grab the gutso !
Posted 12/20/2013 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Lol thanks for the advice everybody, I will try to make the most of the time at night, fortunately I am laid off at the moment due to lack of work and do not need to worry about getting rest for a 40 hour week, I am in the GI waiting room now waiting to talk to him and hopefully will be able to convince him to start stepping down my predisone dose, im really gonna stress the hobbit feet and excess sweeling in my legs and thighs and sleepless nights, I am very against medication and want to avoid any more prescriptions, I am much more for healthy diet, suppliments, eater , excercise and most importantly faith in The Great Physician (Our Heavenly Father) hopefully he will work with me or I will probably be finding a new GI! Cant even hardly understand this guys accent anyways!
Posted 12/20/2013 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
The very first time I was on prednisone one of the highlighted info the brochure gave was to take all my pred in one dose first thing as early in the morning as possible to avoid insomnia induced by pred...I've never had any sleep issues as I always took it first thing in the morning.

It makes a world of difference I'm sure.
Posted 12/20/2013 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
hey 21

I totally get your feeling towards meds - but try to let them work for you while applying all the other forms of healing - meds really can help in the process - God has given us all these things - and He has given us the brains to figure out how best to use them -

my guy is the 6th one down, Dr Amar - he is absolutely the finest GI in the world - no question - I was very fortunate to get him as my doc - a little hard to understand his words once in a while, but I have no problem hearing what comes from his heart !



<http://www.yakimagi.com/ourphysicians.cfm>
Posted 12/20/2013 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
omg don't even get me started on insomnia pahaha i am nocturnal. the only way i can get a few hours of sleep is from melatonin so i take it every night. if i don't, i will be up til 6 am.

once you taper, your water weight will come off. i lost 40 lbs in 2-3 days when i dropped from 40 to 35 mg. i was literally dripping in sweat ALL the time and peeing my head off. i needed to buy new shoes as well because my feet were like cabbage patch doll feet. so attractive.

i agree with soystud. i get crap done when i can't sleep!! i did a ton of present wrapping around midnight and then wrote more christmas cards.
Posted 12/20/2013 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Ive had success taking 20mg morning 20mg closer to evening. Spreading out the dose a bit.
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