Frequency at night

[PlainJane]

Anyone else have frequency at night? I've had this problem ever since this bladder problem started. I think this is the worst symptom because it keeps me from being able to function the next day. I am basically totally out of it all day -- too tired to read a book, and a lot of days too tired to drive.

On a good night I wake up every 2 hours. On a bad night I wake up every hour. I also did a sleep lab test that revealed I have 15 partial awakenings EVERY HOUR in addition to having to get up to urinate. So basically get zero deep sleep.

I would say that the frequency at night is the thing that is ruining my life. During the day I have to pee a lot as well and my bladder can only hold one cup. But still it is the nighttime frequency that is the worst for me. I try to limit my fluid intake before bed but nothing works. I've tried overactive bladder meds, naturopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, diet changes among other things and nothing helps the frequency. Prior to this I would never wake up in the middle of the night to pee. My bladder problems started out of the blue. I am a 25 year old female with no children, no past pregnancies. This bladder problem is a mystery to me.

Can anyone relate to the nighttime frequency?

Thanks,
Erica

[lalarainbow]

Hi,
I certainly can relate to the night time frequency. I was getting up anyways between 4-10 times a night..Just recently because of pain from Shingles, I was told to double my anti-depressant.. I did and low and behold discovered I was getting a great sleep and getting up only maybe 3 times at night..Saw my Dr last week and he says to stay on the higher dose if it is working..
Hope you find something that works and can get a good night sleep.
Take care.
~~Pam~~

[traceann]

Hey Erica, I too used to have the nighttime frequency problem. Once I started on the hydroxyzine (25mg at bedtime), that started to change, and I started sleeping through the night!! :)

Hugs,
:)

[PatL]

Hi PlainJane, I go about every 25 minutes no matter how little I drink or eat. Don't dehydrate yourself, it's unhealthy and causes constipation b/c there's no liquid to pass the food along. I drink Knudsen's Pure Pear Juice, no other ingredients, it's expensive, but I save by not buying almost everything I used to eat. Eggs, American cheese, broccoli, and whole wheat bread don't bother me. I was also diagnosed with sleep apnea, am not overweight, and got the CPAP machine. It helps reduce the # of times getting up at night by a few. It's the shrinking bladder thing b/c we don't have the capacity--diet will definitely help.
lalarainbow, what antidepressant are you taking? I've tried several but have had bad reactions to them all. I definitely need one, take Vicodin for pain, but get overwhelmed with trying to appear normal when I go out.
Traceann, I have no memory of anything I've taken, have to look at my encyclopedia of prescription bottles, but am going to ask my doctor for hydroxyzine if I haven't already tried it. Haven't slept more than naps and dozing off for around 2 hours at a time in years. I'm so tired and feel so behind in work, home, personal life, I need something to even me out to be able to cope.

[traceann]

Hey PatL! :) I asked my doctor for it a little over a year ago and I am so glad I did. I read about it here on the site and that info prompted me to ask for it! Here's the link to the info I'd found:

http://www.ic-network.com/askthemd/theo0503.html

Hope this helps a bit!!

Hugs!
:)

[cindysd18]

Erica:

I use to void all night long all through high school and college. Then I had interstim therapy and was introduced to trazodone. I have been on it for a little over 3 years and can not sleep without it. At the very minimal I get 5-6 hours of sleep before waking up and generally fall fast asleep after voiding once. Consult with your doctor and see what is safe. I have not had any side effects. Without it I would be a walking zomby. If you have problems getting a urologist to give it you see your regular family physician. I was introduced to this medicine by a wonderful IC center I went to in Orange Park, FL. It is pretty much the only medication I take for IC...would not be the case if I had not had interstim implant. The medication is an antidepressant that you take at night before bed. Its side effect is that it acts as a sedative. It is not an unsafe drug and is not known to cause liver damage.

[PlainJane]

Erica:

I use to void all night long all through high school and college. Then I had interstim therapy and was introduced to trazodone. I have been on it for a little over 3 years and can not sleep without it. At the very minimal I get 5-6 hours of sleep before waking up and generally fall fast asleep after voiding once. Consult with your doctor and see what is safe. I have not had any side effects. Without it I would be a walking zomby. If you have problems getting a urologist to give it you see your regular family physician. I was introduced to this medicine by a wonderful IC center I went to in Orange Park, FL. It is pretty much the only medication I take for IC...would not be the case if I had not had interstim implant. The medication is an antidepressant that you take at night before bed. Its side effect is that it acts as a sedative. It is not an unsafe drug and is not known to cause liver damage.

Thank you for your post. Unfortunately due to my bipolar disorder there are a lot of meds I can't take. Trazadone is just one of the many. Antidepressants make me manic without fail no matter what the dose.

I am glad you have found something that helps you get at least some sleep.

Erica

[PlainJane]

Has anyone tried Desmopressin for this problem? It is an antidiuretic. I tried it with no success. Anyone?

Thanks

[Sarilou99]

I was on amitryptaline (butchered spelling) to help me sleep through the night, but I could never take it early enough and I was always a zombie the next day. I know there will be a slew of meds that you can't take b/c of bi-polar, but I hope you can find one. I feel for you 100% PlainJane. I'm 24 and living with IC. Right now, im in a flare and just feel miserable about everything- but try and smile and know that as you throw off those covers and trudge to the potty for the 3rd time, I'm probably doing the same- except tripping over a cat in the process :)
~Sarilou

[PlainJane]

I was on amitryptaline (butchered spelling) to help me sleep through the night, but I could never take it early enough and I was always a zombie the next day. I know there will be a slew of meds that you can't take b/c of bi-polar, but I hope you can find one. I feel for you 100% PlainJane. I'm 24 and living with IC. Right now, im in a flare and just feel miserable about everything- but try and smile and know that as you throw off those covers and trudge to the potty for the 3rd time, I'm probably doing the same- except tripping over a cat in the process :)
~Sarilou

Thanks Sarilou,

I'm usually tripping over a cat too, I have four! They are wonderful company.

[icjen]

I was also helped by the Vistaril 25mg at bedtime. It didn't disappear right away, but I used to get up about 4 times before falling asleep, then another 2-4 times during the night. Now I usually can sleep about 6 hours without waking up to go. Of course when I do get up, I'll be throwing someone off the toliet if it's not free for me to use immediately!! LOL :lmao:

Wishing you relief soon.

Jen

[sami4]

My two major symptoms are urethral stinging and nocturia. I saw the Uro and she gave me 25 mg of Elvavil which helped quite a bit. I still get up about every three hours. I am going to ask to try vistaril and see if that helps. I did try OTC Benedryl and I dont think it did much.
I have been doing pretty well with the urethra stinging which seems to predict the onset of a yeast infection. If I take Diflucan immediately when the stinging starts its helps. I also think a lot of the burning is due to nerve damange and the Elavil may also be helping that.
Sammie

[sleepyangel30]

well ...i used to get frequency every night some how it changed i can sleep about 4 5 or 7 hours now used to be every hour.

[PlainJane]

well ...i used to get frequency every night some how it changed i can sleep about 4 5 or 7 hours now used to be every hour.

Is there anything new that you did that helped the nocturia or it just seemed to improve on its own? That is good news.

Erica

[DanaG]

I too get up like the rest of you. About every 2 hours. It seems as the night goes on and I am more tired or in a deeper sleep that I can go maybe 1/2 longer. I tried Vistaril years ago and I don't recall it doing anything for me, but a new doc just gave it to me again so I am going to give it another try. In the meantime, nothing prevents me from waking up all night, but Xanax seems to be the only med that helps me fall right back alseep when I wake up to use the bathroom and not give me that groggy hangover the next day. Sometimes I suffer from horrible insomnia because I'll get up to go to the bathroom and the mind starts going and I can't go back to sleep. That just makes the nexy day worse. Xanax has been my savior for that!

Dana

[Curly]

I am 25, young like you. I do not have a prpblem sleeping at night. That has never been one of my symptoms. I am on Elavil and I sleep good most every night. I have my symptoms all day though. I feel like I have to pee almost ALL the time! I have only had IC symptoms for a couple of months. No flare ups since the IC diet. Sorry I can't tell you any tips to sleep better, but that you are not alone. I wish you all the best.

[Silverfern]

Sounds like the '2 hourly night time pees' are all too common. :mad: Count me in there as well. Don't the nights go so slow! :cussing: My IC is a lot worse at night, add in menopausal night sweats and an aching lower back/pelvic area, and insomnia is now a way of life for me. I'm very drug sensitive and haven't found anything that helps so far. I'll keep looking though.

Hugs

[ICsucks]

hi everyone,

i have gone through many trials on how to sleep with the constant urgency and have gotten it down to about once or twice a night with a few remedies. the only drug that really worked for me was clonazepam although i cant get a regular prescription since my doctor is a drug natzi! if you can get it is the best one out there that ive tried. now i dont take drugs but use a heater at night as it helps relax my bladder. its natural and it works quite well. i recommed it to anyone who is in a somewhat colder climate or during the winter.

Hollie :)

[traceann]

Thanks for sharing the tip Hollie!!! ;)