Longest You've Ever Been Without Sleep Because Of Bladder Issues?

[AshleyM]

I am entering day 4 with nearly NO sleep. I mean, MAYBE 2 hours in 4 days?? I have been having to get up to urinate every 15 minutes for HOURS for the last few days. I'm doing the IC diet very strictly, but still I am flaring up. I am getting to the point where I am becoming panicky and depressed from lack of sleep. And I am seeing things that are not there, which is really freaky. Nothing major, I just keep seeing what I think are bugs in the corner of my eye, LOL!! Sounds nutso, but I am serious!! I mean, I am delirious here...

I have tried over-the-counter sleep aids, to no avail. They just make me extremely tired, groggy & irritable. With having to pee so much, I can't go to sleep no matter HOW much sleep medication I take. So I just quit taking it. My family keeps saying, "Oh, you will fall asleep eventually...your body will just shut down!!", but so far, no luck.

It's almost like IMMEDIATELY after I urinate, I stand up, and POOF!! Gotta go again. And this is for hours. And I have no clue what caused it this time. Usually, I can sort of think back and figure out what I did that hurt me, but this time, I've done everything by the book, and still I'm in this flare... Has this ever happened to you?? I know I'm nearing ovulation, and my period is about 2 weeks away, so maybe this is it??

What do you do when you can't sleep?? I just can't seem to stop crying. There reaches a point when nothing on TV appeals to me, and I'm too delirious to really watch TV anyways. I tried writing letters, but then re-read them, only to find out they don't make much sense. I do crossword puzzles, and just basically walk around the house in a daze.

I feel like I'm going nuts over here. Am I the only person with bladder problems whose symptoms seem to only flare at night when I'm trying to sleep?? Seems like most other folks here sleep pretty decently. I feel so tired and lonely :(

Thank yall for listening... I look forward to getting to know you all better.

[Imustpee]

I did 40 years of peeing about 30 - 40 times a day...I was up 6 - 10 times a night..I just got used to it since I had it all my life...now that I had that sucker removed my life has greatly improved..I get up once a night and I cath every 3 hours during the day..I have a life, finally..

[kadi]

The first 8 weeks I had IC were like that. I got IC July 10,2003 - symptoms for a week, then it went away & came back the second week of Aug. 2003. From then, til mid Sept 2003, when a urologist finally prescribed me Elavil, I could not sleep more than 15-20 minutes at a time. I thought I was going to die, could not stop crying, lost a pound a day for 2 weeks. I did the things you are doing, crossword puzzles, videos, pacing, nothing really helped. It is still one of my worst nightmares to remember that.

Elavil was the first medicine to help me. The first night on it, I slept 4 hours. After a week on it, I could sleep with only 3 wakeups a night.

You can see the treatments below my signature that eventually helped me. Most nights now, I sleep very well, and maybe get up only once or twice. Most IC patients eventually find their "combination" of treatments & get much better.

Hang in there, are you working with a urologist on this?
One thing people do to work with their doctor is to keep a voiding diary - write down when & how much you urinate each time (you can ask your doctor for a special measuring "hat" that fits on your toilet) or just use a measuring cup with a handle.
Sometimes when doctors can "see" how abnormal our patterns are, it can really help.

Wishing you better days soon!

[Katrina]

3 days..... I know well how serious the insomnia symptoms can get since no sleep pluss multiple meds can be very bad!!!!!! (usually means I am crawling to the bathroom)...once I collapsed at the toilet (that was scary...screammed Mike and fainted...I have low blood pressure)

these days...I take multiple things to help me sleep....and alternate them....there are some

There are non prescriptions herbs that can helps you sleep….please talk to your doc before adding any herb or vitamin but since many of us struggle with sleeping having some remedies on hand can help. Herb list: catnip, Melontin, Valerian, Chamomile, Hops, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Self help: warm milk, chamomile tea, Exercise regularly, but not within two hours of going to bed. Sleep in a well-ventilated room. A relaxful warm bath is helpful. Avoid things too stimulating close to bedtime. Sex is always helpful. Full body message really helps but in doing to yourself ears and forehead…facial area message is the most efficient. Self hypnosis can help. I enjoy trying to remember a peaceful dream I have had and focus on the picture as I breathe deeply and in rhythm in and out…

Hope things improve! :grouphug:

[PlainJane]

Yes, I have had lots of problems sleeping because of bladder issues over the last two years (my symptoms started two years ago). The first symptom to come on was the nocturia (I would start getting up once a night and then it was upto 8-10 times/night).

Unfortunately I haven't found anything that has helped yet. And I have never been able to adjust to this. I am constantly sleep deprived. No surprise there considering I haven't slept through the night in two years.

My symptoms seem to get so much worse the week before my period. It doesn't matter how tired I get I just cannot pass out and get some sleep. I go through something similar to what you are describing, I get up to pee and then I lie down and a minute later I have the sensation that I need to urinate again so I get up over and over until I just give up on sleep. You would think you'd be able to pass out being so tired and everything but nope!

This nocturia is my worst symptom. It is ruining my life. I can't work or go to school and every day just drags on! You are definitely not alone. If I find anything that works I will let you know.

I am getting tested for Lyme disease very soon since Lyme disease can cause a lot of the symptoms I have including bladder symptoms.

Erica

[AshleyM]

I just want to thank you all so much for responding. It feels so good to be in a place where I know I am not alone. Don't get me wrong...I sure do wish I'd been able to meet all you wonderful people without us having sleep deprivation and bladder problems in common. But it does help to know that I'm not alone in this.

Does anyone know of a chat room that is open 24/7 that we might could all get together and chat on during the nights that we can't sleep?? Maybe taking our minds off of things would help?? I know that the chat room here is only open during certain times, and I thought I read that it has to remain that way because it is a health chat room, is that right?? Does anyone know of a different one we could use any time of day??

My name on AOL Instant Messenger is Kiticat2000, and I'd love to chat there if any of you are ever on. You'll find me there all times of the day. Mostly at night, though.

Thank you all again. You don't know how much it means to find this place!! Kinda feels like home, as crazy as that sounds. And I only just got here, LOL :)

[Trishann]

Ashley,I definitely would ask the doctor about sleeping pills or pain pills. If you don't sleep, you will have major problems. You will not be able to think clearly and you will attempt to do anything to get sleep. Please get help, ask your doctor for help.

[PlainJane]

I have tried Imovane for sleep. My doctor gave it to me. Sometimes it helps a little bit and other times it does nothing at all. I haven't found anything that really helps. Even with the Imovane I am waking up 4-5 times/night. So frustrating :(

Erica