Need Sleep

[TheRiveter44]

My name is Whitney and I am 21. I was diagnosed with IC 2 1/2 years ago but I have had broblems for 7. My main problem is sleep. I wake up on goood night 4-7 times and bad nights 30-40 times to use the bathroom (AND I CAN GO EVERYTIME!) I have tried Elmiron, pain killers, surgery, and now I am in Neuronin. It is giving me nightmares so on top of the pain, I don't want to go back to sleep!
Does anyone know of a good pain killer that would also help me sleep I can talk to my Dr. about? I can deal with the pain during the day but I really need some sleep...
Thank you!:toilet:

[pifcat2000]

What has your Dr. tried you on for pain control and/or sleep. There are alot of different pain medications as well as sleep medications available.

I understand how you feel, because I have had that waking up every ten to fifteen minutes to go to the bathroom.

Viola

[TheRiveter44]

I have tried Elavil 10 and 25 mg and neurontin. the elavil stops working after about a month of taking it and the neurontin gives me nightmares and doesn't help me sleep. I had elmiron to try and heal it but I couldn't tell a difference after taking it for a year so I quit taking that also.

[Babs RN]

Viola is right, there are so many pain meds and sleep meds available. It is so individual. Have you tried any antihistamines like Benadryl or Atarax(hydroxizine)for sleep and the frequency?

Hugs,
Barb:hi:

[Claredale]

I am like so many of the posts above as far as the meds they can't take. I take Lortab (for many years and has controlled my everyday pain) and Rezorem (which is a non-narcotic sleep aid). I have been through several sleep meds and my body always became resistant to them. But I have been on Rezorem for almost 4 months now and have done really well with no side effects (which is very unusual for me!). I don't require much sleep and never have, but I can sleep 4 to 5 hours straight with it now (which is twice as much as before). Like everyone said, talk to your doctor to see what is best for you. The meds are different for each of us. Valium also helps with the spasms. I actually insert a pill in my vagina right before I go to bed. Something I read on here.

Hope you find help!
Tracey

[pifcat2000]

For some reason things have gotten alot better for me.

My Dr. presribed pyridium, which is also available over the counter, but I don't even need to take it as much as prescribed.

However, I am on trazodone for sleep, 150mg at bedtime, 10mg, valium at bedtime, (but I was already on those meds when things were really bad), and vicodin as needed for pain, which I haven't needed.

I also started drinking distilled water instead of spring or bottled. I take a tablespoon of cod liver oil everyday, I eat licorice with the anise oil in it, It's a brand called Panda. I did some research on naturopathic remedies, so I'm trying these two. I also started drinking wheat grass juice regularly, or if I don't do that I take clorophyll, or some other green thing.

These things are supposed to make your body and blood more alkaline.

I'm waking up about 4-5 times a night to go to the bathroom, but my pain and discomfort level has dramatically reduced.

I'm on a waiting list for a cystoscopy, but if I'm not feeling that bad, I'm wondering if I should go ahead and have it or wait and see. Any input on that from others?

The antihistamines can be helpful for sleep I've heard, i.e., benadryl, but they seem to stimulate me not make me drowsy.

Has anything changed for you in the past couple of weeks, feeling any better?

I wouldn't wish this disease on my worst enemy.

Viola

[Jamey]

At bedtime I take a combo of Atarax 100 mg, Claritin 10 mg, Norco 10/325mg, and anti-vert ?mg(for dizziness/vertigo). I noticed I was having dizzy spells and that falling feeling and it was making it all worse. You may want to consider a muscle relaxers if you can handle them.

[HLB01]

Have you asked your doctor about taking antihistamines before bed. I've been taking them and they haven't really done anything for me but you never know, they may work for you.

[TheRiveter44]

My Dr. just put me on original Ambien. When I actually fall asleep, I can't feel the pain so hopefully this will help. He also gave me Paxil b/c I am very antsy. The Paxil should help calm everything down. Thank you for all your help!

[born2swim]

I'm sorry to hear your sleep is so terrible. At my worst I was waking up every 10-15 minutes to go and after 3-4 hours of that I'd give up and stay awake. It's hard, I know! My doctor wanted to put me on Ambien, but sleep aids scare me. Ultram (prescription non-narcotic pain killer) helps me the most out of any med I have taken. I have only frequency/urgency, but ultram for some reason helps. Atarax has also been a life saver. Without that I would be waking up every hour. I now wake up just 2-3 times a night. It's still hard because I can't fall back asleep very easily. I have taken 2.5mg of Valium and that helps me sleep even harder to where I only wake up 1-2 times in 6 hours of sleep, but I fear medications. I only take Atarax on a regular basis for sleep.

Good luck! I know of people that fall asleep with a heating pad (one that has a timer) or ice packs and that seems to help people...