Problem Sleeping

[elitynski]

One of the things with this PFD is that my nerves can act up at night and I'll feel like I have to void every 30 minutes or so. Last night I was up again at about 1:30 and running back and forth to the bathroom with no relief. I hardly void anything - it's just that my nerves respond to wanting to void.

In the past I've taken XANAX (.25 mg) and this really helps; however are there other medications that can help settle things down so you can sleep?

I really need my Dr. to give me something so I can relax and get much needed rest.

Thanks.

[traceann]

I know how miserable it can make everything when you are running on no sleep - everything (and usually the annoying stuff, lol) is amplified a hundred-fold. I don't have any ideas on it for you, but I am sure there are some who chime in with some info! I just wanted to say I understand how you feel!! Keep your chin up and hang in there!!!!! ;)

[SharonA]

Not getting enough sleep can make you feel so miserable. I hope your doctor will be able to suggest something to help you. (((Hugs)))

[elitynski]

I spoke with the Dr. and at this point he won't give me anything. He suggested I talk to my psych about giving me something for sleep. Well...either I need to find an alternative or a new Dr.

[JanL]

Elavil was a great help for me. It helps my frequency and helps me sleep. I take a low dose (25 mg) at night. You might ask your doctor about trying it.
Hope you get some sleep soon.

Janice

[Claredale]

My uro/gyno knows I have have just about tried everything and that even on my best days, I can still have issues of freq/urg at night. Like Janice, Elavil helps me. My doctor also prescribes sleep meds as well as valium so that I can get past that initial anxiety issue that starts in my head as soon as it is time to start thinking about going to bed. I also have a cd with soft music that I play sometimes very quietly and it helps take my mind off of that " I could just empty a few more drops, then go to sleep feeling".

I hope you find what works for you.

Tracey

[runningemiles]

I had done Trazedone and that is very safe and an old antidepressant used for sleep. Once my body got use to that I am now taking Rozerm. I am really suprised your doctor won't give you anything. The first thing ANY doctor I have gone too....gyno, uro, psychiatrist, etc. ask how are you sleeping and then say we HAVE to get that under control. Your body can't heal without sleep.......Good luck. Both of those help but do not make me tired the next day where as Elavil and some of the others made me a zoombie.

[elitynski]

I agree with you so much about needing sleep and that's exactly why I asked for the Xanax because I knew it would quiet the nerves, but I can't seem to get him to understand that I needed it and I'm not someone addicted to meds.

I'm thinking of switching internists.

[runningemiles]

A psychiatrist would be more like to prescribe the anxiety medications but I noticed that they would help my anxiety but then if I would wake up in the middle of the night then I coudlnt' get back to sleep where as the sleeping pill can help you get a full nights rest. So you might need both of them.

[elitynski]

To bring in some perspective - last night it was very cool in my bedroom (perfect for sleeping), I put on my CPAP and slept through the night. I woke up this a.m. and didn't have the normal "I need to go every 20 mins" feelings and was able to snuggle in my bed until I went for a counseling appt at 11 a.m.

The point is that not every night has to be bad and today I feel more rested, am going to go for a walk and stretch, and feel more hopeful.

TOnight - I will try to take a hot bath and hopefully I'll have another good night.

I'm just realizing how important it is to take care of yourself and move forward. Last night I was too tired, stressed to even think about walking but today I can walk and stretch and it will help with the weight loss and healing.

This is a long journey and I need to make the best of each day.

I appreciate all the people on this board who keep me encouraged!~

[Franny]

I use a prescribed anti-spasmodic for the bladder called UTA which is my savior when my bladder becomes irritable and I can't sleep. It only takes 15 min. and I feel it take effect.

[Claredale]

Emily, Rezorem treats my insomnia better than anything too. I never have any grogginess in the morning from any of my sleep meds, but Rozerom seems to get me to sleep the fastest as well as keeps me asleep. I still have to change it up sometimes since my body get's "immune" to it's effects and start working for just a few hours, then I am wide awake again. I am on Lunesta right now, but should be able to start back on Rozerom at my next appt on Friday. It normally does well for me for 5 to 6 months or so.

Elitynski, I had a sleep study done a couple of times and they have suggested a cool room for me too. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. My body does better with my IC symptoms when I am "cozy". In the winter I have an electric mattress cover which is my absolute best friend because it helps my entire body stay relaxed especially after a nice hot bath. Now that it is warming up, I am already missing my heated mattress pad. Now that I have started walking, I already see a difference at night when it it getting time to go to bed. I walk right when I get home from work and try to walk for 1 1/2 to 2 hours with my friend. Then when I get home, I eat something very light and relax in front of the TV. After my hot bath, I take my night time meds and watch a little tv until I drift off to sleep. I used to try to read to get relaxed, but since that is one of my favorite hobbies, I find myself trying to read as much as I can, sometimes even finish the book, so reading doesn't help me drift off to sleep. I have even tried boring books, but that just get's me irritated. Our minds work so strangely!

I am glad you had a better night. I didn't realized you used the CPAP machine. I have only known one guy that used it and his wife said that she couldn't sleep in the room with him since it made so much noise, but that was so many years ago.

Like other posters said, the anti-anxiety meds were one of the first meds ever prescribed to me when my symptoms first started. It has to be frustrating that your doctor won't prescribe elavil to you. I know that you said that the doctors don't feel you have IC. What diagnostic tests have they done? Sorry if I am asking you a question you have already answered. Are you going to a urologist or a uro/gyno? I have never been to an internist for treatment of my IC. JanL and I go to the same doctor which is a uro/gyno. Before him, we went to a pelvic pain specialist (Dr. Ragi Doggweiller). She is very well known for her treatment of IC and on this list of doctors on this site. She would tell all of her patients in a second that getting the sleep we need is absolutely one of the most important things to deal with the symptoms that go with IC. When I don't get the rest I need, the rest of my body is effected somehow whether it be not able to tolerate pain as much, my anxiety level and especially my thought process.

I so hope you find a doctor that can get you through this.

Hugs, Tracey

PS. Fran's posting of using UTA is a good idea too. UTA isn't strong enough for me anymore, but I take Prosed DS, which has made a huge difference in my daytime freq and spasms in which I don't have them anymore. That is after 20 years! My interstim made a huge difference, but the Prosed DS is my "miracle" med in that it has allowed me to not even think about my bladder during the day. I am very "normal" during the day. At night, I may get up 2 to 3 times, but I can fall back to sleep. I don't know if I would even get up that many times if my dogs didn't still have my old sleep schedule in their heads. They are so used to me getting up throughout the night.