vitamins and sleep aids

[Kita]

My daughter has moderate IC. Her youngest child is a year and she had mild IC all through pregnancy and breastfeeding. Now she is getting some pain back. She is still taking the prenatal vitamins because she does not know what else to take. What vitamins does she need? I think I remember from years back that Ester C was good, Calcium citrate, but cannot remember what else is good or at a minimum is needed for health. She just starting taking elmiron, aloe vera, and is using prerefief at times with percocet and benedryl at night but evidently the percocet is or something is keeping her awake at night. It is not just the bladder but she cannot make her mind turn off. She use to use ativan before pregancy but does not want to use that again. Is there a non addictive sleep aid that she can take? With two children, 3 and 1, she needs sleep and does not want to take something that will knock her out when she may have to get up at night with kids.

Thank you for any suggestions.

[Claredale]

You are so kind for trying to help your daughter! For most of us, anything citric (even Ester C) can be irritating to the bladder. I am only diet sensitive when it comes to citrus. Just one drop of lemon in my water will cause me pain. I was on Percoset for a very short time when I was initially diagnosed. It didn't allow me to sleep either. Regarding vitamins. My doctor told me to eat as well balanced food as I could. I do take some supplements like magnesium, zinc, biotin and calcium. I also take fish oil capsules. I don't know that all of them are still necessary, but I am not changing the combo since I seem to be doing better with all my health issues. I know plenty of us have had our vitamin level checked. Mine was fine except for my iron level which is common for women anyway.

I have always had major sleep issues even prior to my IC when I was in my early 20s. It's like you described your daughter, my mind just doesn't shut off. In the beginning Benedryl was helpful, then I started taking Melatonin which helped for a while. I know she doesn't want to take Ativan anymore. What dosage was she taking. Maybe if she decreased it a little, she could get some sleep, but not be too groggy. I completely understand what she is going through. My sons were young when all this started for me.

I hope that she has a doctor that she can talk to about all of what she is going through. I changed to Lortab for my pain meds. It can also be a med that can make you stay awake. For me, it was much better than Percoset. I have managed to stay on Lortab for many years without any problems. I am also taking prescription sleep aids mainly due to insomnia issues related to years of not being able to fall asleep "naturally". It is such a vicious cycle for me, but I am on the right combo of meds that allows me to get as much sleep as I can get to function during the day.

I hope you get some information that will help your daughter.

Tracey

[Kita]

Thank you for your suggestions and comments. I will send your reply to my daughter. It is nice to know others have the same issues. We had not thought of fish oil and that is suppose to be good for a lot of things.

Thanks again.