Sleep study results

[rjyoon]

Here I've blamed my poor sleep on IC nocturia for years, and then I had Interstim that helped during the day but didn't help at night. I had a sleep study done & just got the official results back yesterday. It turns out that I take way too long to get to slow wave & REM sleep & then I don't get enough of it. There weren't specific ideas as to why this is happening, & they suggested I go off of some of my drugs to see if it helps. I was just off the drugs for the Interstim trial & my sleep was much worse without it, so I know that isn't right.

The lab tech doing the sleep study told me I was having respitory events, so I started treating my allergies at night (thinking that my gross post nasal drip problem was the culprit). My sleep improved dramatically as a result, I'm much better rested & I feel mostly human again. I'm still fiddling with which allergy medications to take & when, to get the best results. I've had problems with bladder sensations at night (don't get the normal "gotta go" feeling) so I didn't realize that I was waking up for a reason other than IC. I probably had Interstim for mostly no reason, as my whole goal was improving my sleep. Because it's helping a little bit, I'm not mad about it right now. Then again, I don't have all the Interstim bills yet.

My lesson learned: Don't automatically blame problems on IC -- get them checked out before jumping to conclusions.

[vm]

That is so great that you were able to find more information for why you are having poor sleep! I hope as time passes and as you experiment a little you that you will be getting restful sleep again. :)

[Iris]

Hi that was interesting, good idea of yours to find out what was happening with your sleep pattern, smart move. It is funny, I know I have a tendency to think IC has to blame with other things that are happening in my body. Glad you are getting more restful sleep, I think it can make a world of difference in dealing with IC. Good for you, hugs Iris. :thumbsup: :hi:

[Tairla]

Good news for you...I was having to get up 4 or 5 times a night to got he bathroom. Then I started to take Elavil and that helped so much. I only get up once a night if at all to pee. Now I am wondering why I still wake up so much at night...I wake up 3 or 4 times for no reason. I can go back to sleep right away. I feel awake most of the time when I get up in the morning, but then feel exhausted midway in the morning. If I don't take a nap I am so crabby and worn out by the evening. I have a two-year old that is not wanting to take naps anymore and I can't keep up with him.

I am glad you found it was more that the IC making you tired. I hope I can figure it out. My uro gives me no support in being tired. Just tells me I am depressed and wants to push more meds on me. I have been going to phyical Therapy for pelvic sheer and my therapist says I need to be check for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Not sure what to think.

Good luck and continued health!
Tairla

[ICchell]

Im glad you finally got your results back! I know that you were waiting on them for a while
Michelle

[Dixiefireball]

glad you got your test back sorry you got the stim and now feel like you didnt need it.
hopefully you will find what works best for you when now.
I do understand sometime we have to pay a high price to learn a leason. so sorry about that.
sending you tons of hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[Sesheta]

Did your sleep study include screening for sleep apnea? I was diagosed with slelep apnea about a year ago. I'm now using C-Pak equipment at night to keep me breathing correctly. It has made a HUGE difference in how I feel.

I guess it just goes to show that we can never let our guard down with this disease. We are our own best advocates.

Blessings, Sesheta :pray:

[rjyoon]

The sleep study was primarily focused on sleep apnea. That's what they're used to finding, only I don't have it.

[littlebear]

Hi Ryjoon,

I'm so glad that the cough medicine is helping! I've heard that having a physical problem that disrupts sleep (such as IC or some other problem like post-nasal drip) can establish a pattern of poor sleep/light sleep even after the initial physical problem has been treated. I've also heard that combinations of drugs like trazadone, lexapro, and provicil can be used to reestabilsh the sleep cycle and deep sleep (although you may be taking some of those medications now).

There's a pretty good book out there called No More Sleepless Nights that has some good info in it (some people I know love it, some people I know only took one or two things away that helped improve their sleep a bit). Have you read it?

Well, keep us posted and let us know how you're doing. Sending you all my best wishes for continued, improving, deep and refreshing sleep, little bear