Can't sleep...what do you guys do to sleep..please help

[bluetart]

I am almost always unconfortable or in pain, I notice less durring the day when I am busey but at night I have the hardest time going to sleep. I rarely get up to pee when I fall asleep but I have a hard time falling asleep. I don't want to rely on pain killers to make me fall asleep, i have tried sleepy time tea, not eating after 6, laying in bed by 8 to give me a chance to fall asleep by 9-10. Are there any suggestions, that are more on the natural side to falling asleep. I read boring books, I try not to nap durring the day. i try and get exersize 3 times a week. Sleep is so important for me. I can wake up well rested and take on IC. It also dosnn't help that i broke my arm and am unconfertable too because of that. Maybe i need to double brew my sleepy time tea?

[kadi]

Hello,
A heating pad under my back seems to really help. I listen to books on CD's or podcasts so that I'm not just lying there thinking, "I wish I could sleep". Pacing my breathing helps also. My elavil prescription also really helps with both pain & nocturia, which makes nighttime easier.. And not worrying about sleeping is a big one. A friend told me that even if all you do is lie in bed & breathe slowly, it is still helping your body rest & that's good.

[Julie B]

My favorite this is a warm bath with Epsom salts and you already tried, SleepyTime Tea or chamomile tea.

CystaQ (http://www.icnsales.com/product.php?productid=52&partner=juliebeyer) (from the ICN Store) also has a relaxing effect with the valerian in it. It may be something to try.

Gentle hugs............

[krisillis]

Lately I get comfortable on the couch and I knit. The reppitition helps relax my mind and my body and I often find myself falling asleep between stitches. When that happens. I get up and go to bed and try again.

Christine

[Briza]

10-20mg Elavil....but it is important for me to take it a few hours before bedtime. It doesn't knock me out but once I lay down to sleep I fall asleep much faster. It also works very well for both my nighttime and daytime frequency.

[Sally939]

I take my medicine and watch TV in bed. I know this usually is not good when you can not sleep but I hate the quiet dark. In the quiet what was little pain to start with turns into s much else. I turn the TV off after a while if it is late (if I have not already done so and fell asleep) and by then my meds put me to sleep.

[Smokey]

make sure your room isnt too hot, leaving the window a bit helps me to get a bit of a breeze. listening to soft music.

[yvette]

Can anyone/does anyone tolerate Meltonin (supplement) well? I've heard great reviews from other people (inlcluding Mom's who give it to their kids as a med alternative) and they say it works great with no grogginess in the morning. :)

[april ryan]

I've been using melatonin for years whenever necessary, an never had troubles with that.
With 10mg after 10 minutes I'm asleep and it is easier to wake up in the morning melatonin regulates sleep and wake, does not only relax you.

If I am agitated between 10 and 20 minutes since I take it though, I would "miss the train" and I'm not able to sleep anymore for a while.

Another thing that sometimes happen to me, if I take it too soon in the evening, is that I am fully awake at 5am and i can't sleep for another 1-2 hours..

Hope this helps
:)

[elamar]

I take 1 2mg tablet of oral valium and 1 10mg dose of atarax around 9:00pm
I take the generic form of both. I make sure my kids go to bed at 9:00 pm also so the house is quiet. I then read a book and by 10:00pm I can't keep my eyes open! I usually sleep until around 5:00 am to have my first pee of the morning. I then take a utira-c, vicoden and put an ice pack between my legs and go back to bed until 6:30 am. I don't always fall back asleep after the 5:00 am wake up, but I feel so much better after the meds get a chance to kick in. Hope this helps. I am supposed to take 2 mg of valium 3 times a day, but didn't feel like it was helping. I used to take all 3 at bedtime and have been cutting back, first to two and now one. I am hoping to wean off it all together. I just wanted to becareful about going cold turkey.

[Goldfinch]

Xanax and Valium belong to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. They are muscle-relaxants that have sedative and anti-anxiety benefits. I know your original post indicated you would rather not rely on painkillers, and I don't know if you were really asking for suggestions that were med-free, or just specifically pain-killer free. I do not have trouble falling asleep most of the time, but every so often I really toss and turn and it's 2am....3am...awful. The anxiety over not falling asleep becomes the worst part of the problem

Many here take antihistamines as part of IC therapy. Most antihistamines have a sedative component and help with sleep; some find the drowsiness such a problem they only take it at night. Antihistamines don't work like that for me, so I don't take them ordinarily.

Xanax is a strong prescription medicine, and not to be used casually. Because I don't take it regularly I can get a benefit from splitting a very low dose in half and taking just half--that would be half of a 25mg tablet. It takes effect in about half an hour. I've discovered another benefit of this med. The fact that it works for me so consistently actually gives it a sort of placebo effect. Sometimes just knowing it's there if I need it is often relaxing enough to make me not need it.

[bluetart]

Thanks everyone I will speak my doctor about these suggestions. I am worried about becoming addicted to pain killers for putting me to sleep. i don't like the fact that I look forward to using them somtimes. I do take and antihistamene, hydroxizene before night time, 25 mg. It made me tired in the begining but dosn't have the same affect right now. Same with my valium supositories, they made me sleepy in the begining but now I just feel less pain when there in. I love them and suggest them to anyone who wouldnt have a problem physicaly with putting medicine up there. I have not gotten a yeast infection from them.

I will try and come up with a relaxing night time routine including double brewed sleepytime tea. The heating pad sounds good. CystaQ might be to expenisve with already paying 120 a month for medical stuff. But I have wanted to try several things on this website and will some day...lol Unfortantily no relaxing baths for me my apt bathtub is a health hazard. I do on the ocasional go to the hot the school has to offer.


What is Eavil, meltonin?.. i am gusseing xanex is a sleep aid.

[kadi]

Make sure that if you use a heating pad that you get one with an automatic shutoff if it's on more than 2 hours:) You can't sleep well if the bed's on fire!

[Tuckersmom]

Can anyone/does anyone tolerate Meltonin (supplement) well? I've heard great reviews from other people (inlcluding Mom's who give it to their kids as a med alternative) and they say it works great with no grogginess in the morning. :)

I was going to mention that, as well. My grandson's pediatrician recommended it as a sleep aid, and he's only 2. Plus, I know several women who take it and swear by it.

Tylenol PM has tha same active ingredient as Benadryl, so you could just buy some generic Benadryl and try that.

I believe the Atarax and Xanex are what help me sleep at night.

[Goldfinch]

What is Eavil, meltonin?.. i am gusseing xanex is a sleep aid.

Bluetart (what a nice name!),

Elavil is a tricyclic antidepressant, which is used by IC patients primarily for its ability to interfere with nerve pain. It also has antihistamine, anti-spasmodic and sedative properties.

Xanax, as described above, is not a sleep aid per se. It is a muscle-relaxant and anti-anxiety med, but it can have a sedative effect. It does for me. Driving while on this or Valium is ill-advised.

Melatonin is, I think, not an rx, but a supplement derived from animal hormones, and as such is not thoroughly tested; although it is legal in the US, it isn't legal all everywhere outside the country. Supposedly it acts on circadian rhythms and is taken for insomnia, but its use is controversial, so it would be wise to talk to a doctor about it.

Call me uptight, but I would not give my 2-yr old an unregulated chemical derived from animal hormones. Whatever happened to a few drops of Grand Marnier in warm milk? I'm so Old School!

[bluetart]

LoL.. Old School, my mom put a little bit of alcohol in my sister bottle many years ago after she cried straight for two days, worked like a charm she slept ..so I heard. Like an angel. I won't be able to see my doc until next week proably maybe friday. i can't wait to sleep again. In the mean time i went to the hot tub tonight, did yoga and took a shower. Hope this works. thanx again.

[funinsun18]

You may have found something that works now (I hope so at least)If you haven't,try Benadryl.I was on Valium and now starting this stuff.My Dr rx generic Benadryl for me.I also listen to music every night.I put in a nature sounds cd with no singing or words.This helps keep me focused on relaxing without thinking about it.And reading.

I hope your having restful nights

[kadi]

Just thought to mention (if anyone got a bright idea...) that alcohol triggers IC symptoms in most patients, making it a NOT helpful nighttime treatment for most of us!
And it's dangerous to mix it with many IC medications. So, no nightcaps...

[sunshine_77us]

GOldfinch
Does the Xanax make you tired the next day? My dr. gave me the 0.5 pills and told me to take 2 at night. I haven't slept for weeks so I took 2 Sat night and slept good but was tired the next day. Took 2 last night and I'm still so tired. Will that go away. I started out taking one but it didn't help me sleep. I won't mind taking them if this tiredness goes away. Maybe my body needs to just get used to it. What do you think?

[curlycue]

Ambien CR is my best friend. I have been taking if for about a year. If I dont take it I am up about 6 times to go pee... It seems like my bladder just keeps on going like the energyzzer bunny. Good luck.