Is fatigue related to IC?? I SLEEP WAY TOO MUCH!!

**alina** · 10-23-2007, 07:57 AM

Hi everyone!

I get made fun of because I sleep like 12 o 13 hours a night.......i can't seem to function otherwise.......is it IC- related? Is there anything I can do??? Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

**Agape** · 10-23-2007, 08:12 AM

Are you on any meds for IC or anything? I have taken Elavil and I know it makes me sleep. I'm also on Zoloft and I think that adds to my lack of energy. Maybe, if you are watching your diet and have cut out caffeine, that could be the problem. I know I have ever since I was dx in August. Other than that, I'm not sure.

**traceann** · 10-23-2007, 08:28 AM

I agree with Agape, the meds can really do a number on you with that sort of thing. But, I also noticed just dealing with my IC when it was at worst, it would wipe me right out.

**leelee88** · 10-23-2007, 08:53 AM

Yup I have to agree with what both have said the meds are one thing. But IC alone can drain us and make us tired esp when we are flaring. I know it does me..
Also your diet can effect you.
If you are not getting enough nourishment for your body it can become weak and tired.

**mary124** · 10-23-2007, 09:01 AM

Between my IC, and other illnesses; and everything else that has been mentioned, medications, etc. I have to agree that all of this effects you. I am ok Monday and Tuesday; but by Wednesday evening I am exhausted. ( I work full time - don't know how I do it.

**CGrace** · 10-23-2007, 09:06 AM

It definitely makes me sleep a lot too. Some of the meds. I'm on cause really bad fatigue: elavil, atarax-even on tiny doses taken at night. However, even before I was on them I was sleeping 11 hours a night and having to take naps a couple times a day. I could not stay awake. I think it was just from my body dealing with so much, constant pain. It is definitely not uncommon for those of us with IC to experience major fatigue. Our bodies are fighting a mental and physical battle everyday. So don't feel bad . . . you can just feel like one of the team!

**beckyhckr** · 10-23-2007, 09:36 AM

I seem to have trouble with fatigue and do not take any medication for IC. I am trying the wholistic approach. I am uninsured and found the medications unaffordable. I find getting the proper nutrition a real problem. I was so used to being able to eat many fresh fruits and vegetables. It has been difficult, at best. I am primarily a water drinker, the only other thing I drank was coffee, two to three cups a day, it has been hard to give that up. I finally have learned I just have to. I kept trying it and trying, end result was always giving myself a flare up.
The things I ate, I thought were so "healthy" for me, and they, being fresh fruits and veggies were some of the worst. So what do we do to get the proper nutrients? How do we get any potassium into our bodies, let alone the right amount? I know potassium helps alot with fatigue and muscle aches so what does one do when they have IC? Anyone have any helpful tips?
Right now I seem to be finding very little that I can eat without causing myself a flare up, but I am also going through some major stress with my 24 year old son and I know stress is a contributor too. Plus it seems my sleep is very interrupted with trips to the bathroom about every two hours throughout the night.
I hold onto the hope I can get this more under contol without taking medications which I cannot afford. I take aloe vera pills and I have been looking for the Cystoprtek in hopes I can try that.
It baffles me how I seemed to be OK one day and the all of the sudden, which I am sure it wasn't, boom, I was it hard with this. It took a while for someone to figure out what was wrong. I kept getting sicker and sicker, finally finding out the problem, but not being offered many solutions.

**waterflow** · 10-23-2007, 10:59 AM

I'm more tired now then I was last year. For me I think most of the tiredness is due to stress and having to deal with the IC and other things. Plus I think the pain just drains the energy out of you too since the pain never stops.

Becky, I've taken the cystoprotek and it did help some with the bladder. I took the elmiron 3 different times for 3 months each time and that never did anything. Plus the side effects were too much. I had no side effects from the cystoprotek. It even helped with my constipation. I'm amazed too how one day I can feel pretty good and then bame the next days I feel like yuck.

**Claredale** · 10-23-2007, 11:01 AM

I usually have the fatigue over the weekends even though I am sleeping at night more then I have in several years. I am still relying on Rezorem to make me go to sleep even on the weekends. At least its 6 to 7 hours instead of 2 to 3 hours before Rezorem!

I have discovered that the other thing that makes me fall asleep fast is when my hubbby puts golf on TV on a Sunday afternoon, I am fast asleep.

T83

**laura dove** · 10-23-2007, 11:39 AM

I would sleep 10 hrs, easily,without meds. I've also been diagnosed
w/ fibro. I am skeptical of this, because I do not respond most
of the trigger points and I have an insanely high pain threshold. I have had achey joints , mouth sores, and sleeping issues( really hard for me
to fall asleep, so I'm up all night and sleep all day(pre-baby))since I
was a teenager. Perhaps, these are additional symptoms of IC or we
have something else going on. I was told by one Doc. that she thought
I had lupus(high ANA)but. the rheumatologist said it was doubtful.
Many people have co-existing conditions. If you think that it is not meds,
perhaps a rheumatologist is in order.

We should poll IC'ers w-out co-existing conditions or meds, to see if exhaustion
is a symptom fo IC.Wait...do those people exist?????