Can't Sleep Anymore!

[bubbe1]

can't sleep

I don't like to take medication if I can possibly avoid it.

I find lemon balm ("Melissa") works very well as a natural sedative and sleeping aid. They are available at good health food stores.

On a practical note, counting backwards from 100 a few times (usually once will do it) will calm me down enough to sleep.

Daily exercise of at least 30 minutes each day is very helpful, too.

Hi,
Is the lemon balm an ointment or an oral sleep aide?
Thanks,
Laurie

Is there anyway to help you sleep at night if you are feeling uncomfortable?

Most of the time its not really bad pain. Its just uncomfortable enough not to sleep. This is really horrible as I have to get up at half 6 in the morning to go to Uni, which is so draining when you have been awake most of the night due to IC!

I'm sick of feeling so exhausted

Does anyone else get this?

Holly - I get this too. I recently discovered that if I lie on my stomach the pressure and awareness goes down loads. The differrence is remarkable! Not sure why, but I guess it may have something to do with the position of the pelvic floor organs when you are in a lying position, and extra pressure being put on the nerves. (Or something like that!)

Jem x

[cmclien]

I took 1/4 of a 25mg amitriptyline the other night because I wanted to get a good nights sleep and boy did I. The problem was I felt groggy the entire next day until about 5pm. How are you supposed to ever take it daily? My doc just prescribed 10mg ami's but I know cutting it in half will still knock me out. Should I try cutting the 10 in quarters too! Its hard to believe such a small dose would effect me that strongly but it does.

[lovelyk999]

Benadryl is also an anti-histamine. It is definitely worth a try! If you do decide to try it, let us know how it works!

[425runner]

That's a great idea about the Benadryl!! I started taking Claritin 10mg at night and it really relaxes me. Is Benadryl also anti-histamine?

[lovelyk999]

Have you ever tried 25-50mg Benadryl at night?I have noticed, in my case, it helps with the discomfort and puts me right to sleep.

[bob04951]

Hydroxyzine is another option. Bob takes 50mg in the evening and if he has been a good boy diet-wise, he can sometimes get a solid 2 hours at a time. Definitely agree, the fatigue can really get to you. Think you will see it is an issue for most ICers. Power nap whenever you can. And speak with your doc about it. So very many options to try, you'll fnd something that will work for you. Hope you feel better soon. Jill, wife of Bob

[curlycue]

ambien cr

what works for me is ambien cr, its great.

[glassd18]

the only thing that has worked for me long term, so far, is Ativan 1mg. I used to take .5mg, but it wasn't helping me stay asleep. Elavil also helped me sleep, but I unfortunately have issues taking Elavil. I give it another go every now and again. I have just been given Lyrica, but I haven't had the courage to try it yet I flare easily from medications.

[425runner]

I take 0.5 mg Klonopin to help me sleep, along with 400 mg Magnesium Citrate
and 1 Claritin. When I wake up in pain, I pop another 0.5 mg Klonopin and sleep like a baby. The Klonopin also relaxes your muscles, including the bladder.

[cmclien]

I do take a 3mg melatonin most nights and it really does help me sleep tho gives me some really weird vivid dreams. I kinda like them, so far they are not nightmares!

[izazen]

I don't like to take medication if I can possibly avoid it.

I find lemon balm ("Melissa") works very well as a natural sedative and sleeping aid. They are available at good health food stores.

On a practical note, counting backwards from 100 a few times (usually once will do it) will calm me down enough to sleep.

Daily exercise of at least 30 minutes each day is very helpful, too.

[needsrelief]

I take neurontin at night also (1200mg). some people are prescribed sleeping pills like ambien too. Something I havent tried yet is sleeping with an adhesible heating pad.they sell some in the drug store. I forget the brand. Its a popular one and they make one for the pelvic area too. I think that may cut down some of the pain and inflammation that we feel in our bladders at night that keep us going to the bathroom. it lasts i think for 8 hours.

[mary124]

I have been taking Neurotin for pain. It also helps me sleep. I am taking 1800mg about an hour before I go to bed. If I do wake up for some reason or another I can usually go back to sleep within a few minutes.

[nevergiveup]

Atarax

Atarax 25 mg at nite does the trick