Sleep

[Here at home]

What does everyone do to sleep at night? I wake up every 1/2 to 1 hour all night long having an urge and voiding very little. The symptoms always seem to be worse when I am lying down. Obviously this is frustrating as everyone knows.

Any suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

[earthlady]

I've had the same problem. It seems everyone has different ways of dealing with this. Some here say that the Elavil they take really helps, and also the Atarax helps. One of the OAB meds can help also, as they cut down on the contractions of the bladder during the night. Personally what helps me the most is Ativan and a half of a Vicodin more than even an OAB med. Lying down has always been the worst time for me also. It must have something to do with pressure on the bladder nerves. I have to lay on my back with pillows propped up behind me and legs separated. Lying on my side makes the pressure worse for some reason. The OAB med I was taking (Gelnique gel) works really well during the day but I still have some problems at night.

[Here at home]

Does OAB stand for over active bladder? I am new to this. Thanks and have a nice day.

[suzannes]

Yes that is what OAB stands for, Elavil helps me sleep at night.

Suzanne

[greengenes3]

I took Elavil for sleep issues. It helped me with pain and sleep but unfortunately I was having horrible nightmares and walking around in my sleep. Also it's antidepressant but for some reason it made me more depressed and anxious. So now I take my Urelle (for bladder spasms) and half a Vicodin which helps with no side effects. My gyn wants me to try Nortriptyline to see if that helps so I don't get dependent on the Vicodin so I'll have to see how that goes. There are a lot of different meds you can try to help so ask your doctor what he/she recommends. Good luck!!

Gina

[Here at home]

Unfortunately my urologist didn't have any additional ideas to try so I guess it is time to look for a new one.

[ICNDonna]

to the IC Network. I know it can be difficult to deal with IC, especially at first, but hang in there --- you will have better nights. Are you on any medications? Following an IC diet? (You'll find a link to the latest food list in my signature below). Are you drinking at least six to eight cups of water daily?

Sending healing thoughts,
Donna

[Here at home]

Thanks for the welcome. I have had IC for a couple of years. My urologist had me on all the meds, elavil, elmiron, zyrtec, etc. for about two years and nothing helped. I have been off medication for about a year. Following an IC diet has been any help either. I am kind of stuck with it I guess.

[earthlady]

What also helps me is Benadryl. I couldn't take Atarax because it actually gave me a rapid heartbeat, and so does Zyrtec. Benadryl is the only antihistamine that is sedating for me.

[earthlady]

I forgot- also wanted to add that if you find the trycyclic antidepressants not working out, you could always try a different class like Prozac. This isn't listed as a good pain reliever like Elavil is, but when I was on it years ago it was more sedating for me and really helped me sleep and I only needed a very low dose.

[meResque]

I have always been a crappy sleeper, which didn't get any better or worse with onset of IC. I have taken Ambien on and off (mostly on), for the last oh, 7 years or so. I have heard it can be habit forming, and hard to get off of, but when I've needed to get off of it, I've had no problems. Elavil, while HUGELY improving my IC symptoms, doesn't make me drowsy in the least. While dealing with the worst of my pelvic floor pain back in the fall, I was on doses of muscle relaxers and Vicoden that would put an elephant to sleep, and the most it would do was make me a little sleepy for about 30 minutes. It was awful, as I obviously did not feel comfortable taking Ambien on top of those two meds. Now that my pain is controlled by Elavil, and I'm back on my Ambien, I'm sleeping like a baby.

[Here at home]

Thanks everyone. I was thinking about asking my doctor for a prescription for ambien or some other sleep aid.