Rest for the Weary

I've had IBS for as long as I can remember and I never had a problem sleeping. I used to joke that I could sleep standing on my head if I had to. For about 6 months now, I can't sleep. I fall asleep watching TV and my husband wakes me up to go to bed about 10PM and it takes a long time for me to go back to sleep and then I wake up during the night and then I am up at 5AM, sometimes if I'm lucky, 6AM, even on the weekends. The tylenol PM works pretty good for me. I try really hard not to take it every night but after a few nights of 3 to 4 hours of sleep, I have to give in and take it. I usually don't have any side effects the next day, just a good feeling of having had at least 6 to 7 hours of sleep. I really don't know what causes not being able to sleep, maybe it is the stress of having IBS but like I said, I always had IBS and no problems sleeping. I guess this is just one more thing to wonder about!

Thanks everyone for your input.Sandra, Crazy Daisy--I hadn't heard of CalmesFortes before. That's a tea? I might try that.Phyllis--if you get the chance, I'd love a contact for the Norfolk Punch. I think it is just a Brit thing--haven't seen it here in New York.Julia, Loretta--your sleep (or non-sleep) patterns sound a lot like mine. I get reallysleepy, go to bed and feel like I am wide awake again. It takes a long time to fall asleep, then when I do I wake up again in a few hours. And I also wake up around 5 or 6 am, usually falling asleep again 1/2 hour before the alarm goes off (!!)All this has made me really sensitive to noise also. My downstairs neighbors tend to have shouting matches around midnight each night, and there's a noisy fan outside my window, so that's why I always wear earplugs.I feel like I should be able to sleep through this stuff, so I keep trying.I think it is at least in part an anxiety thing. I too find myself worrying about my bowels at night and I think that's contributing to it. Forgot to mention that when I'm not sleeping well, I always have disturbing dreams which also causes me to sleep fitfully, unrestfully, or makes me wake up. I noticed something yesterday, when I slept less than five hours. I had a beer that night and maybe that upset my stomach. Slept crappy all night, then I had a nightmare right before I woke up and was exhausted all day. The whole day all my symptoms were harsh all day long. Frequent, unsatisfying BMs throughout the day, gas, bladder irritation was worse, and the congestion in my sinus was very uncomfortable. I had to keep plugging my nose and blowing to relieve the pressure. Pain in my left ear. It makes me think all this is related, maybe a reaction to alcohol(?) or maybe made worse by fatigue and anxiety. In the book about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (I forget the famous doc's name) she talks about people with IBS and Crohn'swho suffer from nightmares. She said that when they followed her special diet and were "healed" by it, the nightmares went away.Guess I'll stick with the herbal remedies.Took the Valerian last night and again it worked like a charm. It's a little hard getting up in the a.m. but within a few minutes I feel really rested and almost human.

Dogwood, it's me again.I forgot to send you the blurb on Norfolk Punch, just so you know a bit of the history and what's in it (this is taken from their website):In the 1970's Eric St John Foti discovered a recipe in the Leet court records of Welle Manor, Upwell, Norfolk. The recipe was for a non-alcoholic herbal drink believed to have first been made by Benedictine monks about 700 years ago. It was produced commercially for several years by Original Norfolk Punch Ltd., here in Norfolk. In 1994 the brand and factory were bought by Orchid Drinks of Hartlepool and production transferred to Hartlepool.Throughout the Middle Ages everyone relied upon the curative properties of herbs for the relief of their ills including depression or lowliness of spirits. Today, the recipe is still produced with natural spring water, honey, and the original mixture of herbs which include Alchoof, Alder Cone, Angelica, Basil, Bay Leaf, Blackcurrant Leaf, Camomile, Caraway, Cinnamon, Clove, Comfrey, Daisy, Dandelion, Dill, Dock, Elderberry, Elderflower, Fennel, Feverfew, Ginger, Grape, Hop, Lemon, Liquorice, Lime Flower, Meadowsweet, Melissa, Nutmeg, Peppermint, Poppy, Privet, Rock Parsley, Rosemary, Samphire, Thyme, and Vervain. ------------------Phyllis

Hi everyone This is interesting. Dont know why I hadnt replied to Dogwood's post before Hi Dogwood! NYC is noisy in most places aside from the far suburbs. its especially noisy in Brooklyn too Hope you are achieving better sleep since youve last posted this. As some of you mentioned, undoubtedly the stress, discomfort & anxiety all add to sleep deprivation!Im constantly "dreaming" about my GI system. my fears are all too vivid while Im trying hard to fall into a nice slumber. (thats interesting Kclayton- your dream theory). So the last month Ive been taking ativan ###5mg to induce a restful state (sorry, natural methods did not help me) & Im not addicted to such a low-dosage. Pre-IBS, I would "snack" if I was worried or anxious, well cant really indulge in that remedy anymore...Having someone I love around me helps ...OK Im meandering into a different topic now, thats because I have to wake up at 6 daily for work & I cant fall asleep its 140am in NYC & I feel like ###### (pardon me).Well friends, to all pleasant dreams, quiet bowels & a good-night. LisaK sorry, I was just dreaming about what I once ate many moons ago [This message has been edited by Lisa K (edited 02-19-99).]

Thanks for your responses everyone.Tanner--I don't know if I have Restless Leg Syndrome (Gosh, syndrome, syndrome...) I do wake up sometimes with my body abruptly jolting or my leg kicking. But sometimes I just wake up because of a dream, noise, or usually I just wake up at 2:30 for no reason at all. Would this be "RSL"?Clayton--interesting what you said about keeping our attention higher up in the eyes and throat. But how do you do that?I have been trying to meditate when I wake up in the middle of the night. I find it helps because often when I wake up like that, I launch into a pretty disturbing anxiety attack, and I would think the meditation helps. Should I meditate on keeping my attnetion focused on my eyes?I have always dreamed vividly and heavily. I don't mind dreams--I see them as a vital part of my psychic life--but the constant disturbing nightmares are too much.Hi Lisa--I have been doing somewhat better. I am taking a homeopathic drug right now that is soothing. I still wake up at night but don't have the anxiety and seem to be able to relax and drift back to sleep. I think the outside disturbances were waking me (Yes NYC sucks for this) and then I was freaking out about them, making it worse. I'm trying to remain calm....(!)A loud welfare junkie lives below me and I think knowing that really bums me out. She's been pretty quiet though these past couple weeks, after I banged on the floor a couple times."Get a job!!"I know what you mean about having a loved one with you. I had just been thinking about that this week, how if I had someone in bed with me I don't think I would feel so freaked out and sleepless.I asked you about Ativan on another post. Have you been sleeping well with it? What is it?Cheers everyone.

Hi sleepy-heads! Happy weekend to all !Dogwood another weary day/night? at least I wont have as much anxiety if I dont get zzz's for the weekend vs a worknight Sleep in the big apple is a luxury unless of course if you live in one of those luxuriousmanhattan apartments! money keeps people quiet! dunno Dogwood.whats up with that junkie? keeping you up at wee hours? maybe she needs a megadose of ativan ? Valerin, that is natural relaxant I presume from reading your thread Ive heard that "Buspar" is a better alternative to regular anti-anxiety meds as it is non-habit forming & works on the "serotonin" levels of the Brain, and it is not an anti-depressant.all about Ativan (Lorazepam):is a benzodiazepine used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. It is similar to but milder than Valium. comes in .5 1.0 & 2.0mg's.Origin and Medical UsesSimilar to sedative-hypnotics. Introduced as "tranquilizers" because they produce calm without sleepiness, although sleep may occur as a result of relaxation and reduced anxiety. Replaced barbiturates in treatment of many disorders. Usually prescribed to treat anxiety and nervousness, relax muscletension, control certain types of muscle spasm, and treat less severe sleepproblems. Generally recommended for short-term use only**.****(info I extracted from the web):****Ive been taking 1(.5) dosage per night before I sleep for the past 2 months, it helps with the tension/anxiety & I can still drive daily without crashing (just have to be very careful taking this & other drowsy-induced drugs ie: antihistamines for my hayfever etc)Hope this answers your inquiry.Take care all LisaKPS what no animations Dogwood?