Does sleep affect your crohns?

[Woodro]

Hey guys I have noticed lately that when I dont have enough sleep it begins to affect my crohns. I was wondering if anyone else notice the same?

I was wondering if they also know of a natural sleeping aid that wont affect my crohns; I think it may be a bit of stress of worry, but lately I've had trouble sleeping.

 

[rygon]

not sure if it affects my crohns but I definitely feel worse without the proper sleep.

Stress does affect your sleep loads, I find yoga helps with this, as well as changing your attitude towards stressful situations

The main thing I find that effects my sleep is sound and light. Luckily sound isnt a problem where I live but I do have a street light right outside my house that shines through my curtains. + a radio player that give off light. Both annoy me quite a bit.

Crohns can make you go to the toilet more, which will disrupt your sleep if you need to go in the night. It also affects the amount of sleep you need if you are deficient in certain things (vit D, Iron, b12 springs to mind)

Personally I would tackle those things above before trying to use sleeping aids to help (fix the problem, not mask it).

 

[Kev]

Ah, I don't know what meds you are on, but they can affect sleep. I take LDN, and though it never upset my sleep patterns, I've heard others mention it. And, some of the experts in the LDN field have theorized that sleep patterns, and the time you take LDN, do have an impact on its effectiveness. Which would affect how ones Crohns would respond.

So, I'm figuring if meds can affect your sleep, and sleep can affect your meds N Crohns, it is a safe bet that there is more to 'sleep' than just getting enough rest. What the brain does to maintain and repair the body while we are asleep is beyond my ken, but it is vital. So, I think achieving and maintaining a 'good', regular sleep pattern is essential.

 

[LittleChloe]

Chloe most definitely suffers when she doesn't get enough sleep. It's a pattern that I've even recorded in her crohns journal. She will run a fever and have a mini flare after a long weekend of staying up late. If she sleeps for a day and makes up for it than she will be ok. I don't know what would happen if she continued to not sleep well. I don't want to find out. We use the OTC Midnight to help her sleep when she needs it.

 

[UnXmas]

I feel terrible if I don't get enough sleep. I don't notice it affecting my digestive problems, but Crohn's already causes me to feel exhausted. (I'm exhausted by both the Crohn's itself and by being underweight due to its digestive symptoms). If I add a bad night's sleep to that I'm not fit for anything the next day. I also can't think clearly and just don't feel right generally at all if I'm sleep deprived.

I think Crohn's causes problems with my sleep more than lack of sleep causing Crohn's problems though. Prednisone cause the worst insomnia I've ever experienced, and pain and discomfort and needing the bathroom at night have all messed with my sleep in the past.

I didn't find natural sleep aids did any good. I have to take conventional medication, but I'm fine with that and it's working for me.

 

[deedee]

I get diarrhea if I don't sleep enough or if I have a weird sleep schedule (working a night shift, jet lag, etc). I try really hard to keep my sleep schedule as regular as possible, it makes a huge difference for me.

I wish I knew a trick to sleep better, though! I am a really light sleeper. I sleep with earplugs and a fan every night and that helps some. I wish I had the answer to that question!

 

[tots]

I use benedryl. It's not addictive and works great. When I am over tired I do feel worse.


Lauren

 

[nogutsnoglory]

My joints hurt more and I'm more aches without sleep. I also find my pain goes down after sleep since my bowels get a little rest.

 

[poopmachine]

I find it the other way around....my crohns affects my sleep! I used to be a solid sleeper, never any sleep issues. Now I awake in the nite to go to the bathroom grrr! I miss the good ole days of getting a nice sleep wihout having to wake up for bathroom breaks lol.
But I have noticed that I do feel like i need more rest than i ever have. Lately Ive also felt very weak and just no energy.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Poopmachine I have had many nights where I wake up and run to the bathroom several times. Sometimes is even make in my bed by accident. Do you find imodium or some anti diarrheal can help?

 

[shamrock15]

Well woodro. I will concur 100% with this. I found out through work (one job that originally kept me up late at night) and over night feedings and care for my daughter. Those two situations coincide with the most active times of my crohn's. It led to me changing work because I couldn't get accommodations to my work schedule, and it was a big factor in deciding not to go for a second child.