Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Anyone else have this weird AND very frustrating problem?

Judithg,
Txs sooooo much for your excellent notes, they are very helpful and contain alot of new info for me. I just found them today, so sorry for the belated thank you. My FAX no is: 415-897-5085 and I very much appreciate your sending whatever other info you can whenever you get the chance.

I also ordered the hypno tapes from Heather and rec'd them yesterday, so began them last night. Maybe it was a placebo effect but I finally had a good night's sleep last night. My sleep debt is still quite large right now b/c I've slept so badly for so many nights but at least I feel like I'm on the road to solving this very distressing problem.

Speaking of sleep debt, it sounds like the sleep consolidation approach req'd that you be tired alot as you went thru it. How did you catch up on your sleep debt if you weren't allowed to take naps or to go to bed earlier than usual or sleep in later than usual? Or is this the whole idea ie: that one builds up so much of a sleep debt that it requires one's body to learn to sleep more efficiently/deeply in order to resolve the sleep debt?

If this is true, I'll be curious to see what the sleep doctor recommends for me, b/c I have developed migraines in the past several years- runs in my mother's family bigtime

. Unfortunately, the biggest trigger for my migraines is becoming overtired. That's why my sleep problem has made me feel so distressed, b/c after 2-3 nights of waking early, and thus being tired that day, I inevitably get a migraine. Then I have to use Imitrex to resolve the H/A and this drug makes me more constipated. Then my C-IBS symptoms worsen, resulting in a bad night's sleep and so it goes, on and on and on .....it sounds like you know this picture too well yourself.

Until I get to meet w/ the Stanford MD and go thru the program, using 5-HTP sounds worthwhile. I currently take 1 mg melatonin an hour before sleep and I really feel that it does help me to fall asleep more easily. I'm wondering if, in addition to the melatonin, I could ALSO use the 5-HTP at 3-4 AM if I awaken, or is it only supposed to be taken before sleep? My other questions are:
Do you have any idea how long its effect lasts in the body?
What dose did your MD suggest and when do you take it?
Did he/she ever say that you could repeat the 5-HTP in the middle of the night to help you stay asleep or fall back to sleep?

Thanks again so much! I look forward to your FAX and I'll make sure I check back here for your reply sooner next time.

All the best and really hope your sleep problems have calmed down alot. LL

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Many years of C-IBS and pain too for past 2 years-

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