I read this last night and it helped me talk with my primary care provider today about this issue. She had been wanting to get me off of Ambien, and I did a few weeks ago. Initially I was so tired (just getting back to work part time) I slept fine. Problem is, some nights I am up so much I don't get enough rest. I'm just coming off the worst flare, including a partial bowel obstruction (I have been re-diagnosed as Crohn's) so not getting sleep one night can easily spiral into a flare/blockage. So I had to call out sick just to get sleep. So Ambien has helped me with my work schedule ensure I get as much sleep as possible.

The next night I didn't eat dinner and took 1/2 an ambien so I could go to work. (I've missed a lot of work - 5 weeks of medical leave, and I'm only back part time now).  I slept well, and have not gone back to Ambien. 

When I met with my PCP today, she felt that the Ambien was slowing down my digestion, and then I was going more during the day. Now I'm going when I need to, which is helping me NOT aggravate my chronic pouchitis. So now I'm focusing on not eating late - which is really hard for me. But so is not sleeping - the choices we make. So she is hypothesizing that not taking Ambien is helping me improve (which I have dramatically, but I've also introduced a lot of positive changes into my life - suppliments, cooking/minimal restaurants (I used to eat out so much!), exercising and stretching more, taking CBD). 

Time will tell what I need for the long run. But I'm experimenting with various things now.

Also I do take other things (melatonin, amitriptyline, valerian) and do most of the sleep hygiene recommendations - but limiting sleeping too much is hard when fatigue and rest are needed to keep me healthy.

Thanks everyone for weighing in.

Sorry Erik. I just looked back and saw your question. I'm taking two Benadryls right now, plus 1/2 to 1 whole melatonin. Not sure the strength on the melatonin--I think 3mg. Glad sleep is getting better for you!

I've done the amitriptyline in the past but not valerian. I like Benadryl and melatonin because I can keep tweaking them, dropping one pill or one med totally for the night if I don't think I need it. Guess you could do that with pretty much any med though! I always liked amitriptyline, but it left me awfully sleepy the next day sometimes. Hang in there Sarah.

Just recently things considerably changed for me.

Sleeping through the night seemed impossible to me for the last 2 years (my pouch is 2 years old) but things changed for me about a month ago. Today I woke up after 9 hours! of sleep without any medication whatsoever.

Here are a few things I think might be a factor:

- Eating late is not so much of a problem, however, it depends on WHAT you eat (for example proteins are good, carbonhydrates bad)

- Falling asleep in the right position. I used to lie on my left side, I switched to the right and my sleep improved.

- I changed my blanket from a light one to a heavy (duvet?) one, also much better sleep.

- It happened, that I used to get up and empty my pouch at night even though it wasn't really full. So I tried to change my habits. When I woke up I tried to determine if this was a psychological awakening or a physiological one by remembering what I've eaten throughout the day. Getting up at night became an unnecessary habit for me. It wasn't easy though but having a pouch you learn everything is a process.

- Also try to adapt your life to your pouch if possible. My last bowel movements are around 2am. In the past I went to bed around 11pm so I had to get up again at 2am. If your job, social life allow it, adapt these external components to your internal "clock". I start work at 10am so I go to bed around 1:30am, get 8 hours of relaxing sleep and wake up when I really need to empty my pouch.

Hope this helps

I think dava makes an important point that is easy to forget: habit can play a significant role in how we behave when we wake up at night, and how good a night's sleep we get. If we automatically get out of bed and use the toilet every time we wake up, we can end up with a much more interrupted night than if we notice that all is well, turn over, and go back to sleep. It is normal to awaken during the night (more so as we age). What we do when we wake up can make all the difference.

None of this applies if I have active pouchitis. In that case I have to be very careful at night to reduce the risk of making a mess.

1mg of Valium 

the not sleeping has really been affecting me horribly and the doctors are worried

i hate taking meds to sleep but after 34yrs of broken sleep, I need something

I read through this entire thread and found the Benadryl topic came up among many people. I thought that it was just me or a coincidence that I, too have found Benadryl helpful. I am super sensitive to all drugs and medications so I take 1/2 an Tylenol PM at night. The Tylenol PM is Tylenol and diphenhydramine, or Benadryl.

I believe that the diphenhydramine calms down my gut and I don't get urgency overnight. It, also helps with my arthritic pain that can keep me awake.

I am glad to know that I am not crazy!