Sleeping with Crohn's: Plan Ahead to Protect Your Bed

Nobody would choose Crohn's for a bed-mate. But if you have Crohn's disease, it goes everywhere you go, including to bed, when you try to sleep. Sleeping during a flare of Crohn's disease can be difficult, between waking up to run to the bathroom, the pain in the abdomen and sometimes joints, and concerns about what could happen while you sleep. There is no panacea for Crohn's at night, but there are a few things that can help you feel a little more secure.

The most obvious thing is to take the medications your doctor has prescribed, whether they're immunomodulators, antibiotics, or anti-diarrhea meds. Your doctor prescribed them for a reason, and if you're not satisfied with your doctor or his approach to Crohn's, you should probably try to find one who is, instead of ignoring what the doctor you have is telling you. Many of them, especially the anti-spasmodic medications, can slow your intestinal spasms enough to let you get a few hours of sleep at a time.

Keeping your bed clean is often a major concern during a Crohn's flare. Any Crohn's patient knows that when you have to go, you have to go NOW. There isn't always time to get out of bed and to the bedroom. Since you don't want to have to buy a new mattress every month, it's a good idea to buy a protective covering, like a hospital rubber or plastic sheet, to cover your mattress. It will probably make some noise at first as you move around in bed, but you can get used to that. It won't protect your sheets, but it will save your mattress. You can probably find this kind of protective sheet at a medical supply store, but if there isn't one in your area, you can go on-line to sites like http://protectivebedding.com/ .

Put your sheet over the rubber sheet, and then consider putting a couple layers of towels under your body. Towels aren't the most comfortable thing to sleep on, but if they can keep you from having to change your sheets in the middle of the night, it's worth it. You can buy towels inexpensively at the large discount stores, or find them at rummage sales and thrift shops when you're feeling well enough to shop. Keep a pile of them next to your bed during flares, as well as a container like a diaper pail to put soiled towels into.

Using protective undergarments can be your first line of defense. If you have Crohn's, you're already familiar with them. It's much less embarrassing to wear them at home than in public, although the better ones don't show under loose garments. When you don't get to the bathroom in time, at least you won't have to change all your clothes. I usually sleep in a t-shirt, sleepshirt, or nightgown when I'm having a flare, so that I don't have "bottoms" to fuss with other than the protective ones I'm probably wearing once I get to the bathroom.

None of this adds up to a romantic night with the one you love. But if your significant other or spouse truly loves you, he'll want to support you through the difficult nights that Crohn's brings. If it's a really bad flare, it may be easier for your partner to sleep in a separate bed, so that he won't wake up every time you do, and at least one of you will be rested and able to do laundry in the morning. If he chooses to stay at your side, he'll probably be willing to help with the towels, and anything else you need - and consider yourself very lucky.

Your doctor may recommend or prescribe a sleeping aid like Ambien ^TM or Lunesta ^TM when you're having trouble sleeping during a flare. I'm not a doctor, just someone with Crohn's, but in my personal experience, taking a sleeping aid doesn't stop your bowels from moving. It may cause you to sleep through it, though. Personally, I'd rather be awake and have a chance of making it to the bathroom in time, or at least be able to change my undergarment as soon as possible. Once your flare slows down, and it usually does, you'll sleep better. Until then, snatch what sleep you can, both at night and with naps during the day.