Couldn’t sleep

[Julie8]

Last night I was wide awake about an hour after going to sleep and yet had been a nodding dog leading up to sleep. I lay there looking at the ceiling and wondering if I should go to the lounge and watch some more tv to get me sleepy again. Next I knew it was morning. I’ve never had problems sleeping in my life and it’s so frustrating ahhhh

[Hidden]

Julie,

At what stage of treatment are you at? Before my transplant I would sit up in the armchair for half the night, fretting away, hoping the phone would ring. I mentioned it to my GP and she prescribed diazepam. Got me off for about 3-4 hours, so helpful.

Now post transplant, mostly sleep very well.

Mark

[Julie8 in reply to Hidden]

I’m stage 4 cirrosis but bloods are good. Been having sleep problems for about 8 months. Should be counting my blessings though

[Hidden in reply to Julie8]

So listed for transplant? If so, I do hope you are an O+. The wait caused me the anxiety, B+, diazepam was a big help.

[Julie8 in reply to Hidden]

No not needing transplant yet

[GrandmaDylan]

I will fall asleep watching the t.v. about 9pm for about 15 minutes but then I'm awake all night. It's horrible isn't it? I think mine is due to stopping my dihydracodein which I took at night because it made me drowsy and kept away the worst pain so I could sleep. I also had to stop naproxen which helped with my restless legs. American democrat suggested having my ferretin checked as low ferretin can exacerbate RL. Mine is 12 which is at the very bottom of normal. I've been for bloods today so we'll see what they show. I can only hope us non sleepers can get some proper sleep soon. Deb

[Hidden in reply to GrandmaDylan]

I've had problems with restless legs (and not magnesium deficient) for the last 2 years and they have totally messed with my sleep patterns. Finally, this year after having my ferritin levels checked (mine were 15) I have been put on iron tablets and they have made such a difference. No more restless legs (or very rare- usually if I only take one iron rather than the 2 I should). So hopefully this will work for you. If you go to the toolbar and search ferritin and restless legs, you will find a lot of other people have had similar results and issues. Good luck

[GrandmaDylan in reply to Hidden]

Do you mind me asking what type of liver disease you have? I was given iron when I was diagnosed with anaemia in February but stopped taking them prior to a colonoscopy. I've read various comments that say taking iron can make liver disease worse. Deb

[Hidden in reply to GrandmaDylan]

I have AIH, which I thought was the latest that you had been diagnosed with. I have not been told that it can cause liver disease to worsen. I was so fatigued over the summer that I could hardly function and the iron tablets have benefited me not just with sleep, but I can actually run now in circuits, whereas before I was always short of breath.

[Hidden in reply to GrandmaDylan]

With regard to iron possibly damaging the liver, according to research done in 2016, iron overload is much more common in patients with alcoholic hepatitis,Hep C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Auto-immune hepatitis patients are far less likely to have iron overload.

For a more thorough read, you can look at this paper from where I got the info.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

SInce high ferritin levels can indicate iron overload, I think being at the other end of the spectrum means that I for one will not be worrying about taking iron supplements. Currently for me, the benefits far outweigh anything else and I don't perceive a risk anyway.

[GrandmaDylan in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the information. I'm going to start the iron again. I've just read the article above and as you say there is no evidence that it is harmful when you have AIH. Deb

[Hidden in reply to GrandmaDylan]

Glad you found it helpful. I am going to ask the question at my next consultation, but so far I am not worried. However, I have a differnt set of things going on to yourself probably, so best to ask your own consultant for clarification if you are at all worried. All the evry best

[Hidden]

Stage 4 Cirrhosis and no sleep yet I’m so tired, this seems to be my new normal

[Julie8]

Again last night. My hubby woke up and I asked how did you know I can’t sleep, he said I wasn’t snoring lol. Poor things gotta teach 30 kids today, at least I can have get a nap later

[AyrshireK]

Unfortunately, hubby and I haven't shared a bed / bedroom in all our married life because he gets a maximum of 4 hours sleep a night and tosses and turns all night long. I wouldn't function if I didn't also get sleep. No matter what time he goes to bed, he goes to bed exhausted and as soon as the light goes off then he goes like wide awake. When he finally does nod off he gets maximum 4 hours (always and almost to the minute) then the rest of the night is spent thinking, over thinking, mad random things.

Avoiding caffeine in the afternoon, not napping when he feels like he needs it - nothing has helped. Sleep disruption is a noted symptom in many with cirrhosis and the chronic fatigue - no cause of which shows up in near normal blood results.

You are not alone.

Katie