Sleep (or lack of) and bowel movements/IBS symptoms

[Luisa22]

In case anyone doesn't know, I was diagnosed with IBS-D in 2020. So generally my main problem is looser than they should be bowel movements on average, with other symptoms IBS connected.

Occasionally I might have a couple of days constipated but things seem to balance out after that.

Sometimes I have periods and can even be weeks, of normality.

But what I'm curious about and baffled by is why, if I have ever gone a whole night without sleep at all, (that means about 36 hours fully awake) then the morning after that night without sleep I will have a bm at a similar time as usual, but it is completely healthy and normal. I feel awful, sleep deprived, like a bag of grunge, but my IBS disappears!! No distension, no weird feelings a few hours after dinner, no pains or wind problems.

I also have a much better appetite and can eat 3 meals that day. My appetite is pretty good normally for dinner at 6pm, but I couldn't normally eat 3 meals.

It makes little sense when we are told bad sleep makes us feel worse and can cause a flare up.

But....if I have an awful broken sleep, or even slightly oversleep and wake up very well rested, I will get worse symptoms.

I wonder if anyone else has correlations between sleep and IBS symptoms. I'd be interested to hear what.

[Jackie1612]

Hi Luisa

Sorry I don’t find that I have the same affects as you do. Unfortunately, I don’t have days or weeks of normality either! It is very interesting that you get the “good” results for your IBS when you have no sleep at all. I am wondering what is on your mind when you have no sleep and/or what your anxiety levels are? Perhaps that might have a bearing on it.

[xjrs]

When I had IBS-D, if I had a sleepless night (usually over fretting about something), my 'D' would be worse in the morning. Being stressed overnight and not getting enough rest might speed up your digestive tract. This means that if you are on the constipated side, having things sped up might be helpful. If you also empty your bowels, other symptoms like bloating and nausea from gas build up may be less. Just a theory. I wouldn't suggest becoming insomniac to get a good BM though

[Luisa22]

Nope. going without a whole night's sleep isn't something I could do too often. It's just weird that I noticed that whenever I had done that, my tummy was 100%!!

It doesn't make sense, because usually there's a reason for me not sleeping all night, which would be bound to involve some amount of stress. (either because I couldn't sleep at my usual time, then it got so late or early a.m., and I had to be up early to do something and know how I'd feel after 1 or 2 hours sleep, so didn't bother going to bed. So there was stress of a kind but not anything terrible.

But if I get not enough, some broken sleep, or a bad sleep my gut will feel worse the next day. I wondered if it was something to do with cortisol levels or some other hormone that happens when there's no sleep at all for 36 hours....I have no idea. Complete mystery.

[Blue_Dahlia]

I have noticed when I sleep longer I have more bowel movements the next day.I also thought it was weird

[Blue_81]

Hello Luisa

That is interesting that you have saw that correlation. I notice that when I sleep and well rested my bm are not that good. However, if I cut my sleep my bm are not that bad. I have not tried no going without sleep. Could it be because of the cortisol we experienced when waking up? Not sure what will be but the cortisol does sure mess with my anxiety. I feel horrible in the mornings.

[Luisa22]

So you also get the thing happening that when you are well rested your bm's are not as good? That's fascinating because I also get that. Finally last night I got a perfect sleep (had been waking after 6 hours recently) This morning I woke up slightly later and well rested to a beautiful birdsong-filled sunny day ! except for a yucky dream...guess what about? A TOILET!

And this morning my gut was not good. A bit of a flare up, hoping it won't go on for days now. Weirdly with only 6 hours sleep recently my tummy had been fairly steady.

I am starting to get creepy feelings about mornings again. I thought that had stopped. Obviously not. I totally empathise with you.