Rest is important to everyone, but it's really crucial to people who have a chronic illness such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Any inflammatory condition robs you of your energy, because your body is fighting inflammation. In addition, with digestive disease, you might not be absorbing all the nutrients you need from your food. Even your vitamins might not be absorbed properly.
Sleeping well at night is just about the best free gift you can give yourself. But it's not as simple as just laying your head down on the pillow and wishing it to be so. If you're flaring, you're often getting up to use the toilet. You may feel awful, which sometimes makes it hard to go to sleep in the first place. You might also be in pain, which can make sleep elusive. And finally, if you are running a fever, you may fall asleep only to be awoken by night sweats.
Feeling tired yet? I wouldn't blame you if you were. We're all tired, our lifestyles don't really let us sleep as much as we should. We almost feel guilty for getting the rest we need. But trust me -- you need sleep. So, find out how you can prepare for those night sweats so that they make the least amount of disruption on your sleep.
More about IBD and sleep:
- Night Sweats -- Yuck!
- How IBD Affects Your Sleep
- Why IBD Causes Fatigue
- How Do You Get Better Sleep When Your IBD is Flaring?
Photo © Michael Falk
