Six Nights of Sleep

We've been giving Ava a dose of Melatonin before bed since last Monday.  She did not sleep the first night, so we upped the dosage a bit. Then, we had SIX glorious days of full night's sleep.  SIX!  Ava was happy, thriving in therapy and not stimming as much.  She started verbalizing more.  Mommy and Daddy got some sleep as well.  A happy family at last! She did have diarrhea the first few days, which is typical.  I gave her apple with the skin on (the doctor's recommendation) and banana yogurt to bind her.  It worked. And then when we think we are on a "roll" with this sleep thing -- we spiral back to square one.  Ava has not slept the past two nights, she has bad diarrhea and is miserable.  She just had diarrhea during her therapy session and cried hysterically -- I don't blame her. So we are going to up the dosage again.  Not sure if it will work.  I am worried about diarrhea as well.  But she loves to drink water, so she will not dehydrate.  This poor baby cannot catch a break. And of course, Mommy and Daddy are exhausted.  We have so much on our plate right now -- even beyond the autism.  Sometimes I think it never ends.  We get a glimmer of hope, then it is snuffed out.  My biggest fear is that we will have to put her on the antipsychotic drug, Risperdal.  But her lack of sleep is more dangerous, I am told. Someone throw us a bone, please!