Cinnamon Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I keep waking in the early hours, then am WIDE awake for a couple of hours before drifting off again about an hour before the alarm goes off. Last night was even worse - woken by Hubby coughing at 1.30am, still up at 4.30am, must have slept about 5ish, alarms went at 6.30am. I feel like a wreck this morning....it was all I could do to get the children off to school Luckily I don't have much on today apart from a sick hen & the hoovering, so I can grab a kip later, but I really need to start sleeping well again soon. A friend says its a legacy from being a new Mum & night feeding Any advice from all you lucky good sleepers out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I find if I drink too much tea in the evening it keeps me awake....are you overdoing the caffeine perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 2, 2007 Author Share Posted October 2, 2007 No, I don't drink any tea, & just have maybe 1 small coffee each morning. I am going to get some lavender oil later to drop onto my pillow, although The Hubby hates lavendar (I will wait until he is asleep!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Do Bach's do a "sleep" concoction? Might be worth looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 2, 2007 Author Share Posted October 2, 2007 Good idea - I will look when I am a bit more with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 (edited) I'll have a look and if I find anything I will post a link. Don't bother hoovering...it will only need doing again tomorrow! Sort out your poorly hen and go back to bed. *Whoosh*...Back again. ...This... might help. Edited October 2, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 My bubs is 6 months and has just started sleeping through. I often used to be awake for hours because she'd wake at 4am and then I couldn't get back to sleep. Eventually after about 4 nights of this I'd be so exhausted I'd manage to go to sleep after the feed. Personally I wouldn't go back to bed, I find it compounds the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Can't help much as I don't sleep well these days - I'm just looking at the replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Boots do a pillow mist in their aromatherapy range. I used it about 2 years ago when I went through a period of waking in the middle of the night. I looked on their website and found his which I have also use : http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1030990&classificationid=1037813 Hope it helps AMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Both Hubby and eldest DD are chronic insomniacs. They are both worriers by nature and this does not help.They both get in a can't sleep won't sleep cycles where they just can't lie still for a second. I find it really hard to understand and although I am a worrier I don't let anything get in the way of my sleep. I think sleep is something you learn how to do as a baby and if you have parents who mess about trying to get you to sleep rather than leaving you too it you then find it really hard to get yourself to sleep. I know we were typical clueless new parents with our eldest and I have heard all sorts of tales from my inlaws about lack of sleep when hubby was little. It could also be that you are born less able to sleep which starts it all. I find myself just telling them to lie still for more than 10 seconds at a time and shut their eyes- works for me. Sorry I wish I could help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizinsa Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I've had bouts of insomnia for years and you have my utmost sympathy! Advice I've had from fellow suffers and my Dr include: * Don't go to bed during the day, it will only make you less tired tonight. * Try and create a bedtime routine (like with small children) so you body prepares itself for bed. * If you are wide awake in bed after an hour get up and do something, read a book, dust the house etc * If you think it's due to stress write lists of things to do and what's troubling you and so your mind won't 'buzz' as you try and get to sleep. * I sometimes find putting the radio on low stops me stressing about not being able to sleep as it occupies the mind - I usually listen to a news station so there's no music. * Avoid coffee and other stimulants. * Put lavender under your pillow. Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Sarah, I know how you feel - I'm like that most nights and always have been. I usually go to bed between 12 and 1, often later, wake again about 4, toss and turn for couple of hours then go back to sleep till 8! My eczema can be very itchy during the night and for years now I've taken 10mg of Vallergan before bed (was prescribed 20mg initially but made me slur my words the next day ). This sometimes helps but its having less and less effect now. I'll read the replies with interest too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clash City Rocker Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Have you tried " A huge Christmas dinner & Alcohol" it always makes me sleepy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I have suffered on and off for years as well i find the TV on at a low level helps too it is like a background noise to concentrate on that kind of lulls me off again Try to have the same routine part of my problem is stupid shifts at work which I am going to be doing for the next couple of weeks, I do three night shifts followed by a weekend off, two and a half day shifts then 3 nights without a break Plays havoc I also don't drink any coffee any more I sied to have one cup a day but cutting it out really helped after the 3pm headaches went away Took about a week for that to go I now drink tea first thing only Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 im having a bit of trouble lately sleeping because i have quite a bad cold and i find a dose of night nurse helps me get to sleep. It says on the packet "may cause drowsiness" and this seems to convince my body ,10 minutes after taking the dose , that i am gogin to faint with tiredness.and i go to sleep easily. Also i enjoy listening to story tapes whilst trying to get to sleep because i often find i cant sleep because im worried that i wont be able to get to sleep, if that makes sense. Any of the harry potter stories, read by stephen fry <3<3<3(i adore hs voice), really do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Can't offer any advice but my sympathies - its horrible knowing everyone else is fast asleep when you are wide awake. There are some good suggestions already though. I think I would forget the nap and go to bed really early tonight. Then if you wake up, you won't feel quite so deprived of sleep. But I am a morning person and I don't like staying up late. I have been known to go to bed at 6pm to catch up on sleep and I find I sleep really well then - just think 5 or 6 hours sleep before midnight - bliss. Shame I can't do it more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Hiya Cinnamon - I can't really say I have any trouble sleeping, but that could be because I'm a bit of a night owl. We stay up until gone midnight, then go bed. I sleep right through until 7ish. You could always try something like a horlicks Snoozoo drink. I was always told fresh air makes you sleep better, so leave the window slightly open, or get up & have a walk round the garden for 10 minutes. You could go to bed listening to relaxing music on your ipod. Get a herbal pillow maybe that will help? Get hubby to give you a relaxing massage / back rub with some nice oil before you lay down your head. Baths & showers before bedtime actually wake up your senses, so best to do a few hours before bedtime. I often sit up knitting in bed - very relaxing. You've just got to make sure that you are fully relaxed at bedtime and ready to sleep. If your mind is too active then you will wake up no end of times. We have what we call pillow talk quite often. Snuggled up ready for sleep, but comical friendly banter about something before we go sleep! I have lovely dreams too. Hope something works for you - if not try Kalms or Nytol from the health shop before getting the strong stuff from your docs!!!!! Good luck Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I don't sleep very well either. I drop off fine then wake up about 1 or 2am for 2 - 3 hours. I do find that the only times I sleep right through the night is if I've had waaaay to much to drink, then I have to try and get through the hangover! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I used to be a terrible insomniac in my teens, so all of you have my sympathies. The following things work for me: A warm milky drink at least an hour before bed. (so no waking with a full bladder!). A cool bedroom and warm bed, not too much bedding either. Don't try and have more than eight hours sleep, so if you wake at 7am don't go to bed before 11pm. An hour before bedtime, make sure all chores are done, and there is no harsh lighting (so no sitting up surfing the net ) and turn down the volume on the telly or radio, or just read. If you wake in the night, don't fidgit! I also found that a couple of drops of a nice essential oil on a tissue near my nose in bed also helped. Good luck, insomnia is horrible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 My sympathies Sarah and all you other insomniacs Sorry I'm no help at all as I can sleep on a clothes line, but I know how awful I feel if I am unable to catch up with my sleep (late nights, babies etc). I really can't imagine how you cope with lack of sleep for any period of time - Hope you get it sorted soon - some good ideas to try here at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 3, 2007 Author Share Posted October 3, 2007 im having a bit of trouble lately sleeping because i have quite a bad cold and i find a dose of night nurse helps me get to sleep. It says on the packet "may cause drowsiness" and this seems to convince my body ,10 minutes after taking the dose , that i am gogin to faint with tiredness.and i go to sleep easily. Funnily enough I have had a cold & it has settled onto my chest, so I took Night Nurse last night before I read this post. I slept through to 5am, went to the loo & dropped off back to sleep again until my alarms went off at 6.30, with no problems All well & good, but I am aware that NN does cause drowsiness & while I am congested thats fine but I will not be taking it for any longer than that. I am off to Boots today to look at the various pillow mists, which I really like the sound of. Thanks for your help everyone. I must say that I feel like a different Sarah today after a decent nights sleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 That's good Sarah I went to bed at 11.45 - woke at 4am and then couldn't settle properly and got up at 6.30 I have noticed that I slept all through the night when I took two Benylin 4 Flu tabs to zap the start of a cold - don't think I'd better go down that route though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Back to the post about babies & routines. My mum used to give me phenagan at night to make me sleep, & i used to sleep for 3 hours in the afternoon when I was a 3 year old Having said all that I LOVE MY BED & I even went to bed at 7.30 last night as I was sooo tired from work. I think what I am trying to say is that sleep is very personal, & I just need alot of it. When Ethan was born sometimes I used to go to bed at 6pm for a bit when hubby got home from work, I always said that the sleep I got then was worth more to me than a million pounds. Hope that you find somewthing useful in Boots today, Sarah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 I need 8 hours too Jules, bur rarely get it! I could sleep on a pin head and never have insomnia, just not enough of it Rosie was a bad sleeper as a baby, but sleeps like a top now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Sarah sometimes it is worth taking something to help you sleep for a few nights. As long as it is only for a few nights, it can help to retrain your body to fall asleep and sleep through for the right length of time. Good sleep habits can definitely be learnt (learned?) - take the example of someone who gets up for work at 6am through the week and on Saturday when they have the chance for a lie in, they still wake at 6am. So taking night nurse for a few nights won't do you any harm and might help in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
