Sleep deprivation has nearly killed me off.....

[JaysMum]

37 nights now with very disturbed sleep has now taken it's toll on my poor old saggy body.
During the past two weeks I have had 5 nights where I havent even made it too bed. My little man is surviving on about 4 hours kip a night....I've tried everything to get him to sleep more....but nothing is working.

Three nights ago I was crashed out on the sofa and all of a sudden I woke with the most horrific pain in my leg....I thought I had got cramp because I had curled myself up in the most peculiar position.

The next morning when I was in the shower I discovered a huge bruise on my calf, just where the cramp pain had been. My leg was swollen and I thought maybe J had given me a kick the day before and I hadn't noticed....that's how often I get a bashing...I don't notice the bruises and scratches anymore!!!

Last night I crawled into my bed at 3.45am. I woke at 4.50 with the most horrific pain again in my leg only this time the pain was 10 times worse and wouldn't go away.

By 5.30 I was rolling around on the floor and hubby was on the phone to emergency GP. My leg was so swollen and really bruised.

To cut a very long story short....I have spent the day in hospital because I have got a DVT in my leg.

I should be tucked up in the hospital bed right now....but J had a major meltdown when Hubby told him Mom is in hospital...he was screaming the house down, peed himself and stopped talking.

I couldn't stay in the hospital....it would take me months to get J back to where he is now. We have come on in leaps and bounds since we took him out of school and I don't want to risk losing him again to his silent world.

Doc has agreed for me to come home but I have to inject myself with Heprin and keep a very close eye on the leg and my breathing.

Doc is sure that my DVT has been caused by sleep deprivation and my body not getting enough rest.

Hubby collected me with J tonight and J was melting faster than a snowman in the Sahara. Just as we were leaving the hospital the Paed saw us and came over to say hello.....this was the first time he has ever seen J having a meltdown....he is now referring us as a matter of great urgency for J's ASD assessment and is going to try and sort out some help at home with J's sleep problems. He has said we might be able to get a Night Carer to come and stay at the house whilst we sleep...Has anyone else here heard of this service happening before?????Just one night a week where I know I can sleep all night long without having to worry J has gone down stairs and messed around with the fire/cooker would be paradise!!!!

I'm just so very gald to be back home and have plans to do nothing for the next few days but rest and sleep and give my old lumpy bumpy body a bit of a pamper.

I'm just so lucky that the DVT didnt travel....thats just to scarey to think about!!!!

[essbee]

Message withdrawn

[suzywong]

oh my word you poor woman

I don't often come on the Special needs threads but I am always there to offer sympathy and support and a virtual shot of vodka for the sleep deprived. I 'm considering melatonin for my freakish ds2 who has woken up at 4 am every morning of his life

Hope the assessment comes through quickly

[Tiggiwinkle]

My DS is going through assessment for ASD at the moment too. He also needs little sleep-we have real problems if he falls asleep in the early evening and then wakes up. Even if he has only slept for an hour he can then be awake until the early hours of the morning. I am lucky though-my adult DSs are still living at home and look after him for me then!

[beccaboo]

Jaysmum, you poor thing, you sound exhausted. This sounds serious, it's affecting your health. I don't know about getting help at night, but I think I've read about it on previous threads, there's bound to be someone along soon who can tell you.

In the meantime, is there any way you could keep J in his room when he wakes up? At least you wouldn't have to worry about the fire etc. if you could contain his night time wanderings.

[mum38]

What a scary thing to happen. Glad you caught it in time. Will your dh be able to have a few days off and let you sleep and recover? I hope you get the Night Carer -sounds a lifeline.

I have friend with a child that sleepwalks and they put locks on the kitchen door and sitting room door (as they have gas fire) -would that help with peace of mind or would J get upset to find them locked??

Hope J starts sleeping again soon

take care of yourself xx

[JaysMum]

We tried putting locks on the door but he just stood screaming the house down and woke up Ds1. When I told himn to go back to bed he just kicked the door so much it was nearly off its hinges!!!!

Stairgate at the top of stairs is to dangerous because he climbed over it and then fell down the stairs!!!!

Hubby is off work for the rest of this week so I'm resting my old bag o' bones!!!
Just really worried though because now every little twinge I am worrying that the bloody thing has moved!!!!

Hubby is a star and is really pampering me....J is not talking to me because I am so exhausted that I haven't got the energy to play horses, which invloves him sitting on my back whilst I am on all fours!!!

I'm sure I;ll be OK in a few days time...just got to take things a bit easier and MUST learn to look after myself more.

[Loobie]

Have you tried him on melatonin? My ds was the same but since being on melatonin for over a year the night times are wonderful again.

[Tiggiwinkle]

Are you having to attend hospital to get your blood checked Jaysmum? And are they starting you on warfarin for the longer term?
My DH suffered multiple PEs last year after a DVT was missed by the hospital. He was found to hace "sticky blood" (also known as Hughes Syndrome). Make sure they test you for this as it could explain why you got the DVT in the first place.

[Chocol8]

Oh JaysMum - you poor thing! I don't know how you have coped without sleep for so long!!!

My ds (who incidentally is on 9mg Melatonin a night) has woken up every morning 2am-3am for the last month. He wakes to go to the loo, which he won't do on his own, so has to call me, or else he has had a nightmare. Last night I was awake from 2-4 and I was absolutely KNACKERED - you deserve ALL the help you can get - you need to look after yourself first to be in a fit state to look after J, but i'm sorry it was such a horrible way to find that out.

Please take it easy and accept all help (and pampering) that you can. Thinking of you. x

[JakB]

Oh JaysMum, so sorry to hear about this and so relieved the DVT didn't travel. Definitely a wakeup call, though. What's that saying about 'fitting your own gas mask before your children'?! My dd has been sleeping OKish but my wheels have compltely fallen off. Doc thinks I'm exhausted! On second lot of antibiotics for chest infection and feel like crap. Think you can only take so much. Sending big, big hugs and hope you get the help you need with J's sleep {{{{hugs}}}}

[JakB]

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread honey. Just empathise with feeling of body no longer able to cope!

[Blossomhill]

Darling - I have tried to e-mail you but it came back unsent . I didn't want you to think that I haven't contacted you or been thinking of you!
Just wanted to send you big, big hugs.
Please look after yourself Jaysmum, promise!!!!
You cannot go on like this hun, easier said then done I know.
Blossxxx

[heartinthecountry]

Bloody hell Jaysmum - close call. Really glad you are okay. I have heard of night carers before. Not sure how you go about getting them but maybe social services? Or could be something you could pay for out of direct payments? (do you get these? would have thought you have a good case esp now).

I honestly feel for anyone suffering sleep deprivation.....

[anniebear]

That is awful

Sleep deprivation is just the worst, everything in the day is so much harder to deal with.

Hope you are better soon

xxxxxx

[rivers]

Hi Jaysmum- My DD has several physical problems and we currently have a night carer coming in 4 times a week. It is funded through health and social services, it was set up through our community nurse. I really hope things sort out for you as I'm sure you must be entitled to some night cover. Glad you are ok and hope you are feeling better soon.
Rivers.

[Merlot]

Oh Gawd!

You know, I was thinking about you yesterday and was going to do a thread asking if you were getting any better sleep yet. So sorry to find out that you're not and about the DVT as well

I hope you get some good and proper support real soon. You sound such a wonderful mum, but you really need to take care of yourself if you are going to be able to look after Jay.

Are you allowed a glass of red wine - doesnt that help with the thining of the blood Thinking of you and a big cheer for dear old hubby.

[JaysMum]

Thanks you guys.....
Hubby is a super star and is looking after me so well.
I'm injecting myself for the next 5 days with heprin....I hate needles and the thought of putting a needle into your own body is just too much for me to take....Hubby had a go and even he chickened out....Luckily we have a nurse who lives next door so she came in and did it for me.
I just feel so poorly....I'm so exhausted but I can't get to sleep!!!!!I think my old body has gotten so use to staying awake that my body clock is all shot!!!

J slept most of the night last night...bless him. The reason he did this was because he slept in the tent!!!!!He asked hubby to put the tent up in his bedroom...so hubby did..anything for a quiet life. J made a bed inside the tent and has filled it with all his bits and bobs. He went out like a light last night and slept til 2am...got up for a pee and went straight back to his tent!!!! Normally he would have been up for the rest of the night. He slept in til 9.15am and so did I....the first time I have done that for about 11 years!!!!
J is sleeping in his tent again tonight...hubby has dragged the matress off his bed and put it in there to make it more comfortable....just hoping that I get a repeat performance tonight. If we do then we are going to get him a pop up tent and he can sleep in that for as long as he likes.

Who would have thought that sleeping in a tent would have made J sleep so well???? I think it's got a lot to do with security....J does tend to hide in small places or crawl inside a card board box given the chance. He has created his own little world inside his tent....somewhere he feels safe....just please God let him sleep.....and me too.

[Merlot]

Did the tent work last night?

How are you feeling today? Those heparin injections bl**dy well sting don't they?

[GRMUM]

Hi jaysmum, You poor thing.I can't manage without a steady 6-7 hours sleep- what you are going through sounds an absolue nightmare.glad to hear that yor dh is so supportive and hope that jay managed to sleep well again last night in the tent.I just thought I'd mention that in IKEA I have seen tents that are attached onto the actual bed. Maybe it would be worth looking at? Take care of yourself.

[GRMUM]

It's here This picture shows a high bed but it does say that it can be reversed to a low bed.

[JaysMum]

Hooray for tents!!!!!!
A whole nights sleep....whats going on?
How can a tent make such a difference?
Thanks for the link GRMum....I'm going to have a bash at making a canopy becaues we have recently bought J a new bed.
The only problem we have now is that J wants the tent up in the lounge!!!!
He really is creating his own environment..but who cares, so long as he's happy then so am I.

I took a peep last night just before hoping into bed and J was all snuggled up...he looked like a hamster in one of those little hamster houses!!!!!

Just need to get myself back on track.....the injections sting like crazy and the bruising is awful.....my tummy is now all black and blue and lumpy and bumpy!!!!

[meea]

The tent is great news he must feel safe in there.Here's hoping it keeps working.
As for the Dvt hope you feel better soon and try and look after yourself.Easier said than done I know,we have a bad sleeper at our house to.Seem to have spent the last 3 years in a constant fog of tiredness.
As for the heprin really horrible isn't it I had to inject myself everyday during 3 of my pregnancies if you don't get it right it hurts like hell.I used to cry for ages before doing it some days.
I hope you can get some help at night soon you really need and deserve it.

[Merlot]

Excellent News about the Tent

My tummy looks lumpy and bumpy without heparin injections!

[JaysMum]

Too good to be true.....the tents not working tonight!!!!!!!
He's ben awake since midnight and wants to know why he can't go outside to play!!!!

I'm pooped...and hubby isn't here because he's been called out on a break down....he works for the local police and collects smashed up vehicles from the roadside....good pay if it's after 10pm at night....just knackering though....

So I'm sat here with my little man who is busy crayoning whilst I'm catchimg up on all your news.

Leg is still swollen and hurting like crazy...tummy is getting very bruised and I'm exhausted....but hey ho that's life at least I'm here.

I contacted the SS yesterday to ask about a night carer...possible...in about6-8 weeks time....I'll be better by then and wont need anyone!!!!