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DH is ruining my sleep but it's not his fault and I am at my wit's end

43 replies

livingonaprairie · 05/01/2023 05:37

I just don't know what to do. Every night around 3am DH starts moving and thumping around in his sleep. He's a big and heavy man and when he starts flopping his arms and legs on top of me it wakes me up. I'm a really light sleeper, he is the total opposite and once I'm awake I just can't get back to sleep with him acting like a nocturnal octopus next to me. He doesn't realise what he's doing but it doesn't affect him, only me. I end up starting my day at 4am after about 5 hours sleep max and I'm SO resentful but feel unfair blaming him even though it's his fault. He works shifts and I literally can't wait for the one or two days a week when he is on a night shift. We don't have any spare rooms so neither of us can move elsewhere. I just don't know what to do about it but something needs to happen because I'm in a murderous rage every night desperate to try and get to sleep whilst he is happily windmilling next to me. I have mentioned it to him of course but how can you stop doing something you don't know you're doing in the first place? I feel so resentful that he gets a great sleep every night but because of him I'm exhausted every day.

OP posts:
FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 05/01/2023 06:53

Heavy weighed blanket on his side? Handcuffs?

hugoagogo · 05/01/2023 07:01

Sofa bed downstairs, preferably for him. Ikea is good. here

livingonaprairie · 05/01/2023 07:16

In reply to a PP, yes he is overweight and a huge snorer too, I already have to wear earplugs every night. I do tell him to stop and turn over etc. which he does do but it never lasts for very long. Will have to have a more serious discussion I think as up till now I've felt guilty complaining as I know he doesn't mean to do it.

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Shinyredbicycle · 05/01/2023 07:16

He needs to get to the bottom of why he is doing this at night. Is it a new thing? Has he changed eg a medication recently?

Magnesium supplements can help with restless limbs.

ZED55JAX0 · 05/01/2023 07:18

Buy a new bed! We have a large one that has separate mattress and each have a duvet so you don’t feel the movement and much disturbance when they move as it’s separate! Definitely recommend or two single next to each other?

KangarooKenny · 05/01/2023 07:20

His weight won’t be helping the snoring situation. Is he going to do anything about it ? I assume not as it doesn’t affect him.
My DH snores and started night terrors, so we sleep separately now. It’s really selfish to not do anything about it, gives me the rages !

CherieBabySpliffUp · 05/01/2023 07:22

What time are you going to sleep at night? Could you go to bed a couple of hours earlier to offset the earlier start?

Fairyliz · 05/01/2023 07:24

If he’s overweight I would be encouraging him to tackle that as well; as much for him as for you.

LegoLady95 · 05/01/2023 07:24

Try seperate quilts, at . Game changer when sharing a bed with a shift worker. DH has a king size and I have a double on a king size bed. A super king bed would be even better.

watchfulwishes · 05/01/2023 07:24

It is not about 'complaining' - every human needs sleep. This is a problem to be solved together so you can both sleep.

Be more pragmatic in your thinking and it will be fixable. Cupboards can be moved! Sofa beds in the lounge are possible!

Reclining · 05/01/2023 07:27

Swaddle him?

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 05/01/2023 07:30

He might not be doing it on purpose, but that's not the same as not being able to do anything about it. I had a serious chat with my DH about weight and snoring because of the impact on sleep after a long period of 'I can't help it' - he went to the doctors, he lost weight and the snoring has largely stopped.

He should think about what causes the snoring and restlessness and try and address it.

HippyChickMama · 05/01/2023 07:35

Would he try a weighted blanket, or a bedspread on top of the existing bedding? It sounds ridiculous but my dh can be a bit restless in his sleep, I bought a quilted bedspread to put over the duvet as I don't like the heating on at night because I get too hot (thank you hormones!). We've both noticed how much more settled he is during sleep and I think it's the extra weight over him. It doesn't stop him snoring unfortunately but it stops the thrashing around

Edwardandtubbs · 05/01/2023 07:44

Agree with a PP, encourage him to get tested for sleep apnoea. It can be serious if left untreated but there are solutions that work for some e.g. masks at night which sounds bad but it is a lot better than machine gun snoring and thrashing around!

makeroflight · 05/01/2023 08:04

Could be REM Sleep disorder. You can ask the gp for medication to help or a referral for sleep studies.

How old is he?

Elsanore · 05/01/2023 08:07

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 05/01/2023 07:30

He might not be doing it on purpose, but that's not the same as not being able to do anything about it. I had a serious chat with my DH about weight and snoring because of the impact on sleep after a long period of 'I can't help it' - he went to the doctors, he lost weight and the snoring has largely stopped.

He should think about what causes the snoring and restlessness and try and address it.

Totally agree with this.

Something he is doing is having a horrible impact on you. It's up to HIM to fix. You shouldn't be on the sofa or airbed or whatever, he should.

Immediately- he moves out of the bedroom to sofa/ sofa bed/ put up bed elsewhere in the house so you get decent sleeps starting tonight.

ASAP- he goes to GP, loses weight, tries all possible remedies to improve both the snoring and the thrashing. His problem, his responsibility.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 05/01/2023 08:09

He might not be doing it on purpose but it's still his problem to fix.

The fact that he snores a lot and is overweight means he should probably be tested for sleep apnea.

Tamarindtree · 05/01/2023 08:28

Overweight, snoring, probable sleep apnea - the solution may well resolve for you in the horriblest way if he doesn’t drastically do something about it.

His health is seriously being compromised.

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