To ask what you’re doing awake post-midnight?

[5YearsLeft]

I had a day that just really banged me about, physically, emotionally, just all the ways, and now, I’m laying here awake and staring at the ceiling.

So why are you awake? Crying baby? Can’t stop thinking? Worried about something tomorrow? Pain somewhere in your body being an arsehole?

Welcome?

Hello there! How are you today @5YearsLeft did you get much rest? I’ve been trying to tidy my room but instead I’m watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend eating leftover Halloween themed Percy pigs

@jowly Hey, a plan is a plan! Though staring at the stars still sounds like a worthy endeavor. I do hope it works! Keep us updated.

Ah, the light festival here runs from 22 January to first week of February and I think think it’s to keep everyone from getting too depressed Christmas is over and it’s dreadful weather (freezing cold, but no precipitation of any kind). So about the time the whole city is saying, “I can’t stand this! This freezing cold with no snow!” That’s when the light festival starts, to distract us for a while. Honestly, I have to assume, because otherwise it would be so much smarter to have it in nicer weather, ha. So, about 20 installations using light for sculptures and such. It’s really beautiful and runs from 6-10 (so, after dark) every night of the festival.

@ImNotDancing Never anything wrong with a Percy pig! Even if he’s from Halloween. Tried to rest but dreadful sleep last night and woke up in horrible pain after nightmares. I do hope you can strike the right balance between tidying and watching Craxy Ex girlfriend; I’m sure it’ll all be taken care of in no time. Good luck.

Sounds lovely! I really would love to travel to places and see things like that. One day I will..

We all have covid.
Dc3 positive today , 5 days after 1st one of us positive .
DC3 has a high temp, Im up every 2hrs giving meds...Ive yet to sleep.

I would so love to go to sleep, up agitated and anxious just from insomnia all week

@5YearsLeft

I had a day that just really banged me about, physically, emotionally, just all the ways, and now, I’m laying here awake and staring at the ceiling.

So why are you awake? Crying baby? Can’t stop thinking? Worried about something tomorrow? Pain somewhere in your body being an arsehole?

Welcome?

Depends, sometimes a research assignment, sometimes call of duty warzone, sometimes it's running strategies and perspectives. Other times I fell asleep 😴early in the evening and now wide awake.

@jowly Good for you! I hope you do get to travel and see it all.

@Tulips21 I’m so sorry to hear that! You must be absolutely run off your feet, and I hope you’re not feeling too sick yourself?! I really hope you’re able to get a bit of rest, since I’m sure your body needs it so much.

@Flashinggreen oh gosh, that’s so hard. When you want to go to sleep, but your body won’t let you. I wish I had an answer for you, but I’ve been in the same boat myself. Maybe try to do something that you enjoy, something cozy and soothing? And I really do hope that sleep will find you, though I know that can seem almost impossible, and there are no guarantees.

@Hawkins001 Well in that case, hopefully sleep will find you after whichever of those activities you were doing. If you’re ready to sleep.

Thank you. It’s so frustrating which doesn’t help I getting to sleep: came out of nowhere earlier in the week and has been building. I did snooze this afternoon which made me feel better but I really want a few hours now

My 15 month old won't sleep because he's congested. He's perfectly happy wandering about and playing but is uncomfortable lying down. I hope tiredness gets the better of him soon...

@Flashinggreen I can understand that desperation for sleep after having insomnia. I think it’s hard to explain what it feels like to be almost on the verge of hysteria from lack of sleep after it’s been days and days without it. I’m glad you were able to get a couple hours this afternoon as I know it’s better than nothing, but I do understand that need to be able to just lay down and rest at night and let your whole body unwind. I really do hope that you’re able to get there soon.

@OkThenJustChill oh no, poor wee thing. It’s so hard to try to convince a child to lay down when they’re congested and they don’t understand how to do all the little tricks that adults know to make it better. Is there any chance that you can tilt the top of his mattress up some so that laying down will feel easier? But I know that getting him into bed in the first place is still 99% of the problem. Good luck and I hope you find some rest yourself.

Well, Saturday night living up to its reputation! I hope it’s because our semi-regulars are managing to actually get some sleep (I’m thinking of you, @purpleme12, @Coroico97, @Wallywobbles, @catwomando, @bloodywhitecat). Even if you just posted for one day and my brain isn’t doing a good job of remembering everyone, I do hope that tonight has brought you soothing rest.

I’ve got some dizziness so I’m going to try laying down and I’ll either sleep for an hour and wake up in quite some pain or…. not wake up until 1pm. Har har.

Well hello @5YearsLeft

I went out out last night to a house party -friend of DH from the pub, so people not from our usual circle of mates (but lovely as it turns out) . It was a fun evening, and like going back 30 years as Everyone was smoking in the house! I gave up many moons ago but remembered the smell and fog of it all.

That triggered a massive coughing/wheezing fit once outside in the cold, so had a few steroid puffs quite late. The gallons of wine consumed helped me to drift off but now I'm awake

I had to shower before bed because I STANK of smoke. Honesty it was so weird to be in that environment, as none of our other friends smoke, and haven't for years.

The big, fat cat is snuggled next to me purring loudly, taking up too much room and slapping her tail on me (to get more attention).

I could do with a cup (pot actually) of tea but can't be arsed to a) disturb the cat and b) go down 2 flights in the cold to make it oh and maybe some marmite toast to go with

Anyone else have middle of the night snackage / refreshment ideas to share?

@catwomando So glad to hear you had a lovely night, even if it required a few steroids puffs, a shower, and left you tea-less! Honestly, when I’m up at night, all I want is a cup of tea and . Doesn’t matter much what fill in the blank is. Crackers, porridge, turkey sandwich. As long as the cup of tea is there, it’s right. Ha. I’m assuming by now, you’ve slept AND gotten up.

I did, in fact, call it, and my body slept until 13h30, after the huge walk I did last night for the light festival. I’ll probably sleep even more today, as my muscles (for breathing) are exhausted.

Sun’s up (a while ago) so we’ll be back for the thread after midnight tonight!

Hey all - welcome to the after midnight thread. Whatever is keeping you up - your mind, your body, or your spirit - we’re here.

I hope nobody has the Sunday Scaries but if so, we’re here for them, too.

I have to say… this is looking pretty hopeful! I’m hoping all our sort-of-regulars are getting some lovely pain-free, anxiety-free sleep. And if anyone new is out there, I’ll still be here for a while.

Hi @5YearsLeft. How are things? I like the sound of the light festival! I have slept okay last couple of nights. But tonight is pretty bad. Lots of painkillers that never seem to make any difference. Just throbbing pain at the back of my left leg and in the small of my back. And terrible busy legs! Not sure what that is all about. Good job my DH is a heavy sleeper!!

@Coroico97 Oh no! I really thought we had it cracked tonight! While I’m glad to hear you had a couple of good nights (this is the one thread where you’re always sad-glad not to see someone for a few days), I’m so sorry you’re having a terrible night now. I’ve had this problem with painkillers, too, where you feel kind of like you’re sticking them in your mouth and you really wish you could stick them RIGHT where it hurts because it feels like you have such a pinpoint pain and not enough of the painkiller is getting to it. I’ve commiserated with doctors before; it would be so much better if we could inject lidocaine into ourselves somehow at home, rather than having to take morphine by mouth (and doctors would love if that were an option instead; so much better for dependency). It can all be so frustrating. Have you tried rubbing your legs upwards from the ankle (if you can) or just elevate them that way? That’s what my physio does, because your lymph fluids should be going up from there (apparently??? She knows more than I do), and maybe that busy feeling is coming from some inflammation.

Actually @Coroico97 have you talked to your consultant (I know you have less than a month until surgery but you might want these after surgery too) about Versatis patches? They’re the 5% lidocaine patches, but I think you can only get them with a prescription, and then you could try them at least on the back of your leg or small of your back (you can only wear one at a time). Apologies if you’ve already tried this!

Morning! I was expecting to come on here again. After nearly 12 hours waiting for 111 I spoke to a GP who prescribed m some zopiclone unfortunately it only seems to keep me sleep for 2-3 hrs so I did take a second when I woke at midnight shivering .another one took me through til 3 but it wasn’t the result I’d been hoping for. I feel I need to try to discuss the meds with my GP today

@Flashinggreen Oh gosh, I’m so sorry to hear this. Sounds like you’re doing everything you can but your body is just not cooperating. Sorry to see you back with us quite so late, and after such a wild “up and down” for the rest of the night. It sounds like maybe there’s a really particular portion of your sleep cycle that’s not working correctly; I think maybe 2-3 hours is still your first REM cycle? But I obviously don’t know much about it. All my fingers crossed that you’re able to talk to your GP tomorrow and they have a better solution and can help with your meds. Maybe he or she could refer you for a sleep study? It might take a while for one to become available, but it might help (unless you’ve already tried that - in which case, ignore me!).

That’s a good idea and not one I’d thought of thanks @5YearsLeft

It’s but so much the lack of sleep but the shivering as soon as I wake it driving me round the bend

@Flashinggreen Yes, I have friends with different kinds of insomnia who have had sleep studies and then been prescribed different types of medications (one had trouble falling asleep and was awakening again almost instantly, whereas they discovered another WAS sleeping but then wasn’t staying asleep to the point of getting any ‘deep sleep’ at all, I think it was).

I’m wondering if the shivering is your body treating the anxiety like shock? Have you tried wrapping yourself in all the blankets you own, even if you don’t think you’re particularly “cold”? Made yourself a cup of tea (decaf) tri try warming yourself from the inside out? When I have that shivering, it’s my body in a bit of a panic, and while I feel a bit ridiculous (though I shouldn’t), I just have to treat myself like you would anyone who’s in a trauma - layer 100 blankets on them, something warm to drink, and I don’t know if it helps you, but some people do really well with weighted blankets. If you find having a heavy duvet on you helps, a weighted blanket might be even better. If, instead, a heavy duvet makes you feel trapped, a weighted blanket might not be for you. I wish I had scads of better advice, but that’s really it.