To ask what you’re doing awake post-midnight? Part 2: Insomnia Strikes Back

[5YearsLeft]

Bit awkward to start this in the middle of the day, but I wanted to be able to link it on the old thread before it completely fills. Meanwhile, even though right now it’s not post-midnight, if you’re having a day-after hangover from insomnia, feel free to post. Whether it’s from poorly children or babies or pets or OHs, whether it’s grief or fear or anxiety or other losses, whether it’s work stress or home stress or just LIFE stress, we get it. You’re not yelling into the void; you’re sharing with people who have been stuck wide awake, too.

Thanks for responding, whoever it was, on the last thread :) I don't normally suffer from insomnia, but lately I have been struggling to fall asleep, and then waking up a fair bit. But last night DH and I agreed to separate, at my instigation, so obviously my mind was racing, and sleep was not a realistic possibility. I think I went back to bed around 4, and did then fall asleep.

Who has cystitis? I have a recommendation: A mug of hot water with a teaspon of cream of tartar and a squirt of lemon juice. Drink it as soon as you notice symptoms, and then again bedtime and on waking, until symptoms stop. It changes the pH of the urine inside the bladder, and makes it inhospitable to the bacteria, so they can't survive. I've tried this myself when I started with an infection on the eve of a long bank holiday weekend (of course). I only had to have it two or three times though before it did the job, and I actually noticed an improvement in the symptoms after about four hours.

Obviously this does not constitute medical advice and if you're concerned you should see a doctor, but it might make your weekend a whole lot more bearable!

Just saying hi for when I’m inevitably up later!

See you later.

@Nepenthe That was me that responded to you and Want2beme that has the cystitis. I’ve just popped in the other thread to use one of our “last” messages (har har) to let her know your recommendation is here (it won’t let me @ her from a new thread) so hopefully she’ll have a minute to come round and see it.

Oh gosh, no wonder you were trying the phenergan. My personal recommendation is diphenhydramine; it’s what Nytol is, I believe. They used to (and still do?) use it in allergy medication in America (it IS great for allergies, better than maybe anything, but also has the added side effect of completely knocking you out) and in Switzerland, they only use it as a sleep medicine. In the UK, for a while it was both, but now I think they’ve gone the way of Switzerland (it used to be the main active ingredient in Benadryl because it really is incredibly effective for allergies). THAT SAID, after just separating from your husband, probably nothing was going to get you to sleep before 4; not even a bottle of gin and one glass and that’s a proven method since “before the wars” as my grandad used to joke. I’m so sorry you’re going through this; even if the separation was at your instigation, it’s still an absolutely tremendous stress, and I’m sure you didn’t just wake up one morning and think “Oh, I really don’t want DH around anymore,” so it’s probably been stressful getting to this point, too. Very, very best of luck to you, and if your mind is racing again tonight… the after-midnight thread is around.

@Chichimcgee and @vodkaredbullgirl Glad to see you’ve both found us, and while I hope to NOT see you both later, well, let’s call it what it is. Plus I know I’ll see you vodka because work is work. I hope you at least like the night shifts a bit; otherwise, it must be a pain in the arse.

Hi all.. although feeling a bit fake coming on here again..last night I slept from 10-8

It really is YEARS since that happened. My OH has Covid atm, and although I'm consistently testing negative I do feel a bit odd. Tired, a bit achey, and sleepy, so I'm wondering what's going on.

I have nowhere I need to be so I am staying at home, just in case.

Well hello everyone

I'm planning on having a couple of martinis to celebrate my freedom from work horribleness. So will inevitably see you all later 😬

I've been for a long walk in beautiful gardens today so hope to be knackered.

Have a good day everyone

New (to me) phone and I've been trying out the portrait feature.

And some lamb portraits too. Obviously.

I think I might be seeing you all later.
We buried my lovely mum yesterday and I haven't had a decent nights sleep since she died two weeks ago.

@Mydogsanidiot I’m so sorry for your loss
I lost both parents within the last 12 months, I know no words can really help but I’m thinking of you.

@Mydogsanidiot I'm so sorry. Losing your mum is so hard, life changing really, and grief is a real sleep thief.

Talk to us during the night, and if it helps tell us about your lovely mum.

I hope someone is looking after you xx

@jowly I did wonder where you were, and had hoped that might be the case! That’s wonderful news!!! It feels almost like a thread graduate. But I do understand the feeling that if you’ve been up and down for absolute years, it’s only one night of sleep. And I’m really sorry if it’s because you’re feeling poorly; what a trade off! Hopefully if that’s the case, you’ll be able to get some more sleep that your body needs, but if not… we’ll be here later! Ha.

@catwomando Ha, might as well plan ahead then, and I’ll be here! Enjoy them while you can!

@Wallywobbles WOW! These photos are amazing! I think it’s safe to say that you’re doing VERY well with your camera’s portrait feature. They all look so alive and full of curiosity. Well done, you. I love the first picture of the chickens and the first photo of the lambs. Still can’t believe they were just born on the other thread!

@Mydogsanidiot What an incredibly loss; I’m so sorry (as so many PP have said). You’re welcome here all night long, and feel free to share whatever you need to; if you want to talk about her or not or what a shite say it was or just anything. jowly is so right that it’s a grief unlike any other to lose your mother (or the woman who raised you as a mother, for a few of us); it leaves a feeling inside you that is very sharp and very fresh for a while, and it’s okay if you’re feeling that now, and it just can’t be rushed through, even if it feels like crap. I’m sorry it’s been weeks of terrible sleep, but you’re welcome on the thread anytime.

@Mydogsanidiot I'm so sorry for your loss.

@5YearsLeft Thank you for passing on the message about the cystitis remedy.

Great pics @Wallywobbles!

Yes, I've spent a lot of time swinging back and forth between "I can't do this any more" and "It's not that bad, things will get better" and I'm just done. I feel massive relief, dread at how the kids will take it, but also excitement for the future.

Thank you all, so kind.
I am alone.
I am totally numb. I don't seem to be feeling anything.
She was my rock and always on my side.
I have wine and chocolate. And Idiotdog of course.

Trying to go to bed now. Book and herbal tea
Thank you all

@Mydogsanidiot I think you’ll feel very numb for a while, it’s been 9 months for me and it’s only very, very recently that I’ve stopped going to ring her. I still message her though. It is such a horrible thing to go through. I hope you get some sleep

Thank you 5. I've been kind of looking vfor this thread because I just need to unload. There's too much going on. That little boy dying (not that I have right to grieve about it but I just feel crsp about it)..dad's been in severe pain. He's just got a bit better but now he's done something else and is I'm severe pain again. I think thryll need fill time care from now on and I don't know how to manage thwt. Dh Is so unwell ad well and no one can figure out why. He's losing all hope and the thought that both he and my dad will get progressively worse from now on scares the hell out of me. At the same time our msrrisge has hit rock bottom and though I know why I still find it difficult to believe. My mum has been depressed and anxious for months. She is trying to turn a leaf and I should be nicer and more patient but I'm not doing s great job of that. I feel like I've got nothing to give to anyone. DD is her usual delightful self but so freaking delicate that Im so scared all the time that something will break her. I keep thinking ehet if she'd been stuck in they well. She cant even stay alone in a room at the moment because she's so scared all the time. It just doesn't bear thinking about. And then there's the baby. My perfect little baby I like yo call him but only to myself because it seems like such a stupid name and such a stupid thing to call someone perfect. And I don't want to jinx it. I worry thst bevause he is such an easygoing baby we won't or don't pay him enough attention. Anyway he'll be up soon. He never seems to sleep these days. No naps and not in the night. Well he's asleep now so I should catch up on some sleep too.

Officially after midnight, hello fellow owls!

Baby is driving me crackers, I don’t know if it’s braxton hicks or she’s in a weird position or what but it’s very tight and uncomfortable.
My son is awake watching YouTube, he’s had a difficult day and since we’re in a refuge and he’s had a really tough time of it I’m going to let him carry on

Baby is having a rave in there, but all I wanna do is sleep!

How far gone are you? (Sorry if you said on the other thread, my brain is scrambled!)
Mine has a huge head and I’m feeling like sigourney weaver in Alien. With the amount of pushing she’s doing

Mydog sorry for your loss xx

Just joining the thread
Eating creme eggs at the minute

Hey all - the after-midnight thread is officially open, thought it looks like you’re already here. I’m a little late “opening” as I’ve got a migraine and fell asleep for a bit, ha, so may actually be sleeping tonight. If you’ve got poorly babies or children or pets or spouses or you’re poorly yourself, if you’ve got work stress or life stress or just stress, if you have grief or loss or any other worry, or just plain insomnia, you’re always welcome here.

My cat has gone missing and I can’t sleep for worrying. And DH is snoring his arse off.