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.

[quote 5YearsLeft]@Chichimcgee I think sitting there and crying until they give you the keys could work! I would imagine no council in the world wants to leave a nine-months-pregnant woman sitting there, crying on a doorstep if it’s easily avoidable - talk about terrible PR

@SaltySocks I don’t want to get too involved in your convo about sciatica since it’s not my disease, but this does really enrage me, that people are so cavalier about pain management and pain medication, that they leave your father up crying every night in pain. It breaks my heart. I suppose the one good part about dying is that no one really cares about my pain medication anymore - how much I’m on or if it’s addictive or any of that stuff. But for the last nine years up until now, I completely understand that; your pain outstripping your ways to deal with it, doctors who “aren’t interested” (?!?) or feel it’s not their department, or that “eventually” they’ll do something to help it or fix it, so you just need to struggle on for a bit. There has been more than one night, up crying with pain, that I’ve said to DH I wished I had a machine that allowed the doctors to feel my pain for 24 hours as they try to live their lives, and then they could make their decisions about how to treat it. I feel at least half of them would have been gobbling morphine tablets like popcorn, ha. Anyway, I do hope you have some sciatica advice for each other, and I do hope something in the future can help your father have nights of sleep instead of tears.[/quote]
It's very hard to see my dad cry as I've never seen him cry about anything else but to be honest I'm kind of getting used to it. I imagine it's the same for healthcare professionals. You get battle hardened.

I also feel we are extremely lucky to get appointments so quickly and to have a plan of sorts.

Dh on the other hand has an NHS appointment ever six months and rben privately it takes quite a few weeks to see someone. The docs can't find what's causing his pain so they seem to think he isn't s actually in that much pain or that affected. But he is. He can't sit at all anymore and the distances he can walk are reducing every day. We used to go hiking all day long and now he can barely walk a few hundred metres let alone do anything else that's active beyond the bare minimum. I feel so bad for him. He's getting more and more depressed and is losing any hope that he'll ever get back to normal.

I need to sleep. Need go to be up in less than 6h. I cracked quordle today, which has become my favourite wordle type game. I'll try wordmaster. Thanks for the suggestion.

@Shutthefeontdoor You have DEFINITELY found your people; we gain more “victims” of peri-menopause every day, it seems. It’s an absolute nightmare (har har) for sleep, and even if you get to sleep, it seems to be able to upset the deep sleep cycle (often temperature regulation is a BIG issue), too. I’m so sorry to hear that your husband made such a terrible decision, but hopefully his willy will fall off oh no wait, yeah, I meant that, hopefully it falls off, ha. But sadly, if the amount of people experiencing pain, grief, and other issues on this thread, or my own situation, has shown me, it’s not exactly a world of “what goes around comes around” always, so the best you can do is take care of yourself, and realize you’re worth so much more. But I understand that doesn’t make it any less lonely at night. These things take time; they still might hurt, but won’t be such a “fresh” hurt. Hope you get at least a wee bit of rest tonight.

@SaltySocks I can definitely understand the idea of becoming “battle-hardened.” I imagine my DH has as well. And I’m so sorry to hear about your DH. Chronic pain without a diagnosis can be a true, true nightmare - medical professionals not believing, the person’s mental health suffering heavily as a result, and all the while whatever is causing it seems to be getting worse and worse. Do you mind my asking (I know you’re trying to go to bed so feel free to answer tomorrow or the next day or the next) what his symptoms are, as far as the pain? Ive seen a lot of times that chronic pain that is really difficult to diagnose can be tied to various autoimmune disorders, and some of them have an average time-to-diagnosis of eight years, longer for men. So as horrible as it might be to hear that, keep encouraging him not to give up, as awful as it must feel, that it’s not over. I was considered “very lucky” that it only took a year to diagnose me. (Apologies if you’ve already gone through this and just don’t want to talk about it anymore.)

Pain from endometriosis. Really ow. Need to get up for pain killers

My stomach feels like a jacuzzi, keep thinking she’s due in less than two weeks because ds was bang on his due date but obviously she could go over. Don’t know whether it would be better for her to go over because would give me more time to get organised in our (hopefully!) new place since I won’t have anything at all in there.
But also I’m so uncomfortable and she was measuring so big that it’s difficult to do anything at all! Suppose it’s not up to me though and she’ll come when she wants lol

Period pain, being itchy coz Im too hot and restless feet are keeping me awake. I've got to get up for work at 6am 😫😫

I'm often awake till about1 but this is way too late

In winter it's my fault - l don't get enoygh fresh air as I hate this weather.

Hi @5YearsLeft and @Tallisimo. I’m back. And in pain again!! So glad you saw the GP @Tallisimo. I wonder if it was pregabalin you were given? Good luck with it - although it might take a month to work, if it works. I was also sent via physio and after about 6 weeks had a ridiculous phone consultation. I was in so much pain I had given up weeks before and gone to private physio to try and speed things up. She recommended a neurosurgeon and I went from there. I was bent double though and couldn’t work/ do anything. But you probably are too! At least you are in the right queue now though. I had a terrible day today. Surgery on Wednesday. Just praying I don’t pick up covid. Sending thoughts and best wishes and sleep to all.

My nocturnal 20 year old woke me up pottering about noisily an hour ago. And here I am. I need to be up at 7 😭

Where I am, it’s not even close to midnight yet.

@Coroico97

Hi *@5YearsLeft and *@Tallisimo*. I’m back. And in pain again!! So glad you saw the GP *@Tallisimo**. I wonder if it was pregabalin you were given? Good luck with it - although it might take a month to work, if it works. I was also sent via physio and after about 6 weeks had a ridiculous phone consultation. I was in so much pain I had given up weeks before and gone to private physio to try and speed things up. She recommended a neurosurgeon and I went from there. I was bent double though and couldn’t work/ do anything. But you probably are too! At least you are in the right queue now though. I had a terrible day today. Surgery on Wednesday. Just praying I don’t pick up covid. Sending thoughts and best wishes and sleep to all.

Sending you ‘bog off, Covid’ vibes. I have everything crossed for you for Wednesday!

So sorry you are in pain again. Me too! Am having a warm drink downstairs and a change of mental scene. I just checked my online patient records and I can see that it is gabapentin he’s gone for. He must have changed his mind while he was researching!

Am sending my usual hugs to all who are struggling with their sleep, for whatever reason x

My DH collapsed in work and is currently in hospital. I don't know what's going on and I daren't sleep incase I miss a call.

My dad was admitted to hospital yesterday by ambulance from GP surgery. Been calling A&E since 9pm for an update but knowone picking up. So scared and google is making it worse

The not knowing is awful isn't it. Hope your Dad is alright.

Oh no @Iamsodonewith2020 and @Itsjustamoment I am so sorry. At leat I am awake because of something wrong with me and not a loved one. That’s so so much worse. I’m really hoping you both hear news soon. I really feel for you. It’s a truly horrible place to be. Xx

Toothache. After a failed extraction 10 days ago (crown broke away but roots still there), I'm awaiting hospital referral - which could take six weeks. The initial nerve pain died down a few days after the failed extraction, but its ramping up again. I fear its now infected as regular pain killers aren't touching it. Insult to injury - I tested +ve for covid on the 7th Feb and was still testing +ve on the 14th, so can't even visit the dentist to get antibiotics, and my Dr's surgery won't deal with me because it's a dental issue. A tad dramatic I know, but I feel like launching myself put of the bedroom window. This dental issue has been rumbling on since November. It's torture and I'm beyond exhausted.

@FlabbyflabberghastedIm so sorry you’re having endo pain. I understand it’s VERY painful (I always had big cramps, but nothing on the order of endo, and then my periods disappeared). I can definitely understand that need for help with the pin but also the desire to just not get out of bed, when you’re in pin, to even go get the painkillers. It’s just an all-around crap time. I do hope you made it for painkillers and then were able to get back in bed immediately.

@kermitswig What a terrible time for it all when you need to be up at 6am! And then having the restless feet combined with period pain is just crap (we have another poster who gets dreadful busy legs at night when trying to sleep). I do hope you’re able to find a wee bit of rest, but if not, I hope tomorrow is a better day for your period, and that some coffee will will help you through.

@EmmaH2022 Don’t feel too badly; none of us are perfect, or else we’d all have found some way to do some exact perfect combination of things and get sleep, but we’re only human. Maybe you’d be sleeping right now if you’d gotten some fresh air and maybe you wouldn’t. I mean, I wholeheartedly support getting some air tomorrow if that’s what you want, and it’s true, it can be good. But just don’t put too much pressure on yourself; sleep can be an elusive beastie.

@Coroico97 So sorry you’re up with pain again! This damn sciatica is determined to stick around and really be the biggest nuisance possible before your surgery, eh? And I’ll definitely keep my fingers crossed for no COVID anywhere near you before the surgery. I do hope the pin calms down a bit and you get a brief rest, even if no sleep, tonight.

@Itsjustamoment and @Iamsodonewith2020 What an absolutely terrible time the two of you are having. Waiting is horrible and I know it leaves that sick feeling in your stomach, in a way that nothing else does. I hope maybe you both have news by now but if not, I understand that’s probably damn near unbearable if you’ve been trying since work time (for you, moment) or 9pm (for you, 2020). I can only hope that anyb news isn’t nearly as bad as Dr Google can make it seem at 3am. That must be the very worst time for it when you’re up awake by yourself just trying to figure out any kind of answer using the internet and the internet gives the worst answers. I do hope today brings better answers and a hope to see your husband (for moment) and father (for 2020) if it’s possible.

@CandyLeBonBon Tell that 20 year old to make less noise! Though I suppose done is done now, ha. Can’t unbreak a window.

@PrawnDrench Ah! Well, I hope you’re able to sleep when it IS post-midnight there.

@Shmithecat2 I don’t think that’s too dramatic a response to torture, no. I think, in fact, it’s only human to consider a launch out the bedroom window, as long as you don’t do it. But I can understand that desperation to just make the pain END. And dental pain is well known to drive anyone to distraction; it just keeps throbbing, won’t stop, affects your sleep, your ability to eat, can hurt even when you breathe! I mean, if something can keep you from having a cup of tea, now THAT’S pain! I’m sorry you have such a delay to get more help and then add in your COVID diagnosis; it’s a whole lot to deal with. I wish I had some kind of helpful suggestion to lessen the pain, but I have nothing. I hope it dies down a bit and allows you some rest; even if we can’t sleep, we just all need some rest. And remember, if you ever REALLY start to get overwhelmed and looking at the bedroom window… in this case at least, it’s a permanent solution to ja temporary problem, albeit one that must feel it’s been going on forever, jand go to A&E. Tell them you had a failed root canal and the pain has become unbearable and they may need to call an emergency dentist. And definitely go to A&E if the pain starts to radiate into your ear, jaw, or it starts to feel hot to the touch on your jaw, your face, near your ear. Very best of luck, and you’re always welcome here when you can’t sleep, whether it’s pain or something else.

Toothache. Paracetamol isn't even touching the sides. Think I must've just been lucky earlier on when I took a couple and it eased it. Thing is it didn't actually start of as toothache, it started off with a pain between my jaw and chin bone but more in the part you'd get a double chin if you tilted your head down and feels like there's something there whenever I move my head to the right. Then it spread to my to my teeth a couple of nights ago. don't even have a dentist anymore cos mines retired and nor could I actually afford to go see one at the moment anyway

@Itsjustamoment hope you have heard. Finally managed to get someone to pick up the phone 14 hours after my dad arrived by ambulance. He is still in A&E!!! Having lots of tests today as they think it’s related to his heart failure. This is news to me and my mum as we didn’t know he was diagnosed with heart failure.

@Tinabn I'm so, so sorry. No words really

@HopingForMyRainbowBaby it might be a blocked salivary gland?

@Iamsodonewith2020 I’m so sorry; what a mess. I do hope today brings some clarity.

@HopingForMyRainbowBaby Back to back people with toothaches. I’m sorry as this sounds awful. Maybe it’s not actually your teeth and more a jaw muscle problem? I wish I knew.

Well, I’ve had an absolute shite morning. Took them two tries to get blood which isn’t bad but they were both so painful (why????), and then my urine tests turns out to be me having to pee in jugs for 24 hours (WHY??) and then I tried to get home and getting an Uber was awful, and then I get an email that the first Uber that pulled up and then just pulled away without me (?!!!) and immediately cancelled reported me to Uber for not wearing a face mask and I got a nasty email from Uber that I need to wear a face mask or I’ll lose access to the service when I WAS WEARING MY HOSPITAL REQUIRED FACE MASK the rotten lying bastard (WHY?!?!?!?) so I’ve just spent 20 bloody minutes on Uber trying to track down SOME way in help to tell them it’s not true because that’s what they said to do, but then it’s not ACTUALLY possible in their Help Section, and then I went to grocery store and had a hellish time and dropped a fucking apple juice on myself and that’s going to bruise up awful.

It’s only 10am here!!!!

Fuck me. Thread’s closed. We’ll try again to be humans tonight. I’m getting back under my duvet and fuck everybody except you lovely bunch. Honestly. Fucking hell.

Oh @5YearsLeft that's just totally rubbish.

You can make a complaint here. https://help.uber.com/riders/article/i-have-different-feedback-about-my-driver-?nodeId=88b47516-35f0-4084-9455-96b7e1374463

Going back to bed seems like a good plan. But please may I also recommend tea? Tea makes everything a bit less shite 😊 You are clearly overwhelmed today (and who can blame you?). Sometimes the smallish stuff is enough to tip us over the edge. All the little stuff piled on top of the huge stuff and it all just comes tumbling down.

Stop, breathe and rest. Fucking Uber. Fucking Apple juice. Fucking covid and masks. Fucking immune diseases. Fucking lack of vampires , I mean where are they when you need them, bastards?

And this. This is just for you today.

@catwomando I finally gave up and went with “I have been discriminated against” and it allowed me to select him, as a driver who had cancelled on me, so… I don’t think (hope???) he actually discriminated against me but why the hell would someone do that to someone standing outside a hospital looking like death warmed over and pull away right as they pulled up?! ANYWAY. Love the meme, going to share it with everyone today, and it’s like you can see into my HOUSE. See attached photo for what’s happening right now.

[quote 5YearsLeft]@Shmithecat2 I don’t think that’s too dramatic a response to torture, no. I think, in fact, it’s only human to consider a launch out the bedroom window, as long as you don’t do it. But I can understand that desperation to just make the pain END. And dental pain is well known to drive anyone to distraction; it just keeps throbbing, won’t stop, affects your sleep, your ability to eat, can hurt even when you breathe! I mean, if something can keep you from having a cup of tea, now THAT’S pain! I’m sorry you have such a delay to get more help and then add in your COVID diagnosis; it’s a whole lot to deal with. I wish I had some kind of helpful suggestion to lessen the pain, but I have nothing. I hope it dies down a bit and allows you some rest; even if we can’t sleep, we just all need some rest. And remember, if you ever REALLY start to get overwhelmed and looking at the bedroom window… in this case at least, it’s a permanent solution to ja temporary problem, albeit one that must feel it’s been going on forever, jand go to A&E. Tell them you had a failed root canal and the pain has become unbearable and they may need to call an emergency dentist. And definitely go to A&E if the pain starts to radiate into your ear, jaw, or it starts to feel hot to the touch on your jaw, your face, near your ear. Very best of luck, and you’re always welcome here when you can’t sleep, whether it’s pain or something else.[/quote]
Thank you. The pain is indeed in my jaw and ear, sometimes down to my shoulder! Hoping I test negative today and tomorrow so I can at least get some antibiotics whilst waiting for my hospital referral to get the roots removed.🤞