To ask what you’re doing awake post-midnight? Part 3: Return of the Insomnia

[5YearsLeft]

Hey all - We’ve made it to the third thread. Whether you’ve posted before or you’re brand new, if you’re stuck awake, then you’re welcome here. We’ve had people facing it all on the last few threads: grief (loss of DPs, DHs, parents, children, and pets), illness of every sort (cancer, COVID, post COVID, sciatica, antidepressant withdrawals, stomach bugs of every sort, cold/flu, autoimmune problems, and even more diagnoses), ill children and partners (vomiting, crying, unable to sleep… and that’s just the adult family members! Ok I’m kidding, that was mostly the kids), women in labor, women with surgery fears, fears of all other sizes, anxiety, work anxiety, and of course insomnia caused by myriad things (LOTS of peri and postmenopausal insomnia).

Whatever is keeping you awake, you’re always welcome to share it here.

If you’re following in from our last thread, it’s:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4473171-To-ask-what-you-re-doing-awake-post-midnight-Part-2-Insomnia-Strikes-Back

I'm doing what the kids call 'skiing'. Really shouldn't be but I've relapsed and DC's in bed

@Hollyharndale776 Oh god, I’m so sorry to hear that. That’s a pretty big relapse if we’re talking about the same thing. Do you have a mentor or sober friend you can call who could support you in stopping again? I know DC is asleep right now, but you want to stop “skiing” for him or her, permanently.

Hello fellow insomiacs! I'm awake because I'm stressing that my house won't sell (despite everyone being optimistic it would sell in a jiffy!) as it's been on the market a few weeks and has had barely any viewings and worrying whether we'll ever be able to move. Also dh is snoring and dc2 is nursing!

Oh dear, I think we must be talking about different things. I'm playing their stupid ski and snowboard game on the xbox after a few wines

@Samanabanana That’s a lot of worry! And a lot of nighttime waffling about from other members of the family! (Though I doubt dc2 can help it, ha). I do hope the house gets some more viewings and DH stops snoring.

@Hollyharndale776 Er… yes. Wouldn’t use “skiing” and “relapsing” in the same sentence. It’s definitely slang for something else. But I suppose the Xbox can be just as addicting!

@5YearsLeft honestly I felt like a new woman when I woke up! I had a good night last week too so here’s hoping they get more frequent! I’m seeing my GP for my blood test results tomorrow (although I’ve already looked at my online results haha) a few things have flagged up so hopefully we can get a bit of a treatment plan in place!

@5YearsLeft thank you! They're both behaving now so I can fully concentrate on obsessively browsing rightmove to see why no one wants my house Hope you manage to get some sleep tonight too!

@ImNotDancing oh yes I’m dreadful at looking at my online results before the doctor calls haha but! Hopefully that means that he can help though.

@Samanabanana Have you thought about name changing and posting it on MN? A lot of people always say “it’s always the price and only the price” but someone on here said they had no viewings, posted their house on here, made the changes recommended (I assume things like take new pictures, paint walls white or things like that??) and they sold in 10 days. Might be an option if you’re going crazy.

Hello fellow awake people. Wide awake, pregnant with covid. Been shattered all day but cannot sleep for the life of me 🙄 just had cereal because I reached the hungry stage!!

@Purplerain1144 Ugh, what a terrible mix of feeling horrible, shattered, and wide awake. I hope at least the cereal hit the spot!

@5YearsLeft I'm trying to work out if I'm brave enough

I'm never usually up this late I have covid and seem to have been isolation a year and a half and I just can't sleep 😕 so hi .

2 year old's had diarrhea for two days and now she's woken up and been sick. Just got her changed and calmed down to sleep.
I'm normally awake past 12 because I feel it's the only me time I get but today was asleep by 11:20!

@Samanabanana I don’t blame you! Tough choice. Maybe wait a feeeew more days and definitely name change if you do it, ha.

@Mrsjayy Oh gosh, it’s just so draining, isn’t it?? (I’ve had it twice and I’m CEV). I’m so sorry it feels like just endless isolation. I felt like absolute balls today, and just cracking open a window for some fresh air helped a wee bit (I hope it isn’t pouring down where you are!!) but I know it doesn’t make you feel well or outside, so I do hope you feel better soon. And yes, COVID insomnia is a very, very real, if these threads are anything to go by.

@Sh05 Ugh, what a nightmare for both of you. I’m sure her stomach feels awful, and I’m sure you feel exhausted from dealing with it all. I hope it all gets a bit better tomorrow!!!

Yes I have Windows open. It is so draining my sleep has been all over the place !

Thankyou @5YearsLeft!
I often see this thread title but bypass it thinking I'm awake by choice and those suffering from insomnia have no choice but you sound lovely and full of wisdom.

Ds has covid, so because of his adrenal problems he has to have rescue meds bang on every 6 hours (1am) he is also on a feeding tube which is due to finish at 2.45am. I planned on trying to sleep before the 1am medicine but only managed half an hour. My hope is now I can manage between 3 and 7 (if by some miracle he sleeps that long!)

New here. Awake. I just don't sleep right now. Despite having a busy job sleep just evades me. So bored tired and lonely

Wide awake with period pain, woke me up from sleep - dreaming I was in pain . Am in absolute agony . Rang NHS24 as I’ve previously been taken into hospital with periods for morphine/IV fluids etc, hoping/praying they can prescribe something .

@Mrsjayy I know; it must feel just awful. I really do hope it passes for you soon, and you can breathe some fresh air out of doors. I know it’s so difficult to get comfortable, even though you’re already feeling drained (WHY is COVID like that?!? In that way, at least, it is a bit like the flu), so I do hope some sleep finds you.

@Sh05 Note to self: call the next thread “Not just for insomnia!” Ha. But yes, really, in the past three threads we’ve really had it all. Women in labor. Women dealing with serious grief (some are still here). Women with all kinds of illnesses from COVID to cancer. Women worrying about everything from tiny DCs to work shifts. And lots and lots of situational insomnia - caused by peri menopause or COVID. I do so hope you get some sleep though!

@Sirzy Ok, this really is something I can understand - I’m up because I had to take my meds at 2am. Every four hours, four times a day, for me, as long as I’m awake (a fifth one if I can’t sleep all night). Believe me, you’re not alone! But you have it MUCH tougher than me dealing with your DS’s adrenal meds, and then the feeding tube, and you add in COVID… I’m sure you’re shattered. I really do hope you get some sleep between the 3-7 slot and that it’s the restful kind!

@Nootssss Sometimes that’s how it is - it doesn’t feel like anything “traumatic” exactly, but it’s just that things aren’t exactly comfortable and you can’t sleep. And sometimes a busy job can actually leave you awake at night; it’s a weird thing. Busy jobs don’t always make us, as humans, less lonely. I do hope you get some sleep, though! Or find something that keeps you from boredom for a bit. Book? Movie?

@lytothemoonandback Oh! That sounds absolutely terrible. I’ve had those pain nightmares where your mind is trying to make sense of what your body is still feeling; I’m so sorry. I so hope they can do something for you. I’ll have my fingers crossed. You shouldn’t have to deal with agony like that.

I'm here. My toddler woke me up and now I'm worrying about money so I can't sleep. Same story last night. Wish I could switch my brain off.

Can I join? Currently wide awake despite being exhausted 🙄 brain won't switch off just now. Currently going through a cancer scare and also being evicted from my home in a few weeks. Unable to find anywhere to move to. So stress levels rather high just now!

@5YearsLeft I bet I'm not the only one who is curious about what 'skiing' is! 🤣🤣🤣
@Samanabanana house buying and selling is so stressful isn't it? I hope things pick up for you soon.
@ImNotDancing its amazing what a good nights sleep can do for you! Hopefully you can start to break the no sleep pattern and have some more good nights.
@Purplerain1144 I am now obsessing about having a bowl of Shreddies! My bed is warm and comfortable but I might have to leave it and venture downstairs to do a bit of snacking!
@Sh05 like @5YearsLeft said, this group is for anyone who is awake when they should be asleep. I hope you manage to drop off soon.

Chemo is getting to me a bit at the moment. I've been totally exhausted the last few days. Fine when I'm sat down doing nothing, but then I go upstairs to the loo or whatever and I'm totally shattered. Just putting one foot in front of the other seems such an effort. And then there's my hair, or rather the lack of it. I just want to cry when I catch sight of my reflection. I thought I'd be fine with wearing a wig or headscarves, but I'm not. They're annoying and uncomfortable! I can't wait to rip them off when I'm in the house but I'm too vain to venture out without them. On the plus side, I don't have a moustache any more. I thought I might get away with not having to pluck eyebrows anymore, but unfortunately, the eyebrows have gone, leaving behind the monobrow bit that needs plucking!!! The prosthesis they've given me is the smallest size they have, but I am a very flat chested woman, so it is huge on me. It looked as if the prosthesis side of my chest was normal and that the other side was the one that had been removed! As a result I haven't been wearing it really, but then I bought a second one and put it on my normal side and wow!! All of a sudden I have a bust!! Or at least I don't, but it looks as if I do. I should have thought of this years ago! Forget padded bras and chicken fillets, a couple of softies and a mastectomy bra is what us small girls need!

I've always had sleep initiation isnomia. It's hell. But being in my 3rd trimester with second baba has kicked it up a notch, when I do manage to get to sleep, it's short periods of sleep cos I wake up when I move cos its painful, and tonight I'm in hospital, I'm on a labour ward- not in labour but I do keep hearing alarms, and on the more lovely side- hearing a lot of babies first cries- which is strangely setting my own gymnast off.
Probably the least pissed off I've ever been to have no sleep!