To call in sick for lack of sleep

[giggly]

I suffer from insomnia which is well known in work. I probably average 4-5 hours a night every night and permanently exhausted. It’s now 5.29 am and I’ve not had a worse long sleep yet and have a full diary of patients tomorrow. Until now I’d never cancel anyone but would just struggle through the day sometimes giving a no doubt less than good service. My but here is that so many patients cancel at the last minute with no reason given, which is fine so why is it so difficult for me to make this decision.
I just want to go to sleep before the alarm goes off at 7.30.

I also have insomnia, I get around 3 hours sleep a night. It’s not that I don’t get tired, but I just can’t seem to relax and stop my brain whirling like a rollercoaster. Then after a few weeks I get to the stage where I just crash - I work in a school so I know that every few weeks I will get a break, so that really helps.

Your job is a lot more stressful, so if I was you I’d take some time off to get myself on an even keel. It’s not right that you should have to lie about the reason, as insomnia should be treated as a valid illness.

I totally sympathise and glad you managed to catch up on some sleep. I've had insomnia on and off for 25 years but have been suffering from the worst episode ever. My last proper night sleep was in December 2019 and I probably average 4 hours a night. I've begged my doctor in the past for medication but as other posters have found, GPs are often reluctant to medicate.

I saw my GP last week for a range of symptoms that may be insomnia or might be peri menopause and was finally prescribed mirtazapine. It's a mild antidepressant that also acts as a sedative and so far it's working. I've taken it for 8 nights and I've definitely slept better although I still feel a bit drugged when I wake and I've had very vivid dreams. It might be worth asking your GP for it if you are desperate.

OP, you have my sympathies.

In my below link is an antihistamine marketed as a sleep aid. It’s effective. Obviously not for regular use, but something when truly desperate. I should say there are studies showing anticholinergic medications such as this one if used long term could increase risk of dementia.

www.biovea.com/uk/product/detail/1995/sleep-aid-25mg--192-tablets/?deptid=0&cid=0&mid=0&kw=Kirkland+Sleep+Aid

@fizzyfood

Hi. My partner suffers terribly from insomnia when he went to the GP not much help was offered, for anyone who's had help from the GP what was it?

Thanks

Some GPs refer you to Sleep Station which is quite a good course. You have to complete sleep diaries and are put in touch with a sleep counsellor - bit hit and miss they were. Ultimately you have to understand the cause of insomnia, it's a symptom not a cause.

It sounds like you have a very responsible job in which you need to focus, so IMO, YANBU.

But I wouldn't use that reason, nobody will understand, sadly. Say you feel generally unwell.

Anyone having insomnia/sleep issues please check out the work of Dr Stasha Gominak, she’s helped so many people get better sleep with a very simple protocol that consists of supplementing certain vitamins.

@giggly - the pharmacist at Boots is talking nonsense about what Phenergan is licensed for - see the Patient Information Leaflet linked here - www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.5588.pdf

I've suffered with insomnia for almost 30yrs and get approximately 10hrs sleep in a week, never sleeping more than 3hrs in one night, mostly max 2hrs/night and usually at least 3 nights a week with absolutely no sleep at all.
When I was working I just had to get on with it, when you need to earn a wage you have to work.

OP you mentioned that it’s all insomnia related, could you try HRT? I’ve seen people really helped by a combination of gel estrogen and good sleep hygiene. I think there’s a very helpful Facebook group called the Irish menopause. You could look to see what they mention with insomnia. Good luck.

I see you’ve mentioned it being menopausal? Have you spoken to gp about HRT? Or checking your hormone balance?

I had terrible insomnia before I went on HRT. Once on it, it was sorted in couple of weeks.

Check out the Huberman lab podcast. He's a researcher at Stanford who reviews all the evidence for different topics. The one about Insomnia/sleep says getting out in the sun within 30 mins of waking is the most important thing you can do. No sunglasses - sun must enter your eyes because it interacts with cells in the retina. It sets your biological click. He also talks about magnesium and exercise amongst other things.

He used to have bad insomnia and now sleeps better. Also has a very soporific voice. I put it on in middle of night and fall straight back to sleep.

My friend suffers with insomnia but it was to the point he'd sleep 4 hours after 3 days, it lead to hallucinations due to lack of sleep and depression, he's now on medication and getting 4 hours a night, hallucinations have stopped and depression is getting better so he is improving, he is currently signed off sick since he was made redundant in first lockdown but he is slowly getting better. I do hope you are seeking help for the insomnia, but you will need to keep pushing for it as wouldn't want anyone to go through what he went through. YANBU but companies frown upon it so better say vomiting bug or something like that but please seek help, there is also a support group on facebook that I'm in as I do have issues with it at times but not as bad as I used to.

@lborgia
Sorry, I've only just seen your reply.

He has adhd and takes medication for that, but it doesn't affect him at night as he takes it first thing in the morning.

He's seen fairly regularly at CAHMS, but they brush it off and tell him to persevere with the melatonin. This has been going on for over 7 years! He doesn't take his adhd meds at weekends and binge sleeps then. It's crap and not sustainable long term. He has an appointment with CAHMS this week and I'm going to try and sort it then.

I can recommend Benylin original chesty cough mixture (the drowsy one) which works for me - one spoonful a night.
Or phenergan anti histamine , or night nurse. I take one of these every night and it works for me. I always listen to an Audible story. Last night I slept through the whole of Tess of the Durbervilles - I don’t remember a thing about it. Don’t overdose on the meds- you’ll end up like a zombie in the morning. There is very little worse than insomnia- I wish you all the best.

If you do not feel fir for work, mentally or physically I'd say it's justified. I have done this once or twice for lack of sleep although I would not state the specific reason (just say feeling unwell or something vague).

I've had to call in sick the next day when heartburn has kept me up half the night. I just say I have stomach problems