Feeling awful on 3 hours sleep

[Smallcupoftea]

I wake up at 12 every night with a racing heart beat and night sweat. Go to sleep at 9pm fine. This has been going on for 3 weeks, before that I was getting about 5 hours for 5 weeks. I’ve never been a great sleeper but until Easter I was getting 6-7 hours. Then I became ill with undiagnosed issue.

I can’t get back to sleep because I have horrible tremors and shaking, pin and needles in my feet. Because my bloods were fine, GP doesn’t want to know.

Now I’m starting to have suicidal thoughts in the morning because of the lack of sleep and feeling ill. I feel ill most of the day, nausea and general malaise. I was perfectly happy before all this started. Don’t know what to do anymore, I don’t recognise myself.

Once you wake up at 12 after you have calmed down what do you do with yourself? Or does the panic continue all the way through to the morning? I would be inclined to get up and have a cup of camomile tea as it's good for anxiety and sleep, and then try reading or putting on headphones and listening to adult sleep stories or a boring podcast or rain sounds or white noise. Even if you're awake having a tea and reading and calming down for 3hrs but then managed to get a technique to fall back to sleep and get at least another hour or two, then slowly go from there.

Have you tried magnesium supplements? Herbal sleep tablets from chemist like nytol?

Thank you for replying. No I just lie there having these tremors and hoping to go off again. I think I should probably get up. I actually was so desperately unhappy I called the Samaritans and she gently suggested seeing my gp. I got a same day appointment today and have been referred to a mental health crisis unit. I feel better just knowing I’m going to get some help. I’ve never experienced anything like this.

Try getting up tonight when it happens, make a warm drink even warmed milk or whatever, if you don't read books even grab a magazine or something try that for an hour or two and then try going back to sleep again. I really recommend headphones on with sleep stories or meditation or just something to focus on other than how you're feeling, something that soothing Rather than super engaging.
I'm glad you spoke to your GP and have been referred, it's the first step in the right direction.

Lack of sleep is torturous, I'm in a similar boat, it just increases the anxiety and your ability to rationalize anything because your cognitive functioning isn't on top form.

How did last night go OP?

Oh thanks for asking. Slept 8.30 to 1am with racing heart at 9. GP said take a nytol so I think that helped me go back to sleep.
I did get up to make a tea at 3am but it’s still a long night awake. Played some music quietly.

Really I need something stronger some nights because of the tremors/shaking which are persistent.

Yes I did feel panicky until 5 ish. I called 111 and spoke to a lovely lady who suggested some calming techniques.

Honestly, I don’t know why I’m suddenly like this.

Well that is an improvement already, 4.5hrs is better than 3 and the fact that you got up and made tea and listened to some music is great. I think if you keep that up it will very slowly improve. Your body has probably got into this habit now which I know is what happens to me. Glad the nytol helped, if it's the herbal one keep taking it.

It was the real nytol so will skip tonight and have some magnesium. Yes I felt better on 4.5hrs!

Ah okay, yeah you don't want to take that every night. Try the magnesium tonight and keep up with the tea and music. I think relaxing yourself first is the main thing and once that's happening the sleep will follow.

Have you been able to get to sleep OP lately? I found that using a massage machine that heats and rotates on my back, shoulders and neck has been really helpful to relax and fall asleep. Not having a hot water bottle, I also tried using a washcloth dipped in boiling water then placed in ziplock bag and pillowcase. I applied this to my neck and fell deeply asleep.
HTH ;)

Thanks for checking up on me. In the last 5 nights I’ve had, 5 hrs, then 2, 5, then 2 and 5. So some improvement! Also during a heatwave so that’s something!

I also had an ecg yesterday which showed tremors that keep me awake or at least wake me up.

I may need to see a neurologist. Something is going on.

I saw a crisis team last week but don’t feel quite so low now thank goodness 🤞

I hope you are also getting some rest.

Good thing you saw a doctor and had an ekg. That sounds serious.
Did you get an appt to see a neurologist? Surely they will find out what has been causing your tremors and shakes. Could it be anxiety?
Take care.

I have a referral for a neurologist. I don’t think it’s anxiety but the tremors and lack of sleep are causing me anxiety. I did mange 5 hours last night.

For some reason it’s worse in the mornings and overnight but the evenings from 4-8pm much better.