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Original poster

Insomnia help

39 replies

Thursdaydreaming · 29/10/2018 16:54

I've had insomnia for years and its really unbearable! I feel exhausted during the day and by around 10pm, I usually feel like I'll be able to sleep. But I lie there for hours. By midnight I'm getting frustrated and by 3am I want to cry. I usually fall asleep between 3 and 5 am. I get up between 6-7am as I have a young baby.

My DH lying there sleeping peacefully makes me so jealous. He falls asleep in under five minutes.

Why can't I sleep? It's just so bloody boring lying there and I feel like absolute shit. I take sleeping pills 1-2 times per week otherwise I'd be a complete mess. But on the nights I take them, I still take 2-3 hours to fall asleep and then I'm really groggy getting up at 6 with the baby.

Who else has insomnia and how have you gotten over it, if you have.

OP posts:
pattyhoo · 29/10/2018 19:44

I've cut caffeine down to just 1 drink per day, and after a couple of weeks it's made a massive difference. I always thought it didn't have an effect, but it has done! Going to bed earlier and reading a boring book helps me get to sleep. Unfortunately I still wake up a few times in the night. Good luck with it, it's really awful.

Isleepinahedgefund · 29/10/2018 19:52

My six yr old falls asleep in two mins flat, I am so jealous of her!

Like you, I feel ready for bed and then often can't get to sleep once I've got into bed z
My GP told me to improve sleep hygiene - limit screens, go to bed at the same time, read a book, etc etc. I did find it made a difference.

Cutting down caffeine definitely helped, and cutting it out altogether helped even more - I switched to decaf tea and coffee.

I have some prescription drowsy antihistamines (hydroxizine) as an "if all else fails" , I take them occasionally if I'm desperate and I like that it helps me get to sleep and sleep until my alarm goes off and I wake up feeling rested, but I'm able to get up and safely do things if needs be (child wakes up etc).

Original poster
Thursdaydreaming · 29/10/2018 23:21

Thanks for the tips! I'm going to try cutting out caffeine. This sounds ridiculous but I drink quite a bit but I never thought it had an effect. Mainly because I don't drink it in the morning "to wake up" like a lot of people describe, or feel any stimulant effect after drinking it. Something to try though.

OP posts:
iwonderwhen · 29/10/2018 23:41

My sympathies. I've had trouble sleeping most of my life. I either doze off then wake up in the night and stay awake til about 5/6 or just don't sleep and my mind races until I doze off about 5:6 and wake up feeling like a zombie.

Do you notice any triggers? It might be useful to keep a diary to keep a lookout for anything that sets it off. For me it's sugar, some flavourings and preservatives in foods, too much wine or if I'm upset or stressed about something.
I also resort to antihistamines occasionally too.

Original poster
Thursdaydreaming · 29/10/2018 23:59

I use antihistamines too, but I find you have to make the decision to take them early, like before bed. If you wait until 3-4am, then take them in desperation, the whole next day is shot.

OP posts:
Ifeelinclined · 30/10/2018 00:11

I have had trouble with insomnia for years. It caused extreme daytime drowsiness for me. I finally found that cutting out sugary drinks helped. It made an absolute world of difference. It didn't solve the sleep problems, but it made me so much less drowsy during the day.

TheWiseWomansFear · 30/10/2018 00:13

Have you seen a doctor ? I have been given hydroxide/Atarax because my eczema was keeping me awake and I sleep like the dead

SpoonBlender · 30/10/2018 00:54

Caffeine definitely does the thing, even if you think it doesn't. I had a good example last night - I stop drinking coffee at 3pm, from past experience of it wrecking my ability to go to sleep. Last night we were out and I had a coffee-based pudding.

Still up at fucking 5am, or 6am in old money. Didn't feel jittery or otherwise caffeinated, just had no ability to lie down with my eyes closed.

Original poster
Thursdaydreaming · 30/10/2018 08:29

I have seen a doctor about it years ago, but they sort of brushed it off and gave some sleep hygiene tips which I already knew about and try to follow.

I will make another appointment though and ask about melatonin.

And I've gone off caffeine completely as of today, hopefully I might notice a difference soon.

OP posts:
TheLastNigel · 30/10/2018 08:32

I've got melatonin-so far made no odds. And I only drink one cup of tea a day now-and never after midday.
I've always had insomnia to varying degrees-never worse than now. I'm in the verge of giving up and just taking a night job. I'm not asleep anyway-and I'm currently useless st work during the day as so tired. It would actually give me more free time 🤷🏽‍♀️. Maybe I just need to accept that I will not ever sleep properly I guess...

Original poster
Thursdaydreaming · 30/10/2018 08:43

Ah just realised you don't need a prescription for it. I may as well try it. I'll try anything! Sorry it didn't work for you TheLastNigel, that's annoying.

OP posts:
Jayfee · 30/10/2018 08:54

If my husband eats a banana after 4 pm he won't be able to sleep.

Branleuse · 30/10/2018 09:36

you do need a prescription in the UK for melatonin, but not in the rest of europe, or the US and its not illegal to buy it elsewhere and get it posted, and its pretty harmless compared to other sleeping tablets, so its worth trying.
Id try 3mg first and then maybe 5mg if 3 doesnt work.
The only negative side effect for me is that sometimes gives me too many dreams and if i take too much, then i still sleep, but i feel like im drifting in and out of dreams all night. Still better than not sleeping, but if you take the right dose, its a really natural feeling of tiredness, not like a sedative one. A lot of people dont produce enough natural melatonin of their own, especially people who might be on the AS, or sometimes just happens as you get older.

TheLastNigel · 30/10/2018 09:59

In going to bash on with it-it night take a few months to get in my system I suppose 🤷🏽‍♀️

Branleuse · 30/10/2018 11:36

what dosage did you try Nigel?

I would definitely give it a few tries at different dsages, but if it doesnt work after a week, id say that it wasnt going to work for you.

If your insomnia is to do with high anxiety, then your anxiety will override most sleeping pills, and you need to work on that first.

TheLastNigel · 30/10/2018 12:36

5 mg

Branleuse · 30/10/2018 17:48

did you get no sleep on it at all?

Id try upping the dose. For me 5mg usually works quite well, but it doesnt work for my dp. Id try 10mg and if that doesnt work, id say it doesnt work for you at all

epicclusterfuck · 30/10/2018 18:09

I sometimes use apps to get to sleep. I like Sleep Easily and Insight Timer, both kind of meditations.

chemenger · 30/10/2018 18:35

I’m in the US so melatonin can be bought, the recommended dose on mine is 10mg and I find that gives me a good nights sleep. It isn’t cumulative as far as I know, it should work immediately.

TheLastNigel · 30/10/2018 21:44

I'll try and up the dose tonight and see...my issue is not so much initially getting to sleep nowadays (it used to be) it's that I go to sleep fairly quickly at about 10, 10.30 then wake up at between 1 and 2.30 and can't get back off to sleep at all...I wonder if that makes a difference?

QueenofWhatever · 30/10/2018 21:53

I feel your pain!

sleepstation.org.uk Is an online insomnia treatment programme that is free on the NHS in some areas. You can refer yourself. Sleepio is another one, I also like the Sleep Doctor although he is American.

Pzizz is also a good app.

Branleuse · 30/10/2018 21:54

Do you drink in the evening Nigel. That happens to me if i have a drink

chemenger · 30/10/2018 22:15

As well as the melatonin I have cut way back on caffeine, no coffee after 11am and usually only one half caffeine cup first thing. Alcohol in the evening guarantees that I will wake up at 2am and struggle to get back to sleep. Melatonin helps me get back to sleep if I wake but I do feel weird when I wake in the night. In my case it is menopause/age related.

swingofthings · 31/10/2018 07:39

I found melatonin helpful the first few times I've taken it but it wore off after a week or so to making no difference. Also didn't stop waking up at 4am and unable to get back to sleep.