Can't get enough sleep

[Axalotllittle]

No matter what, I can't get enough sleep. I always need more!

Yesterday evening I was going to take the children out on their bikes but I couldn't stay awake. Literally couldn't. I napped for an hour and then forced myself awake. Then dinner, bath, bed (usual kid routine). I went to bed at 8 and straight to sleep, same times as kids. To be woken at 6am by the dog. I'm sat here right now with my eyes burning with tiredness.

That's loads of sleep!! On weekends when husband is around I'm easily napping two or more hours AND going to bed early for another 8-6 chunk of sleep.

I've had weeks and weeks of this and am so fed up. I miss having a life and I miss having time to chat to my husband.

This is an intermittent issue and I do have gaps of a couple of months where I'm ok and then I'm back to being a zombie again.

I take antidepressants, meds for under active thyroid and vitamin D. Also am on weight loss injections. I'm on the antidepressants permanently because on them I'm great, but off them I really struggle.

Any advice?

Do you have a sleep tracker/know how much REM or deep sleep you are having?

Do you snore/any possibility of sleep apnoa? This will make you very tired in the day if untreated.

I had a sleep tracker for a while and it seemed to produce fairly good scores. I also tried one of those sleep recorders and it didn't seem to record any noises.

I'll look at installing another one and see how that goes. Thankyou, good suggestion.

Should have added I sleep alone

I would try to get your DH to observe you sleeping one night. My DH had untreated sleep apnoa for many years and was always tired. He is so much better now he has a cpap machine. If you are overweight it will increase the chances of sleep apnoa.

That's a really good idea. I'm not hugely overweight any more. Sitting at just under 12 stone. So carrying a little extra. I'll get husband to pop in and take a look at me when I'm asleep

Have you had your bloods taken recently? I can only dream of getting that much sleep !!

Yes not so long ago because I was only diagnosed with under active thyroid in June. Everything appeared to be ok

What were your ferritin and B12 levels? And do you have the lab ranges with the results? I would bet you have low iron.

Funnily enough, iron is one that I'm not low on. I'm not sure what the b12 was.

Interesting data on the sleep app last night. My REM sleep seems to be very severely lacking

I think iron levels can have a huge effect on tiredness levels. My ferritin level was 12. The doctor gave me a supplement for a few weeks and I felt better. I take an iron supplement now and it helps. Did the blood results show your ferritin level?

I'm not sure for the most recent ones but iron has never ever been low in any blood tests I've had.

I'm reading that vitamin D supplements can impact rem sleep.

I think I'll cut that out as my first port of call

Have you tried vitamin B12 supplements?

I thought vit D was meant to positively impact REM sleep, not make it worse.

What is your mood like? Anxiety/depression affects REM sleep. If this is the case box breathing is helpful (the free breathe app is really good). Try for 5 min before bed.

Also are you getting daylight? Try to get outside for at least 10 minutes within 1 hour of sunrise to support your circadian rhythm.