Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Noisy new boyfriend and sleep deprivation

202 replies

RainbowFee · 18/06/2026 23:17

I've started sleeping over at my new boyfriend's house. He lives in a very quiet street, other than the odd dog barking once or twice at night and in the morning, he's off the main road, has lovely quiet neighbours, so it should all make for a good night's rest, right?

Wrong... I knew he was quite a hyper person, very talkative, can monologue on for ages until you say, hang on, can I speak please, very witty, quick, intelligent, but he doesn't seem to have an off switch. The first morning I woke up at his house, I could not believe the racket he made! Slamming cupboard doors shut, literally banging dishes and pots and pans around, throwing the teaspoon down onto the bench after making tea. Slamming doors. Waking up shouting and moaning about how tired he is, yawns that would wake the entire street! The TV is put on instantly, blasting out the misery of the news for almost 2 hours.

This all happens around 5 am or earlier. He starts work shortly after 7. I've brought it up with him a couple of times and he has managed to keep the TV at a much lower volume, got me decent ear plugs etc., but a few weeks after discussing it, he's still doing the kitchen slamming and banging. Most recently he cooked a nice meal and I cleared up every single thing, not a single item was left to be put away in the morning and yet he still opened and slammed pretty much every cupboard and shouted about how exhausted he felt.

Anyone else have a partner who does this? It's as if he's making sure he wakes me up. He always slams the front door really hard when leaving as well.

He won't go to bed early and falls asleep in a chair instead of getting to bed to get enough rest before an early start. He keeps saying why am I so tired... !!

I'm beginning to wonder whether he likes me much at all!

OP posts:
ExplodingSmittens · 20/06/2026 12:43

AnnoyedAsAllHeck · 20/06/2026 04:56

I am following this in the hopes @RainbowFee announces she has binned the selfish arse, and is now getting caught up on her well-deserved sleep!

Me too! She’s brought it up several times and there’s no change in his part. The OP needs to read the messages he’s sending loud and clear, he’s not motivated to change in the slightest. This is who he is.

Tuesdayschild50 · 20/06/2026 18:36

I went out with someone who was loud..God its hard work.
He would burst into song walking round the supermarket like really loud he would yawn really loudly slurp his tea .. I hated him in the end I wanted to punch his lights out.
Move on you won't beable to deal with this he had adhd or something .

BillieWiper · 20/06/2026 18:59

I'd tell him straight, if you wake me up again before you leave for work I'm not sleeping over again.

Does he know how to be quiet when he sleeps at yours?

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 30/06/2026 07:59

You're just not compatible. He is loud and inconsiderate, for whatever reason, and you are quiet. Time to end it.

Bonkers1966 · 30/06/2026 08:09

Not a keeper. Inconsiderate douche.

RainbowFee · 05/07/2026 01:01

So many replies! Just catching up on them all. There are some that really made me laugh and so relatable, I really want to respond to some individually, but it's late and guess what.... oh yes I am sleep deprived from yet another disturbed night at his place and it really will be the very last time so here comes a general update...

I've been so busy with family stuff that I hadn't spent any more nights over at his house at all since my post, nor had the opportunity to talk about it again in a more decided way, with a view to ending it if things didn't change.

Well this weekend has been one hell of an eye opener for sure! I have been helping him set up an NHS account. Just discovered he had bloods done earlier in the year and he thought they were for specific issues like his elevated cholesterol and a couple of other things. Turns out the doctor decided to test his thyroid function, which came back abnormal, with one particular hormone outside of the upper range and some odd iron readings that would indicate anaemia or something else going on. He can't remember whether he told the doctor that he was struggling with his sleep or not. The notes page may have mentioned fatigue somewhere over the past year or so. Some other blood readings have been abnormal for over a year, but they've been repeatedly retesting.

We had a long chat about this and I did offer to go to the appointment with him when he gets the next lot of results back. If he has a thyroid problem then his sleep, mood, circadian rhythms etc. will no doubt be affected by it and quite badly if they are really out of whack.. whatever is causing the readings to be off. It could also be making him hyperactive but then causing him to crash later on, then waking him up at odd times. Still, really doesn't excuse the rudeness of the noise levels.

So last night I was there quite late, he had ferried me about to my own medical appointment and then we had dinner together. It got really late so I decided to stay. Fell asleep next to him, snoring started so I took myself off to the spare room. I couldn't get off to sleep, I remember seeing 2 am on my phone. Then suddenly there he was at my bedroom door, he sat on the bed and immediately launched into a continuation of the conversation we were having before going to bed about his son. I asked him what time it was, he had no idea, when I looked it was around 4.45... I was livid... he apologised for waking me, then went downstairs yawning and shouting and put the TV on, albeit quietly. I went down and lost my shit and asked him did he have any idea how rude he was..... that his neighbours were old as well and to bloody well keep it down.

I then went back to bed, put ear plugs in and was woken some two hours later by him bloody singing, coughing as if he were about to choke and then making fake sneezing noises. I got up to the loo, went onto the landing and noticed he had actually come up the stairs a little way up and was looking to see if I was up! He then shouted did I want a cup of tea.

So I sat him down and went through all of my feelings about getting disturbed, that he needed to be much more considerate and that if he couldn't be, then I would have to reconsider staying over. He was extremely apologetic. He even said "I'm SO noisy aren't I? I REALLY need to change!" after slamming the bloody spoon down onto the horrible glass counter protector! Anyway, we headed out for breakfast and then some shopping and when we got back I was exhausted from practically no sleep. He complained about been tired too so we lay down for a nap together. Two hours late he gets up and starts making a LOT of noise again, slamming cups and glasses, throwing the teaspoon down. I went down and he started FAKE SNEEZING!

I have come home tonight and I won't stay there again. Haven't had the conversation with him as he was asleep again when I left, but I left a note to tell him I needed the peace and quiet of my own home. He KNOWS he disturbed me and I am exhausted from it and yet he banged around while I was still waking from the nap as if I had never brought it up! The fake sneezing was so bizarre, it's like he wanted to annoy me. And yet he asked me to stay over.

I could never live with this person. Unless it is due to a major hormonal issue that can be addressed, I really see no serious future if this all continues.

Sorry this is so long!

OP posts:
researchers3 · 05/07/2026 01:13

TheHateUGive · 18/06/2026 23:39

If you dont like this, just graciously move on. Don't start picking apart his character or demonising him. Find a man who is quiet enough in the morning and wants to be with you.

Hardly demonising someone if they can't have basic courtesy for someone who is asleep at 5am! The only possible way I'd be up at that time is if I had a flight to catch!

I'd be absolutely livid. What a selfish tosser. He knows exactly what he's doing too.

Just stop staying over if you otherwise like him? Shag him and go home!

walkingmyway · 05/07/2026 01:14

That update makes it even worse. If someone woke me at 4.45am I would be fucking furious. My DP knows unless there’s is fire or he’s holding pizza, don’t wake me
one of my friends was an early riser even after a night out, the rest of us would emerge and she would be watching TV with subtitles on, having tidied the whole house silently

CamilleBeauchamp · 05/07/2026 03:56

I've had overactive thyroid, it does make you hyper, but it never turned me into a thoughtless dickhead... and fake sneezing is so childish, I feel your rage...

Sleep deprivation will make you both ill if it continues, you can't have that. He's ruined it for himself, hasn't he?

callmeLoretta1 · 05/07/2026 04:17

RainbowFee · 05/07/2026 01:01

So many replies! Just catching up on them all. There are some that really made me laugh and so relatable, I really want to respond to some individually, but it's late and guess what.... oh yes I am sleep deprived from yet another disturbed night at his place and it really will be the very last time so here comes a general update...

I've been so busy with family stuff that I hadn't spent any more nights over at his house at all since my post, nor had the opportunity to talk about it again in a more decided way, with a view to ending it if things didn't change.

Well this weekend has been one hell of an eye opener for sure! I have been helping him set up an NHS account. Just discovered he had bloods done earlier in the year and he thought they were for specific issues like his elevated cholesterol and a couple of other things. Turns out the doctor decided to test his thyroid function, which came back abnormal, with one particular hormone outside of the upper range and some odd iron readings that would indicate anaemia or something else going on. He can't remember whether he told the doctor that he was struggling with his sleep or not. The notes page may have mentioned fatigue somewhere over the past year or so. Some other blood readings have been abnormal for over a year, but they've been repeatedly retesting.

We had a long chat about this and I did offer to go to the appointment with him when he gets the next lot of results back. If he has a thyroid problem then his sleep, mood, circadian rhythms etc. will no doubt be affected by it and quite badly if they are really out of whack.. whatever is causing the readings to be off. It could also be making him hyperactive but then causing him to crash later on, then waking him up at odd times. Still, really doesn't excuse the rudeness of the noise levels.

So last night I was there quite late, he had ferried me about to my own medical appointment and then we had dinner together. It got really late so I decided to stay. Fell asleep next to him, snoring started so I took myself off to the spare room. I couldn't get off to sleep, I remember seeing 2 am on my phone. Then suddenly there he was at my bedroom door, he sat on the bed and immediately launched into a continuation of the conversation we were having before going to bed about his son. I asked him what time it was, he had no idea, when I looked it was around 4.45... I was livid... he apologised for waking me, then went downstairs yawning and shouting and put the TV on, albeit quietly. I went down and lost my shit and asked him did he have any idea how rude he was..... that his neighbours were old as well and to bloody well keep it down.

I then went back to bed, put ear plugs in and was woken some two hours later by him bloody singing, coughing as if he were about to choke and then making fake sneezing noises. I got up to the loo, went onto the landing and noticed he had actually come up the stairs a little way up and was looking to see if I was up! He then shouted did I want a cup of tea.

So I sat him down and went through all of my feelings about getting disturbed, that he needed to be much more considerate and that if he couldn't be, then I would have to reconsider staying over. He was extremely apologetic. He even said "I'm SO noisy aren't I? I REALLY need to change!" after slamming the bloody spoon down onto the horrible glass counter protector! Anyway, we headed out for breakfast and then some shopping and when we got back I was exhausted from practically no sleep. He complained about been tired too so we lay down for a nap together. Two hours late he gets up and starts making a LOT of noise again, slamming cups and glasses, throwing the teaspoon down. I went down and he started FAKE SNEEZING!

I have come home tonight and I won't stay there again. Haven't had the conversation with him as he was asleep again when I left, but I left a note to tell him I needed the peace and quiet of my own home. He KNOWS he disturbed me and I am exhausted from it and yet he banged around while I was still waking from the nap as if I had never brought it up! The fake sneezing was so bizarre, it's like he wanted to annoy me. And yet he asked me to stay over.

I could never live with this person. Unless it is due to a major hormonal issue that can be addressed, I really see no serious future if this all continues.

Sorry this is so long!

Well people gave you advice and yet you still stayed with him! Smh. Lets hope you call off the relationship permanently, for good now. Because fake sneezing and shouting and banging and slamming deliberately is sociopathic behaviour. He is an unhinged nutjob. Get him out of your life for good!

MulberryFresser · 05/07/2026 04:34

Once knew a dreadful guy like this - he was avoiding seeking a formal ADHD diagnosis and was self medicating with coke.

Zanatdy · 05/07/2026 05:43

Why would you even want to be in a relationship with someone like that?

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 05/07/2026 06:35

End it now. You are completely incompatible.

ItsOkItsDarkChocolate · 05/07/2026 06:36

CamilleBeauchamp · 05/07/2026 03:56

I've had overactive thyroid, it does make you hyper, but it never turned me into a thoughtless dickhead... and fake sneezing is so childish, I feel your rage...

Sleep deprivation will make you both ill if it continues, you can't have that. He's ruined it for himself, hasn't he?

@RainbowFee

This. Call it a day. Future you will thank you.

Tiddlywinks63 · 05/07/2026 06:36

Zanatdy · 05/07/2026 05:43

Why would you even want to be in a relationship with someone like that?

Exactly.
You said you’re bored with him so why on earth are you still with him?
I do wonder if he’s trying to put you off him so he can say you finished the relationship, not him.
He sounds so utterly awful I can’t understand why anyone would stay.

WhereverIlaymycatthatsmyhome · 05/07/2026 06:41

I don’t understand why you aren’t just finishing it completely. It’s clear from your update that he’s deliberately sabotaging your sleep.

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 05/07/2026 06:49

One thing that stood out to me in one of your previous posts was that you waited for him to fall asleep before going home (and spare room) - WHY???!

You were putting his comfort before your own way too much - why on earth did you allow him to fall asleep comfortably then slip quietly home bc he was not bothering to do you the same courtesy. It’s dumpable, considering all the warnings he’s had. He’s deliberately waking you up like he can’t bear to be conscious without you also being awake with him. Bizarre. He’s also treating you like his personal ChatGPT - wanting to discuss his son at stupid o’clock bc he’d woken up and it was on his mind!

Whether it’s jealousy bc you’re sleeping and he isn’t, insecurity, or a control thing - none of these are good. He’s thoughtless and ultimately selfish, and has shown he won’t/ can’t change.

PinkEasterbunny · 05/07/2026 06:58

Words fail me OP, no matter what his blood tests show, I doubt much of what you have described is actually a medical problem. He sounds weird and inconsiderate

Paramaribo2025 · 05/07/2026 08:01

So you're still with him! After all this time!

There are some desperate women on Mumsnet.

CaesarAugusta · 05/07/2026 09:12

What on earth is the fake sneezing about? Can't he bear to leave you in silence for more than a few minutes at a time?

IDrinkTeaAllTheTime · 05/07/2026 09:18

The fact that you’re still in a relationship with this idiot is beyond mental. He sounds utterly horrid, and the only people I feel sorry for in this are his poor neighbours.

IDrinkTeaAllTheTime · 05/07/2026 09:20

PinkEasterbunny · 05/07/2026 06:58

Words fail me OP, no matter what his blood tests show, I doubt much of what you have described is actually a medical problem. He sounds weird and inconsiderate

Same. I’ve had both anemia and an overactive thyroid at points in my life. Not once did I start crashing about and fake sneezing to wake people up. His blood results are almost irrelevant to this.

CamilleBeauchamp · 05/07/2026 09:22

IDrinkTeaAllTheTime · 05/07/2026 09:18

The fact that you’re still in a relationship with this idiot is beyond mental. He sounds utterly horrid, and the only people I feel sorry for in this are his poor neighbours.

Yes, the fact that he has no concern for his poor elderly neighbours as well as you confirms that he's selfish and heartless and not a nice person.

WhatNoRaisins · 05/07/2026 09:22

The fake sneezing sounds very attention seeking to me.

seven201 · 05/07/2026 09:37

Raise your bar. You alluded to him not being good in other aspects of your relationship. He’s selfish and attention seeking. Why are you carrying on putting up with this shit? He’s not going to change.

Swipe left for the next trending thread