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Original poster

Let's all meet here for a sleep deprivation support group

811 replies

ImNotAnsweringIt · 15/11/2011 11:56

I though it might be helpful to have a general thread with survival tips for dealing with the exhaustion and misery of the long or short term effects of lack of sleep. I bet we can all find someone worse off than ourselves, and that's always a help, hmm?

My little tips for making things more bearable:

Make sure you are warm enough when you have to get up in the night. Have dressing gown and slippers by your bed if neccesary. This also helps you get back to sleep quickly, should you be fortunate enough to have the opportunity!

Have lovely breakfast things in. I always have expensive cereal in the cupboards Just For Me.

Anyone else? Hang in there everyone, I am having a very down day today which is what inspired me to start this.

OP posts:
wifey6 · 13/12/2011 10:03

star...is was nice although I think its due to him being exhausted with being poorly. But at least the teeth are making an appearance!!
Do you think the waking is now habit with the LOs waking at regular intervals in the night?
I was thinking my DS may have got in to the habit of waking..but he was been screaming & a poster on MN said it could be baby nightmares. Hmm

Original poster
ImNotAnsweringIt · 13/12/2011 12:01

Hi everyone, sorry I have been away so long! Belated welcome to those I havent 'met', sorry you are having to join. I have been reading this thread, just not had the energy to post recently.

It has just been going from bad to worse for me, now awaiting referral to a paediatrician as DS2 cannot tolerate solids at all and is up all night if anything except bm passes his lips (as opposed to up most of the night otherwise) Sad

I am a bit of a mess, burst into tears when dropping DS1 off at pre school when a lovely teacher asked "how are you doing?" in a concerned way - that was enough! Felt so stupid!

Our current routine seems to be:

bed at 7pm
wake at:
10pm
12am
2am
then anytime from 3am, potentially until morning. I am about ready to leave home, if I could only muster up the energy

OP posts:
wifey6 · 13/12/2011 12:14

ImNot....oo no...so sorry to hear how things are going. Sad
All it takes is a simple sign of kindness isn't it to send you over the edge...I did the same last night.
Is there anyone who can give you a little break/ nap time?

Starshaped · 13/12/2011 14:08

ImNot That sounds awful. Sorry to hear things are so bad for you :(

Wifey Yep, pretty sure the waking has become a habit. She's gone through phases of doing it before but she never used to scream the whole time. At one point she would just chat to herself and even on occasions self settle.

I don't think we're helping things TBH. We agreed that we wouldn't feed her before 2am but after 75 minutes of whinging last night, I fed her at 1.15am to try and calm her down. DH was pretty pissed off - he's adamant that we need to be consistent in our approach. He's right - she's never hungry and doesn't even feed to sleep. I just get so desperate to go to bed and stop the screaming that I'll try anything.

She's not slept a wink since 7.30am now though and has screamed everytime I've tried to settle her in the cot. The house is a state and I feel like crap. I'm so fed up.

Thank god Christmas is coming up and there'll be other people around to give us a bit of break! Xmas Smile

wifey6 · 13/12/2011 14:15

How old is your DD star?

Starshaped · 13/12/2011 14:45

Seven months. I'm hoping it's a developmental thing. Last night she was going wild in her cot, sitting herself up, rolling over, trying to crawl (all in her grobag Hmm).

This is the worst spell of sleep we've had in a few months. I know others have got it worse though and I should be grateful because she's usually a joy by day.

She's finally napping in her cot though. I should be tidying up but am Mumsnetting and having a medicinal brew!

wifey6 · 13/12/2011 14:51

You could be right about the development stage. Little monkey Smile
My DS did similar things...so we started the sleep separation technique but your problem is her staying asleep though isn't it?

wifey6 · 13/12/2011 15:02

We were told being present in the room but with limited contact would give reassurance..without the reward of conversation etc. supernanny style. My DS never went to bed awake..had bad colic so was fed & fell asleep in my arms. This sleep seperation technique worked well for us & I'm going to try it (after he gets over this horrible bug) when he cries in the night . My instinct is to settle (pats on the back..dummy) then go back to bed..but when he wakes again I usually take him in our bed so I an he some sleep.Blush
(bad mummy)! But I want to break this cycle..

Starshaped · 13/12/2011 15:04

Yes, bedtime isn't too bad. She either feeds to sleep (I know, I know) or is pretty drowsy and DH settles her by shushing and patting her in the cot. It's the staying asleep that's the problem! Ach, we'll get there in the end...

How old is your DS wifey?

wifey6 · 13/12/2011 15:08

He is 17months old. He was a great sleeper til teething started! Grrrr!!
He will sleep good a few times & then have a cold or teething & it's re-gaining that pattern again. The best he slept was when he was swaddled as a baby..til he was about 6+ months.

Starshaped · 13/12/2011 15:13

17 months of sleepless nights - you deserve a medal! I hope he gets over this latest bad patch quickly!

wifey6 · 13/12/2011 15:19

Thank you star....you too. Smile

Ams25 · 13/12/2011 15:22

Imnot you poor poor thing, no real time to post now as DS2 just woken up but I just wanted to say I'm sorry things have been so awful for you and I really hope the doctor can help xx

pipoca · 13/12/2011 15:40

Posting and running...poor you Im hope the paed can give you some answers, sounds v worrying if nothing else.
Last night DD fed at 8pm, 12, 4am and woke at 7am. All quite good but DS sabotaged it by waking at 1.40am and 6am. Grrr.

HoHoOpotomus · 13/12/2011 16:03

Hello - I've not been here before BUT I'm so tired I'm not functioning properly. Finish work at 5.30 - counting down.
at lunchtime I took £50 from cash machine, walked off without ££ Confused

seriously in need of an early night and sleeping through but dd2 - 7 mths is waking through the night still. Usually it's OK but I've not slept properly for 4 nights now (not had full nights sleep for 1.5 years, or possibly 4 years since dd1 was born but that is being silly) so I'm really feeling it.

not doing a great job at work today

Original poster
ImNotAnsweringIt · 14/12/2011 00:57

Thanks everyone, I am too tired to feel worried, I feel utterly mad with exhaustion. I just spend all night crying, either feeding him or trying to get back to sleep while waiting to be disturbed again. I can't do it anymore but dont know what to do.

OP posts:
birchykel · 14/12/2011 01:06

Imnot wish I could say something to make u feel better....I can't but I do understand how ur feeling. We were the same for awhile well up until last week actually when things have seemed to turn around a little. is there anyone who u can talk with? A good friend? It helped me to blurted it all out have a good cry and then carry on again...still feeling exhausted but better for telling someone exactly how I felt.
make sure u keep on at the hospital to get u a quick appointment through, I kept calling saying she was getting worse and that I want to be informed if there is a cancellation so I can jump in.....the following week we were seen. so try that cos the sooner u get seen the better, u will see a big difference and hopefully be able to get some rest. lack of sleep takes over sanity so u won't feel this way forever......seems it now I know but u will get there. sorry not much help.
thinking if u and if I can do anything please let me know. lots of hugs

Original poster
ImNotAnsweringIt · 14/12/2011 01:17

Thank you so much. Will try to get some sleep now but cannot tell you what it means to read your kind reply and know I am not alone. Emotional wreck!

Will be back in about an hour, maybe see you here Confused

Xxx

OP posts:
ItsTimeToBurnThisDiscoDown · 14/12/2011 01:38

Hi, haven't been to sleep yet tonight! DS slept on and off til 11:30pm then I fed him and put him down. He woke up at 12:30 and I can't get him back down - as soon as I put him down he wakes up and cries. Sad

Just wanted a whinge really! And when he does go down I just lie there waiting for the next lot of crying...

Sympathies to everyone else suffering, would post to individuals but too sleep deprived to remember names!

Succubi · 14/12/2011 02:15

The constant build up of sleep deprivation has led to the world around me being a constant blur. I have reached the stage where I dream of getting hammered with darth on the death star and then spend the night (instead of doing feeds) going round blowing things up. They are coming to take me away ha ha he he ho ho

teacoupons · 14/12/2011 02:52

Hello all. Hope it's not too late to join in.

Night before last I got three hours of sleep. Last noght four. It's almost 3am and no signs of tiredness.

Anyone awake?

Succubi · 14/12/2011 02:54

Still here and still trying to get 4 month old to sleep Sad

Original poster
ImNotAnsweringIt · 14/12/2011 03:27

Busy night on here, so sorry everyone is having such a dreadful time.

OP posts:
Original poster
ImNotAnsweringIt · 14/12/2011 03:31

I know what you mean about the weird hallucinations and dreams, I am exactly the same. I have no idea where ds is half the night - my bed, mattress on floor, his bed etc! The thought of being taken away to weave baskets somewhere and sleep .... Lovely

OP posts:
Ams25 · 14/12/2011 06:03

I so understand... I remember a few weeks ago dreaming wistfully of breaking my leg to force a hospital stay and some lovely drugs to help me sleep!

Hello to Hoho and Teacoupons. Hoho can't believe you're actually combining this torture with work. You deserve a medal. I'm seriously thinking I can't return after maternity leave because my brain is shot to pieces and as a teacher I don't think it would be fair on my students!

Imnot I'm sure you've already posted this and I've missed it in a haze, but is your baby being sick if he eats? Or having general digestive problems? I feel so so sorry for you, it is bad enough going through this when everyone is ok health wise, must be a complete nightmare when DC is ill on top of everything else. It really sounds to me like you are at the end of your tether. Can someone have the baby for you for a few hours at least today? If you're like me you're crap at saying to the outside world 'I'm not coping' but I think it might be time to say that and call in some emergency help. Can your DH pull a sickie? Or bett yet just be honest and say 'my baby and wife are both ill and need me today.'

Let us know how you're getting on xxx

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