I can't live like this anymore!

[TychosNose]

I don't know what to do.

15mo ds wakes at least every hour through the night. He has occasionally slept for 2 or 3 hours but never consistently.

When he wakes he screams. Really screams. We tried night weaning at 10months but he just screamed for three nights solid, with the odd 20 minute sleep. We were all too shattered to persevere.

Dh and dd(4.10) do not cope well with sleep deprivation. I do all the night wakings and I am co-sleeping (not out of principal, just desperation. He has never slept in his cot).

I haven't properly had a block of sleep for around 18 months now as I had a difficult pregnancy. I'm suffering from anxiety and depression. I don't want to live like this. It's an absolute nightmare and I don't know what to do.

I don't know what sort of response I expect. Just wanted to get it out really. I have no one irl to talk to.

Thanks for reading.

Not that it's helps you but I have ben in exactly the same position as you dd is now 21months and has never slept she has always woken up hourly or 3-4 times a night screaming and never settling I developed pnd and anxiety issues when she was about 15months as I couldn't cope with the sleep deprivation, the arguments in the night and the screaming. in January I decided enough was enough and I went to my GPS as I felt their must be an underlying problems
In April I got a referral to hospital and it turned out she had silent reflux she has been on tablets for a month now and within two days it's been like a different child is.living her she sleeps much longer she doesn't wake screaming any more. Go for help you are only human and cannot do this yourself.
Pm if you want help
Good luck

Have you ruled out medical causes? Reflux? Food intolerance?

Thanks for your stories. I'm sorry to hear some of you are having problems too. I've also shouted at the kids and I feel terrible about it.

Believe me, I've asked for help. I've sat crying at the gps begging for them to help me. Last year the mh crisis team got involved because I was in such a state but once I was discharged to the cmht I've been forgotten about. It seems that help is only forthcoming if you're a danger to yourself and/or your children.

The gp says that since ds is putting on weight and developing normally otherwise they won't investigate for reflux but I've always suspected that there is something wrong. When he cries at night it often start with a yelp that sounds like pain and he's always suffered from wind and burped loads. I suggested food intolerance too but gp insisted ds would have poor weight gain and diarrhoea if he had an intolerance.

If I were you I would try to cut out a suspect food group, just for a couple of weeks to see if anything changes. Start with dairy, this is the most common intolerance. It might just be a mild intolerance, in which case he wouldn't lose weight and it can cause constipation rather than diarrhoea in some cases, or swap between the two.

Have you tried infant gaviscon in his milk to see if it helps? My dd (nearly 3) still isn't a great sleeper but my dh and I suspected silent reflux as a baby, even though my GP dismissed it.

It could also be bad wind pains, is he getting properly winded after a feed? (I know that sounds stupid, but anything iss worth a try).

You poor thing, I too have suffered sleep deprivation for 5 years so I know how awful it is. However it sounds to me like something physical rather than just bad sleeping habits, which might be solved. Good luck, keep talking to us if you need to, it's a horrible lonely time being tired.

Sorry should have said infant gaviscon, just incase of confusion! You can buy it over the counter although it is expensive. See if your GP will prescribe you some.

My dS has severe reflux. he put on loads of weight as a baby because drinking milk calmed the pain. He also woke screaming and crying every hour.

Since age 18 months his reflux is silent but still badly impacts his sleep.

Age 3.6 He Is now on strong meds and often sleeps through. it is fucking fantastic and I wish we had got the diagnosis a lot earlier.

Google for symptoms of silent reflux but it includes coughing (especially when waking) red cheeks, low weight gain or high weight gain, troubled sleep, putting things in the mouth...

Anything sound familiar? Hope you get it sorted. DS's sleep problems nearly destroyed me