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Original poster

Things you've noticed that are the result of sleep deprivation.

104 replies

weeblueberry · 30/11/2015 23:50

Suspect we've all got the 'cranky' and 'anxious' boxes ticked but is there anything odd that you've experienced through sleep deprivation?

My first slept well so I wasn't sure what to expect with proper lack of sleep but the most frustrating thing I've found is how often I get simple words mixed up. Even when it's not been a particularly bad night I often say the wrong word. Sometimes I don't even notice til someone brings it up...the worst is when I tell my toddler to do something and accidentally tell her the opposite (ie sit and get play doh rather than sit and get lunch). Poor wee mite is getting confused...

OP posts:
PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 03/12/2015 20:41

My eyesight has noticeably deteriorated in the 12 months since Dd was born, which I'm blaming on poor sleep quality.

I also can't think very clearly any more, can never remember the right words for things.

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 03/12/2015 20:43

And I've just remembered - I often have to start conversations with Dh with "did I dream it or did we have x conversation/did you do x thing?"

I just can't distinguish my weird lifelike dreams from reality.

Speederman · 04/12/2015 05:49

A lot of these are really resonating with me. I'm realizing that I'm just not happy at the moment. It's all just one hard slog and I feel physically crap.

Youcantscaremeihavechildren · 04/12/2015 06:15

All of the above.
Haven't even got the energy to write any of my own.

BlackGirlAndRobin · 04/12/2015 08:45

YY to a lot of these. DD1 has always been a horrendous light sleeper . Even at 4 she wakes up at least once most nights. Dd2 is no better at 20months.

I just can't hold a conversation these days especially with people I don't know well. I don't think people really understand how debilitating it is. It's taken a huge toll on my mental health. And as much as it would do me the world of good going back to work, I just can't contemplate feeling as I do now and having to function in a professional capacity.

NeedsAMousekatool · 04/12/2015 09:18

I am too tired to get dressed this morning. Seriously. I was supposed to be going to toddler group but instead am in pjs and DD is watching TV. I need to get dressed at some point; I have work from 2-11 today.

CheesyWeez · 15/12/2015 08:54

Bored Keys in the fridge type thing. That rang a bell with me.

I forget how to talk properly. DS attends a school within army grounds, although we are not an army family, just locals. I had to see the Colonel in charge of the site. He said "Good morning madam" and I replied "Good morning madam" Blush I always forget what to say to people Blush

Katastrophe13 · 15/12/2015 10:01

I'm glad I read this because I keep saying different words to what I mean and was worried, but now realise it's just the sleep deprivation. The other day I was reading a book to my ds and it said mr and Mrs large and I said mr and Mrs Thomas. It's not even similar.

wafflerinchief · 15/12/2015 11:48

i hallucinated seeing my dog this morning after a particularly bad night with both dc waking - he'd left for his doggy day care half an hour before! Spooky...

BumWad · 15/12/2015 12:13

I'm the fattest I've ever been. Not bfing anymore but still can't stop eating

Pyjamaramadrama · 15/12/2015 18:04

Looking like shit, I rarely wear make up these days.

Obsession with sleep, I'm envious of people who get unbroken sleep and every time someone asks me how I am I start babbling on about sleep and not getting enough sleep as if I wasn't enough of a bore before.

Tearfulness and irritability.

Pyjamaramadrama · 15/12/2015 18:07

Oh losing things and dropping things.

saranga · 15/12/2015 20:56

Not recognising patterns and shapes. I couldn't work out what a plane in the sky was. Twice. Two separate planes.

puttheteaon · 17/12/2015 22:31

Rage, absolute rage.

I've shouted at people in child spaces without any kids, i gesticulate wildly at anyone who drives too fast/thru an amber light anywhere near my baby, I'm basically a wandering angry lunatic ready to scream at anyone who crosses me Angry

Also yes to the ageing, aching body (especially my legs) and inability to complete a sentence... i also cry at anything mildly emotional, john lewis Christmas advert etc...

puttheteaon · 17/12/2015 22:36

I routinely describe my face without makeup as looking like a long dead zombie who has been punched in both eyes, my dh is one lucky guy Grin

WooLulu · 18/12/2015 04:21
  • Awful memory - words and actions.
  • Skin feels dry and papery. I've bought a good moisturiser but it can't do the job sleep does.
  • Desire to eat crap all the time. Like, I could eat a big bag of jelly babies followed by a mince pie.
  • Clenched teeth/tension in face. Not to mention posture - I can't even tell when I'm standing straight anymore. Not helped by breastfeeding.

Hoping husband being around over xmas might mean a few longer sleep shifts and a massage gift voucher!

Original poster
weeblueberry · 18/12/2015 09:40

Not to mention posture - I can't even tell when I'm standing straight anymore. Not helped by breastfeeding.

Do you know I mentioned to DP the other day that my posture has gone to shit and wasn't sure why. I think you're right about the feeding. With DD1 I always made sure to sit properly when feeding but now it's just however I can sit while also entertaining DD1...

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TheEagle · 18/12/2015 11:19

I hunch over too much while feeding DTs - it's definitely affecting my shoulders.

Oh the rage, the rage.

Was up between 1 and 5 this morning between the twins with teething, wanting to be fed and wanting to crawl.

One of them has decided he doesn't want to nap anymore either so he's crawling like a maniac all over the living room and trying to eat carpet fluff.

Have to wake the other guy, feed them their dinner and then go and collect my 26mo. Feel like death. A jangly sort of death.

FML

VelvetyAubergine · 21/12/2015 13:14

DH and I snipe at each other constantly. Sometimes I feel as though I despise him. This is after 2 and a half years of not having a full night's sleep.
Apathy - I'm still bfing DS as I don't have the energy to stop.
I also have delusions that everyone else in the world is sunny and happy with sleeping kids, while I'm this drab, miserable, scruffy shell of a woman who just can't cope with parenthood. (And I only have one child for fuck's sake).

midnightsunshine · 22/12/2015 22:35

Loss of appetite, weight loss, sometimes nausea and vomiting (had HG when pregnant, extreme sleep deprivation sets it off again). I've lost loads of weight since giving birth though I'm eating loads.

Sugar cravings. Needing biscuits and chocolate to stay awake.

Odd fuzzy feeling in jaw.

Dizziness and feeling lightheaded when moving around, almost like fainting but different- my vision blurs, ears ring and I feel weirdly calm and euphoric for few moments. Putting head between knees clears it.

I used to work nights in nursing homes as a student and that was actually worse than this. At least now I can sleep between feeds. Back then I used to be awake all day then on duty all night, no sleep breaks, then only managed a few hours before next night shift as never managed to sleep much in day. I used to hallucinate, hear footsteps, see things, and I used to have to walk around to keep awake. By 4am I'd often sleep for a few seconds while standing up, like my brain would shut down for few seconds.

I remind myself of those days when I'm feeling down about night feeds!

SellMySoulForSomeSleep · 22/12/2015 22:41

Got fat due to eating easy food. I'm looking at you pizza
Bad skin : see above
Grumpy and lost interest in reading or learning which I used to love.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 23/12/2015 05:52

Have any of you seen GP? The skin, weight gain (although I actually lost weight), irritability, memory loss, the fog, are all signs of a low thyroid. Pregnancy is one of the causes of low thyroid, it can easily be treated with a hormone replacement. Especially consider it if you felt better initially but felt worse at 4-6 months. They can also check for aneamia and other issues. I had it after one of mine and I did feel awful.

Yes sleep deprivation is truly awful but worse if you also have something going wrong inside. I imagine that at least a few of you have some additional medical explanation for your symptoms.

Original poster
weeblueberry · 23/12/2015 09:40

I was checked for low thyroid between my kids. Nada. Part of me actually wanted them to say I had it because then there would be a 'thing' to blame it on. As it is I'm just exhausted and have poor self control when it comes to good [fgrin[

RE: losing interest in reading YY. I used to be a ferocious reader and now it takes me weeks to finish a book between being too tired to concentrate and generally choosing sleep over any other recreational activity

including sex most of the time

OP posts:
Original poster
weeblueberry · 23/12/2015 09:41

Food....not good and also Xmas Grin

See I can't even bloody type!!

OP posts:
SouthernComforter · 24/12/2015 12:13

Before I knew anything about children I thought were a good bet as you only had to go through everything once but you still had two kids. To parents of twins: I really take my hat off to you. The time in years may be shorter but the intensity is double that of 2 kids 2 years apart.

Btw even with my super expensive face cream I look 140. My skin is so dry! And I made a resolution last year to read 4 books this year, one every 3 months. I even had them ready. I'm precisely halfway through the 1st book...

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