I am EXHAUSTED. Like sick-to-my-stomach-can't-focus-or-function exhausted. I have been for weeks. I fall asleep on the couch every.single.night and I have no energy.
I've tried going to bed early, I've tried sleeping in, I've tried sleeping alone in a very dark and quiet room. I've tried sleeping on the couch watching a movie, I feel like I've tried it all, and I still don't feel rested. I've excersized and it doesn't help...
Sunday night DH and I were talking and I realized that it is all because I wake up a million times during the night-- more specifically six on Sunday night and ten times last night. I wake up to check on DS, I wake up to go to the bathroom, I wake up to turn the tv off, I wake up to check the clock, I wake up to go back to sleep. I think I need to try something OTC.
Any sleep suggestions?
Re: This is farking ridiculous...
Melatonin.
Cut out caffeine and sugar after 5pm.
Don't eat for a few hours before you go to bed.
Have you always done this? Or is it new?
Sex and exercise both greatly improve the quality of my sleep.
Some of these interruptions you're doing to yourself, though, like getting up to turn off the TV (you should not be falling asleep with the TV on) or check on your kid. Until you get caught up on sleep, have your H do whatever needs to be done with your kid in the night -- no exceptions. And if you're going in there just to make sure he's still breathing, well just stop.
I will say for my part, though, that I'm just much more wakeful since I had a kid. not sure if it's hormonal, psychological, or what. I don't worry about it, though, since I am always in bed early enough to not fall behind on my sleep. But shutting my eyes and not opening them for eight hours? No way. I figure I'm just getting old. And old people are all about spending lots of time in bed wide awake, aren't they?
I've always woken up in the night, and when I get stressed, it gets much worse, but it is usually a "I can't sleep for two months" thing.
I have one can of diet pepsi during the day (before noon) and an occassional coffee in the morning (8 am).
Supper is at 6 and I try to go to bed at 10 and get up between 6 and 7.
All fairly moderate, I think.
In that case, I repeat my "melatonin" recommendation.
MH is similar to you - doesn't do much caffeine, eats very little sugar, etc. and he goes through bouts where he just can't stay asleep. He takes one melatonin before we go to bed and he can sleep through the night, only getting up to pee and going right back to sleep.
Ambien is my best friend.
If you don't like that idea, I second melatonin. Also, valerian root tea can help. It kind of has a funky taste, but it helps.
I do everything I can to reduce stress-- I started seeing a therapist and my stress level has been virtually zero for the last month. I've noticed I feel much better after excersizing, so I've added that in- really nothing very strenuous yet-- lots of walking.
Nope-- DH does, but it doesn't matter if he is there snoring or not, I still can't sleep. He slept on the couch on Sunday night, and I still woke up.
I feel like I've tried everything environmental-- Sunday night I was in bed alone, with the TV off and curtains drawn and still didn't sleep well. Last night we fell asleep watching a movie and DH was there... didn't sleep well.
No backlit screens (TVs, cell phones, ipads) for at least 2 hours before bed, either.
And melatonin.
Do you have anemia? When my iron is low, I'm a walking zombie.
I would take a multi-vitamin in the mean time and make an appt to get some blood work done.
This was my first thought, too. I was a walking zombie for six months.
I take Tylenol PM almost every night. If I don't, I can't sleep more than an hour or two before waking.
You guys used to be on my list of top nesties. Seriously.
But thanks to everyone for all the ideas. I really appreciate it. I'll let you know if they work.
Hahaha! Didn't you confess that you are using a less than reliable contraceptive at the moment?
Okay, so that is a good point. But no babies here, I'm certain.
I followed the suggestions, but I couldn't find the melatonin, and I had to substitute a different pill. I'm heading to the "city" tomorrow, (REAL drugstore, folks!!)