Unable to sleep

True BlueBelle, it's really better not to worry about it. I just get up if I've been lying awake for a while.

I have tea and toast, read my book or listen to music, do some housework, take the dog round the garden, have a shower etc. until I actually feel tired. If it's still before 7 am I'll go back to sleep. I'm sure we make up for lost sleep the next afternoon and/or night anyway.

I have had insomnia for years. I also suffer with chronic pain which makes normal sleep impossible. So I am on sleeping tablets which work like a dream but they're not for everyone.

I just love going to bed because I know for a good few hours I'll be at peace and pain free.

Evening
I’m a new member but felt I had to add a short post. I love reading all the threads by the way.
I don’t sleep very well and always wake up exhausted. I tend to wake up at the same times every night - 1:30 a.m 3 a.m - 4:30 and 6 ish. I always used to sleep quite well, but since turning 50 everything seems to have gone to pot! I’m only 55 now, but feel like I’m 80 some days.

Hi and welcome, Pjm55. Again the thyroid can cause fatigue and lack of refreshing sleep. Always worth getting it checked out with a simple blood test.

I know what you mean about turning 50! Everything was going fine until I hit that milestone!

Sorry about your pain Minniemoo - I’m lucky in as much as I don’t have the chronic pain that you do. I just wish I could sleep for longer periods of time.

I may just check my thyroid as my friend suggested that might be a problem as well.
Thanks.

Thank you! AndI know what you mean, Pjm55. It can be quite torturous after time. Not sure if mine started due to me working nights for 7 years, then an evening shift we had from 5 - 10. Obviously this affected the old body clock.

Some people swear by warm baths and no screens in the bedroom etc, I've also heard that eating a couple of kiwis helps ... the fruit, not the birds!

I do hope that you manage to get it sorted. Sometimes it's just an annoying blip and you'll be back to normal soon. Good luck!

Go for it, Pjm. Nothing to lose by checking it out.

Linjoy and all new members, welcome.
Try Clarityn to help you sleep. It is an antihistamine, but it does make you drowsy. Take it about an hour before you want to sleep.
You can ask your GP to prescribe them but you can buy them over the counter as well
I also have problems. sleeping. I take Zopiclone 3.75mg - but I don't find them addictive. There are nights I don't need them. But, please talk to your Dr or Pharmacist.

Hi
I have had severe insomnia for last 20 years , I am 67. Life was pretty dreadful whilst I worked , dragging myself through life . Easier now I am retired . Typically I do not get to sleep till about 4 in the morning , so now I sleep till about 9 if there is nowhere I have to be .
I have tried everything everyone else has listed on here and spent hours on research etc . Done some pretty bizarre things as well in desperation !
The reason I am posting , and at this time of the morning , is that recently someone recommended Glycine to me .
It is an amino acid , I buy it on Amazon in powder form.
There is plenty of info available , people take it for its anti inflammatory effects as well as for sleep so win/ win for me .
I will leave you all to do your own googling .
Early days yet , about 3 weeks and it is not a case of take it today and sleep tonight , but fingers crossed it seems to be helping me MOST nights.
I get to sleep more quickly , still takes quite a while though usually asleep before midnight , maybe 1 , then wake up 5 or 6 o'clock .
For me that is a fantastic amount of sleep . Also much more pleasant , not having to be completely shattered before getting off and waking up feeling ok rather than still exhausted . So certainly makes me feel better , more normal , Hope this helps someone . It is dreadful , not to say dangerous , dragging yourself through life in a fog . There have been long periods when I have not driven as I know I am really not functioning well enough to be safe . ( I accidently typed sane and that is how it feels sometimes )
Various things have sometimes helped for a short while so fingers crossed that this one will last . Hope it helps someone .

youtu.be/ni7wkPJKJfU

This guy talks about the anti inflammatory effects and it is reassuring that he seems to be pretty well qualified .

My sleep pattern is very disrupted at the moment.

I am helping to care for Mum who is now very very frail and bedridden and we fear not likely to last much longer.

So I wake at night, usually about 2am and lay with my mind going into overdrive. Sometimes I may doze from about 5am ton7am but often no sleep until the following night.

There is nothing to be done. This is a perfectly natural reaction which sadly will come to an end.

I have been there too Whitewave and feel for you . Sadly it will come to an end but your Mum will be at peace and you will have some comfort in the fact you loved and cared for her and eased her path .
Take care .

Hi whitewavemark2 it's a very difficult time for you and appreciate and take comfort in the fact that you are doing the best you can for your mum at the end of her life.My mum died very suddenly at 50 when I was pregnant with my 1st child and I never got to say goodbye. Lots of hugs and my thoughts are with you