..anyone else awake??

Just me again ? Usual ritual of waking up between 2 am and3 am and not being able to get back to sleep again.

Bad night again. First DGS woke me up because I had forgotten to leave the landing light on for him and then the cat jumped on the bed because DH had forgotten to put him in the back room. Just going to make myself a cup of tea as I seem to have developed a cough and a sore throat and then I will try again. Hope every one is sleeping well

Thanks for your reply, boheminan. Of course, everyone has to do what's best for them in every situation. Good luck and best wishes!

2.50am and it's really foggy 'out there'…

Sorry Grindos, I'm not ignoring your suggestion of Sleepio. I looked it up online and must say I feel reassured it's run by Boots. However, for me the cost would be eliminating. I've done CBT previously, and haven't felt it's helped much, though of course others benefit hugely from it.

For now I'm just going with my body clock and have stopped trying to 'fight' my personal non-sleeping pattern, naps in the afternoons seem to help and not stressing out at being awake at (? 3.00am). It seems to work (at the moment)

Shall I mention Sleepio.com just one more time?

boheminan Gaviscon helps me sleep because it settles the heartburn from reflux and hiatus hernia. I don't imagine there is anything in it that makes you feely sleepy. Maybe you could try lettuce it is soporific, it worked for Peter Rabbit

I wish I could somehow find a doctor I could have total faith in, who would prescribe me - convincingly - placebos, probably changing me to new ones every now and again. I swear I would sleep.

I have stopped drinking caffeine in drinks after Midday and that seems to have improved my sleeping, but there is a lot of elements of "faith" in things designed to get you to sleep and prescription sleeping pills have very bad side effects.

The online pharmacy I sometimes use won't supply it without a prescription. There is presumably a good reason for that.

Melatonin is a hormone and has been prescribed for my autistic grandson to help him sleep because apparently autistic children produce less of it than others. It completely knocks him out and I refused to give it to him when he was with us as it seemed so unnatural and I have a gut feeling that it is not a good thing for children. I don't know about adults but I would still be cautious as I don't think the long-term effects are really known On the other hand I am no doctor.

I bought it over the counter in the USA.

They don't sell it in Holland & Barrett. It looks as though you can still only buy it online from various distributors.

annodomini, looking online it certainly seems you can get Melatonin over the counter. I'm going to have a look in my local Holland & Barrett tomorrow.

Isn't it recommended for the prevention of jet lag? Is it available over the counter here? It certainly is in the USA.

I tried Melatonin a while back but found it lost its effect....after that it was good every now and then for ONE night......

It was recommended to me by a friend who is a retired doctor. You have to take it for a while before it has any effect. Think that's why it didn't help me. I wanted instant results! Hope it helps you

Bellasnana I haven't tried (or heard of) Melatonin, though have been taking St.John's Wort (for mild depression) on and off for years. I'll have a look in the local health shop tomorrow and give it a go.
harrigran/annodomini Gaviscon's a new one to me (for helping stop insomnia) I've got some stashed away somewhere, so will give that a go too (I'm at a stage now where I'll give anything, well anything within reason, a go) though not at the same time as Melatonin, Valerian or Kalms that's going a tad overboard….

Gaviscon Advance, harrigran, is the most effective. I sleep well despite reflux and hiatus hernia.

Well I slept better last night. Hefty slug of Gaviscon before lying down seems to help.

Oh no Have you tried melatonin? It didn't help me but I know people who found it helpful.

ANOTHER night without sleep! This is not FAIR! Going to take a couple of Kalms to see if they'll do what the Boots Varlerian won't do - help me SLEEP - pleeasssseeee:-(

Oh dear, I do feel for you. I don't sleep well either, although lately I've been dropping off ok but wake ridiculously early. I'm on holiday at the moment, visiting our daughters in the States, but my insomnia has come with me. Have tried all the usual things but nothing helps for long. I'm not even worrying a lot which is often the cause of my sleepless nights.

Harrigran do you not have anything to take for your heartburn?

I hope you both get some sleep

Yes, I haven't been in the bedroom yet. Heartburn keeping me upright.

Another long, wakeful night ahead methinks. Went to bed at 9.30pm, with good book and cocoa, laid and read until 12.15am, now wide awake playing scrabble online. Anyone else awake?

Been awake since 5 (again). Could sleep now. Very annoying.