Insomniacs not so anonymous!

Not so much an insomniac as finding it hard to squeeze everything n to busy days at the moment. Not-so-new job is keeping me very busy and I work until past 9 pm most evenings ... DH usually in bed by the time I get in and I an usually too tired to open up my laptop.

BUT, weekend approaching and two evenings off to anticipate. I think I actually woke up early excited at the thought of a free evening ahead - I will probably be asleep by 8 pm!!!

But haven't forsaken GN ... just finding it hard to fit it in.

Here's to getting respite where we can today xx

I've not been on this thread for a while and just thought I'd check how Annie is doing. Sorry to read your news Maw. I've been up about and hour and settled back in bed with a drink after doing some jobs. My worry is my ex husband of 30+ years. Long story, but he is my daughter's father and has no one to look after him as she lives abroad. He has another daughter who hasn't even been to visit him since he became ill in August. I have been looking after his affairs, bills and his house since then. It's just weird after all the years to wake up every day worrying about him. He's due out of the respite care next week and I have at last managed to find a carer who seems very nice. Fingers crossed it works out as I can't go every day.

On the point about waking at around 3.00 a.m. my acupuncturist told me that in traditional Chinese medicine the hours between 3.00 and 5.00 a.m. are considered the grieving hours. When I was going through the shock of my husband leaving, I would waken within a few minutes either side of 3.00 a.m. and she managed to push it closer to 6.

The hour just before dawn always seems the worst.

Ginny that is really interesting about the grieving hours it certainly rings true with me recently and my DS. We are having acupuncture, it really helps us both.

I meant to add how awful it must be for those of you with acid reflux it sounds miserable. On top of that Annsixty you are trying to cope with your H. It sounds as if he has dementia.

What a hard time many of us are having. I am grateful for the support of GN.

2.45am, mug of tea. Ate yoghurt yesterday , reflux worse.
And I am suppose to increase dairy product for weight increase. Huh.

What sort of yogurt was it Annie - I believe some are better for you than others? Have they tested you for lactose intolerance? My hairdresser suffers with reflux and says some foods are worse than others - she can't eat tomotoes for example but seems to have tried everything to keep it at bay with little success. I know you struggle to eat at all which probably doesn't help either. Could drinking tea make things worse? Plain boiled water before bed might help? I hope you've managed to get back to sleep.

Willow the tea in the night helps to ease the reflux, lying in bed at 3.00am alone a cup of tea is more comforting the a cup of hot water. I have not been tested for food Intolerance because I am only now introducing new foods .

3.00am. Mug tea. think yoghurt is off my list.

Yes definitely sounds like you need to steer clear of that - it can be pretty acidic. I hope you've managed to go back to sleep after your tea. I woke up at 4.30 with palpitations - the medication stopped them for a while but for some reason they've started up again. Then my cat decided she needed the tray so I gave in and got up - now she's had her meds and prowling around until they kick in and the other one is hiding behind the curtains in fear she finds him again

Been awake since 3,30 again, as I have been almost every morning. Beginning to feel as if I’m going mad.

I have to get up to eat and do necessary household things, but I could stay in bed for most of today if I like. Can’t decide if that’s the right or wrong thing to do. It’s what I want to do. I know I’m lucky to have the choice. Any advice or opinions?

Grandma70 I do feel for you with your erratic sleep. I have an illness that causes fatigue and sometimes I feel it is a daily battle, but when I have a day like you when I have a choice of what I do I just let my body take over. So I may get up have a shower and then breakfast and if I feel exhausted then I go back to bed and have a short sleep no more than 30 minutes as I do not want to go into a deep sleep in the day and then feel groggy. I may take two of these naps a day.

I then go for what I call walking circuits, that is a 20 minute round trip from my home. I have been doing this almost daily for the last 10 years plus.

I suppose you could call them a combination of power naps and physical activity. In the summer I do a morning and evening walking circuit.

It's worth a try to see if it helps you.

Annie if you have acid reflux you should seek advice on dairy products. I was told on diagnosis of gastritis to avoid all dairy as it contains lactic acid. I did continue to have a little milk in my tea and that was OK. I agree that a cup of tea is sometimes just what you need!

Are you taking omeprazole or ranitidine? Both reduce acid production in the stomach - as you may well know already.

The only other suggestion is to consider raising the height of the head of your bed slightly and/or the pillows so the acid reflux is not helped to rise up into your throat.

I can understand why you are having trouble eating resulting in losing so much weight as the pain is so bad that it puts you off even trying to eat. I lost 2 stones in 2 months when my gastritis was at its worst.

Just trying to help with suggestions Annie as a virtual caring friend! x

Thank you, NanKate for your response. My body has definitely told me to come back to bed after having breakfast, so that is where I am. As I said, I’m lucky to have the choice. I have never slept during the day, however tired I am. I just can’t do it. I may get a bit drowsy sometimes.

I just wonder how long this can go on. Why can some people sleep easily and some just not?

Gagagran, they have told me to eat more dairy products because I will gain weight , oh I am confused , what can I eat to gain weight, everything seems to be for weight reduction .

Damn this is in danger of turning into a me me thread, sorry.

Don't worry Annie - you need a bit of support and we want to do that so you can "me, me" as much as you want!

I managed on bananas and mashed potato with some gravy and toast and honey for a few weeks. Then gradually introduced a bit of grilled fish then some sliced ham or beef and carrots. I was told more than once not to have yoghurt and still haven't but I do take milk in tea and I seem to tolerate cheese.

It is trial and error and I wasn't as thin as you so had some padding to see me through the worst bit! Good luck and I hope you find something you like which your body can tolerate!

Thank you Gagagran, when my size 8 trousers are tight I will certaintly yell out on here - I have to buy size 10 yippee ?, I want chunky thighs and a fat bum

Haven’t managed to sleep yet. It’s 2.30, somehow the night seems longer than the day. Listening to music and trying to stay relaxed. I’m hoping no one else is about and you are all sleeping peacefully.

3.45am and mug tea. Fed up

Me too, annie, no sleep at all so far.

Me too, annie, very fed up. No sleep at all so far. Hope you’ve done better.

First it wouldn’t post, then it did it twice. Gremlins. Sorry.

Poor you, I do get off to sleep quickly at midnight, it's between 2.30 and 4 that I wake, still awake at 4.20 for you x

2.00am and mug tea. Much earlier that usual Think best to accept this is how it is now.

5.30am and another mug tea. Twice in the night now, too much, I am so tired.