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Waking up through the night

(90 Posts)
Ellie Anne Sun 23-Mar-25 20:16:47

For the last few weeks I’ve been waking up around 3 or 4 am and staying awake for an hour at least, falling asleep when it’s nearly time to get up.
I’m wary of taking any over the counter medication as I have to drive most mornings.

JaneJudge Sun 23-Mar-25 20:19:33

I’m the same!

Puss Sun 23-Mar-25 20:29:47

Exactly the same here.

Georgesgran Sun 23-Mar-25 20:30:48

Same here, although it’s usually my bladder that wakes me!
Thankfully. I don’t need a lot of sleep, so I’m happy with 4/5 hours overall.

Indigo8 Sun 23-Mar-25 20:49:59

I have been doing this nearly every night for years. I also have to wake up several times to go to the loo.

You could try taking Hyocine tablets just before bed as a mild sedative (they are marketed as travel sickness pills). If you try them on a night when it would't matter if you were a bit groggy (not everyone finds this) the next day and you might find that it helps break the cycle.

MayBee70 Sun 23-Mar-25 20:56:44

I listen to Jason Stephensons Get Back to Sleep on utube. Usually gets me back to sleep.

JudyBloom Sun 23-Mar-25 21:11:35

I also make a few nocturnal trips to the bathroom, I think my blood pressure tablets have something to do with it. I rarely sleep for more than four and a half hours at a time.

NanKate Sun 23-Mar-25 21:12:08

Broken sleep is the story of my life.

I have the CALM app on my phone and listen to relaxing stories in hopes of drifting off most nights.

ayse Sun 23-Mar-25 21:14:32

I had a period of waking like this or more frequently a while ago. These days, I’ve found listening to books on Bolinda from the library, helps me drop off again. It used to take a while but I hardly know I’ve been awake these days. The big exception is if DH or the guy in the flat upstairs are banging about.

Radio 4 has books as well. They can be set to turn off as well. I make it an hour to avoid the 45 minute sleep cycle.

Primrose53 Sun 23-Mar-25 21:20:47

I get out for the loo at least twice during the night. However, I am so tired that I go straight back to sleep. I have been known to fall asleep on the loo and wake up as I hit the floor. 🤭

Grandmabatty Sun 23-Mar-25 21:42:05

I wake frequently during the night. I have done for a few years now. It's usually associated with a trip to the loo but I can be awake for an hour easily. At its worst, I get up for a cuppa and a biscuit. I try not to let it bother me because there's nothing I can do.

JamesandJon33 Mon 24-Mar-25 05:50:55

I usually have an awake gap of two hours or so around 2o’clock.I am used to it now and rather like the silence. I read my kindle or just think, until I nod off again. I always wake at 6 and if I need to, have a little nap after lunch. I don’t stress about it.

mum2three Mon 24-Mar-25 06:30:08

The fact that many people wake at roughly the same time seems to be something to do with the body's rhythm. I keep a boring book by the bed, which usually sends me off again. If you're really wide awake, get up and re-make your bed or some other mundane action.

Calendargirl Mon 24-Mar-25 06:47:11

Woke last night at 4.30am, usually much earlier. Went to loo, resigned to not going back to sleep, but must have dropped off quickly. It was nearly 6 when I next awoke.

Often awake for a couple of hours in the night, that’s when all my worries and problems surface and race through my head.

Try to distract myself and think nice things, but not easy.

PamelaJ1 Mon 24-Mar-25 07:05:02

I’ve enjoy good sleep forever. After a loo visit, if needed, I would go straight back to sleep.
Since taking avorstatin I’m awake half the night. Anyone else found this?

TerriBull Mon 24-Mar-25 07:09:26

Yes I'm afraid many of us of a certain age belong to the 'broken sleep club' needing the loo is one reason, but I'm awake anyway usually 3ish, hard to get off again, if I do, like you when it's time to wake.

luluaugust Mon 24-Mar-25 07:21:11

Yes in the same club! Pamela you should ask for a change of statin

BlueBelle Mon 24-Mar-25 07:24:47

It’s perfectly normal as we get older we sleep shorter chunks The fact you go back to sleep is great stop worrying about it and accept sleep changes as we get older

Katyj Mon 24-Mar-25 07:47:17

I wake at 3am now every night and have done for the last three months, it’s very annoying ! I rarely get back to sleep and am constantly tired.
I’ve got mild sciatica so not sure if it’s that. If I take a paracetamol I can usually go back to sleep but know these aren’t good for me. I’ve also tried Kalms but they make me dizzy, Phenergan is also good but I find it very strong and cut a 25mg tablet in four, and I’m still irritable next day.

25Avalon Mon 24-Mar-25 09:44:34

Welcome to the club. That is the prime time to wake up.
I’ve tried counting and am now proficient at counting to 1,000 forwards and even backwards at a fast rate😂 Thinking of a name of something such as flowers for every letter of the alphabet keeps me awake working on letters I can’t think of a flower for😂 Some of my friends take magnesium supplements which they swear by for a good night’s sleep. I haven’t tried it yet as I’ve not had so many episodes of waking up in the night. It depends what I’ve been doing in the day.

Coconutty Mon 24-Mar-25 10:02:10

I’m the same. I tell myself I have to open my eyes and I’m not allowed to close them under any circumstances. That helps me stop back off as it’s so hard to keep them open.

Sparklefizz Mon 24-Mar-25 10:02:37

Magnesium Glycinate is the one to help sleep problems and I also take half a teaspoonful of Manuka Honey at bedtime.

I discovered that the honey helped when I had Shingles in the roof of my mouth before Christmas and the Manuka eased the soreness..... but suddenly I was sleeping better.

crazyH Mon 24-Mar-25 10:08:59

You don’t say what time you go to bed - if you go about 9pm and wake up at 3.30am , that’s not bad - you’re getting about 6 and a half hours of sleep.
I go to bed at 12.30 and wake up at 3.30am for a loo break and then after tossing and turning, ‘sleep’ till about 8.45a.m.

Elless Mon 24-Mar-25 10:28:30

I've just started taking magnesium complex with zinc and it really seems to be helping.

JackyB Mon 24-Mar-25 10:39:54

I'm usually awake between 2 and 5 am. I have decided I must start using the time for something productive (but quiet) rather than lying there trying to get to sleep, reading, doing puzzles or frittering away time on YouTube or similar.

I have started a new crochet project so that's one idea.

Like others, I listen to audiobooks or podcasts, but they don't always help me get back to sleep. (Except "In our time")!