Remedies for Insomnia

jbkmum

I've had insomnia for a long time, it used to be because I was overweight so I would wake myself up with sleep apnea and now its that I am used to being awake between 1am and 3/4am. I can't seem to stay asleep during that time at all. Additionally if I am drifting off say around 10 or 11 and my husband comes to bed later and wakes me up, that's it I'm awake for the next 4 hours.

I've tried things like getting up and doing some washing up but I just can't get sleepy again. I don't particularly want to ask the doctor for medicated sleeping pills so am looking at ones from boots but I just don't know what works. Has anyone had any success with ANYTHING?

TIA

SuperMoose

I found this website very helpful for ideas/information.
https://www.nosleeplessnights.com/

sunfield91

I like This Works Pillow Spray, is all natural and comes in various strengths.I too find it difficult to get back to sleep if woken,but this does help me

BobQ

jbkmum wrote: »

I've had insomnia for a long time, it used to be because I was overweight so I would wake myself up with sleep apnea and now its that I am used to being awake between 1am and 3/4am. I can't seem to stay asleep during that time at all. Additionally if I am drifting off say around 10 or 11 and my husband comes to bed later and wakes me up, that's it I'm awake for the next 4 hours.

I've tried things like getting up and doing some washing up but I just can't get sleepy again. I don't particularly want to ask the doctor for medicated sleeping pills so am looking at ones from boots but I just don't know what works. Has anyone had any success with ANYTHING?

TIA

Have you been diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea? Sleep apneas are episodes when you stop breathing while asleep.
Not sure what you mean by the bit in bold. If this is just self diagnosis you should seek medical advice to test if that is a problem (in which case there is treatment available).

Insomnia, overweight, snoring may be all indicative of OSA but there are other reasons for not being able to sleep including stress and thyroid problems. Does your husband snore and keep you awake? Do you spend the evening taking a lot of caffeine drinks?

trailingspouse

Assuming there are no medical issues as outlined by BobQ above, you might find separate bedrooms would help. OH and I have found that works - we were waking each other up as neither of us sleeps well but our 'awake' periods are different.



It would avoid the issue of your OH waking you when he comes to bed, and it would also mean that during your awake periods you could do whatever you needed to do without disturbing him - put the light on, read for a bit, watch TV, get up.



Some other thoughts - avoid coffee/tea/alcohol in the evening. When you're awake are you worrying about things? I find it helps to have my laptop by the bed, and when I think 'I must remember to do x tomorrow' I make a note of it - that way I'm not worrying that I'll forget about it come the morning. I also find a glass of water by the bed helps - I'm rarely thirsty, but if I don't have it there I develop a raging thirst!! Are you going to bed too early? It's tempting, because you're tired (because you didn't sleep well last night) to have an early night - but then you wake up, and it's still the middle of the night. I find that if I go to bed before 11pm I'm wide awake by 4 - but if I stay up to beyond 11 I'll sleep through to 5 or 6, which is much more civilised!


And finally, and this really isn't a daft question - are you tired during the day as a result? Some people just don't need much sleep - I worried for years about the fact that I wasn't getting 8 hours sleep every night until I read an article that suggested I might just not need it. And I don't - I function perfectly well on 5-6 hours a night.

elsien

Have you been to the GP at all?

Giving you sleeping tablets is not going to be their first port of call, they will look at other options first. I was given a guide to follow through. Some of it was statements of the bleeding obvious, there were a few new things to try which do seem to have helped.
And it could also rule out any obvious physical factors as well.

jbkmum

BobQ wrote: »

Have you been diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea? Sleep apneas are episodes when you stop breathing while asleep.
Not sure what you mean by the bit in bold. If this is just self diagnosis you should seek medical advice to test if that is a problem (in which case there is treatment available).

Insomnia, overweight, snoring may be all indicative of OSA but there are other reasons for not being able to sleep including stress and thyroid problems. Does your husband snore and keep you awake? Do you spend the evening taking a lot of caffeine drinks?

Not self diagnosis - had tests done and wore an oxygen monitor. However having lost 5 stone, I don't wake myself up in the same way, before I would wake up with a snort - I don't do that at all, I gently wake up as opposed to suddenly. I was on the list for a cpap mask but there is a shortage. And they;ve decided I don't need it now.

jbkmum

trailingspouse wrote: »

And finally, and this really isn't a daft question - are you tired during the day as a result? Some people just don't need much sleep - I worried for years about the fact that I wasn't getting 8 hours sleep every night until I read an article that suggested I might just not need it. And I don't - I function perfectly well on 5-6 hours a night.

I have found if I go to bed at midnight, I'll sleep right through to 7am and feel okay once I am up but its a struggle to get up. If I go to bed at 10 or 11 I wake up at 2am.

I'm very tired through the day at the moment, last night it wasn't as bad, I was awake from 2am to 3am which was amazing in comparison to my usual 4 hour waking period

jbkmum

elsien wrote: »

Have you been to the GP at all?

Giving you sleeping tablets is not going to be their first port of call, they will look at other options first. I was given a guide to follow through. Some of it was statements of the bleeding obvious, there were a few new things to try which do seem to have helped.
And it could also rule out any obvious physical factors as well.

I don't particularly want sleeping pills as my understanding is they don't actually give you a good quality of sleep. I've got an appointment in a months time (Thats how long the waiting time is) so I would like to try out any method that works for people in that time.

ThemeOne

You asked about things you can get from the chemist which work. The honest truth is you will just have to try some and see what (if any) work for you.

The over-the-counter tablets fall into two categories:

First generation antihistamines which, in addition to their main use as antihistamines have a strong sedative effect - examples are Nytol and Sominex.

Herbal tables with various ingredients / combinations, usually things like valerian, hops, wild lettuce etc.

There are also things like camomile tea.

Personally I find the first generation antihistamines work quite well, in that they make me sleep, but I usually feel like sleeping most of the next day as well.

Never tried a herbal tablet which has much effect, and camomile tea before bed is useless for me as I'm then up and down to the loo.

I've found it makes a big difference if the room is too hot or cold.

fibonarchie

Melvyn Bragg and three academics discussing the foundation myth of Rome

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01q02t7#play

If that doesn't send you to sleep, I don't know what will