Insomnia

Hi! Tricia Fellow sufferer of Restless Legs (and arm) here. Been asleep since 3.30, now up for a walk about. Did you know that in the USA they call people with RLS 'Night Walkers'? I have no trouble falling asleep, can drop off quickly anytime, day or night, but on a bad night will be wakened by 1 leg, both legs or arm walloping about within 10 - 20 minutes. I have read every web-site and tried every remedy without success. Sometimes I think I have cracked it and I will get two or three good nights in a row, then back it comes. I do think that being over tired is a trigger and since I retired have been able to catch up on some sleep in the mornings or early evening but with a busy life and lots of child-minding this is not always possible now. So, I go to bed exhausted, am up and down all night, and in the morning feel completely worn out as if I had run a marathon.

Sorry I cannot offer any fail safe tips but you have my deepest sympathy. It is such an annoying affliction, doctors can only offer very strong drugs which have huge side effects and well meaning friends and relatives seem to think that if you just - don't drink coffee or alcohol, take a warm bath before bed, eat bananas or whatever you will be cured I wish this was true.

Well at least I'm awake for a nice reason. I woke up coughing (although much better now) and checked my emails - can never resist. My son overseas left a message about a Christmas Day FaceTime with my lovely grandsons. Now I can worry about whether the connection will be overloaded on the big day. I can always find a niggle.

Potassium containing foods help I find avocado tomato and banana

Thanks for the idea, Frannygranny - I'll try it next time.

TriciaF I don't have restless legs at night instead during the evening. If it happens I stand up and rise up onto my tiptoes for 5-10 seconds and hold and down then repeat for as long as I feel I need it. I usually only need to do it for 3-4 minutes. Hope this helps.

Does anyone have restless leg syndrome? That's often the reason I can't get back to sleep.

I rarely sleep right through. Some years ago during a very stressful time, I bought a couple of relaxation CD's. They were a real boon. I enjoyed yoga years ago, and have never forgotten the breathing and relaxation techniques. I don't get up, I relax my body and tell my mind to relax. Sometimes I seem to be awake for a while, but at least my body and mind are not fidgeting.

Hello, girls. Been awake since 2am, got up at 3am. Came down and made tea. Dog and cat assumed it was time to get up so chased each other round a bit and demanded food. Have been watching tv and am now ready to go back to bed but it is 7.30 and time to get up. ( we are an hour ahead of UK). Isn't it maddening Can't be bothered with candy crush. Been stuck on level 140 for ages now. Hope you got back to sleep.

I,m playing candy crush - not very useful at all.

Are you up doing something useful now then? I just lay awake feeling annoyed with myself. Finished candy crush its so boring it normally sends me to sleep not today though

Hello Kiora - I've just woken up with a bout of coughing. Still, nothing much on tomorrow so may have a nap later. I hate having to waste daylight hours sleeping, though.

Oh bu....r awake again or rather haven't slept at all

For me, a good night's sleep is 3 hours. If I haven't gone to sleep by 1 a.m. I know I won't sleep at all. Mostly, I go to sleep about 11p.m. then wake by 1 or 2 or 3 and don't go back to sleep. I don't get up, I just lie there relaxing as much as possible with my eyes shut. Sometimes I feel all right in the daytime, but mostly I feel dreadfully tired, often dizzy or woozy. I can't sleep in the daytime either. My life would be 100% better if I slept. I don't want to go places, especially on holiday, because I know if I don't sleep I'll feel awful. We went to North Wales one summer to do some research on my family tree, and I didn't sleep a wink for 6 nights. To me, it feels like it must be a form of mental illness. I don't sleep so I don't feel well so I don't sleep.

I definitely find that even one small thing on my mind is enough to stop me having even a couple of hours unbroken sleep. For instance, last night I couldnt fall asleep until 2 am then was awake every hour until 7 am reminding myself that I had to get some petrol before going to work this afternoon. Even if I had filled up with petrol yesterday there would probably have been something else on my mind. Then I had 3 hours sleep. As I have said before for some reason I sleep best between about 7 am and 11 am. Not much good for tomorrow though as Im working in the morning.
Im still hopeful of finding a solution on here!

At the risk of everyone hating me - I actually slept through last night! I did the Vicks on the feet again and didn't cough til 7.30. I shall have to buy it by the vat!
Kiora - I think you need a big hug!

I never get up and do something useful. I think I have a bit of a lazy trait. I just sulk and huff & puff and bemoan my lot. I'm frightened to take the personality test on another thread just in case it tells me 'your a slovenly sulking personality. Your obsessive need to be loved makes you overindulgent with your family. You think too much and do too little. Causing you to suffer sleep deprivation. This is turn makes you bad tempered and leadings to bad decision making"....ooh err I think I'll print this off and stick it above my mirror.

I am a poor sleeper and have survived on between 2 to 4 hours per night for the last year and that is with the help of Zopiclone. I am sometimes forced to take another halfway through the night (much to my doctors protestations) just to try and get some rest. I work so do need a little. I guess if the brain is in hyperdrive then sleep and relaxation will be difficult.

If I lived alone I wouldn't worry - I would just get up and do something useful but I don't want to wake the husband. It's amazing how much noise even something quiet like ironing can make in the night! Luckily the ipad is silent!

im a very poor sleeper and i used to get up 3-4am because i couldnt get back off to sleep....now if i wake early i put the radio on and wont get up until 7am at the earliest...

I'm often awake for a few hours during the night too. Getting more and more annoyed thinking of all the jobs I'll be too tired to do in the morning.
You read these health articles about how important it is to get a good night's sleep but they don't tell you how!
I find that if I go to bed as late as possible I sleep better, so maybe the answer is to do baking, sewing, washing etc late at night .

3.30 for me Kiora. Family stuff of course. Just a case of one making a mountain out of molehill! All sorted out now but it is so draining..Feel as if I've had a night on the tiles but without the enjoyment

Have a nice time, Kiora, I slept quite well last night. Tried the Vicks on the feet! May just be coincidence but who knows!

PING awake at 3.40. I'm seriously going to look into how to cure this insomnia thingy. Ill be tired again by 10. Still on the up side if I move quickly I might save some money at the dartford crossing if I get there before 6 . We are off to see my oldest grandchild 18 today, his brother and my very troublesome lovely dear dear daughter. She's probably part of the reason I don't sleep!

Definitely worth a try, although the cough seems better today- fingers crossed!

I use Vicks for that having read about it a few years ago. Had a terrible cough at the time and it did seem to help; one of those things that can't do any harm and worth a try [as long as you don't rub your eyes after applying it].