So sick of insomnia!

Perhaps I should.
I used to drink gallons of coffee in a day, take one to bed with me, and go fast asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.

I know as soon as I wake up if I’ve had enough sleep. If I haven’t, but have to get up ( eg if I’m looking after the grandchildren) I know I’m not going to be fit for purpose for the rest of the day. Annoyingly the more I know I have to get a good nights sleep the more difficult it is to get to sleep. Nearly had a disaster the other day. DH ( I’m currently staying at his house) put normal tea bags in the decaff tin. I only knew because he left the box next to the tin. I pointed out to him that I would have been up all night if I hadn’t realised, either being totally hyper or going to the loo. He hadn’t noticed the cardboard label in the tin saying decaff or the frog tape on top of the tin on which decaff had been written. I have however taken to having one cup of very strong coffee when I do wake up that properly wakes me up.

If I have a terrible night, which means falling asleep, staying asleep, scratching, weeing, then I don't get to lie in, because I need carers in the morning, and they arrive at 7am (despite me pleading, moaning, groaning for a later start)

I'm working on doing away with them. Not literally!

It seems that with older ladies we often have to put up with infrequent trips to the loo in the night. Like many upthread it happens to me and I rarely sleep for more than 5 hours at a stretch. In my case I just go with the flow and if I cant get back to sleep I have a warm shower or work on my tablet for a little. I run a few online shops so there are always questions to answer or admin to do.

I found out there are various medications that claim to discourage frequent weeing, However they can cause conspiation which comes with a different set of problems.

I have a sleep late afternoon about 4-8pm and then another sleep from anytime after 2 am - but sometimes as late as 4 am. I am a real night owl. One of the joys of living alone.

I can recall a thread about this topic a while back. Someone posted that the idea of sleepig fro 7/8 hours is a very modern one. In the past, for example in Tudor and Medaeval times. it was quite common for people to get up after 4 hours, have a break and then go back to bed. They called it first and second sleep. This was quite common across Europe.

7-8 hours sleep is the ideal and is mentioned time after time as being important for optimum body and brain functioning. If only it was as easy as that though. I'm up twice a night for a wee and sometimes struggle to get back to sleep. My Fitbit tells me how long I've slept for and how well. Goodness knows how it works that out.

I find I sleep better if I watch a comedy on tv or read something funny.I watched Gogglebox last night and slept like a top until my 2 am call of nature and my 5 am call of nature.

grandMattie

Ditto, though not the bladder - yet!
My problem isn’t going to sleep, it’s staying asleep!
I manage about 5 hours in all per night…. I try to have a nap in the afternoon but it’s astonishing how many people of my age think it’s disgraceful. (I suspect they fall asleep in front of the telly in the afternoons but don’t admit to it).

Why do you want to sleep for more than five hours a night, and have a nap (for how long) in the afternoon?

If five hours is sufficient sleep for you, then get up after those five hours. If it isn't and you don't really feel the afternoon nap is a benifit, then stop trying to take it - go for a walk instead, or read a book for an hour and see whether that makes sleeping for longer than the five hours easier.

I firmly believe that we do ourselves a great disservice by believing that we need X hours of sleep - if we needed them we would be sleeping those X hours.

If we are sleeping Y hours - that is what we need, if we are sleep X minus W hours that is what we need.

I normally go to bed about 10pm and read my Kindle in bed for about 30 minutes before falling asleep. It can be any time between 2 and 4am until I need to get up for a wee. Then, more often than not, I read my Kindle, unless I still feel really tired and go back to sleep. In my case, it’s an age thing, and I continue to function really well all day. It won’t last! 🙄

Maybee it may help you to know that my Mum takes a tablet to help her sleep, recommended by her GP as non habit forming.It’s called Sleepeze and made by Boots, they do two kinds one strong tablet or one packet that says either take one or two tablets, which she likes as only takes one and finds it enough also says she does wake when she needs the loo and she makes several trips a night!

Grandma2002

I am, on average, 4-5 times per night going to the loo. I comfort myself with the thought that if I didn't get up in the night I would be very stiff because of sciatica and arthritis. After a visit I usually can get back to sleep. Sometimes I have been known to fall asleep on the toilet.
Occasionally I can continue a dream after a trip to the toilet!
I need a little nap through the day if I have had a "busy" night.

😁

keepingquiet

I don't think its insomnia but getting up to have a wee in the night- the two are not the same.

I usually get up once for a wee having slept before my bladder woke me and then go back to sleep after. That isn't insomnia.

Tell me about it!😫
You’re right, the two scenarios are different.What we both experience is broken sleep, and others who can’t sleep is insomnia.zzzzzzz

Perhaps I'm slowly deflating, like a leaky old water bottle with a pin hole in it.
I hope so, I'd rather blame fluid retention than admit to being a greedy mare.

MissAdventure

That's a thought, MayBee.
I have put on lots of weight, and have ascites in my middle - belly, tummy, whatever is the correct term on here.

I've never had bladder issues before, so I wonder now, if it could be because of pressure.

Also, when I had really bad bladder problems a few years ago ( I couldn’t go on a car journey without stopping off for a loo at least once, couldn’t go for a walk without having to disappear behind a hedge and key in door syndrome was very embarrassing) it was because of vaginal atrophy. Treated that ( along with switching to de caff drinks) and I was much better. I still occasionally use Replens just in case the atrophy is getting bad again. When I eat bread my stomach balloons out so it must be putting pressure somewhere. I also wear Tena pads because it’s psychological too. I’m scared to take something to help me sleep better in case I do actually need a wee in the night and don’t wake up in time.

I already take a mountain of pills, including a water one, still have swollen legs, but perhaps this piddling is a good sign.

I noticed a vast improvement when I started taking Magnesium.

That's a thought, MayBee.
I have put on lots of weight, and have ascites in my middle - belly, tummy, whatever is the correct term on here.

I've never had bladder issues before, so I wonder now, if it could be because of pressure.

I still listen to Jason Stephensons Get Back to Sleep Fast on utube if I can’t get back to sleep. I haven’t been getting up as many times at night recently. I’ve lost a bit of weight and I think, if I lose it off my stomach it takes the pressure off my bladder. I’ve been eating grapes at night to quench my thirst instead of having cups of tea or coffee (M&S seedless grapes are my new found indulgence). I did read that it’s better to sleep on your left hand side but, for some reason I don’t feel comfortable doing that. I do try. I’ve also been doing my sauna every night and think it might be reducing my night time trips to the loo.

I’m usually up and down half the night, and it’s not just down to my bladder. . I make a cup of tea, read my Kindle, listen to the World Service* for a while, etc.
I’ve given up stressing about it. Sometimes I’ll finally go into a deep sleep at say 4 am, and not wake until gone 9, but it doesn’t bother me.
Having a nap (or not) in the afternoon makes zero difference.

*dh is up and down a lot too, so separate rooms have made sense for a while now.

I fall asleep as soon as I lie down but I wake up to go to the loo and then can’t go back to sleep for hours.
I tell myself it doesn’t matter, I can have a nap next day, but it’s so annoying. I don’t want to read, listen, stare at iPad or count sheep, I want to sleep!

I also have to wee three or four times a night. I have just been reading about Nocturia, and plan to see the doctor (if I can get an appointment!). Has anyone any knowledge of Nocturia?

I am, on average, 4-5 times per night going to the loo. I comfort myself with the thought that if I didn't get up in the night I would be very stiff because of sciatica and arthritis. After a visit I usually can get back to sleep. Sometimes I have been known to fall asleep on the toilet.
Occasionally I can continue a dream after a trip to the toilet!
I need a little nap through the day if I have had a "busy" night.

I never have to get up in the night for a wee, but that is probably because I don’t drink anything much for a few hours before bedtime.
I guess I’m also lucky in having a strong bladder.

But on the other hand, I’m lucky to get five hours sleep a night.

If my sleeping tablet doesn’t work, which often happens as some of them are inferior, then I stay in bed and practice deep breathing. In through the mouth, deep breaths, hold for count of four and deep breath through the nose or mouth.
It’s very relaxing.

At least if I remain in bed, my brain still thinks it nighttime and eventually I’ll get to sleep.
Well, that’s my theory.

I used to listen to some self hypnosis, on YouTube.

One told a story of boarding and settling into a rocket to the moon.

It must have worked, because I never did find out what it's like up there.

Some talk you into a state of relaxation, some feature rain sounds, or log fires, some are quite psychedelic.

Read before sleep for an hour or so. Go to the loo then sleep. Then wake 2-3 hours later to go to the loo again. No sleep for hours after until nearly time to get up then could sleep for England! Since having a catheter removed very painfully a few years ago my bladder is full every couple of hours. Docs no good at answering problem so have given up & just put up with.

Petra, could you please let me have the name of your therapist.
I sleep really badly and have done for 11 years so far.
Would be grateful
Tks in advance