I've always been a light sleeper but lately this is ridiculous. I get sleepy around 9-10pm try to keep myself up till at least 11pm because I'm so worried I'll wake up in the middle of the night. Not matter what though I'm waking of every night around 2-3am going to the bathroom and not being able to fall back asleep. I'm very conscious not to intake any caffeine or anything that will keep me up also before going to bed. Problem is I'm so tired all day due to 4-5 hours of sleep tops. I've read that as you get older you need less sleep, anyone else experience this?
Guess I'm showing my age with this question.....that's what happens when you only have 3 hours of sleep
This happens to myself and my wife with increasing frequency (I'm 47, she's 45). It's frustrating as hell, especially when you know you have to get up and work all day. My guess would be that it has to do with levels of stress, or anxiety about something. As for me personally, I used to be able to do with 4-5 hours of sleep on a regular basis, but now I'm most comfortable with 6 or 7 (when I can get it). My average is probably around 6, but that's because I get up at 5:30.
Is your sleeping area truly comfortable? Do you need a new mattress, window treatment, better air circulation, etc. Don't leave a tv on to "help you fall asleep." Have you cut down on liquid intake before bed? (hopefully solves the bathroom issue) What has changed that could cause this to happen?
I had insomia for awhile. I would sleep 3-4 hours and wake up wired but tired for most of the day. I took Ambien to establish a sleep pattern. No more insomia.
Could be urinary symptoms due to BPH. I remember my father progressively losing sleep over the years due to having to get up to use the bathroom at night. Incidentally, there is a non invasive surgery they do now that can reduce the size of the prostate by laser, effectively curing the disorder for many men, including my dad. Why do I sound like a damn commercial!!
Want crazy dreams to go along with some nice sleep? Take 250mg of Valerian with a full cup of water two hours before you want to goto sleep.....sweet dreams!
I'm not much of a sleeper myself. Since around 14 I've only needed around 2 hours of sleep a night to feel fully rested. A couple of months ago (I'm pushing 36 now) my doctor put me on an anti-anxiety regiment that pretty much took the wind out of my 2 hours a night. She said that quality sleep can sometimes be thwarted by your brain never really disengaging from waking tasks. I know that going on an anti-depressant/anxiety (pristiq in my case) is pretty extreme, but it might be worth asking a doctor about.
I've also been on a anti anxiety treatment for some months now. It took care of the sleeping problem at first. It kinda came back after a while and I use chamomillia to boost the effect of the pils because I don't want too use too many presrcibed drugs, as just the fact of taking them make me anxious Collectors tend to make anxiety, so I think we're in a good place to talk about this !
Lot of advice there doctors. Actually I'm 41. I've had sleeping issues since I was in the crib but definitely more pronounced last year or so. Seems like I get really sleepy and then once I'm in bed I'm wide awake. Bathroom isn't a big deal, everyone I know gets up at least once in the night to go. My g/f does...Maybe I look into some herbal sleeping aid. Maybe it's toy anxiety? I must admit to thinking about them every night before bed. What's coming in? What's coming out... lol
I would say its unusual not to last 8 hours without peeing, especially if you're reducing fluid intake before you head to bed.
This thread is awesome - like a nerd guide to getting old. Also glad to see there are plenty of (ahem) older folk on here who need pee in the night too. Yes, getting up to pee is a RAD new consequence of aging. I find sleeping in a pair of skin tight stretch levis helps. Seriously, I can sometimes get a full 8 hrs without going, but mostly its a oncer - and man, do I need my sleep - 10 hrs would be ideal, but I make do with 7 and feel tired. But that could be just bcause I dont excercise enough.....
lol really? I've had success with finding deeper, more satisfying sleep with use of it myself, personally. It's also reportedly fairly effective treatment for mild forms of depression, but there are varied studies saying one thing or another completely different from one another, as with most natural remedies, solid information is difficult to find as it's not very profitable to support their effeciency.
Maybe I should go full tilt, bypass middle age, and go straight for the Depends? That way I can just piss myself content every night , wake up refreshed and let my g/f know baby had an accident some time in the middle of the night? LOL while we're on the subject of getting older, what's the deal with what I call the "overnight hair"? Somewhere on your body (most likely on your head) you get that fine whispy clear hair that sprouts and grows 2 inches in the middle of the night. It happens to me every few months I'll wake and go "What the hell?" is this as I pluck it out. Not on your scalp either. Last time I found it at where my ear and cheek connect. I swear getting older is full on body manscaping maintenance 24 -7.
Does your diet fluctuate from day to day? If I've had large meals during the day, I can sleep the sleep of the dead for 12 full hours... and when I eat light, I'm lucky to sleep 6 hours and will usually wake up several times during those hours.
I rarely eat big meals after 5-6 at night. I always have breakfast , don't really snack much (maybe a bowl of cereal or fruit), get ravenous in the afternoon, eat something solid, maybe something lighter for dinner. That's it. Oh I have been on a elliptical bicycle kick for the last month and a half. I usually do that for 15-20 around dinner time, until I'm beyond sweaty and have burned at least 300 calories. I guess my diet does really fluctuate.
I've been experiencing symptoms similar to yours for the last 5-6 years. Thought that it was just natural.... symptoms of aging kinds of things. I know that everybody has their favorite treatment (my wife averages 3 emails a month from her workplace to me on just this). All that seems to be true is that it is something different for everybody. At least there's the internet... good luck and post if you get a solution!
Things that work for me: Reduce fluid intake before bedtime and "drain the tank" - I usually sleep right through. And work to keep a regular sleep routine. I put the brain on auto-pilot by relaxing with a Sudoku puzzle or two. I find the the number patterns are easier to snooze on than the random thoughts evoked by crosswords. When the occasional bout of sleeplessness does occur, one Benedryl capsule (generic over the counter sleep aid diphenhydramine) does well without waking up groggy. My personal care physician told me about that many years ago when I was recovering from back surgery and could not sleep. Much better than messing with prescription meds!
