Adult Sleep

I agree that you need to talk to your Dr about this. What you describe is different than just being tired out by taking care of the kids. I also would encourage you to look carefully at your diet. Are you eating lots of veggies and whole grains? Too much milk, fast food, etc..? A good diet and daily exercise (like walking for 20minutes etc) might make a big difference for you.

I also wonder why you are going to bed at 9pm. Maybe it would be better if you did something for yourself instead like gentle yoga stretches (get a good beginner DVD) and breathing exercises for an hour before trying to sleep. That might help you get into the right state of mind especially if you just lie in bed thinking about chores and other stressful things. Another possibility is (gasp!) SEX!! Try to make it fun--get out the chocolate syrup ;-) Take good care of yourself otherwise you really can't take care of your family--know what I mean?

Hope you get some rest soon!! :)

Hi Alison,
I was on the shot for almost 3 years and it caused chronic fatigue syndrome plus weight gain from being tired which caused inactivity. I also became really cranky too! The shot made things very easy but really caused a lot of problems in the long run. Please speak with your doctor and READ more about the shot. It does have some very nasty side effects. Just don't blame your tiredness on having a busy life.
Good Luck

I was having the same issues and even had a sleep study done because of my snoring too along with asthma... Anyway I would recommend finding a doctor who will take you seriously and will give you a full work up, usual those doctors I have found that seem to look more thoroughly are into alternative medicine too. Also if you google *sleep hygiene* to read and just make sure you are doing everything you can to ensure adequate rest. I had lots of blood work done and everything was coming back fine, except they foudn I was grinding my teeth at night, but I had hormone levels scheduled next and I got pregnant.....

Hi Alison, I too had lots of trouble sleeping after my 2nd child was born. I could go to sleep just fine, but if I woke up (pretty much a given that one of my kids would wake me), I could never get back to sleep. Some of it was anxiety and stress, and to be honest, probably some of it was depression (probably circumstancial, but possibly post partum). All my bloodwork came back normal but I was on and off prednisone for 6 months which doesn't help with sleep. So my first option was to ride it out with some Tylenol PM or another sleep aid, and see if my body re-learned how to sleep after 3 years of not being able to do it (I had kids 13 months apart). And my second option was to try an anti-depressant.

I took Tylenol PM at bedtime for about a week, and my body readjusted itself and I learned to relax through the night without the sleep aid after that. I added in a wind-down routine for myself including reading in bed for a half hour before going to sleep, and sometimes taking a bath before bed. I am sleeping great now! My mind just needed the help relaxing at night instead of constantly waiting for one of the kids to wake...When I posted my request on Mamasource, one mom suggested that my husband and I have sex before bed to help relax. You could try that too, if your husband goes to bed at the same time as you (mine rarely does).

I think you're tired because you have a toddler. I have a 23 month old and he exhausts me! I'm also 3 months pregnant which makes things even worse. He's so active and energetic and all I want to do lately is lay in bed, but that isn't going to happen! :)

Maybe try a new bedtime routine to make you relaxed and sleepy. I usually lay in bed a read/watch TV for awhile which makes me so drowsy. Or maybe a warm bubble bath and a cup of decaf tea.

Hope this helps and good luck!
Lynsey

Hi Alison!
I totally relate!! I was never a great sleeper (could never nap, etc.) but with kids that got even worse. I would get a good night's sleep maybe once a month. After the second baby I thought when he started sleeping through then I would but the opposite happened- i kept waking up at 2, 4, 6 etc. It's as if my ability to have a good night's sleep was completely broken, like a broken leg or something. Restlessness, taking hours to fall asleep, waking up for no reason, can't get back to sleep, walking around like a zombie- I totally get it!!

Here's what I recommend- get off the depo- if you need birth control, do an IUD. It pinches going in but once it's there, it's so easy and no side effects the kind that you get w. hormones. I dont even get my period anymore. It amazes me that more women don't use IUDs.

the second thing- get on lexapro. It's an SSRI anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drug. I was very VERY reluctant to go on this but it has worked wonders for me- takes the edge off my anxiety bigtime, but most of all has given me the most incredible sleep. Instead of jumping out of bed already wired (and up for hourrs prior) I can just lay there, feeling my body completely and totally relaxed. I can even fall back asleep. I sleep throught the night, I have dreams again, really cool deep long dreams the way I had when I was a kid! It is beyond wonderful, has completely transformed my life!! I can't believe they don't have a sleep indication for that drug- i've actually been meaning to write to the company and tell them they should try to get it approved for sleep.
I had also tried ambien but that made me feel groggy- i still use it for overnight flights though.
last suggestion- exercise. Working out is the best natural way to get good sleep.
good luck and feel free to contact me individually if you'd like to discuss more. I am very passionate abou tthis subject b/c nothing is worse than bad sleep- i totally know what you're going through!!

Hi Alison ,
Well i have a hardtime iwth sleeping ..well did until my wonderful doctor told me to try some of these wnderful natural remedies. The oe that works the best for me is Melatonin 3mg dose about 30 minutes before bed. Do to the fact our body produces this anyway it helps promote and maitain normal sleep patterns. some other natural remedies you can try are St.Johns Wort,Valerian which from what i uderstand is some sort of tea along with kava kava which is also a tea. Good luck