Take heed you younger gals. Again, my job is to sound the alarm bell so you can be better prepared when you arrive at that fun time. And you will. And we older women will be there to support you, answer your questions, and laugh about you behind your back.
But enough about you. Let's get back to me. I thought I had solved all of my nighttime worries when we installed the programmable thermostats and I was able to plummet the temperature in the room enough to house some migrating penguins while my husband slept blissfully unaware under 34 pounds of flannel and down. And keeping the temperature cool at night did work for several months.Until the midlife hormone gods said, "Now let's have some more fun and not let her sleep more than four hours a night". And you can hear them chortling and clinking wine glasses together because my midlife hormone gods know how to party. They also know how to keep me too sleep deprived to party.
Four hours it is. Doesn't matter if I wait until I'm exhausted to go to bed or go early. Getting exercise during the day doesn't seem to make a bit of difference over the days I just sit with this laptop holding me down in my favorite chair. Ditto for foods or drinks. Doesn't impact it at all. After four hours I am wide awake.Which could explain why on Thanksgiving Day, when I had gotten dressed and applied my makeup, done my hair and gotten ready for the festivities, my father-in-law looked across the room and announced, "Debbie, you must not have slept well. You look awful." Well, the lack of sleep explains some of that statement and his personality explains the other.
I come up with the best blog posts ever written during the night while I am trying to go back to sleep. Do I remember any of them? Of course not. The hormones have also taken away most of my memory. Why don't I get up and write those great ideas down? Because I am trying to go back to sleep.
Plus, some fool has made it too cold to get out of my bed in the middle of the night.
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107 comments:
I'm right there with you! It is so frustrating and just makes me want to scream some nights.
your FIL! I cant believe he said that. And I am sure you looked fantastic.
Hope you get some peaceful sleep soon.
Your husband and I need to get together to trade stories.
haha. I am on the computer right now because I cannot sleep for a full night anymore!!! I could have written this post; not as well, but I feel every part of it!!! And take a nap? Forget about it.
Now I feel like I'm not alone in this.
I get awesome ideas at night and then I don't remember them either! Hope you get some good sleep soon!
I so know where you are coming from woman! I too do not sleep at night! Either I am too hot, too cold or this part of my body is falling asleep or the other part has an ache. I am so tired of being tired it isn't even funny any more!!!
I was hopeful when I started getting more than 4 hours of sleep. I asked my doctor when my memory would come back and the huge cloud that had taken up residence in my brain would go away. Her answer was "NEVER". DANG! On the bright side...maybe I'll forget that I never get enough sleep.
I'm mid-thirties, pregnant and haven't 'slept through the night' in MONTHS. I feel your pain.
ha ha! Great post! I have to agree that when I was pregnant with the twins, and I would lay awake for those long hours in the middle of the night, I wrote the BEST blog posts in my head. However, come morning, I could never quite remember them.
Hope you can catch a nap sometime!
My whole family (me, mom, sister, brother) struggles to sleep. I had no idea that middle aged women also experienced the same thing. Most nights, I sleep about an hour before I'm wide awake and then moving around the house in an effort to "get comfortable" and get back to sleep. Last night was terrible. The night before was great, though, because I'd taken a pain pill for my stiff neck and I was out like a light. Hubby asked why I can't sleep like that every night. It sure is frustrating, isn't it?
Wow - I am so glad to know it is just not me.
Yet another fun thing about being a woman! Yay!
I totally would have smacked your FIL!
i struggle with getting out of bed in the mornings because its so cold (i need a programable theromostat). but i dread getting old because my mom is constantly complaining that she doesn't sleep well and i <3 sleep. well okay not that 50 is old or anything. what was it that you called it? middle aged. that's it :)
You read my thoughts this morning, didn't you?? ;)
This is one area that has not developed for me....yet. I do occasionally wake up at 4:15 burning up. I do not care if Hubs takes the covers. I am running around outside in 38 degrees with a sweater because I do not get cold anymore. Hubs has gotten colder and I have gotten hotter -- ahem. Next thing you know we will want to arrive at a restaurant at 4:45 p.m. and talk to everyone about health problems.
I'm down from being able to sleep 12 hours anytime, anywhere to 6 hours max.
I hate it :(
I have not slept well for the past two nights. And I need lots of sleep!!
four hours?! Oh no, that's awful.
I have to sleep with socks on... very romantic, I assure you... but it helps me sleep.
Maybe worth a try?
Are socks more powerful than hormones? That's the question.
No kidding. And if I had a real life where I couldn't nap during the day I'd really be in trouble.
ROFL!! My sleep cycle is screwed. I pass out at 8:30PM and wake at 3:45AM!!! So I do get 7 hours but weird schedule!!! Don't see my hubby much! LOL!!
Hugs and Merry Christmas
SueAnn
Wait...I'm 36 and most of these things are absolutely true about me. Granted, I pretend it is the medications I take for migraines keeping me awake, and that the headaches are why people tell me I look "exhausted" but, seriously, what is the deal with this insomnia?! I have read that people that have had twins go through peri-menopause earlier, but now? I think I am right there with you, and it makes me wonder if I really was born 10 years earlier than my mom told me...
One great thing this post made me think: Well, at least my FIL never talks to me. :)
Yep, I will wake a few times just to pee and then wake a few more times when hubby needs to get out and pee. I do all my thinking at night - it's the only way to fit it in!
I thought it was me. I fast tracked through menapause while on chemo, so you would think three years later I'd sleep through the night. But I wake up regualarly at 3 AM. I make myself go back to sleep if I can, but am up again between four and five....
Too funny, Debbie. Our house gets very cold at night because I have a son who is very hot natured. His side of the house gets very hot (he only has one window) while our side of the house is like Antarctica (we have two windows and unheated bathroom and an outside door connected to our room.) My goal every night is to get him to sleep through the night so I suffer every night.
I was thinking about your inability to sleep well. Have you tried melatonin? Do your research before you take it. But I have friends who swear by it.
Thanks for the comment on my gift bag and tags. I have fun doing those kind of things.
frighteningly, I can't get past the fact that, to me, the "mature" women laughing in that photo seem shirtless. Ew.
"Why don't I get up and write those great ideas down? Because I am trying to go back to sleep."
And I don't write then as I'm trying to get to sleep for the first time. Up til 3am last night. My sleep is in reverse. I seem to get to sleep when most of my midlife friends are waking up.
I too am furious that at last my children sleep through the night - and I can't. You are right - 4 hours - tops. Then it's toss, turn, put blankets on, take blankets off. Go to the bathroom, try to go back to sleep. I refuse to let the hormone gods win and just get up.. that would be too depressing, so I just lay there and compose blog posts that I too will never remember. It's either that or replay every embarrassing moment in my life and who needs that?
I'm a nine-hour a night sleeper (Wait! don't kick me) but I've noticed lately that I wake up for whatever reason in the middle of the night and it takes forever (couple of hours) to get back to sleep. I just get up and surf the internet.
I thought this was due to worrying about adult kids, not being 46. Guess I learned something!!! Glad I'm not alone.
"I come up with the best blog posts ever written during the night while I am trying to go back to sleep. Do I remember any of them? Of course not. The hormones have also taken away most of my memory. Why don't I get up and write those great ideas down? Because I am trying to go back to sleep."
You took the words right out of my mouth!! I feel for you sister, I´m going through the same here....
LOL...I freeze my prince out at night too! But I sleep like a baby. I'm sure it won't last forever. I turn 40 next year. (If you tell anyone that I will CUT CHEW!)
First timer....do I get a gift basket or something?
Aww this post made me giggle a little...only because I'm not going through it yet, though! I think of bloggy things in the middle of the night too but half the time I am too anal not to get up and type it out then go back to bed ;)
Hope you get some rest soon!!!
Why are women the chosen ones? Why do we have to go through everything and men are such wimps at the common cold. I'm already getting the night sweats. Not everynight but I get them so I know there's more to come.
LOL! I probably shouldn't laugh because I slowly creeping up on middle age. Wait....is 42 middle aged?
How true it is, I feel your pain. I can't seem to remember anything anymore and have many nights that I wake up for no reason. Get you some Ambien and you will have no troubles. Great post.
I have problems going to sleep already. I sympathize.
I could have so written this. Except this year, I also got the 'gift' of the never ending period (something about too much estrogen not enough progesterone). Seriously no one ever told me these things could happen. These last few years have been just full of surprises.
Some fool made it too cold to get out of bed at night... lol..
you hit the nail on the head.. pass the 34 pounds of flannel my husband is complaining.
For me insomnia is only caused by my mind's video and the waterfall of my thoughts, endlessly flowing. Nothing else seems to be the cause.
Secretia
I just had this conversation with *cough*my mom*cough*. She told her dr. that she hasn't been able to sleep unless she loads up with Tylenol PM and even then she's waking up to change clothes b/c she's soaked in sweat. Dr. said, "Well, at least you found something to help you sleep! You don't need anything from me yet." LOL My mom was NOT amused. *hugs* Oh, and thanks for the warning! I'm a craptastic sleeper to begin with so I'm SOOOO looking forward to my 40s. :P
I am already going through sleep issues! I cant sleep more than about 5 hours but yet then Im groggy all day long!
I always wake up and roll around and finally I may go back to sleep..
Oh this can only be appreciated I slept almost 8 hrs....and not drugged induced! Debbie and all the others I wish you an 8 hr sleep for Christmas! It was Fabulous! Now with saying that have I cursed those damn hormones??????????????
52,,,is BLISS!
Mid-life hormones suck royally. Thanks for making me laugh though! Will be thinking of you next time the hormone gods wake me up...hey a cyber slumber party!!!
Great, I already have a hard time sleeping. Now you tell me it doesn't get better.
And these are the golden years....?
Umm...thanks for the warning? Just as soon as the kids are old enough to stop waking you up with every cough, sniffle and grunt...you go ahead and take care of it yourself?!
Great....
You can tell you struck a chord with this one! Does misery love company? Oh, yes, it does!
My dear, you have asked the $64 million question. During the night, I can't decide to scream or cry. I'm relieved to see that there are so many of us experiencing this.
Did you hit your FIL in the chops?
I do hope that there's an end to this --- don't tell me it's death.
Amen! Add to my issues is a cat (still a kitten) who is up every night at 3-4AM to play.
Oh, and if I mention my lack of sleeping to my hubs, he always says "Why didn't you wake me" with a "wink wink". Well, dude, maybe it's because I was TRYING TO GET BACK TO SLEEP!
For me, if I don't get up and write it down, I'll keep thinking about it and not get any sleep. Keep pen and paper by the bedside, that way you can write down some thoughts and have it in the morning. But only 4 hours of sleep? OHHHHH, I'd be such a mean person.....
Argh! I think I'm on the fast track for this. Oh well!
Thanks for the heads-up - I'm a solid 8 hour a night sleeper and will very sad to see that change!
One more glorious thing to look forward too. Doesn't seem fair that women get all the "fun"!
Aaargh! I can sleep more than 4 hours but I'm a sweaty mess. My husband is cozy under his down and sleeps with a SMILE on his face.
Hmmmm I have had this sleeping problem for the majority of my life! Please tell me it's not going to get worse because I for real can't run on anything less than 4 hours which is what I average now! LOL! Oh girl, I always love your posts!!!
I could have written this exact post. I should have written this exact post. But since you already wrote it, I can just refer to it. Every word in it is exactly what I do too. Four hours max.
Shame we're not in the same time zone -- we could chat while we're awake. As it is, I get up and watch House reruns for an hour or two. I don't mind on the weekends, when I can sleep in, but during the week it way sucks.
Oh, Debbie...I totally relate to this one!!!! Absolutely hilarious!!! And I simply ROFL when I read your last line,"Plus, some fool has made it too cold to get out of my bed in the middle of the night." Sounds like my house!!! Love you!! Janine XO
Thanks for the heads up!!! I will be sure to stock my medicine cabinet with Tylenol PM for future nights of insomnia!!
Many of my friends are complaining of this exact thing. I'm not quite there yet, but I'm dreading it. I'm someone who loves to sleep and needs a lot of sleep. I have a feeling this is going to be pure hell for me. Ugh!
I am just starting to experience this a bit. Melatonin? Someone told me to try it.
You need a pad at the bedside to jot those ideas down!
Hysterical. You had me rollin' at the part about your hubby under 34 pounds of blanket!
no no nooooooo...I ALREADY can't fall asleep till after midnight, no matter when I turn out the lights..noooo...
I'm so getting this. I totally do not like hotflashes and the memory loss. Great post.
Don't sleep, then can't wake up in the morning!! I feel your pain!!
OMG can I relate to this post. I haven't slept for the last 3 years or so. I've watched every infomercial that is on at 2 and 3 am, I finally can fall asleep around 4, then by god, I have to PEE. It's hopeless.
I so relate to the lack of sleep...don't tell me that this is what's to come...I'm 46...could that be why???
By the way, I am the newest follower but I had to think hard because that made me number 666 and my grandmother always said that it was the mark of the beast and I should reject that number...so then I saw that there were 66 comments before mine and then I really had to pray about this...
I think God said it was okay after I read your take on mixing food and medications together! :)
Thank you for visiting my blog.
I am so scared!!! I will be 30 on Friday...and I've already suffered with insomnia since I was 12.
I'm gonna be a real jewel when I hit middle age.
I hope you get a peaceful night of rest soon!!! It's Christmas...ask Santa for some sleeping pills!!! LOL!
I used to sleep through the nights, but now wake up 2-3 times because I am pregnant. It is great thought, because I can still be so cheery and nice on less sleep. ;) I hope you get a good nights sleep for Christmas. :)
I get alot of good ideas in the shower and how am I suppose to write those down? It is sad because I usually forget them....
I feel your pain. I can hardly ever sleep though the night and I hate it!!
Sorry for the lack of sleep. I'm not looking forward to that since I cherish sleep like a golden fleece.
You're hilarious. I know why I can't sleep. It's cute and loud and about nineteen pounds. I need to stop having them before this whole middle aged lack of sleep thing kicks in.
Exactly why I have my little netbook, so I can type posts before I forget them - because my 'genius' strikes in the middle of the night too.
Oh I know exactly what you are feeling - but thanks for making me laugh about it.
I don't know how many bloggy masterpieces I've lost because I didn't want to wake up "all the way" to write them. Four hours a night is hell!
You are definitely not alone, my friend. Insomnia and I have been bedfellows for years.
Take this morning, for example. 3:00 am and what am I doing? Well, first I cleaned my kitchen, then I did some laundry. Finally, I got on the damn computer.
I may be productive, but I am also chronically tired.
Have you tried drugs yet? :)
Great post Debbie. Sounds just like what's starting to happen to me. I freeze my poor hubby out every night. I think I 'm driving him nuts. LOL.
Thanks for stopping by.
Pop over and read under Chick Chats-Ring Of Fire. I talk about a product called Menopause Solutions. It saved my life and treats a multitude of symptoms. I wasn't gettin' any sleep and it was really taking a toll on me.
Have a great day and hopefully get some rest! This hormone thing is sooo not funny!!!
You are too too funny!! You have a great gift of taking an annoying occurrence and making people laugh with it :)
Hope you get more sleep soon!
Oh! You have me laughing out loud! I'll definitely be back to read more.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
That's what I have to look forward to? I LOVE my sleep and am super grumpy if I don't get enough.
I have been hearing a little bit of laughter in the recesses of my brain....it must be you!
Now, get some sleep lady!
What?! I have this to look forward to once my kids are grown?! I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in 4 years (ever since I was preggo with my first kid)
...by the way, thanks for stopping by my blog! :) Hope tonight's a bit more restful for you!!
That is so rude of your father in law! I don't know why you wouldn't be able to sleep through the night...its interesting though. In chinese medicine, sleeping and insomnia are associated with the heart and also the yin time of day. As we age, our kidney yin becomes more and more depleted, the kidney controls the heart (again this is just in chinese medicine theory) and so the kidney might not be strong enough to control the heart. if you had heart palpitations, this theory might be more evident. (sorry to go all chinese medicine on you! but I'm head first into studying it!:) thanks for stopping by my blog!!
I relate to every single word.. IT SUCKS!!!!! I tell my kids I sleep in about 3 hour shift. I have no clue why hormones effect sleep but pisses me off. haha Not even any of the pm. medicines will work.. AND my memory too like ELVIS has left the building.. If you find out any answers.... please share..
Staci
ps.. I write almost daily on this blog.
Oh, no I hope this doesn't happen to me. I love my sleep. The only times when I have woken up in the night it's because I've had some sort of nightmare, or had something that I was all worried about. And yes, when I do wake in the middle of the night I do have some brilliant ideas that disappear when I do get up in the morning.
I have the same problems at night and I'm only 37! Menopause should be a real blast.
I tell you what...the BEST way for me to go to sleep is to get a movie that I have WAITED to see and ANTICIPATED on a high level...set up the TV, my cozy spot, a cup of tea...I fall asleep about 52 minutes in!!!!! ACK! I HATE THAT!
You poor thing! I'm so mean when I don't get sleep!
Because they don't have 7 kids anymore. Trust me that works.
Now about the great posts in the middle of the night..I'm with you there.
Gosh, I seem to have the opposite problem. Once I'm asleep I'm out. Not that it's a bad thing, I mean I still jolt from a dead sleep if the phone rings wondering what teenager needs me now. I even still jolt from the bed when I hear the little guy cough. Other than that I'm out for the count & good luck waking me up at 5:30 when the alarm goes off.
Well that sucks! Although there are times when I wish I could manage on 4 hours of sleep because I need more waking hours to get things done.
I have been a horrible sleeper my whole life. The good thing about it is the amount of stuff I can get done while up in the night, like reading US Weekly : )
Whenever I get a full night of sleep, which is not often, I brag about it to everyone I know. I'm so happy about it, and they all look at me like I'm crazy. Sleep is so important, I wish I could get more of it too. :)
I've concluded that the reason I'm not coming with any great ideas for blog posts is because I sleep too much.
Debbie, you're hilarious! I'm with you, I like it cold, cold, cold in the house, and, yes, isn't it great when someone points out how tired you look- not!
I hear you. Insomnia strikes me all the time. I WANT to sleep.
Making lists, warm milk, nothing helps. Argh.
I wish I didn't know what you were talking about. I wish I could just cluck my tongue and say, "Huh?" But i can't.
LUNESTA. Hmmmmm....even that doesn't keep me down (I deal with nightmares AND hormones)!
you mean it's not going to get better once the baby starts sleeping???
I am with you on the middle of the night amazing blog posts...I wish my brain had a record feature.
BRILLIANT ending. Love it! Good luck with the sleeping...my dad experiences the same problem, but he's REALLY old. I'm hoping that since I've always been a good sleeper it won't happen to me...but somehow know it's wishful thinking. A random man I met on my walk the other day recommended for my father "heated milk and a little honey". You never know, these old wives tales sometimes are right on the money. :)
After 3 kids, I have to get up in the middle of the night to pee. But, I need it to be warm.
LOL You make me laugh - and I like it. (I'm talking about your posts, just so you know. I wasn't trying to pull a father-in-law thing on you.)
I still have a few more years until the hormone gods descend upon me. I hope. Feels like I just got out of their radar screen though now that I am done having kids. Tthe hormone gods hate us. First there's puberty, then having kids and then menopause. You just get to where you can really enjoy life and you kick the proverbial bucket.
I may have to post about that. Thanks for the inspiration! :)
Hormones.... sigh :{
Try melatonin. It's natural. Our bodies make it anyway...but sometimes we don't produce enough.
And there is a long-lasting version.
Sweet dreams!
This is hilarious! Came over to say congrats on your award from Aayymee, and find myself following you!
I swear I got more sleep when my kids were babies than I do now. *sigh*
oprah's done many shows on this - i think it's all to do with being in our mid 40s or something! i find i sleep in cycles - some weeks good, some bad, so i try to go with it! hope yours improves too! merry christmas debbie!
I feel your pain but for different reasons...we are sleeping on the couch b/c my dad is sleeping in our room due to stroke...long story. I too awake in the middle of the night, have blog post ideas that seem fabulous and then in the morn one of two things happen...
1.) the ideas turn out to be crazy
2.) I can't remember them
URGH!!
I hope you get some peaceful rest soon...so sorry, nothing like no sleep to make you go thru life like a crazy person!
http://thepursuitofmommyness.com/
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