Women with "I just can't sleep" sleep disorders

[Ineedaname]

I know there must be many women out there with the same problem, we just don't sleep. They say, don't have the T.V in our bedrooms at night, just use the bedroom for sleeping and sex. Well, that is easier said then done. That does not work, I will stare at the dark for hours with my brain moving 90 to nothing. I have the  T.V on low almost as a night light. My husband is alseep before his head hits the pillow so it is not problem for him. I have found that over the counter antihistamines taken at night help alittle, that and a boring T.V program. My question is why do I have this "change of life" sleep disorder? and what can I do about it? With the prices now days of those that are advertised,  I know those are not the answer. Symptoms: I maybe tried, but not sleepy. If I do take a nap in the daytime, which I don't...I'm done, My day is over and don't wake me. I have stayed up late to see if I would get sleepy. Watched movies until morning and never went to bed. The next day, no different. That night, again am tried maybe even sleepy but by my self without something to help me sleep, I don't. I have had this problem for over 14 years, I don't think it is going to change overnight. Any suggestions?

[enzymelover]

I agree that it could be a thyroid or adrenal disorder. It sounds like you have a high nighttime cortisol level. This could keep you awake. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, and must be balanced with thyroid hormones.  Ask your doctor about cortisol testing along with thyroid (which will probably fall into the "normal" range.

[MJIthewriter]

And it seems I've always been late at falling asleep since practically the time of birth (so my grandma claims, and perhap my parents would agree? I don't know.)  I personally noticed it becoming pronounced since puberty (age 12) and not much has changed, except the bedtime slowly getting later over the years...

[MJIthewriter]

I do sleep, but typically not before midnight...  You can see my sleep tracker. Maybe it looks like yours?  Lately it seems 5:30 is the time I actually fall asleep. I may lay in my bed restless if I try earlier, and still end up falling asleep at about 5:30 am.

I'd like to get it back up to maybe 3am which is still late but at least before sunrise...

[KatEyes]

Your GP can order a sleep study, or you can get a referral to sleep specialist. I wish I could say one is as good as another, but I haven't found that to be so. My current sleep doctor has really pushed me on the sleep hygiene, and never offered me sleeping pills. I wouldn't have given a nickle for it's chances of working. Seemed as tho the bad sleep habits were ingrained in my brain and I had to redevelop the proper signals.

The thing I most resisted doing was giving up my naps. And I wanted to allow myself to stay up till at least midnight or 1am. Doc said no, the goal was still for bedtime to be between 9 and 10 so as to get the most benefit from things like hormone levels. Although I had made partial attempts for a year or so, during my intense push to birth this new way of sleeping, once I finally made myself get up early, allowed myself no opportunities for dozing, and did this for a couple weeks, I collapsed early one night due to sheer exhaustion. Sticking to the game plan, within another couple weeks I was watching the clock just waiting for it to be late enough to go to bed.

However, none of this would have mattered had I not sought treatment for my sleep apnea and limb movements during sleep. That was the beginning of getting better.

[peggy64]

2 words...THYROID DISORDER.
Have you had your thyroid checked? sleep is a MAJOR problem for  me. I wake up every 1.5 to 2 hours, have been for 2.5 years. Am very debilitated by this. Diagnosed with hypo thyroidism, which really affects the sleep pattern.

PM me if you'd like........

[Ineedaname]

Thank you for your information. You sound knowledgeable on the subject. I have told my doctors, but again they stress no tv in the bedroom and not anything else. What do I have to do to pursue a  diagnosis of any sleep disorder? I will also look this up on the inter net any information you may pass along would help. Thank you again

[KatEyes]

I doubt 14 years is change of life sleep problems. You may have chronic insomnia or delayed sleep phase syndrome, but you also could have an underlying sleep disorder causing you to not sleep. Please do pursue finding solid answers so you can better target your efforts. Nonrestorative sleep is a health hazard.

You are right, change may not come quickly. I had my hours switched around for many years and I think I subconsciously avoided sleep because it was so miserable. Even after diagnosing and treating multiple sleep disorders it took a year of diligence to sleep hygiene practices for something in my brain to yield to the efforts. If someone would have told me a year ago I could fall asleep easily at 10:00pm I'd have bet money against it. It truly is no longer an issue. Don't give up. It can happen.