I've noticed a few things changing as I grow older.....

**PrairieRose** · 09-15-2005, 08:27 AM

other than the obvious and expected things like wrinkles, grey hair and sagging body parts

Lately, I'd say in the past year or so I've noticed that once I'm awake, for whatever reason and at whatever time....I can't go back to sleep! Ggrrhhh. I really don't like this. I've been awake since 4:30 a.m. . I didn't go to bed until 11:00 p.m., so it's not like I'd had my 7-8 hrs. I just woke up and could NOT go back to sleep. Does anybody else have this side effect of aging?

**pkellyc** · 09-15-2005, 12:05 PM

I was doing the same thing for awhile. I don't know why I stopped, but I was under a lot of stress at the time. I would fall asleep like a rock and then manage to wake up at odd hours. For awhile it was 4 a.m. for me too. So I really don't have any advice but I did stop and I can sypathize. Aging does do wierd things.

**homesteadmamma** · 09-15-2005, 12:08 PM

Lisa, I haven't YET. Dh does though. If often wakes up between 1 and 3 a.m. and can't go back to sleep. He gets up and reads for awhile, then lays on the couch so he doesn't wake me up.

Many seniors will tell you that sleeping the right amount of hours at night is very difficult as you age.

**pip** · 09-15-2005, 04:35 PM

That's been that way with my mom and dad for quite a number of years. I haven't noticed that yet, though.

**bamamomto4** · 09-15-2005, 04:49 PM

I do that! it totally sucks. I take ambien.started out on 5mg,and have put myself on 10mg cause 5 was no longer working. I hate taking the meds,and I've tried to stop and stayed awake for like 30+ hours. I was so tired,but couldnt fall asleep

By the time I'm 40 I wont be sleeping at all lol

**slowtypinwoman** · 09-15-2005, 04:54 PM

Sleep problems plague me only when I am under a lot of stress.

**Mamaw** · 09-16-2005, 09:47 PM

I have noticed a difference in my sleep as I have aged. I can usually fall asleep with no problem but often wake several times in the night. Most times I can fall back to sleep unless I have a high stress level, then all bets are off. I noticed when I worry alot, I dont sleep well at all...big surprise there huh? But I have found a lukewarm bath and a relaxing book for half an hour or so before bed seems to help. I have also started spraying my pillow with a pillow mist of lavendar and that is relaxing too. Such is getting older.

**rebecca** · 09-17-2005, 04:38 AM

Prarie Rose I am so glad you started this forum. I can fall asleep on a dime, but than can wake up anywhere between 2:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. and cannot get back to sleep. Doesn't matter if I fall asleep at 8 a.m. or 11 a.m. I always wake up between those times. I feel as if I'm constantly tired. It wouldn't be so bad but when I have to go to work at 7 a.m. I am ready to go back to sleep. At times I feel as if I cannot take one more step. I went to my doctor's and had me take tons of blood test and everything came back normal. I was very happy about this, but at the same time disappointed because I was hoping that if there was something wrong that we could get to the bottom of this. Did anybody notice that this not being able to sleep started when they started their menopause? This is the only thing I can contribute this to. Lately when I feel tired I will rest about 10 minutes and I'll feel a little bit better. My doctor also gave me a prescription for ambiem and I have alot of allergies to medications so I'm to afraid to try it. It's just getting to the point that when we have family gatherings by 7 pm I am ready to go home and go to bed.

**PrairieRose** · 09-17-2005, 10:23 AM

rebecca, I'd take the ambien if I were you and having that much trouble with not sleeping and feeling so tired. I went through a 5 yr. period of chronic fatigue when I was about 35 and it was just awful. I hope that's not what's plaguing you. I do have more problems sleeping when my hormones are out of whack (I had a complete hysterectomy at age 25 and have to be hormones). So you might want to talk to your gyn. about that. I hope you get some rest....

**Syl** · 10-09-2005, 02:48 AM

A friend of mine was tired alot and her doc sent her to a sleep clinic. They discovered she sometimes didn't breath for nearly 2 minutes! She was given some device she uses at nite and had a minor surgery I think and now says she sleeps great. But something about the back of her throat was collapsing and shutting off air due to aging tissue I think. Not sure about all this but that's what she said. Anyway-I think I'd ask my doc about a sleep clinic since everything else checks out ok. Couldn't hurt. Good luck.

**staceyy** · 10-09-2005, 04:47 AM

I now sometimes take Melatonin that I get from the health food store. Melatonin is what your body naturally makes to fall asleep. It works great, just make sure you do not take more than the recommended dosage.

**forestdale** · 10-09-2005, 03:24 PM

I wake at 4am and I love it. I get up, shower and have a few hours alone before anyone else is awake. I am a good sleeper although since about age 50, I'm a light sleeper. Luckily, if I wake during the night, I go straight back to sleep.

**canadian gardener** · 10-09-2005, 07:54 PM

yup. I am often up a couple of times in the night, wide awake. I usually fall back to sleep but not always. When I can't get my full night's sleep, that often triggers a migraine which is annoying.

**woreoutmommy** · 10-13-2005, 08:45 AM

Yippee!!
I am having the same trouble (am 41) I think it is stress,
6 kids, a good hearted, hard working DH (but who does NOTHING @ home) and going to school at night to become a nurse is a stressful life, and just knowing you can't go to bed till 11 and have to be up at 6,( 3-4, maybe 5-6hours a night. But always in segments, never sleep through the night) it makes the sleeping even harder to get. I wake up often and can only sleep good, when it is time to get up.......
(ain't that the way, And throw in a migraine in every now and then to really make it................Crazy)!!
I can hardly wait til menopause........... Hee Hee..........then it will be their turn!!!!!! wicked lil laugh

**waterlover** · 10-13-2005, 10:44 AM

I started waking up at 3:00 in the morning when I was premenopausal at age 42, why 3:00 who knows

I have always been a morning person anyway so when this started there was just no way I would be able to go back to sleep. At the time I was working from 7:00am-1:00pm and going to school until 10:00pm every day. I did this for 4 years. I can't even tell you who our state governor was at the time because I had to stay so focused on work and school.

I go through spells of waking up early, yesterday morning I was up at 3:00. And there was no particular reason, I wasn't under stress or had anything on my mind. When this happens, I don't stay in bed and toss around I get up and read or do something productive that isn't too loud.