What Go's Wrong

[teacake44]

Always slept reasonably well, but at 69 find I don't sleep to well, waking up every hour and a half throughout the night, then after waking about 6am tired, go dead to the world for about three hours, then half the days gone. ?

[emmie]

i have put it down to age, though i am not old,
at 65,, I find that i sleep less well than i used to.
wake up halfway through the night, go back to sleep, wake up again, usually to go to the loo..

[Buenchico]

Are you taking Vitamin D supplements? A lack of vitamin D can lead to tiredness sleep problems. Unlike most supplements (where the NHS advice is that most people don't need them) the official NHS advice states that you probably should be taking Vitamin D.

Quote:
"During the autumn and winter, you need to get vitamin D from your diet because the sun isn't strong enough for the body to make vitamin D.

But since it's difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone . . . should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter"

Source:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

See also here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insomnia/

If you've got no regular commitments that mean you need to be up at a certain time of day though, you could possibly adopt my own strategy, which is simply to go to bed when I feel tired and get I when I feel like it. That often means going to bed anywhere between 3am and 8am, and then getting up anywhere between lunchtime and teatime. It might seem odd but it works for me!

[Old_Geezer]

Seems fairly normal. Older folk have a tendency to be tired earlier in the day and find they wake up early to. And find themselves awake x times during the night.

I read somewhere that the shift in sleep hours could be to do with evolution, and different ages keeping watch at different times of the night. My guesses are that the continual reawakening is probably due to bladder wanting emptying, or lying on something, your arm or whatever, and not being as mobile it going numb and you waking because of it.

[emmie]

OG, i go along with that, usually it's to get up for the loo,
it's a nuisance but can't be helped.

[pastafreak]

I second vitamin D...and make sure it's D3. This is a good way to take it...

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/betteryou-dlux-3000-vitamin-d-oral-spray-60012895?skuid=012895&utm_campaign=shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxKnqoKO15gIVB7TtCh3iMQHfEAQYASABEgI8YvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Magnesium is another useful supplement for sleep issues.

[teacake44]

All above informative thanks! may try the vitamin D

[Patsy33]

I can lay awake most the night, then go into a deep sleep between 4-6 am. Sometimes I don't wake up til between 11am-12pm. I hate it that nearly half the day us gone. I seriously need my sleep, there's no chance of me jumping out of bed earlier. I'm dead to the world!

[teacake44]

That's what I don't like patsy, feel guilty when getting up at 9/10am for some reason, and the funny part is I don't have any commitments.

[MrsLadyBug]

Sometimes you just need to go with the flow and don't fret about it being 'normal'.
Your body is usually a good indicator of what it needs. Listen to it.
I started having unusual sleep patterns a few years ago but find it less stressful if I don't lay in bed worrying about not sleeping.
I will get up if I know sleep is not going to happen and find something to do.
For me it's crafting or crocheting. A nice cup of tea and a biccy and relax.

[teacake44]

MLB, good point:0)

[Rosie29]

Are you able to get out at all ? I'm wondering if you are getting enough exercise and fresh air.
Otherwise I go along with what others have said - go to bed only when you are tired etc. Also good idea not to have TV or mobile devices on when you are in bed. Hope it gets better soon.

[jamesnan]

Try putting some drops of Lavender oil on your pillow, that often helps. Also, you need to break the cycle, so if you have a sleeping tablet, take just one and get a good night sleep, and you might find that you sleep better after that. That always works for me.

[Smowball]

My in laws are almost 70 and 20 years older than me yet they sleep much better!! My body clock is just completely back to front at the moment.