Tossing and turning for hours at night without sleeping - please help....

[LizzieN]

Hey Laura,

Our little guy has just cut his 10th tooth and the second molar is still cutting through, the point is through but the rest is still coming.  I was going to give him some panadol last night when he woke the first time, but he was only up twice last night (ONLY) so I didn't.  Think I will try it tonight though to see if teeth are his main issue...he was refluxing a bit last night, but mainly tossing and turning..

So glad it has cooled down a bit more and Oliver had a better night!!  here's hoping it continues for you!!  Glad you are going to get him checked out sweetie, it's always good to be sure that your LOs are ok!!

Big hugs to you sweetie
xx Lizzie

[babybarr]

Hi Lizzie,

Oliver I thought wasn't too bad last night although I'm actually not sure how well he slept as he looks knackered this morning but I understand teething can make them tired too??

How long has Dyllan been cutting teeth now do you reckon?  Has he got 10 teeth including molars or excluding molars?

Also how's your transition to one nap going?  I've given up at the mo as Oliver's bad nights just muck one nap up too much.  I've currently got him on 45mins ish in the morn and however long he likes in th pm which usually is never more than 1.25hrs!  He's been really odd and clingy and grumpy today, can't settle to anything.  Took him a while to settle for his nap and he's been tossing and turning for that too!  Oh well!

Glad Dyllan woke a little less for you, maybe he'll start improving too! 

Do you work as well?

L xx

[LizzieN]

Hey there sweetie,
Dyllan has ten teeth including two molars which he has cut in the last month or so...poor little sausage.  One is all the way through now the other one still coming (though I felt the two points today so it's getting there).  Last night I was up with him 4 times...ugghhh...ah well, not feeling too tired today so it's all good!!  Getting up to him at the beginning of the day is the hardest for me 'cause I just want to keep sleeping...it was really cold this morning too which didn't help, but a lovely sunny day now!!

We have days with the one nap.  If he doesn't have a great one in the morning I'll try for an earlyish pm nap (say about 3pm) and not let him sleep past 4pm 'cause that seems to muck up his night settling...some days he does on one nap, others he has to have two or a good am nap and a catnap...I'm just going with the flow and seeing what I think day to day at the moment He is tired too because of all the night wakings so the timings are all a bit off!!!

If Oliver is really grumpy and clingy I would say he isn't feeling well, chuck some teething gel on and see if it helps   Dyllan is a bit crabby today too, not surprised considering the nights we have had!!

As to the working question, yes I went back part time the day after Ds 1st birthday (which was hard) I only work 21 hours a week (2 long days) though so it's pretty good.  My DH looks after Dyllan one day, which has been great for them both and my MIL looks after him the other day.  Dyllan adores his nanny, so we are all really happy with the situation I think    I don't love being away from him, but I don't mind working and it does mean I get to chat to people and it is helping financially....it is what it is I guess!! even if I am a zombie at work most of the time at the moment LOL...

Hope everything is getting better for you both,
Huge hugs lovely
Lizzie

[babybarr]

Did Dyllan used to be a good sleeper before teeth??  This is what I find so frustrating really I guess, Oliver has always been a bad napper but good at night and this is so out of character, but weeks and weeks later we're still on the same battle with not even a hint of any teeth!!!  I'm concluding if he was poorly we would've ended up in hopsital by now given his medical condition although planning to take him to doc on my day off.  I had his ears etc checked about a month ago when this had been going on a few weeks and she couldn't see anything. If he had an infection he'd be really poorly by now.

Thing is most days he's not too grumpy atall, just the nights are awful.  Meds don't necessarily seem to do the trick all the time either.  Last night he woke screaming....

I just can't see a light at the end of this very long tunnel...if I knew it was going to be another 6weeks I'd pysch myself up for it

21 hrs in two days - that's 2 very long days...
I'm a teacher so work four days although the holidays equal it out to about 2.5days a week!

Hope you had a good night.

L xx

[LizzieN]

Hey sweetie,
I think I should get my DH to look at your thread, he never believes me when I tell him just what an effect teeth can have!!!!

Ah sweetie, I'm there with you.  We had a horrific night last night.  Our LO had massive reflux, arching and literally screaming the house down.  He bit DH on the face, he was in that much pain....My DH got really really upset and worried that there is something really wrong with him and got all upset because he thinks our Paed isn't doing enough....

It is really hard on Shaun seeing Dyllan like that.  I think 'cause I have dealt with it more, I know we will get through it...also because I'm off dairy and soy it feels like I'm doing something to help, where as Shaun feels like we aren't doing enough and it's not working anyway!!  (he may be right)

Every time Shaun brings up the "maybe there is something really wrong" comment I just say that we wouldn't have a happy smiling baby during the day if there was something really seriously wrong....but I do want some tests done all the same.  Paed is going to ring us on Thursday night, so fingers crossed I will be strong and get our message across...our doc does believe us that things aren't right so I hope he will have some more ideas of where to go..

I'm the same as you, if the doc could tell us that we have another month to go and then he will be fine, we would totally be fine, it's the not knowing and not knowing how to fix it that is really getting us down at the moment!!!  I'm sending you big sympathy hugs lovely.

Oh btw holidays don't mean that you are working 2.5 days a week, you are doing 4 DAYS, that is HUGE....I don't know how you cope, you are completely amazing xxx

Big hugs to you and Oliver, and a few more in store for those night wakings, I'm here for you
xx Lizzie

[babybarr]

All I would say is if you think things are not right MAKE someone listen to you and ask for 2nd opinion if you aren't happy.  I fought for best part of 6mths to get somone to take me seriously and then they found his condition a little by accident but if they'd just done a blood test early on we could've saved him months of pain and discomfort.

We had another hour of tossing an turning at 12.20am I think him learning to walk is having an effect too.  I just long for a few nights of uninterrupted sleep - I'm not greedy, just a couple would be nice!!

Are you still breastfeeding then?

How's your day been?  Things are quite tough for me at the mo cos my work are quite unsupportive too which doesn't help.

Huge hugs to you and I really hope that Dyllan perks up soon and doesn't you give you anymore NWs like the last one.  Your poor DH, being bitten must've been really hard.

XXXX

[LizzieN]

Hey Laura,
I'm sorry that your work aren't good about your LO, seems strange that they aren't....mine are fantastic really, which makes life much easier.  Flexible about what hours I turn up etc (as long as I do the hours I'm supposed to) but also my job doesn't really impact on anyone else, so that is great

Well the doc called today and he said he is going to book Dyllan in for a pH probe at the hospital early next week, he really does listen, we are very lucky!!  I said to him that we hadn't seen any improvement yet and that we had a terrible night 2 nights ago, also told him that I am up with him on average about 4 times a night these days and he was sympathetic (which was nice)....Last night he slept through till 5:15am which was brilliant....when he woke crying he was sort of jerking around (which he does sometimes with or without the reflux noise) so it didn't take too long to settle him.

Today is one of my work days so he was with my MIL, but apparently he was really good (the sleep would have helped I recon) - he loves his nanny!!  He has settled down quickly but had a bit of a chuck before, so we will see...it's usually not a good sign!

Hey I hope that you have a good day and night too...I really feel for you sweetie, you must be so exhausted with all the working and the night wakings...

Huge Hugs to you
xx Lizzie

[babybarr]

We had a really bad night last night - this tossing and turning and being generally unsettled went on from 12.30am pretty much until he started crying at 6.15am when we got up.  He had meds before bed and in the night.  I took him to the doc and he has a very red ear - not a full blown infection - she didn't know whether this is the start of a proper infection or whether it's viral or whether Oliver has managed to keep on top of it but not get rid of it - cos of his condition.  He has oral antibiotics so we'll see what happens over the next day or so.  These times are the most stressful as if he spikes a temperature it'll be up the hospital.

He also wouldn't settle for his nap this afternoon, took him half an hour or trying to get comfortable, after 20mins I gave him meds although we actually have to be careful giving medication as it can mask the fact he has a temperature.

I'm pleased your paed is so good.  Oliver had a pH probe - it's not very nice - he also had a barium swallow.  Whe is it?  are they letting you go home with it or do you have to stay in overnight with him (that's what we did).  They said Oliver's reflux is mild but to be fair he's only consumed about half his daily intake of milk and threw up rather a lot of that when they put the probe in.  He slept well as well - unfortunately!!!  Their reflux is always better when you actually want it to be bad!

Hope work has been ok today.  My bosses are just work orientated and if you don't share their obsession with it then you're frowned upon!  Just 7.5 days till summer hols though!

{{{{HUGS}}}}

L xxx

 

[LizzieN]

Sweetie,
I'm so so sorry that things are so hard on you all at the moment.  Sounds like the ear infection is causing you issues, I wouldn't expect teeth to keep him tossing and turning all night, poor little man!!!  I would just be devastated having to head to the hospital each time, you must be constantly on edge....

Not sure when the pH probe will be, our doc said that he would book him in early next week....funny isn't it the last two nights haven't been too bad, Dyllan must know that he is going to have tests!!!  I know it sounds dreadful, but I just want some answers, if it is mild then something else is going on that needs to be found and if it is more severe then we need to try some more meds or some more diet restrictions or something....

I don't know yet how they will go about the testing (hospital or home) as our Paed didn't really explain anything, he said he would call me back once he has booked it, so i'll ask lots of questions then...Also I was in the middle of first aid training so I didn't have long to ask him questions.  I actually apologised to the paed for the diet not working, how strange is that, I am STILL blaming myself for Dyllan not being right!!!  Crazy.

Better go sweetie, I'm sorry that things are not great still....I am here if you need to vent, need cyber {{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}, or a cry

BIG BIG HUGS
xx Lizzie

[babybarr]

Hi Lizzie, good to be back in touch.  What happened with Dyllan's probe?  Are you any further forward with the whole reflux issue? 
Since Oliver's ear infection he's had 2 bouts of tonsillitis, and also something else going on with him which they said was probably another viral ear infection - they managed to clot his blood sample after we'd spent the whole day up at the hospital!  I've videod him sleeping and compared it with a friend of mine's LO.  Oliver turns over on average once every 2 mins and then has these long spells which have been up to 3 hrs constantly tossing and turning.  He's also started to do a spell at the beginning of the night and the middle of the night.  He's shattered and now not going down for naps - I have no idea whether this is due to OT or something else.  I now wonder about sleep apnea, I came across it by chance and it can be caused by enlarged tonsils which the last doc he saw commented he had large tonsils although not the biggest she's seen.

TBH I'm just really fed up of going back to the doc and the hospital to keep telling them something's not right IYSWIM?  He has however finally got that 8th tooth!

Why do you think Dyllans sleep has gone bad now?  How are his teeth coming along?

Gotta go Oliver waking....again!!

L xxxx

[becky1969]

Wow, that tossing and turning tells me something is DEFINITELY wrong!  Sleep apnea is an interesting idea.  A friend of mine had a son who was a poor sleeper as well.  He got dx with sleep apnea and had a surgery at 2 years old, which totally fixed the problem.  you mgiht want to see a different physician, or get a referral to an ENT for further investigation.  But i think your instincts are spot on!

[abaker89]

I just wanted to say that your very first post sounded just like my lo around 1 year of age.  She also had reflux and was/is an excellent night sleeper and bad napper.  She had the exact same trouble transitioning to one nap, she would be up for about 1.5-2 hrs a few nights a week.  It stunk too cause she wanted one of us with her.  She also did thos elovely 1 hr 20 min naps, I can't understand how so many babies do that length.  I wish that I could give you a magic bullet but she never really did get better about the naps, the NW melted away by 15 mths and we also used wi/wo to help get her to stop.  She took 1 hr 20 min naps till around 20 mths when they got a little longer, 1.5 and sometimes even 2 hrs.  Now at 28 mths she is back to an hour or 1 hr 15 min and still does a very long night.  I have found that most babies who sleep such long nights seem to have this pattern and the ones who take the nice 2-3 hr naps only sleep around 10 hrs at night.  I have struggled with it her whole life and even now it is hard to deal with cause I need that long break during the day (I work at home part-time).  The only other thing I did that may have helped lengthen a bit is to leave her in her crib when she wakes.  This started out as maybe 5- 10 min so she wouldn't get upset and now she will stay in there for a good 45-60 min after waking from her nap.  So maybe try some wi/wo if that would help at night and try leaving him in the crib a bit when he wakes so he doesn't think its time to get up then.  I have always wondered how much the reflux plays into this but I guess there is no way to know.  I hope this helsp you, I just saw so much of my own child in your post!

Aileen

[LizzieN]

Hey lovely ones!!

Laura I am so glad that this web site is back, but really sorry to hear that you have been going through hell still!  We have also had a rough time (but no where near as bad as you so I shouldn't complain!!).  Dyllan has cut a molar and an eye tooth in two days the poor little one, and he still isn't right! The night wakings continue (but better I'm usually only up twice not 4+ times) and the naps are going haywire as well...it's hard because I think a little bit of it is that he is getting some attitude in there too, but I think mostly it's discomfort.

We never heard from the hospital about the pH probe, so I called our paed and apparently all the beds in this section have been designated to swine flu....I do understand, but a phone call would have been nice!  We have booked into a private GI specialist, but it takes a month to get in for the consultation so we are still waiting.  September 1st.  I hope to goodness we don't turn up there and he tells us we are crazy and that there is nothing wrong with our little man!!! I just want to be sure that it's not something anatomical causing reflux/wind etc...I just need to know he is going to get better and that we are treating him appropriately and truly doing all that we can to help him.

It's so hard 'cause he is honestly so well, during the day he is gorgeous and smiley (mostly) and wonderful, the naps are crap and the nights are worse....ahh well!

I would definitely try and get a referral to an ENT, that's a good idea.  If they suspect sleep apnea then they can test for it!  Sending you strong vibes to stick to your guns, you KNEW something was wrong last time and you obviously are having that feeling again, so be strong.....

Big hugs lovely,
I'm here
xxLizzie

[babybarr]

Hi

Aileen - a couple of questions....did the NWs go on for months because I'm not joking this has been probably best part of 4mths, also Oliver doesn't want me in the night he's just turning over and over trying to get back to sleep, there have been the odd times when he has got so frustrated he has woken and then I've gone in given a quick cuddle and then the tossing and turning starts again.  Also this is every night.  If he was ready for the one nap he wouldn't be exhausted by say 10am in the morning do you think??  Thanks for the info though, it's nice to know that it may just be "one of those crazy baby things"!

Becky - what made your friend think her son had apnea?  Did he snore? 

Lizzie I can't believe they didn't let you know about the ph probe not being done - that's awful.  At the hosp where Oliver goes (alot!!) they just have one ward allocated to swine flu but I guess maybe that has meant non urgent procedures are on hold.  Has Dyllan had any good nights recently?  I think you should trust your instincts.  I had to fight for 5mths and demand a second opinion with Oliver and if I hadn't who knows where we'd be   I was told by the first paed I saw that I just had a stressed baby (I have a post on here somewhere a long time ago about that!)  I wasn't sure at the time how a baby could be stressed if it didn't have something to be stressed about!

Thanks for the support girlies
Laura xxx

[babybarr]

Sorry got to post again as I'm literally at my wits end now!!  So at 10.45am this morning he was knackered so I put him to bed - success straight down with no fuss.  However he only slept an hr so woke around 11.45, he has no point blank refused to sleep at all this afternoon, I even went for a long drive just in case that'd work (it doesn't usually but I figured worth a try).  But nothing, just crying and pointing at the door.  What am I to do if I can't get anymore sleep into him?  If the NWs are part of being OT too then I need to get some more sleep into him but nothing nothing nothing is working!!  Feeling stressed - again - after actually feeling a little more positive this morning!  Sorry to rant but needed to!!