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

[babybarr]

Oliver was in overnight for his probe too and had one of the best nights sleep he'd had in ages - typically.  He also had to come off his meds and tbh it didn't seem to make a lot of difference, even though I'd taken him off them before and he was horrendous so who knows!

I've never tried that coffee trick with a penguin (tim tam!) before but definitely will do now!

Make sure you let me know when you're going in.  How is dyllan sleeping with noise and light?  Oliver is horrendous so I always take some flat sheets to put over the sides of the cot whenever we have a hospital stay.  It stops him looking out into the room if he wakes briefly.

Huge hugs
L xxxx

[LizzieN]

Ah thanks for the tip, was thinking about what to pack, geeze it will look like we are staying for a year I recon!!! We are going in Tuesday morning!

Just to reiterate, penguins are not NEARLY AS GOOD as Tim Tams.....just so you aren't disappointed.  They are ok for Aussies who are craving a taste of home, but not the real deal!!!!

Big hugs Lovely
xxlizzie

[babybarr]

Hi, just a quick update really as I haven't had time to post for ages...

Oliver has pretty much transitioned to the one nap although his naps are NOT getting longer by the day!  Most days we're getting an hour out of him and not sure how to increase this.  He's now cutting molars which is throwing everything out anyway and maybe this has more to do with bad naps.

Nights are still a complete mess with the constant tossing and turning continuing...  have to say I'm getting rather hacked off with it all now!

Lizzie, how's you and Dyllan - am I right in thinking the scope is this week?  Did they say anything about the probe or are they going to speak with you properly after the scope?

Any thoughts or advice on our "mess" appreciated!  Having an hour nap though is better than none....

[LizzieN]

Hey Laura,
So sorry that you are STILL struggling.  Honestly I know how you feel, hour naps are about all we get here too.  Although yesterday after his scope he slept for 2.5 hours, I had to keep going in and checking on him to make sure he was ok....I really could have used the sleep myself but it's hard when you keep thinking, better go in to be sure!!!!

He had his scope yesterday and the GI talked to us briefly, although he hasn't fully reviewed the probe results he said Dyllan has "significant' reflux and a mildly palutous sphincter at the GO junction....so it's normal leaky reflux just going on for much longer than usual.  He has upped Dyllan's meds a bit and will be sending a full report through to the paed in a couple of weeks, so I guess it's a maintenance thing   So happy that he doesn't have anything more serious and SO GLAD I"M NOT CRAZY...well not in that respect anyway!

I'm pretty sure you have said that Oliver won't take a dummy/paci but I'm wondering if it would be worth trying to introduce for sleeping?  Sometimes when I know that DS isn't going to even make it to an hour putting it into his mouth once he is asleep can work?  May allow him to soothe through the rough spots a bit better?

One nap is better than none, but I know how you feel, it 'aint enough!!!

Lots of love and hugs, let me know what you think about the coffee and penguins

xx Lizzie

[babybarr]

I'm pleased for you - in as backward kinda way - I'm glad they have found what is wrong but obviously it's not nice for Dyllan, but you knew there was something wrong (just like I did) and stuck with it and you were proved right.  I hope upping the meds will help, if you don't notice a difference though you must go back and push harder!

Oliver sucks his thumb so maybe a dummy wouldn't work??  I just wish he could be settled.  I haven't heard anymore from the sleep clinic so will just have to keep waiting!

I know an hr nap is better than nothing and certainly better than what we were going through a few weeks ago but I just know he needs it as much as me at the moment!  Nights are still very hit and miss.

Let me know how things are going.  I'm finding it harder to post at the mo as I'm back at work and it's manic..  Looks loke I've gotta go Oliver at the 45min mark - that's even worse than an hr!!!!

Big hugs!
L xxxx

[LizzieN]

Hey beautiful,
Dyllan has never really been a thumb sucker, but from what I have observed the dummy sort of gives them more of a mouthful and seems to soothe a bit more effectively.....I know it's a backwards thing to introduce so so late (and may not work at all from what you have said), but as much as I HATE using it, it has saved our sanity and provided relief for Dyllan when nothing else could!  As we don't use it all the time, Dyllan doesn't seem to be addicted to it and he can replace it himself (except when he hurls it across the room LOL) so hopefully when the pain is gone they can go too!!!

Tbh I don't know what else they would try if this increase in meds doesn't work.  From what the GI specialist said this dosage should cause almost complete acid suppression.  We are still really struggling with settling him down although the last two nights have been good...We have another paed appointment in a month (the soonest I could get D in) so I guess we will have some more answers by then, think I may call in a couple of weeks to see if the results are in regardless of when our appt is though (pushy mum)....

So sorry work is so busy, thinking of you lovely and sending hugs and happy vibes
xxxLizzie

[babybarr]

Hi Hun, what meds is Dyllan on out of curiosity?  The battle we have is they classed Oliver's reflux as mild although I really beg to differ.  However the sleep clinic also has a reflux paed so I guess if they don;t find anything amiss with his breathing etc then they may consider revsiting the whole reflux thing!

I'd call if I were you... the hospital Oliver is under always say we'll phone you and never do!

Happy vibes and sleep vibes your way, I guess Dyllan may take a while to settle into actually being able to sleep again!  I'll think on the dummy idea, thanks
Laura xxx

[LizzieN]

Hey Laura,
He is on lansoprazole called Zoton...wish it was as snazzy as it's name sounds

Had a hideous time trying to settle him again today, actually had a really rotten crabby morning with him so I wonder if he is OT or getting sick.  Had a late night last night and a very long day so hoping it's just OT.  Had to give him the dummy but know he will be screaming again soon 'cause he kind of passed out with it (not a good sign)...

Ahh the fun!  I had a mum last night come up to me and tell me what a wonderful job I was doing, oh if only she knew how bloody aweful I was at dealing with the screaming sessions....I just find it so hard that I can't seem to help him calm down even a little bit, poor darling!

I hope you get some help at your sleep clinic sweetie, when are you booked in?  When we got the probe done I told the lady who puts them in he wasn't having a flare and she said that usually you get a lot more info from the scope for that reason...

big hugs to you lovely
xxLizzie

[babybarr]

I have to say I know how you feel!  People always tell me how well I cope with Oliver etc but actually when he's constantly whining or crying I don't cope very well!

The sleep clinic was an 18week wait which makes it around christmas time although I haven't had any sort of confirmation so I left a message yesterday to chase it.

Oliver has now decided sleeping sitting up in his cot is something he wants to do in the middle of the night.  Last night was just awful and I'm knackered today, not sure how I'm going to manage.

It does sound like Dyllan is OT I'm sure things will settle down when the meds kick in properly.  Maybe I should push for a scope if I get nowhere fast....I just feel like he can't carry on the way he is.

Oh well, have you tried cadbury's twirls (not sure if you have them over there) with your method of sucking up coffee???

Hope you have a better day.
Laura xx

[LizzieN]

Hmm no I haven't tried the twirl thing, mmmm sounds yummy though!!!  We have cadburys over here, there is actually a factory down south which you can do tour through, get cheap chockies etc. One of my friends works there, funnily enough they get cheap chocolate and free gym membership - LOL (I would need it)..

I'm so sorry that things still aren't right, perhaps you should ask your paediatrician about a scope or something..this has just been going on for SO LONG now, I really can't imagine how you are coping at all (BIG BIG HUGSSSSSS).

Was up with Dyllan for about an hour and a half in total last night, he was asleep but then every now and then he would just throw his body out  (presumably in pain, can't see why else he would do it)....I just let him sleep in my arms then eventually put him down ('cause I was getting pins and needles)...then my step daughter woke at 6 because she couldn't find a tissue.  I love my DH though he let me sleep in FOR EVER which was so so wonderful!  Even though I am still tired now I can see that I will manage to go to work tomorrow now

I hope things improve for you sweetie, but I like you wonder if there is more than meets the eye with this one, so keep pushing
xx stay strong, you are a great mummy
Lizzie

[annegaelle]

Laura, Igor was awake 2 hours every nights from 1 year old until he was about 17 months, we tried everything, shorter naps, more activity during the day (which sometimes worked) and after a long time it started to be better, but he kept on waking up during those days I was working evening. Everything got solved when we got a place at a kindergarden and thus I could change my work schedule (no more week-ends). We never found out what it was all about, SP teething need of more activity...nevertheless it was awfull, and he slept in our room too, so that didn't help. Things will get better...I know you want it now, but it does get better. He actually woke up for 1 hours 2 times this week and that was because I let him sleep as much as he wanted during the day (usually he sleeps 1.5 hours at the kindergarden during the week and about 3 hours at home), we're on vacations so I decided to let him sleep as much as he wanted, well I quickly learned my lesson and I wake him up at 1:30pm...2 hours sleep.
Good luck!

[babybarr]

Lizzie - I'm not coping is the short answer!  He was awake for 2.5hrs on Sat night and about 1.5hrs last night.  What with working four days - I'm shattered!  I just feel like I'm losing my mind.  I he's probably just chronically OT but if I can'#t get him to nap more than an hour what can I do?
We have a cadbury world here in UK too, in Birmingham though so not somewhere I can pop to easily unfortunately!!
Sorry Dyllan was up alot, I really thought this med would be making a massive difference by now - when are you next seeing someone?
Massive hugs to you too.

Annegaelle - I know how you feel!  I would say we've had this now for about 5.5mths - before he was a good sleeper unless he was poorly (which is quite alot, not sure if you read all the posts, he has an immune deficiency).  It's very odd as he isn't screaming - which believe me I am greatful for!  I only work days so it can't be cos I'm not there and it can happen any day any time!  The health visitor suggested night terrors without screaming but I find it hard to believe they last hours?  I long for 2hr naps....!

[annegaelle]

I didn't get time to reqd qll the posts, sorry..just too much going on. I'm not specialist but I don't think it's night terrors, I personnaly think it's developmental. Igor was not crying ever, just after a while as I think he wanted to sleep but didn't seem to know how. I got a few suggestions: started to walk/ too active during the day=bad sleep at night and the homeopat saw him and said there was nothing wrong with him and that maybe we should start looking into our relationship as maybe this whole thing came from us (truly we were very very stressed so it might have been that). Anyway if you haven't done it yet, try alternative medicine, that might help! It works wonderfully well with small children as they have a very healthy livestyle, Good Luck!

[LizzieN]

Oh Laura darling, hugs to you!!!  I'm not surprised you aren't coping at the moment sweetie.  Is there any way you can get some time off work?  I know that will be hard, but you just sound so incredibly exhausted!!!!  I know I couldn't be working four days a week these days, I am tired from 20 hours....

Well Dyllan has had a tummy bug for the last week, which as you know is not great with a refluxer....he came in with a rotten temperature last night too which I thought was strange as we thought he was on the mend.  Had one this morning too but luckily has brightened up with some paracetamol. Poor little sausage.

The increased meds really don't seem to be making much difference (although over this last week it would be hard to tell) and we can't get back into our paediatrician until the 26th of this month.  I am going to call tomorrow and see if our Doctor is there and if he will go through the results with me on the phone (I think he is off on holidays though).  Since the probe we've gone back onto dairy and increased his meds and for a while I was worried that was causing the upset tummy, but I'm sure now that he has a bug...there are some horrible viruses going around at the moment here

Anyway sweetie, for what it's worth, I'm here.  I'm listening and I wish wish wish I could help you....Sounds horrible but does your DH hear Oliver of a night?  could you may be wear ear plugs for a couple of nights so you can get some rest and DH be "on call" so to speak????When things all get too much for me, my DH takes over (or at least tries as Dyllan always seems to want me when he is in pain)...even if it doesn't mean I get much more rest it's nice to know emotionally I have that support!!!

Love and hugs and more and more hugs
xxxLizzie

[babybarr]

DH gets really really bad migraines from broken sleep and so this makes things even more difficult... He did even before Oliver was here so it isn't just an excuse!

Well sunday he slept 1hr 45min nap and DH woke him after that time - yesterday was practically a carbon copy (day and night) and he only slept an hour!  He's so unpredictable and then last night we had 1.5hrs of wide awake chatting at 11.30pm - how very very odd.  I gave him paracetamol at 12.30am just to try and relax him a bit.  It was as if he was just having a bit of fun in the night - I thought this meant he was UT but how can he be on about 10hrs sleep a night and an hr in the day?  I just feel so confused and fed up at the mo.

Speak to someone about Dyllan, at least get your concerns noted even before you go back.  How is his tummy bug now?  Did he have a reaction to the MMR at all?  Oliver has his on Fri, I've put it off as he hasn't been quite right but he needs to have it.  He also has to have the flu and swine flu vaccine poor thing.

I can't get time off work - I had a lot of time off last term already

Hope you're all doing ok.
Big Hugs
Laura xxxx