(((Hugs))), yes that definitely sounds OT. You don't have to wean the patting yet, but it can be a contributor to NWs, if that's the only way she knows how to go and get back to sleep.
I know it's scary to think of her waking earlier, but honestly she's not getting the overall sleep she needs right now. Usually the only way to get that to happen is to put her to bed a little earlier, and often a LO will still sleep to regular wake-up time.
Is she teething at all? Could that be aother reason for the extra NWs?