For the past few weeks, if something wakes me up during the night (lately coughing since I have been sick)...I can not fall back asleep. For instance, tonight at 3am I started coughing and afterwards I laid in bed for 2 hours straight without being able to "turn my mind off" or so it feels. It seems as though I am daydreaming but no matter what I don't completely fall asleep. I toss and turn and feel hot and uncomfortable and just can't get back to bed. I guess its like restless sleep afterwards.I dont know what to do, Ive tried reading a bit, taking a shower, walking around, coming on the Internet, trying to tire myself out-but I AM exhausted and... i dont know why my brain wont stop thinking or worrying and shut down instead. Here I am at 5 am and I only have an hour and a half until I am supposed to wake up for work. I am going to be tired today.

I also just read the thread in here about it maybe being inherited, I know my dad has been a light sleeper all my life since we had to tip-toe around the house once he went to bed exactly at 10:30pm each night. However, my problem just started a few weeks ago and I dont want it to be a permanent thing. What should I do? I am getting frustrated with this.

Hi Wish,
So sorry to hear you're having problems sleeping.
I'm a dreadful sleeper. Always have been. I tend to live on high-alert so sleeping is a bit of a problem I also have Restless Leg Syndrome which makes it difficult for me to fall asleep.

Perhaps your sleeping problems are related purely to your recent illness. Maybe you still have some infection or a slight fever or something? If you've had cold or flu or following infection and have been taking medications, perhaps that has something to do with it as well. Over the counter meds often contain pseudoephedrine for example. Have you been on any medications at all?

Here's hoping you get back into a better sleep routine very soon. It's an awful thing not being able to sleep properly and then have to get moving early for work and such.

take care there,
Lara

Hi Lara,
I was on medications (antibiotics, etc.) but have recently been only taking nighttime cough and cold OTC meds. I hope tonight is better. My legs are usually very restless during the daytime where I always have to switch positions in chairs, but never had a problem with it at night. However, it feels like my whole body is restless. My mind won't stop wandering and I feel like I need to keep tossing and turning to settle down. I am not sure what is going on... I just hope it stops soon. Thanks for your reply Lara.

Wish, have a look at the ingredients in the otc meds you've been taking. Some people, like myself, are super sensitive to some of those ingredients like the pseudoephedrine.

About the RLS that I get... I get it in the day time too. It's not only when I'm trying to sleep. Usually if I'm in a really cramped space or if I'm too hot. It feels dreadful. Like restless and awful deep inside the bones. It's a difficult thing to explain. It's like a need to move. Sometimes moving around helps and sometimes not.

Do check those cold medicines. Not all otc ones have it in them. When I was in the US though, I had an awful time trying to find one that didn't. I forget the name of the one that I ended up buying, but I do remember it didn't ease my symptoms anywhere near as well.

hope you get sleep tonight.