Has anyone any thoughts about coping with disturbed nights? For a long time my mother had her days and nights completely mixed up. She would sleep a lot during the day, then potter about all through the night. Unfortunately this 'progressed' to going down to the Post Office for her pension in the middle of the night, and ringing friends and family up at unearthly hours either for a chat or because she was feeling very anxious. While I was staying with her in her own home she used to shake me awake every hour or so and get very annoyed with me because I was sleeping in so late!!
Now that she is living with us things are a lot better, but she still often wakes us up during the night, knocking at the bedroom door asking if we are there. It's very exhausting. I can often catnap during the day, but my husband can't as he has to go to work. We're getting desperate, and he has said he can't go on like this much longer. Mam takes Promazine syrup at night, and I've eperimented with the amount and the timing - but although giving her it did improve things considerably at first, it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference now. Any suggestions please?
Chris

jacquliene

You have learned something very important. sleeping medications do not work on our LOs. They often will have the reverse effect or will make them so groggy and awake that they are at a greatly increased risk of falling and injury.

Chris,

Picked up your post from last May. Have you had any luck solving the sleeping problem? I have similiar ones, she doesn't wander just doesn't sleep. I tried different sleeping pills but none seem to work and all have adverse effects on her during the day so I have opted for just allowing her to be awake and take short naps in the day.

Jacquelin

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Originally posted by Chris:
Has anyone any thoughts about coping with disturbed nights? Chris

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Awwwwwwwww yes your Mom sounds a lot like Milly. Milly would get up and down a lot during the night untill about 2 am when she would go to the bathroom and then finally go to sleep. Of course we had to get up around 5:30 no later than 6 am.

Here are some suggestions. Cut out caffine coffee and sodas. Try doing some activities in the morning and let her take a nap after lunch and/or before dinner. Make sure the doors going outside are locked in a fashion she can not open the doors. We put locks on the kids bedroom doors and other rooms we did not want Milly to have free access to. It is also a good idea that you learn to take a nap when she does.

Chris,
Have you thought about getting something else from the Dr. to help her sleep through the night? It may be time to switch meds.
How about hiring an aid to stay with her at night? Someone to entertain her in the night so she doesn't come knocking at your door.

Vicki