Convinced I'm not getting ANY sleep at all at night and very worried.
First, I'd like to say that insomnia is not something new to me. I've dealt with episodes of it on/off through the years. Despite that, I always worry anyways whenever I'm in the middle of a current episode.
Last night, I went to bed around 11 pm. I had taken something to help me sleep. Well, 12:30 am rolls around, and my frequent urination condition flares up. I am seeing doctors about this already but I just try to manage it the best I can.
Anyways, it seemingly eventually subsides for a bit and so at around 3:15 am, I'm back in bed and while I did lay there for a bit, I think I dozed off till 4:46 or so. I think the strong urge to pee again woke me up. The strong urge I would like to think is a sign I was sleeping. It only gets strong if I hold it.
So, I go back to bed and aside from waiting to fall asleep, I don't remember anything till 6:41, with another strong urge to pee. Again, I have a urinary issue I'm trying to sort out so that's why I'm peeing so much at night. Apparently, it wakes me up too. (Assuming I am sleeping that is.)
Does this sound to you like I'm sleeping to you guys? If I wasn't sleeping, that means I'd have been up since 9 am on Saturday. (35 hours as of this posting. My eyes have felt a little irritated and I have this light pressure around my head but I seem awake, alert, etc.
The pressure in my head is concerning. I've been having it each of the past few days as well as today. Obviously, I must have been sleeping some during some of those nights but yet, the pressure is still there regardless. I don't understand. I really hope I'm sleeping and that I'm just worrying over nothing.
I have had similar issues for decades, having to get up 6-10 times a night to pee. I recently started using an APAP for mild apnea/UARS, which has helped with needing to pee too many times in the night. I now usually only have to get up 1-2 times, and sometimes not at all. I have only been on the APAP for a month. It is helping so far but hasn’t yet fixed all my sleep issues (I suspect I need to relearn how to get delta sleep, since I have had 0% delta wave for at least 25 years … several sleep studies over the years showing that).
It is possible you have either apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome. When you enter delta deep sleep levels, the urge to urinate is usually turned down so that you can sleep without interruption. Whatever is interfering with the airways or breathing is triggering a response to wake, so you aren’t getting into delta wave sleep that mute the urination urge. Being awake, you get the urinary urge signals, so you need to go.I have not had a sleep study but I do know the Nocturia is a big reason why I am not sleeping well. Unfortunately, I don't think I can do a sleep study anytime soon with my current expenses with this urinary issue.
I don't know why I am having the pressure in my head feeling the past 3 days. Even in times past where I haven't slept well, I have never had that feeling and it causes me to worry. I usually get back on track with sleep at some point but with this urinary problem, it presents a new challenge.
Everyone I have talked to has said that I am likely sleeping too but yet I worry anyways. I am hopeful tonight will go better. I had been seeing a urologist for my problem but I have to wait till March 31st for a Cystoscopy. They fear it could be bladder cancer or something given results of my urine tests. I wish I had asked to be prescribed something to help until then.
I’m sorry to hear you are struggling so much with insomnia. It can be so distressing. I’m glad you are seeking medical advice for the frequent bathroom breaks. I recently wrote an article about exactly that!
https://insomnia.sleep-disorders.net/living/nocturia
I am not medically trained and we cannot offer medical advice here. But it does sound to me like you’re getting some small amounts of sleep. Not enough by the sound of it, but dozing between your bathroom breaks. Have you had the opportunity to have a sleep study? And to consult with a sleep specialist? They can obviously give you more comprehensive information specific to your own situation. I hope things improve for you soon.
Cheers.
Simone (Team Member)
