Mom maybe going a bit crazy?

[Anonymous]

This is a bit strange and have thought about posting this but it is a bit strange. It happened again to me so here goes. Carson hasn’t been good for quite some time. Had strep then had fluid in an ear (but he has tubes) but one tube was plugged so we are still battling the fluid. I also think he is getting some eye teeth. Let’s just say he is vomiting and cranky during the day and really bad at night. The doctors are tired of seeing me!

This is my question: OK, with the above said, I don’t get much sleep. I do nap during the day with him for whatever that is worth. However, some nights I think I am *seeing* things. I haven’t talked to any doc about it because I think it is from lack of sleep but it really freaks me out. My husband sleeps in the other room as Carson wakes up too much and someone has to work the next day! I have written down what I think is so scary and freaky during the night and I have words written down but can’t remember the whole thing in the morning but I also think I hear things. After months of no sleep has this happened to anyone else? I really am a very normal person. Almost embarrassed to ask.

TnBEich2007-2-25 0:59:46

[Anonymous]

Brenda…I think that it is something that can happen with sleep deprivation (among other things). I haven’t experienced it but I certainly have seen it in some of my clients (I kind of work in the psychology field). Long term disrupted sleep and sleep deprivation can cause a wide variety of symptoms that vary from person to person. There are also a number of other things that can cause this (apart from what you might be worried about….). Metabolic disturbance for one. I probably would mention it to the Dr…to rule out something that is treatable (of course sleep deprivation due to young ones is never treatable even when they leave home!)

BTW…the lillypie was worth the wait…a very handsome young man.

[Anonymous]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_deprivation#Effects_of_Sl eep_Deprivation

This link may help.

When Ellie was a baby she was up every 20 – 60 mintues every night of her life (from 10 weeks until 9 months). I was seriously sleep deprived and I did have some very strange things happen. Sometimes it would seem like I was dreaming but then I’d realize I was awake, or I’d do something (like feed her) and then later I couldn’t remember if I dreamt it or I really fed her. I’d have to go to the kitchen to see if there were any bottles in the sink.

That’s probably not the same thing as what you are describing….but the link above does talk about hallucinations ocurring from sleep deprivation.

Can you and dh take turns, so one of you gets to sleep every other night?

[Anonymous]

Thanks! The link was very helpful. After reading other things that could be happening, I should be glad of my symptoms! I will keep track on a calendar, as they aren’t very often (every other month) – to see if they coincide with Carson’s really bad stretches. From what I read, I bet they do. I also think I was able to bounce back with my first two easier, as I was 10-15 years younger. I am almost 40 now and can really USE the sleep at night.

Therese: I did read that the more long-term the sleep deprevation, the worse it can be. Thanks for the PM – it was helpful!

If these little ones only knew what they put us through!! When I am old and grey, I sure hope they take good care of me!

[Anonymous]

I can really relate to the older mom thing…I’m 43 with three under 5. Some days I feel like I’m 83!

[Anonymous]

I did have the exact same thing happen with my first. It was really scary! Mine happened a lot more than yours seems to be happening though. I also was too embarresed to talk about it, but I should’ve. I never told anyone until it was all over. To be honest it was so bad for me that it was only God that kept me from really hurting Luke. I would talk to your doc about it and also get some help. Get some ear plugs and somebody to come by and watch your little one for a little while so you can get some sleep. I will also say that I did do cio with Luke. He got to a point where he was so tired that he just couldn’t go to sleep and stay to sleep. I did it for 3 days and on day 3 I had a new baby and new life. I would not recommend cio to anyone else, but I think if you are seeing things that is serious stuff. Not trying to scare you, but I have been there. Keep us posted. Things will get better. Luke is 2 1/2 now and sleeps for 12 hrs straight at night and takes one 2 hour nap a day.

[Anonymous]

Shelby, thank you for being so honest. I really do think this is related to my non-sleep and maybe not getting into sleep patterns for weeks at a time, but it is so very reassuring to know it is not just me. So glad to hear that Luke is doing so well. I do believe that God won’t give me more than I can handle, so I think possibly he is going to back off! Thank you for your kind words.

[Anonymous]

Brenda,

I also wanted to add that I thought I was hallucinating a few times during my 18 months of severe sleep deprivation. The times I remember most were during some of the worst of it– about a month where he woke nearly every 45 minutes all night long…

I chalked it up to the sleep deprivation, as mine was so serious I knew that there were a lot of things that were probably going wrong with the wiring up there for me. hahahahahaha. I was also incredibly foggy– like I didn’t really perk up at all (if you could even call it that) until after one in the afternoon. I wasn’t drinking any kind of coffee or tea or eating anything that might help wake me, so it seemed i struggled each day until afternoon to feel like I was actually moving and clear headed for the day. I honestly wonder if whatever hormones are present in the body for breastfeeding helped me in this, as now that I am sleeping more like a normal person (and have weaned), when Lucas wakes inthe night it seems harder to wake up. Weird, right?

I really hope htings get better. Can anyone help you? I also slept in another room from my husband so that I could maximize whatever sleep I got, and so that he could function at work. i felt at first like I must have been the only person so desperate to do this, but since have learned about a few other moms on here who needed to sleep separately from a spouse for these kinds of reasons. It made me feel better to htink that I wasn’t the only one doing it. I don’t know why, but somehow it did. I really hope things get better soon!

[Anonymous]

Anne: thank you for your kind words. I think it helps so much to know that others had this happen also. As horrible as it is, there is strength in numbers! Last night wasn’t too bad. A mom with a healthy little one would think I was crazy saying that, but for Carson it wasn’t too bad. It sure helps when I can get a little bit rejuvenated before the big Carson storm hits again. I also don’t drink any coffee/caffeine – it makes me a bit wired – don’t like the feeling.

If only the moms on this forum lived very near each other and everyone could come to my house for a mom and child play date! It is so much easier to get through a day by coming on here and reading that others are in the same boat. So hard when friends/family really don’t understand.

Thank you all so much!

[Anonymous]

Brenda, I have been there! As others have posted, I just wanted you to know you weren’t alone. I thought I was going crazy a few months ago…I couldn’t get to sleep but as soon as I did, Addy was awake. My whole day was so foggy that I wouldn’t remember things that happened…it was very scary! Thanks for posting…now I know, that I wasn’t alone either. I hope and pray it gets better for you and Carson!

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